Are you the cold-blooded type who gets a frisson of excitement at the first sign of snowfall? Is physical activity your secret for getting through the winter chill until you thaw out in spring? If so, consider a getaway where you’re pretty much guaranteed the white stuff. From deep expanses of forest to hike, to skies like Imax screens waiting for the aurora’s dazzling cold open and glacial waters to paddle in, this list has it all. Plus these 20 holidays provide all the right gear — open campfires, rib-sticking food and local glögg — to keep you toasty through the darkest days of the year. Then again, you’ll hardly feel the cold with all the activity.
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1. Walking through snowy forests in Switzerland
If you’re tempted to try your first snow holiday but don’t know where to start, this winter walking week in the scenic Swiss mountain village of Kandersteg, with a backdrop of soaring peaks, is a great option. From leisurely low-level routes that radiate out from the village, through forests, to spectacular snowshoe tracks winding up the Gemmipass, this trip provides a pleasurable yet gentle introduction to the world of winter hiking and enchanting mountain landscapes.
Details Seven nights’ half-board from £1,190pp, including rail travel from London (inntravel.co.uk)
2. Ice skating on frozen lakes in Sweden
Temporary festive ice rinks may be de rigueur in British cities at this time of year, but they are no match for the magical experience of skating on clear, natural ice across a frozen lake in Swedish wintertime. Swedes love to skate and the country has an extensive network of empty lakes and archipelago waters at your disposal, where expert local guides will select the best possible ice conditions for your tour at the most majestic and tranquil settings. The location of this trip varies depending on where the ice is good at the time, but it’s always within 1-2.5 hours of Stockholm, with simple hostel-style accommodation and three to four hours of skating per day. Departures are available between January 16 and March 9.
Details Three nights’ half-board from £742pp, including transfers, equipment and guiding (naturetravels.co.uk). Fly to Stockholm
3. Winter dipping and Christmas markets in Slovenia
Lake Bled hosted the Winter Swimming World Championships last year, but cold water dippers of all levels of experience are welcome on this unique winter swimming break. With a backdrop of lush pine forests and snowy mountain peaks, this trip mixes guided dips and cold water swimming technique sessions in clean green lakes Bled and Bohinj with forest walks, saunas, stargazing and a visit to Ljubljana’s atmospheric Christmas markets. You’ll stay in the four-star Hotel Bohinj near the lake, which has a striking modern timber design and wood-clad rooms.
Details Three nights’ half-board £1,629pp, including transfers and guiding, departing on November 29 (swimquest.uk.com). Fly to Ljubljana
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4. Nordic skiing from Iceland’s new design hotel
Reaching Highland Base — a stunning hotel, all vertical wooden planks and angular lines, which opened last year in Iceland’s interior, 125 miles northeast of Reykjavik — is easy enough in summer. But when the first snows come, the remoteness of the location is amplified and the only way in is by four-wheel drive, driven by a professional. It’s a great excuse to learn to Nordic ski, which is like cross-country skiing but on fatter skis and was the preferred method of transport for early polar explorers. Here, you can set off right from the door and explore the magnificent highland landscape of the Kerlingarfjoll mountains with a two-day Nordic ski course (£1,372pp).
Details B&B doubles from £488 for two nights minimum (highlandbase.is). Fly to Reykjavik
5. Wolf tracking and winter hiking in the southern French Alps
Walk through unspoilt and picturesque southern Alpine landscapes in a secret location while learning how to track wolves using their footprints in the snow, with the help of a local mountain guide. There are thought to be two packs and one solitary male in the area and, though they may be too wily for you to spy close up in the flesh, you’ll certainly get the spine-chilling experience of hearing them howl at night. You may also see golden eagles, chamois, deer, wild boars and, if you’re very lucky, a lynx. You’ll stay at a simple refuge.
Details Three nights’ full board £722pp, including transfers, departing on March 29 (responsibletravel.com). Fly to Marseilles or take the train to Aix-en-Provence
6. Yoga and snowshoeing in Austria’s East Tirol
Nestled high in the Austrian Alps in the village of Kals, yet blissfully free of the hubbub that characterises many Tyrolean ski resorts, MoaAlm Mountain Retreat is all about being “relaxingly active”. Days begin with a yoga class while watching the sun rise over the mountains, followed by a snowshoe hike on a high Alpine trail. When the sun shines you can enjoy picnics with views of Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, and on snowy days it’s all about tasty Tyrolean food in cosy mountain huts. Departures are available between December 7 and April 12
Details Seven nights’ half-board from £995pp, including guiding, equipment, and yoga classes (wearactive.com). Take the train to Kitzbuhel or fly to Salzburg
7. Fat-biking and Nordic skiing in Finnish Lapland
Cycling on snow might not seem like the easiest of feats, but riding a fat bike — which has thicker and grippier tyres than a normal bike — feels incredibly stable and is a wonderful way to explore the remote trails of Finland’s Urho Kekkonen National Park, in the north of the country. After two days of fat-biking while staying in a log cabin, the trip shifts to backcountry Nordic skiing, for a hut-to-hut ski tour which takes you deeper into the snow-caked Finnish wilderness, and ends with a traditional sauna and ice-hole dip. British Airways launches new flights to nearby Ivalo — the country’s most northerly airport — this December, making things easier.
