From cracking the ice and diving into the depths of Lake Tignes to admiring the Aurora Borealis from the seat of a skidoo, we’ve handpicked a snow-capped smorgasbord of epic destinations to get your adventure fix this winter.
Read on to discover 5 of the best winter destinations in Europe for adventure travel, how to get there, and what you can do while you’re there.
Dolomites, Italy
A jagged mountainous paradise in the North of Italy, the Dolomites is a year-round destination for adrenaline junkies of all disciplines. With 18 dramatic peaks over 3,000m, it offers world class climbing, hiking, via-ferrata, cycling, base jumping, paragliding, and hang gliding through the warmer months – but it’s an epic destination for winter adventures too.
The Dolomiti Superski region is probably the best place to go when the snow starts to fall. As the world’s biggest ski destination, it’s home to 12 well-appointed resorts, 1,200km of slopes, 30 snow parks and 450 lifts – but there’s way more to winter in the Dolomites than ‘just’ skiing and snowboarding.
You can bomb down mountains by toboggan, glide through alpine valleys by cross-country skis, skate across frozen lakes, stomp and scramble up snow-capped peaks, harness up and traverse innumerable via-ferrata and don some snowshoes and head out in the wild. It’s a true winter wonderland – and to give you some ideas to dodge the crowds and try something different, we’re shining a light on three unique experiences that’ll get your blood pumping.
1. HIKE THE TRAILS
Hiking through the sun-soaked valleys and mountains of the Dolomites is special no matter the time of year. The advantage of being there in winter is that it’s much, much quieter – and stomping along waymarked trails or scrambling up icy peaks might just be the best way to enjoy the majestic beauty of the awe-inspiring region.
There’s something for all, no matter your level of fitness or mountain experience. Serious alpine enthusiasts can tackle some seriously tricky terrain and scale icy peaks, and hikers after a gentle amble through nature are spoilt with an extensive network of maintained trails.
And if you’re after something truly unforgettable, you should spend the night in a rifugio. Dotted across the Dolomites, over 1,000 cosy cabins provide overnight shelter for passing mountaineers and offer a front-row seat to some of the most beautiful alpine views on the planet.
The Natural Adventure run a seriously special self-guided week-long winter walk through the majestic peaks of the Dolomites. You’ll walk in the shadow of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, through the Sesto and Braise valleys to the summit of the Strudelkopf, stopping at rifugios and staying in small B&Bs and hotels along the way. Covering 6-15km each day, you don’t need to be a serious hiker to have a good time. Breakfast and dinner are included each day, as are your digs and luggage transfer between them – but you might have to pay a little extra to hire some snowshoes, crampons and trekking poles.
2. HIT THE SLOPES
If skiing’s not your thing but you still want to get out on the slopes, there is another option. Tobogganing. It’s the perfect winter activity for anyone looking for a low-pressure adventure that’ll allow them to soak up some epic views while carving down the mountain – and what’s even better is that it’s cheap, family-friendly and you can rent everything you need incredibly easily.
Most ski resorts have dedicated spots for tobogganing, or specific times when you can take to the ski slopes, but you’re particularly well catered for in the Dolomiti Superski. There’s a whole host of different places you can hire them from – up, down and across the mountain range – and the runs can be reached either using the lifts or on foot. If you’ve hiked up, then you can even take the chance for quick breather in one of the many mountain huts that litter its resorts, before jumping into your toboggan and bombing down the mountain into the valley below.
The run that’s caught our eye is the Val di Fiemme in Bellamonte. It’s a 2,100 metre long track that cuts through woodland from 1800 metres atop Le Fassane. You can hire a sledge at the ski-rental centre at the bottom of the slopes next to the chair lift. They’re 13 euro for a full day, then a lift pass for the day will set you back 29 euro if you haven’t already got one, and then you need to splash out an additional 7.5 euros for a run down the mountain.
3. CROSS COUNTRY
Cross-country skiing’s a whole different thing to barreling down mountains – and the Dolomites has to be one of the best places in the world to do it. Under your own steam you’ll glide across snow-covered alpine pastures, through wild valleys and along mountain passes.
