Scandic Valdres is the principal hotel in Fagernes, the administrative centre of the Valdres region and the main service hub for one of eastern Norway’s most beautiful and underrated mountain valleys. The hotel sits on the shores of Strandefjorden — a long, narrow lake that reflects the surrounding Valdres landscape — and its pool, sauna, and fitness facilities are included as standard for all guests. It is a reliable, well-maintained option for those exploring the Valdres valley by car.
Fagernes itself is a pleasant small town with good transport links: the regional bus network connects it to Oslo in around three hours, and the town functions as a natural gateway to the broader Valdres region, which stretches from the flat lowlands of Begnadalen in the south to the high mountain plateaux approaching Jotunheimen in the north.
Indoor Pool and Sauna
The indoor pool at Scandic Valdres provides year-round swimming in a comfortable, climate-controlled environment — an important consideration in a region where outdoor swimming is limited to the warmer months. The pool is suitable for both fitness swimming and leisure use, with adequate space for laps. The sauna adjoining the pool area operates at traditional Nordic temperatures, giving guests access to proper heat bathing after swimming or at the end of a day spent hiking, cycling, or driving through the Valdres landscape. Both facilities are included in the hotel room rate, which represents good value relative to standalone spa access elsewhere.
Fitness and Recovery
The fitness room at Scandic Valdres is equipped with standard cardio and strength equipment — sufficient for maintaining a training routine during a multi-day stay. In combination with the pool and sauna, it creates a complete active recovery environment that suits the active demographic that tends to visit the Valdres region. The combination of exercise options and thermal facilities means guests rarely need to leave the hotel for their wellness routine.
Valdres and Strandefjorden
The lake setting gives Scandic Valdres a scenic advantage over purely inland hotels. Strandefjorden is clean, calm, and surrounded by mixed forest and open farmland, and the views from the lakeside areas of the hotel are genuinely pleasant. The broader Valdres valley is excellent walking and cycling country in summer, and the road north towards Beitostølen passes some of the finest Valdres scenery — deep valleys, historic stave churches, and the dramatic approach to the high mountains.
