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Salen Ski Resort
The biggest ski area in Sweden, Sälen or Sälenfjällen’s made up of a handful of villages and their ski areas, spread across a series of the Dalarna fells near Norway.
The main resort, Lindvallen, is built around four squares with the all singing, all dancing Experoum centre and shops in Sälfjällstorget. It’s lift and bus linked with the smaller resort of Högfjället (the oldest village in the area), where you’ll find a hotel, cabins, restaurant and shop.
Further along the valley, the villages of Tandådalen and Hundfjället are linked by a ski lift and more shops, restaurants and cabin villages seem to pop up in this area every time we visit.
Surrounded by trees, Kläppen is a sheltered resort famed for its snow park which is regularly voted one of the best in the country. Stöten started off as little-known place to ski for a change of scenery, but has grown into a resort in its own right with places to stay, shop, eat, drink and activities like swimming.
Wherever you base yourselves, the atmosphere is authentically Scandinavian and children are treated like royals. Besides being a sterling area for families, the resort is known as the starting point of the classic Vasaloppet ski race – the longest and oldest cross country ski race in the world, covering 90km all the way to Mora and running since 1922.
But a lot has changed since the twenties and Sälen now has six main ski areas: Lindvallen, Kläppen, Stöten, Tandådalen, Hundfjället and little Högfjället.
Location-wise, Mora–Siljan Airport (MXX) is an hour and a half’s drive away, and you can cross the border to the Norwegian ski resort of Trysil in an hour.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Dalarna County, Sweden
Established: 1937
Open: December - April
Downhill: 82km (Tandådalen, Hundfjället, Lindvallen and Högfjället) 38km (Stöten) 35km (Kläppen)
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
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| Top Altitude: | 860m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 352m - 735m |
| Resort Altitude: | 352m - 735m |
| Longest run: | 2.7km |
| Slope Orientation: | |
| Vertical Drop: | 303m |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
| Downhill Runs: | 82km (Tandådalen, Hundfjället, Lindvallen and Högfjället) 38km (Stöten) 35km (Kläppen) |
| Beginner slopes: | |
| Intermediate: | |
| Advanced slopes: | |
| Lift Pass Price: | Salen Pass (Tandådalen, Hundfjället, Lindvallen and Högfjället) €180 (adult 5 day) €40 (adult 1 day) Stöten 1755 SEK (adult 6 day) 385 SEK (adult 1 day) Kläppen 1680 SEK (adult 5 day) 385 SEK (adult 1 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Are | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Salen
Look for the giant snowman in Lindvallen which marks the Valleberget children’s ski area, home to button lifts and forgiving slopes. The forty something pistes over here are generally lovely and wide for big turns and cruisey descents, though you’ll find steeper offerings from the Express 303 lift (try Permilla) and a snow park with all manner of boxes, rails and jumps.
Nearby Högfjället’s slopes are a dream for newbies, with a gaggle of greens at the bottom joined by the long Åsa green and three blues (Tina, Mats and Kent) from the Vargen 1 lift. Most of the slopes near the base belong to the children’s area, where the Knattesvängen adventure area is dotted with characters to ski round and between.
Experienced skiers and snowboarders will love Tandådalen, which has the bulk of Sälen’s black slopes – Hanget’s one to really bomb down, while Svansen has some powder pockets between the trees and sometimes slalom poles at the end to test technique on. There’s also a snow park for seasoned freestylers. Beginners aren’t forgotten, with two children’s areas and some brilliant long blues (we like Femåbacken and Snösvängen) that trail through the treeline.
Families gravitate to Hundfjället, where the Trollbäckstorget kid’s area has a long conveyer belt, easy to use button lifts and forgiving greens to pootle down. Experts do too, with the Väggen black run (AKA “The Wall”) being one of the steepest in Sweden. For intermediates, the Langliften serves a load of red graded terrain, including the Langbacken pistes to the base.
Covered by a separate ski pass, Stöten has oodles of greens for beginners (Mormors Störtlopp’s a favourite at 2.4km) as well as a handful of blues, reds, blacks and ski routes. There are also 45km of cross country trails here with awesome views over the fells of Sweden and Norway.
Don’t forget Kläppen, with its army of green runs including the long Lämmeltaget and blues like Fjallraven that flow through the treeline. You’ll also find black diversions to add a little spice to your skiing, like the Trollfallet and Grottbranten, while off piste ski routes pour down from Toppstuga. The snowpark here is brilliant too – considered one of, if not THE best in Sweden.
Salen Apres Ski
Sälen’s main stage comes alive with big après parties at certain points throughout the ski season – look out for the Easter party and the Winter Finale. The hub of action is Lindvallen, where you’ll find live music at Lodgebaren six days a week, which has a huge open fire and serves cracking cocktails. O’Learys has a classic pub environment, while Bar & Café Di Luca’s one for sipping fine Italian vino. Its neighbour, Ristorante Casa Di Luca does an a la carte Italian menu (whatever you do, don’t miss their tiramisu).
Lindvallen is also the king of off-slope activities, where the Experium centre is home to a water park, indoor surfing, bowling, a 3D cinema, shops and wellness facilities. There’s also the T.O.K.A Kids Zone, which has ball pits, climbing, cycling tracks, you name it. Ice skaters can swish around the rink at the Salen IceCenter while, outdoors, you’ll find the likes of husky sledding, snowmobiling and ice karting.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Salen
Best time to visit & ski Salen
While these aren’t the highest mountains in the skiing world, they’re certainly no strangers to the white stuff. On previous seasons, the tourist office has guaranteed that a minimum of 15 slopes will be open throughout the ski area. If winds are high or fog is setting in, head to Kläppen where the trees provide good shelter.
Peak Dates
Shows and parades, a delicious traditional Swedish julbord and dancing round the Christmas tree are some of our favourite things about Christmas in Salen.
Head to Experium for shows, a gala dinner and fireworks with the family during the New Year in Salen.
Families are first priority here, making it a great place to bring the brood for Half Term in Salen.
Something we’ve never seen in any other ski resort worldwide, there’s usually midnight skiing in Tandådalen over Easter in Sälen, as well as big après ski parties in the sunshine.
Families in Salen
With Valle the snowman mascot making sure children have a blast on the slopes and oodles of tweaks to make everything tot friendly, we love Sälen for families. Hundfjället is home to the Trollskogen kid’s area, with 700 talking wooden sculptures, and you’ll find more children’s zones dotted around the other resorts. Long magic carpets, easy to use button lifts and fun-filled trails are the nature of the family areas here, and we can’t get enough of them.
Indoors, the Experium centre has a crèche and playland, and when we say playland, we’re talking a ball pit, climbing frame, cycling track and much more. The same building has a 3D cinema, bowling alley and water park, meaning there’s more than enough to keep everyone occupied throughout the week.
GroupsGroup Holidays Salen
A gaggle of resorts covered with all kinds of terrain make Sälen a winner for groups. While learners practice on wide, cruisey greens in Lindvallen and Högfjället, more confident group members can take to the Tandådalen and Hundfjället’s reds, blacks and powder runs. Park rats will love the terrain at Kläppen.
Stay near the bars, restaurants and activities in Lindvallen, where the Experium centre has more than enough to please the whole party – bowling, spa facilities, cinema, gym, shops... Or opt for one of the smaller, quieter bases if you prefer to spend night's in enjoying food, wine and good company.
Which are the best ski holidays in Salen?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| SkiStar Lodge Apartments Hundfjället | 7 | £ 557 |
| Sälens Högfjällshotell, Högfjället | 7 | £ 974 |
| SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället | 7 | £ 1015 |
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