Storhogna – the classic high alpine ski hotel in Vemdalen

Storhogna is a must when visiting the ski area Klövsjö Vemdalen. This is a genuine old style half-board/full-board hotel. More than so, actually. Storhogna is Sweden’s first high alpine ski hotel with a spa. The hotel is located on the mountainside, ski in, ski out.

Both cross-country skiers and alpine skiers will feel at home here. Even though, the surrounding area has experienced some growth lately, especially when it comes to private cabins and infrastructure.

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The whole place has managed to preserve the feeling of wilderness.

Skiing in the mountains right in front of the hotel is not very exciting for experienced skiers. The vertical drop of the main t-bar is less than 140 meters. But don’t you worry, your lift ticket is valid also in Klövsjö, Vemdalen and Björnrike. All in all, 42 lifts and 58 slopes.

Storhogna and Klövsjö lift systems are connected, so outside the hotel door you have 14 lifts and 21 slopes to choose from. Slopes covering the whole scale from green to black. And Vemdalen is just a 10-minute drive away.

Perfect slopes for cruising and carving.

The Cross-country skiing starts right outside the door, 60km of groomed tracks and if that isn’t enough, 180km of marked tracks lead you out on the mountain in a dream winter landscape.

But Let’s talk about the hotel.

If we skip skiing for a while and talk about the hotel. Storhogna Högfjällshotell & Spa is a destination by itself.

You don’t have to be a skier to enjoy this mountain gem.

Let’s be frank, this is not a modern hotel in terms of new build or new refurbished. It is, however, maintained in an excellent manner.

The hotel history goes back to 1965 when the first part was built in an old fashion lodge style. The ambiance has remained constant over time, despite its numerous enhancements.

Service and facilities are far from simple. The Kitchen has high ambitions and meets up to our expectations. In our half-board package, there was an excellent three meal dinner course. Morning service was no different, a large breakfast buffet holding everything we could ask for. To be enjoyed in the dining hall or on a sofa in front of the open fire.

There are several dining rooms and the main dining hall is located in a fabulous winter garden.

In the middle of the garden, there is a cocktail bar with plenty of seating. All divided by an indoor creek and full-grown trees. It’s a jungle out there.

A huge glass wall separates the garden from a large indoor pool.

The architect somehow managed to create the feeling of being outdoors in a tropical landscape and at the same time indoors in a classic mountain lodge. The winter garden is the hotel’s melting pot, where skiers in full ski gear meet people in bathing suits and spa robes.

The experience is quite unique

The hotel has expanded over the years. Today’s version hosts 162 beds in 53 rooms. The restaurant can serve more than that. Our room was facing the winter garden with its own balcony.

I had to ask myself, am I in the mountains or in the south of Italy.

Outside, a winter snowstorm could be racing furiously, and you wouldn’t notice. Except in the hotel sauna, it has a stunning Mountain View. Walking from your hotel room to the spa in a robe, and from the pool to the bar.

You feel at home. Very relaxing indeed.

Except from the location itself, and the spa, of course, the winter garden standing out alone as a reason to go to her. Everyone visiting Vemdalen should take time to visit Storhogna just for that single reason.

The pool area and spa are perfect connected to most of the hotel rooms. After ski can be enjoyed either by having a massage treatment at the spa, or having a drink at the bar. Take my advice and do both.

When we travel around the world visiting ski resorts, we look for character, history, and atmosphere. Storhogna combines all that into a perfect mix. We will go back here!

Jonas Henning

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