The Superski area offers a whopping 1,177km of cross-country ski trails alone, but there’s also the Dolomiti Nordicski network which offers more than 900km of trails across South Tyrol, East Tyrol, Cortina and Cadore in an enormous circuit. It’s all accessible too. There are tracks suitable for all skill levels, there’s a great digital resource which allows you to download GPX files and maps, and it’s pretty affordable with a weekly pass to the entire region costing just 60 euros – and then you’ll just have to hire some kit from any of the well-appointed ski shops in the area.
Fun Active Tours run an eight-day ski safari which’ll see you cover up to 215km from Dobbiaco to Cortina d’Ampezzo by way of the Dolomites famous Three Peaks, the valleys of Casies and Braises, and the 2,000m high Prato Piazza. While the skiing’s not technical or tough, you’ll need a decent level of fitness to really enjoy it – and the tour’s flexible too, so you can choose to take a shorter route or longer route depending on what you want out of your adventure. Hotels, breakfast and dinner is included for each of the days, as are transfers and ticket fees for the use of the tracks, and you’ll also get detailed maps and route information to ensure you don’t go wrong.
HOW TO GET TO THE DOLOMITES
There’s a bunch of different way to get to there, but from the UK, it’s going to make the most sense to fly. A couple of airlines fly direct to Bolzano in South Tyrol, which is known as the gateway to the Dolomites.
Prices vary dramatically, but if you’re happy to be flexible, you should be able to get there and back for around £300. Then it’s just a short train or bus ride to get to the action in Val Gardena or Val d’Ega. It’s also relatively straightforward to fly to Verona or Venice and make use of the well-connected public transport network to get to the heart of the region.
Lake Myvatn, Iceland
The clue’s in the name. Iceland is a true winter wonderland that shines brightest when when the temperature drops and the nights draw in. From watching the late-morning sunrise from the warm embrace of a geothermal spring, to exploring its snowy centre, spectacular glaciers and volcanic peaks while keeping your eyes peeled for the elusive Northern Lights illuminating the clear skies during the long nights, it’s no surprise this remote but easily-accessible island is so well-loved by discerning travellers.
There’s plenty of adventure to be had too. Ice climbing, snorkelling, ice caving, snowmobiling and glacier hiking are just a small selection of some of the amazing things you can get up to if you’re into the great outdoors. But we like the idea of something a touch more chilled; a snowshoeing adventure round the icy banks of Lake Myvatn.
WHAT TO DO
GeoTravel run guided hikes through the wilderness of the Myvatn Nature reserve, which offer the chance to hike from the frozen wetlands of Lake Myvatn to the steaming volcano of the Krafla lava field. There’s no set route, it’s more a case of assessing the weather and working out the best plan of attack to take in some of the ‘top spots’ of the reserve during your three-hour snowshoe hike which’ll allow you to get off the beaten track and see places that most travellers miss.
HOW TO GET THERE
Flights to Iceland are both plentiful and affordable from the UK. Direct return flights to Reykjavik from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh can cost as little a £50 – but Bristol, Belfast and Liverpool are also achievable for less than £150. Myvatn is at the other side of the country to the capital city, which’ll take over 5 hours to drive. It’d be a mega journey through Iceland’s wild centre, but if you’re a little short on time, you can fly to Akureyri in about 45 minutes and then drive the final hour to Lake Myvatn.
Lapland, Finland
Best known for being the home of Santa Claus, the small city of Rovaniemi in Lapland is the perfect base from which to explore the winter wonderland of Northern Finland within the Arctic Circle. With snow on the ground for six months of the year, the wild, pristine landscape beyond the borders of the town is perfect for ice swimming, ice floating, husky sledding, snowshoeing, fat biking, hiking, skiing and more – but if we were heading up there, there’s one thing we’d love to do. See the Northern Lights by snowmobile.
WHAT TO DO
Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park can’t guarantee you’ll get a glimpse of the Aurora – but from its base in the Lappish wilderness you’ve got as good a chance as just about anywhere in the world. You’ll spend the evening riding through the deep, dark, arctic night with the only light coming from the moon, stars and your snowmobile’s headlights, as you weave through verdant forests and along the shores of frozen lakes on the hunt for the elusive Northern Lights – before taking a quick break to warm up by the fire with a hot drink. You’ll need a valid driving licence to ride the snowmobile, and it’s also worth noting that the price is based on two-people sharing a snowmobile so if you want to go solo you’ll have to spend a bit more. If you’ve got kids, then they’re able to join the safari from a sledge towed along behind.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are flights from London, Liverpool and Manchester direct to Rovaniemi Airport, which is just a short hop to the centre of town. Prices vary depending on when you want to go, but it’s possible to get there and back for less than £150. The other option is to fly into Helsinki from London – which is super cheap through the winter months – and then catch the train from the capital to Rovaniemi at a cost of 102 euros. It takes 8 and a half hours, but it’s a great way to soak up the landscape as you wind your way North.