Details Seven nights’ full board £1,650pp, including guiding and equipment, departing on January 25 (sidetrackedadventures.co.uk). Fly to Ivalo
8. Wildlife watching and sightseeing in northern Norway
While you could immerse yourself in Arctic winter from the comfort of your room (or the outdoor hot tubs) when staying at the pretty white-painted Hamn I Senja, a hotel with sweeping views on the rugged west coast of Senja, Norway’s second biggest island, you’ll almost certainly want to get out into the cold and explore. Cormorants and sea eagles soar above during a wildlife boat safari, and you can take an evening snowshoe tour to see (fingers crossed) the northern lights. The chance to go Arctic bathing in a specially designed floating dry suit will be one to tell the grandkids about. The trip is bookended by time in Tromso, Norway’s northernmost city, where highlights include the mountain-shaped Arctic Cathedral and the Polar Museum.
Details Six nights’ full board from £1,348pp, including activities (discover-the-world.com). Fly to Tromso
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9. Winter walking in Transylvania, Romania
Some places truly come alive when blanketed in snow and Transylvania, with its gothic castles, horse-drawn carts, craggy mountains, and dense woodland full of sleeping bears, is one such destination. On this atmospheric winter walking adventure through Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, you’ll wander through small villages, valleys, canyons and gorges, meeting people who still largely live a traditional lifestyle, learning about the regional folklore. This includes a visit to Bran Castle, the fictional home of Count Dracula.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £1,249pp, including transfers and guiding (exodus.co.uk). Fly to Bucharest
10. Husky touring in the Finnish wilderness
Speeding through snowy forests and across frozen lakes in a pristine and untouched Arctic wilderness, while being pulled by a team of eager huskies, is a thrilling winter holiday experience you’ll never forget. Expert mushers will teach you how best to act and react to your team of dogs while out on the trail, and learning how to motivate these amazing high-energy animals is the ultimate lesson in teamwork. You’ll stay at the 50-year-old Harriniva Adventure Resort, before and after the husky-sledge journey, which has a sauna and wood-panelled rooms. Then, once you’re off, you’ll stay at a series of wilderness cabins, sledding between them, some with no running water or electricity, but always with hot meals, saunas and thick sleeping bags for the dorm-style rooms.
Details Seven nights’ full board — three in a Harriniva safari house or hotel and four in wilderness cabins — from £2,625pp, including flights, transfers, guiding and cold-weather clothing (artisantravel.co.uk)
11. Winter hiking and horse riding in Kyrgyzstan
The Tien Shan in Kyrgyzstan are known as “the mountains of heaven” — and once you witness the towering canyons, vast mountain lakes, forests and snow-covered jagged peaks first hand, you’ll understand why. On this group trip, you’ll explore the mountains on horseback and snowshoe, learn about nomadic culture with visits to hunters who use eagles, relax in traditional banya saunas and hot springs at the end of each day and spend two nights at a traditional yurt camp.
Details Seven nights’ full board — two in a hotel, three in a guesthouse and two in yurts — from £1,333, including transfers, guiding and equipment (muchbetteradventures.com). Fly to Bishkek
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12. An off-grid cabin and Nordic skiing in northern Dalarna, Sweden
The first thing that will strike you at your remote off-grid cabin base on the shores of Lake Navar is the silence. Northern Dalarna is not as well known as Lapland, but this means there are even fewer tourists — just frozen mires, deep boreal forests and untouched snow, stretching as far as the eye can see. After arriving by train from Stockholm, you’ll stay in a cabin, collecting water in the stream and getting clean using a sauna and ice hole combo. Evenings are spent by candlelight, and during the day you’ll learn to Nordic ski (aka cross-country on the flat, rather than downhill), building up to a two-day winter camping adventure at the end of the week. The trip is suitable for beginners, departures are from January 5 to March 16.
Details Six nights’ full board — four in the base cabin and two winter camping — from £1,666, including transfers and guiding (dothenorth.com). Fly to Stockholm
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13. Snowshoeing and fine dining in the Dolomites, Italy
One of the most enjoyable things about snowshoeing is that it allows you to get right into the heart of the mountains — far from the roads, pistes and ski resort crowds. This is especially true on this trip to the dramatic Dolomites in Italy where, in the shadow of jagged peaks and vertical limestone walls, you’ll explore the shore of Lake Braies and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies national park, hiking on forest trails and old First World War tracks. Your base for the week is the charming four-star Hotel Adler in the pretty village of Villabassa, which has a wellness centre and Michelin-recommended cuisine.
