FAQ

The name Gausta is derived from Gaustatoppen, and is the collective name for several of the actors on the mountain (Gaustabanen, Gaustablikk Fjellresort, Gausta Skisenter). Gausta comes again from the old Norwegian word "Gausstod" where "gaus" supposedly means running water and "stod" should be a boat place or boathouse. The word possibly comes from a farm where Månelva, the river down on Rjukan, often flooded. 

It is easy to travel to Gausta by car, bus or plane.

By car: 
Via road 37: When driving on road 37 along Tinnsjø and approaching Rjukan, take the exit road and turn left at Dale and follow the signs towards Gaustatoppen. The last bit of the road is a steep serpentine road. During the winter, it can be very slippery and difficult to drive here. If you do not have four-wheel drive and/or studded tires on the car, we recommend using snow chains.

Via road 651: You can also take the road over Tuddal and Gaustaråen and drive the last miles through the mountains. Here, you’ll have beautiful views and drive past Gaustatoppen. Please note that the road via Tuddal may be closed in winter.

By bus or train: 
If you want to travel to Gausta by bus, there are daily express buses to Rjukan from Oslo, changing in Notodden. It is also possible to take the train to Notodden and change to a bus from here. You can take Fjellbussen from Rjukan to Gausta during selected periods, or you can take a taxi. 

By plane: 
The nearest international airport is Oslo Gardermoen Airport, which is located about 225 km from Gausta. To get to Gausta from here, you can rent a car (about a 3.5-hour drive) or take the bus. There is a bus from the airport to Rjukan several times a day (with changes in Oslo and Notodden). Sandefjord Airport Torp is about 180 km away. From here there are trains and buses to Rjukan every day (several changes).

Because there is so much to see and experience at Gausta, we recommend at least two days on the mountain. Then you will have time to experience both Gaustatoppen, Gaustabanen and many of the other activities in the area. If you can think of some day trips to other nearby places in Telemark, we recommend at least 3-5 days. Even then, you will hardly be full of impressions. 
 
Remember that the weather can change a lot in the mountains, so it might be a good idea to calculate a little extra time to perhaps fit in a day with clear weather and sunshine up on the Gaustatoppen!

At Gausta you can experince the most of what we have to offer under: 
Autumn Holiday
Winter Season
Christmas and New Years
Easter Holiday

The Stjernekokk concept features events where award-winning chefs are invited to deliver unique culinary experiences for our guests at Gaustablikk Fjellresort.

See previous Star Chefs

There are both activities and exciting events at Gausta! To stay updated on what's happening, we recommend exploring more below.

Event and Activity Calendar

We recommend all our car guests to use winter tires or studded tires during the winter season. It is also recommended to use snow chains in demanding conditions.

Check-in at Gaustablikk Fjellresort hotell is from 4:00 PM on the day of arrival. Check-out is by 11:00 AM on the day of departure.

Check-in at Gaustablikk Fjellresort cabins is from 4:00 PM on the day of arrival. Check-out is by 11:00 AM on the day of departure.

Yes, dogs and cats are welcome both in the hotel and in the cabins.

Yes, for hotel guests. Please contact the reception for more information.

In our wellness area, you can enjoy a 12.5-meter-long pool with a comfortable temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. Additionally, we offer a jacuzzi, sauna, and cozy lounge beds for ultimate relaxation

Yes, you must be 15 years old if you are without a guardian

In the hotel restaurant Blikk Fjellbrasserie, you can order a separate children's menu or children's buffet (depending on the number of children staying at the hotel).

During high season, there are several meal options at Gausta with service at Stova, located across from the hotel. Here you can get pizza, hamburger, pasta, and salads.

Bakeriet på Gausta is a must-visit for all families visiting the area. Here you can enjoy fresh bread and pastries and take a break. The bakery has a wide selection of cakes and sweets, as well as delicious sandwiches and baguettes.

Right now there are no plans to set up a ski lift up to Gaustatoppen, but Gaustabanen currently functions as an underground ski lift inside the mountain. It takes you up to the top in about 15 min.

The name "Gausta" probably comes from the old word "gausstod", where "gaus" means something like "flowing water" and "stod" (as in a mooring/docking place for boats). The name could be related to a farm which was often flooded by the water from Månelva.

Gaustatoppen is not Norway's highest mountain, but it is unique since it is the highest mountain in an area with significantly smaller mountains. From the top at an altitude of 1883 metres, you can therefore see large parts of southern Norway. If you include all the mountains and mountain peaks that you can see from Gaustatoppen, the area corresponds to about one-sixth of Norway's land surface. 

In the area closest to Gaustatoppen, you can see Rjukan and Vestfjorddalen in the south and the Gausta area with Skipsfjell and Kvitåvatn in the east. But on a clear day you can see many other mountains that are far from here: In the north, you can see peaks like Skaget and Hallingskarvet, in the east Norefjell and Tryvann, in the west Hårteigen and Snønuten, and in the south, you see all the way to Brokefjell and Lifjell. On a clear day, you should even be able to see all the way to Dragonkullen on the Norwegian-Swedish border!

Explore Gaustatoppen

At a distance, Gaustatoppen may look like a dormant volcano that watches over the area, but it is actually a completely ordinary, but extraordinarily beautiful, Norwegian mountain. 

Today, the drop height is about 730 metres, from the top to the bottom station at the Gaustabanen. In the future, if the descent from 1939 becomes a reality, it could be up to 1,650 meters in height. All the way from the top down to Dale at the level of Rjukan. That's more than any other Scandinavian destination. 

Yes, there are. Occasionally, concerts are held on or inside Gaustatoppen.

