overview
Is this the perfect winter destination? The snow arrives in November and lies until late April, there's a great range of accommodation with spa facilities, downhill skiing and Nordic activities as well as a fabulous Santa experience.
Imagine the children's faces as they set off from Oslo and head north, the landscape changing from the more familiar to the truly magical. Their eyes alight from their first sighting of the winter wonderland in which they will spend the next 4 nights.
Savalen is located 330kms from Oslo and enjoys a spectacular setting on the side of a lake. It is some 17km from the nearest town, a true escape from the everyday and an ideal place for a Christmas holiday.
Savalen provides the ideal family destination, not just because of the accommodation available, but because of the atmosphere it creates. You will find no 'whistle stop Santa shops' in Savalen but a place built on providing families with the holiday of a lifetime based on some great activities and an intimate meeting with Father Christmas!
Savalen is well equipped with seven ski slopes, an ice skating rink and cross country ski trails. Great as these are they are by no means the prime attraction.
The accommodation in Savalen is newly renovated and very family friendly. You can choose between the delightful spa hotel or an apartment on Santa Street (detailed on the opposite page). With streets names like that there is no disguising one of the other residents at Savalen.
Father Christmas lives just down the road. In fact staying in the apartments it is necessary to walk past his front door to reach the restaurant! His large log built house is the centre piece of Savalen and houses the elves' workshop and toy factory as well as Father Christmas' own letter writing room where the private meetings are held.
Father Christmas also has a small menagerie of animals including, of course, Rudolph (who will welcome you to Savalen), some Llamas, pot bellied pigs and some delightful horses all of which live just a short distance from guest accommodation.
The activities included in this holiday have all been designed with families in mind and are suitable for smaller children. The authenticity of the activities has not been compromised and each provides a genuine experience for all the family.
suitable for
Anybody who believes in Father Christmas
our opinion
"Savalen's magic is that it achieves the seemingly impossible… fulfilling the dreams of children and parents alike. You'll get no fleeting or commercialised Father Christmas experiences here. What you get is a memorable family experience. The kids' reactions as they meet their great hero are a joy to behold but equally satisfying are the looks of sheer pleasure on the faces of the delighted parents. If you've stopped believing in Father Christmas then after visiting Savalen you may just find your childhood faith restored." Barry Nolan
agenda
Day One
Flights, arrivals and transfers
On arrival at Oslo you will be met by one of Santa's elves who will take you to your 'Christmas coach'. Once you're on your way, we will play a family Christmas DVD and the elves will hand out very special invites to keep everybody happy during the transfer to Savalen.
On arrival at Savalen you'll receive a very warm welcome and be shown to your accommodation. You then head to the restaurant for an introductory meeting and dinner.
Day Two
Santa's House and winter olympics
There's no point in keeping the kids (young and old) waiting so this morning you'll walk along to Santa's House. In his workshop where wishes are turned into presents, Santa will tell everybody a fairy tale before taking the children to meet and feed his animals including Rudolf the reindeer, a llama, pigs and miniature ponies. You can also see him in training for Christmas Eve in his practice chimney (pictured left) - it really is a special experience.
We can't stress this enough - this is not a 'stopwatch Santa experience'. Each family gets a private audience with Santa lasting a minimum of ten minutes and you are welcome to stay at his house and workshop all morning.
After lunch we've laid on our very own winter olympics, a fun 'competition' using a combination of three or four activities from the likes of snowshoeing, kick sledding, triple ski, skating and Santa's obstacle course. Great family fun in the snow.
Day Three
Snowmobile safari and horse-pulled sleigh ride
This morning you go on a snowmobile safari around the lake. Naturally, you will receive full tuition and a safety briefing prior to setting off. This is an easy-paced safari with two adults per machine and children riding in a sleigh behind the guide's skidoo.
You should have some free time after lunch so why not head for the pool and spa? As the day draws to a close we take you out on a winter sleigh ride. In sleds pulled by horses, our one hour safari is all about Christmas with tinkling bells and torches - it doesn't get closer to Narnia!
Day Four
Husky safari and ice fishing
This morning's activity is yet another huge family favourite. There will be plenty of time to pet the excited and eager dogs before you set off on a 5km husky safari. Along the way you'll get the chance to try some ice fishing with the help of an instructor.
There's some free time after lunch to take advantage of Savalen's many active facilities. Don't forget the ski slopes and ice rink!
To round off a fabulous family holiday your farewell meal is a traditional Norwegian Christmas dinner followed by a 'magical hour' in the candlelit Aqua Wellbeing Centre.
Day Five
Return airport transfers and departure
Your kids will not thank you for this but all good things must come to an end. Sorry!
accommodation
Santa Street Apartments
Santa Street is located within 300m of the restaurant and spa facilities in Savalen and it's most famous resident is just 100m down the road! The ski slopes and ice rink are also a few minutes walk away. The street is well lit and the wooden buildings create a very friendly atmosphere.
There are 10 apartments measuring 45m2 contained within the cosy wooden buildings each with its own entrance. All of the apartments are well furnished and come extremely well equipped. The apartments have two bedrooms with a total of five sleeping spaces. There is an living room with a TV and dining table as well as a wood burning stove (don't panic there's underfloor heating too) as well as a bathroom and WC. The open plan kitchen is complete with cooker, dishwasher, microwave, fridge/freezer and coffee machine.
For parties of more than five people, there are also 10 apartments measuring 68m2 apartments spread over the ground floor and the mezzanine there are three bedrooms totalling 9 beds, an open plan kitchen (fully equipped as above)?and living room and two bathrooms.
Bedlinen and towels are of course included, as is end of week cleaning.
You will have all your meals at Savalen's hotel which serves a wide range of local and international flavours and on your way for dinner you can stop of and have a chat with rudolph or one of Father Christmas' other friends!
Your stay also includes free access to the delightful aqua well being centre.
Savalen Fell Hotel and Spa
The hotel started life as a mountain lodge but over the past 45 years the Hektoen family have transformed it into a modern hotel with spa facilities. The hotel remains family run and has earned a glowing reputation with its many repeat clients.
There are 64 standard rooms with double or twin beds all of which have an en-suite shower and WC, a seating area with table and chairs, TV, telephone and wardrobe.
The hotel restaurant seats 140 and serves a gret mix of local and more international dishes to suit all tastes. There are also many large open areas where guests can relax and enjoy their surroundings including a large area near the reception with wireless internet.
The hotel's bar is also a great place for the adults to unwind after a day of excitement.
The 'piece de resistance' at Savalen is the aqua well being centre and spa. There is a swimming pool, massage seats, showers, water jet beds and waterfall, 2 jacuzzis, steam grotto, sauna and scottish shower ( for the very brave!) and treatment rooms for fabulous massages and facials.