Tignes, France
Forming part of the Espace Killy ski region with Val d’Isere, the snow sure French resort of Tignes is a properly popular choice with skiers and snowboarders on the hunt for winter thrills. It’s well-connected, well-equipped and relatively affordable – but it is nearly always busy, so if you’re not keen on crowds, this probably isn’t the place for you.
It is easy enough to find isolation in the mountains and valleys away from the resort and its satellite villages, and there’s absolute abundance of winter activities to get stuck into if you’re not so keen on flying down the slopes. In no particular order, there’s snowshoeing, sledging, dog sledding, horse riding, mountain biking, ski touring, mountaineering, ice climbing, ice floating, snowtubing, snowmobiling, moonbiking, ice driving, paragliding and bun j riding (which combines ski jumping, bungee jumping and zip wiring) all within easy access of the town – but if you want to try something truly otherworldly, how about diving into the icy water of Lake Tignes?
WHAT TO DO
Evolution2 offer the chance to don a wetsuit and some breathing apparatus and dive into the depths of Tignes 2100, immersing yourself in the world of light and shadows far beneath the one metre thick layer of ice that covers its surface. You don’t need any previous experience, and you’ll be shown the ropes by a qualified dive instructor for your one hour session. There’s also a night diving option, but you’ll need some experience and have to pay a little bit more for the privilege.
HOW TO GET THERE
It’s perfectly realistic to get to Tignes by car from the UK. It’ll take you about 11 and a half hours from Folkestone, and that’s including the 40 odd minutes you spend on the Channel Tunnel train to Calais. There’s no airport nearby, but the closest is Chambrey, which is around two hours away by private transfer. Grenoble’s about two hours and 45 minutes away, as are both Geneva and Lyon. You can catch a train instead of getting a private transfer, heading for Bourg St Maurice – though you’ll still need to catch a bus or bag a taxi for the final stretch. There’s also a train from London St Pancras to Bourg Saint Maurice, which takes under 8 and a half hours. It books up well in advance, but it’s a lovely, relaxed way to travel – and you can find tickets for as little as £119 for a single leg of the journey.
Serra da Estrela, Portugal
Portugal’s not exactly renowned for its winter sports potential. Better known for its mild, temperate climate, buzzing cities and surf-friendly beaches, you might be surprised to learn that high up in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park lies Portugal’s only ski resort.
Expanding across 390 square miles, the Park’s home to the highest mountain range in all of the country with the rugged peak of Torre sitting at 2,000 metres tall. The scenery is stunning; with river beaches, lagoons and waterfalls littering its glacial valleys – and when you add snow to the mix, things get even more special.
The ski resort is only small, with just four ski lifts across its nine pistes – but we’re more interested in hiking across its wild landscape, exploring the extensive 375km network of marked trails which cut across the region between quaint mountain villages. If you’re after an easy walk you can do yourself, the Passadiços do Mondego is perfect. With boardwalks and bridges floating across challenging terrain, you can see the best of the park without risking breaking an ankle.
WHAT TO DO
But if you want something a bit more hardcore, Vivu Journeys have got you covered. It offers a guided walk alongside the towering granite peaks, glacial valleys and deep ravines of the ‘Mountains of the Stars’, with a picnic lunch at the Poco do Inferno Waterfalls before heading onto the idyllic mountain town of Manteigas. You’ll get picked up and dropped off in Covilha, which is the perfect place to base yourself if you’re planning to spend a few days exploring the region.
HOW TO GET THERE
The great thing is that Portugal’s incredibly affordable to get to all-year-round. Flights from a swathe of major UK cities are available from as little as £100 return. If you’re wanting to explore the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, you’d be best flying into Porto – but the only problem is that there’s little in the way of public transport to get around when you’re in the mountains. There’s a train to Covilha, but then you’ll likely need a car when you get there – so the best thing to do is hire a car and tackle the 2 and a half hour journey from Porto yourself. Lisbon’s the other option. It’s just over three hours away from the park, and the same rules apply as if you flew into Porto.