Explore concerts

If you have forgotten or lost something, you can inquire at the hotel reception.

Lost or found items/clothing are kept for up to 3 months.

You can easily find information about Gausta Ski Resort on our website here.

You can easily stay up to date on today's open lifts and slopes in the Gausta app or on Gausta.com.

To see lifts and slopes that are open for the season and information about snow levels, you can check fnugg.

View todays open lifts and slopes 

View open lifts and slopes for the season 

No, you must buy tickets for the Gaustabanen separately. See prices and buy tickets here.

Evening skiing in Hotellbakken and Lilleputt from 16:00 to 20:00*

• Tuesday
• Thursday
• Friday
• Saturday

*No Night Skiing during Easter Holiday

Yes, night skiing is included with all day passes and multi-day passes

Gausta has undergone significant changes in recent years. Gausta Ski Center has transformed from two competing resorts into one unified ski center, and we have made substantial investments to enhance the skiing experience.

We value all our guests and strive to meet their needs, but to ensure sustainable development over time, it will not be possible to have evening skiing in two areas. While we understand that this may be disappointing to some, we hope for your understanding of our decision.

By focusing evening skiing in one area, we can improve the overall quality of the experience. To make getting around easier, we have worked on enhancing the shuttle bus service, with increased capacity, real-time updates, and free transportation for all visitors.

Read more about the snow production at Gausta Ski Center herer

To receive a ski pass in Andorra, you need to bring your passport/ID, season pass, and a completed form (available at Gausta Ski Rental) to one of the ticket counters in Andorra. Your ski pass will then be activated.

Buy Season Pass.

There is still plenty of snow at Gausta during Easter, perfect for skiing on the slopes and going on mountain tours.

Keep in mind that weather and conditions vary from year to year.

Please check in advance what documentation your employer requires. Usually, your receipt or booking confirmation will serve as valid proof.

Pre-book your Ski Pass here. Your Ski Pass will then be registered along with your name directly on the booking confirmation, which you can print out and use as documentation when applying for the subsidy.

If you purchase on-site, remember to request an original receipt with your name – we cannot print or adjust receipts afterward.

Yes, we do. You can read more about our snow guarantee here 

You can find information and prices for ski services on our website.

View information and prices for ski services.

You can easily book or find information about the Ski and Snowboard School here.

We offer private lessons at Gausta Ski Center with our skilled instructors.

Book a private lesson.

Online equipment rental opens during the fall.

You can easily book your equipment here.

We have two different meeting points for the ski school. Below you can see which place you should meet at.

Meeting point 1
Meeting point 1 can be found on the right side of Barnheisen (lift L). The following ages and levels meet here:

You can activate your season pass at Skipsheisen, Lilleputtheisen, Gaustablikkekspressen, Fyrieggheisen, Ronnyheisen, Parkheisen or Fjellheisen. 

If you have bought a season ski pass with a new keycard from Skidata, you can collect them in one of our lift pass machines/pick-up boxes at Gausta Ski Rental (next to Gaustablikk) or at Hovdestaul next to Fyrieggheisen. 

If you load your existing keycard from Skidata you can go straight to the lift. The first time that you go through the gate you will need to hold your pass still for 3-5 seconds so that the pass can be loaded onto your keycard. If you don’t have a keycard and have bought one online then you can pick it up from the ski pass machines outside of Gausta Ski Rental or at Hovdestaul. 

You are free to choose a ski pass for just one day, 2 hours, or for evening skiing only.

Purchase your ski pass online.

Upon presenting a companion certificate, the companion receives a free ski pass for the relevant days. The ski pass can be collected at Gausta Ski Rental upon the arrival of both the companion and the holder of the companion certificate.

The parks are open under the opening hours of Gausta Ski Center. 

Gausta Skisenter has two snowparks. One on the Gaustablikk side in 1. Hotellbakken and one on the Hovdestaul side in 30. Parkbakken

The tracks are prepared every day during the winter season. At the beginning of the season and at Christmas, the tracks are prepared on the weekends. The goal is that the tracks should be prepared by 10 am every day after Christmas.

In April, the trails are only groomed on weekends if conditions permit.

You can follow the piste machine to see which tracks have recently been prepared on the cross-country map.

Yes, it is possible to bring a dog with you on the trails. Just remember to pick up after your dog, and throw away any trash at the garbage stations. There is a leash requirement between 1 April and 20 August by law, but you as a dog owner are responsible all year round for your dog not rushing towards, jumping on or standing in the way of other people/skiers.

The organization that is responsible for the cross-country ski trails at Gausta is called Gausta-Kvitåvatn Turistservice (GKT). GKT is operated as a limited company and is owned by private individuals, landowners and companies in the area and Tinn municipality.

Svartdalsløypa

• Every day light from dusk until 11:00 PM.
• Friday, Saturday and Sunday light from 6:00 AM until dawn.

We have cross-country skiing trails that are well-loved here at Gausta!

Explore popular trails.

Walking is permitted in the Svartdalsløypa trail, but stepping into the ski tracks is not allowed. Please ensure that you stay within the designated walking area.

If there is sufficient snow, signs will be placed to indicate the walking zone. When coming from Vatnedalen towards Gaustalikk Fjellresort and continuing to Bygget/Hovdestaul, you should walk on the right side of the ski tracks. On your way back, walk on the opposite side.

We have skischool! We adapt our classes to all levels! Read more and book at Gausta ski-og snowboardskole

Krossobanen is closed indefinitely.

Read more here.

Rjukan Climbing Park is currently closed.

Stay updated on opening hours here.