Norefjell

A Norwegian ski-resort spa with saunas, hot and cold tubs, outdoor jacuzzis and slope-soothing treatments.

Norefjell Ski & Spa understands the alpine bargain: first you ask your legs to behave heroically, then you apologise to them with heat, water and skilled hands. Set within the mountain resort, the spa is built for exactly that post-slope negotiation.

The seventh-floor wellness spa has outdoor jacuzzis, an indoor jacuzzi, indoor and outdoor Champagne baths, hot and cold tubs, foot baths, showers, a Finnish sauna and an infrared sauna. Treatments cover classic massage, aroma massage, back-neck-and-shoulder work, hot stone massage, facials and shared spa packages.

It is a very Norwegian kind of luxury: not flashy, but deeply sensible once the weather has had its say. The contrast of cold air and hot water does half the work before the therapist even begins.

Book treatments in advance, especially in peak ski season, and note that the wellness area is adult-focused. If you have spent the day in blister-inducing boots, do not attempt stoicism. This is what the spa is for.

Norefjell’s best argument is simple: the mountain gives you the ache; the spa makes it feel like part of the plan.