When is the best time to come?
There is often snow from late October to late May. We recommend visiting between February and April for longer daylight and the best snow conditions.
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Snowkiting in Haugastøl
Haugastøl is widely recognized as one of the best spots in the world for snowkiting. The Hardangervidda mountain plateau offers huge areas and stabile wind conditions throughout the entire winter.
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Local knowledge that makes your kite days better
On Hardangervidda, conditions can change quickly. Small differences in wind direction, visibility and snow often decide whether the day becomes great or wasted.
When you stay with us, you get advice from people who are actually out there when it matters, with long experience from Hardangervidda. We are happy to share practical recommendations on spot choice, safety, wind and where to start the day.
Bjørn Kaupang, 6-time world champion and owner of the hotel, gives advice on where to go for the best kiting.
You can drive right to the door. Bed linen, towels and final cleaning are included. That makes it easier to prioritize more time outside and less logistics.
Spot choiceSafetyFlexibilityComfortLess logistics
What you get when staying with us
- Daily tips on spot choice and "what works right now"
- Safety and route advice when weather shifts fast
- Parking and access right by the hotel (drive to the door)
- Bed linen, towels and final cleaning included
- Warm facilities to return to + good food in season (link to food & drinks)
Why Haugastol?
Our biggest advantage is the vast and varied range of different spots to kite. Hardangervidda National Park has 3,422 km² of snow-covered terrain, while Hallingskarvet National Park has 450 km² and peaks at almost 2,000 m a.s.l. We have been kiting at Haugastøl since 1999 and we still discover new kite spots every season!
The National Tourist Route Hardangervidda starts right outside the hotel and runs through the heart of the national park. That gives us 38 km of road where you can stop anywhere (where there is parking) to kite. The ability to be flexible and mobile means we rarely have days when there is no chance to kite. Haugastøl sits right on the weather divide between east and west and benefits from two different weather systems.
On stormy days the road across Hardangervidda may close due to heavy snow and wind. On those days we offer snowmobile transport for hotel guests to lower-lying spots where there is usually less wind and better conditions.
For detailed descriptions of our most used kite spots, see our interactive spot map and spot description page.
We have weather stations and webcams at 11 different locations so you can follow conditions on our weather page or smartphone apps.
Many of the world's best kiters have lived or still live at Haugastøl to train. Remi Meum, Sigve Botnen, Claes Lundin, Petter Johnsen and Bjørn Kaupang all know the area inside out, and the snowkite films Entropy, Something Stronger, How to Snowkite and Dimensions were all shot at Haugastøl.
Norwegian Championships, World Championships and not least the world's biggest (and toughest) snowkite competition Red Bull Ragnarok have been held at Haugastøl many times.
Is it always windy?
NO! Luckily not! (read on to see why that's actually an advantage!)
It goes without saying that when you travel somewhere to kite, you want wind.
But as many will have experienced, snow in areas where it's always windy tends to be hard and icy. That's great if you want to go fast, but most people prefer a softer surface.
So for the best chance of good snowkite days, it's a big advantage to be in an area where the weather changes quickly and often. With Haugastøl's position between two weather systems, you have twice the chance of days with good snow, wind and weather!
When snowkiting, you want a spot with powder, sun and wind.
If you stay at a spot where it is always windy, the snow will often be very hard. If you stay at a spot where it is always snowing, visibility will often be poor.
Hardangervidda has a unique microclimate where weather changes fast and is highly local, which is useful when you want the best possible snowkiting conditions.
Reindeer and restrictions
On Hardangervidda there is a wild reindeer herd that must not be disturbed. Winter is the hardest time for the animals. We currently don't have access to reindeer location data, so we can't publish temporary no-kite zones. If you see reindeer or other wildlife, be considerate and calmly retreat; do not ride with or towards them. For full rules and temporary prohibited zones when available, see Oslo Kiteklubb's snowkiting rules (link below).
What else can I do at Haugastøl besides kiting?
If a good book by the fireplace, a session in the sauna or the latest episode of your favourite series on Netflix isn't for you, there are plenty of other outdoor activities.
We have cross-country skis and snowshoes for rent if you want to explore our two national parks.
If you want to see spectacular nature, one of Norway's most spectacular waterfalls, Vøringsfossen, is only 40 minutes' drive from Haugastøl. Another 20 minutes from Vøringsfossen and you're down at the fjord.
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Snowkiting rules
Oslo Kiteklubb publishes joint ground rules for snowkiting on Hardangervidda. Please follow them for your own safety and to protect wildlife and access.
- Respect the wild reindeer herd and any temporary prohibited zones (see Oslo Kiteklubb for current zones when available).
- Launch and land at least 150 m from the road, with the kite facing away from the road.
- Do not fly the kite while crossing the road. Land the kite, cross on foot, then relaunch.
- Do not jump over the road.
- If the road is closed, check vegvesen.no or call 175; follow convoy rules and wait for an escort.