Details Seven nights’ full board from £1,799, including activities (responsibletravel.com). Book before December 2 for January-March departures; readers get 20 per cent off with the code EARLY25. Fly or take the train to Innsbruck
14. Design hotel and indigenous culture in Sweden
Inspired by the region’s timber-rafting heritage, Arctic Bath is an architectural marvel of a hotel — it looks like an exquisite giant birds’ nest and literally floats on the River Lule. As the name suggests, the hotel is centred on a circular open-air cold plunge pool and guests can also dip in the “refreshing” currents of the river, alternating with spells in the sauna. Sapmi Experience days offer a taste of indigenous culture, including a reindeer encounter, a three-course meal and traditional songs around the fireplace.
Details B&B doubles from £577, Sapmi Experience £144pp (arcticbath.se). Fly or take the train to Lulea
15. Hiking amid frozen waterfalls in Finland
The Korouoma Canyon is a natural wonder in southern Lapland that formed hundreds of millions of years ago. At the bottom of the canyon flows the River Korojoki, flanked on either side by 100m-high cliffs; in winter the streams running down these cliffs freeze into spectacular ice falls. On this day trip, about 90 minutes’ drive southeast from Rovaniemi, you’ll hike through forests, gorges and awe-inspiring nature to visit three massive frozen waterfalls — an outstanding spot for photography — and stop for an outdoor lunch cooked on a campfire.
Details B&B doubles from £824 (arctictreehousehotel.com). Korouoma tour £138pp (beyondarctic.com). Fly to Rovaniemi
16. Winter hiking and kayaking in southwest Norway
Paddle on Lysefjord’s placid waters in a kayak while surrounded by a stunning winter panorama of snow-capped peaks and cascading waterfalls on this women-only retreat to southwestern Norway. Lysefjord is one of the country’s largest fjords, but you’ll have it to yourselves in wintertime, staying in a cosy waterside cabin with a sauna. Along with the kayaking, which is suitable for beginners, this retreat includes snowshoeing and hiking in the Sirdal mountains.
Details Four nights’ full board from £1,050, including transfers, equipment and guiding (gutsygirls.co.uk). Fly to Stavanger
17. Luxury forest bathhouse glamping near Mount Fuji, Japan
Experience incredible views of a snowcapped Mount Fuji far from the crowds at a luxury cabin and glamping dome site in the virgin forests of Kawaguchiko, in the northern foothills. The site itself, set around a guesthouse that dates back to the 1550s, is a picture of serenity with a natural onsen and barrel sauna in the forest, and the option to take part in meditative woodchopping classes. You can book stargazing and low mountain hiking tours and, on the latter, stand a good chance of seeing the “Diamond Fuji”, where the rising and setting sun appears at the apex of the mountain in winter. You can travel by train to Kawaguchiko from Tokyo.
Details Half-board doubles from £264pp (gv-hanz.com). Fly to Tokyo
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18. Crowd-free snowshoeing in the Pyrenees in Spain
Hike amid the amazing peaks that straddle the border between France and Spain on this beginner-friendly, women-only snowshoeing long weekend. Led by friendly mountain guides, you’ll start on gentle flat terrain in Col du Pourtalet, explore the lake of Ibon de Estanes on day two, and walk in the shadow of the Midi d’Ossau, one of the most famous summits in the Pyrenees, on the final day. Your evening base will be a family-run hotel in the Spanish mountain village of Sallent de Gallego, with dinner at a selection of local restaurants.
Details Four nights’ full board from £1,250, including transfers, guiding and equipment (gutsygirls.co.uk). Fly or take the train to Zaragoza
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19. Wildlife watching and snowshoeing in Jackson Hole, USA
Hotel Yellowstone is a new adults-only luxury hotel with magnificent, unobstructed views of the vast Teton mountain range and Snake River Valley, a few miles outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming. You’re likely to see moose and mule deer from your hotel room balcony, but a guided snowshoe tour is the best way to glimpse them in their winter element, while immersing yourself in the extraordinary beauty of the setting (£712 for up to three people).
Details B&B doubles from £757 (hotelyellowstonejh.com). Fly to Jackson Hole via Denver or Chicago
20. Moonlit winter hiking in the Swiss Alps
Snowshoeing by the light of the moon allows you to experience the Alps in a completely different way. The tranquillity of the night becomes front and centre, and the shaded outline of snowy mountains all around creates a magical atmosphere. You’ll make your way along a winter hiking trail from Grindelwald before stopping for a glass of mulled wine and looping back through snow-white meadows and forests to finish the tour. Tours run once a month from December to March (£129pp; outdoor.ch) and can be added to a stay at the Bergwelt Grindelwald design hotel, with stylish rooms, spa and panoramic views of the north face of the Eiger.
Details Room-only doubles from £177 (bergwelt-grindelwald.com). Take the train to Interlaken Ost via Bern or Zurich
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