Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in most parts of the world. But it can also be one of the most beautiful. On the coldest days, waterfalls freeze mid-flow, creating gorgeous ice sculptures. Beads of frost cling to grassy meadows, sparkling softly in the early morning light. The rugged silhouettes of mountains such as the Dolomites are softened under a carpet of snow. And the long dark nights mean there’s a greater chance of seeing one of the world’s most colourful phenomena, the northern lights.
Of course, not every winter day will be picture-postcard pretty. Try climbing Ben Nevis in winter and you’ll find the weather conditions far less stable than you would in the summer months. Winter is a time to enjoy some type two fun - activities that aren’t necessarily enjoyable in the moment, but are fun to reflect on later.
On the coldest days, waterfalls freeze mid-flow, creating gorgeous ice sculptures. Beads of frost cling to grassy meadows, sparkling softly in the early morning light...
One of the greatest joys of getting cold and wet is becoming warm and dry again. The sub-zero adventures we’ve selected have plenty of fun ways to do this, whether that’s dipping into thermally heated springs in Iceland, or having a smoke sauna in Estonia – an 800-year-old tradition.
The 15 winter trips we’ve selected take you to some of the wildest locations in Europe. They are:
- Hike and Kayak in the Alps of Slovenia
- The Ultimate Arctic Adventure in Finnish Lapland
- Hike, Kayak and Chase the Aurora in Lofoten
- Husky Sled and Northern Lights Expedition in Norway
- Snowshoeing Across the Mountains of Bulgaria
- An Overland Adventure Through Kyrgyzstan
- Ice Climbing and Winter Hiking in Iceland
- Wolf Tracking and Winter Hiking in Italy
- Hiking in the Italian Dolomites
- Summit Ben Nevis and Learn Winter Mountain Skills
- Hike the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia in Winter
- The Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway
- Snow and Saunas in Estonia
- Hike Romania’s Carpathian Mountains in Winter
- Hike Mount Etna in Winter
You’ll explore on snowmobiles and dog-sleds, on foot or by kayak. In some cases, you’ll be visiting little-known locations, such as Kyrgyzstan’s Tian Shan mountains. Others, like Turkey’s Cappadocia region, are tourism hotspots - in summer time, at least. You’ll be surprised by how peaceful they are during the off-season.
1. Hike and Kayak in the Alps of Slovenia
- Duration: 5 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Enchanting Alpine scenery
Head to the snow-tipped peaks, boreal forests and frozen lakes of the picturesque Julian Alps, which stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia. Base yourself in the ski resort of Kranjska Gora (or the quieter Gozd Martuljek). Spend your days exploring the trails and warming up in the thermal spa later. You can even hop across the border to Italy, for a snowshoe hike around the fairytale Laghi di Fusine, two glacial lakes which freeze over in winter.
Another little known region worth visiting is the Logar Valley, a remote glacial valley in the heart of the Kamnik Alps. Nearby, you’ll find the 90m-high (295ft) Rinka Falls, which dramatically freeze over in winter. Conclude your trip with a unique subterranean kayaking adventure, through the flooded tunnels of an abandoned mine in Mezica.
2. The Ultimate Arctic Adventure in Finnish Lapland
- Duration: 4 nights
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Visiting the home of Santa Claus
If you’re looking for a white Christmas, head to Finnish Lapland, the original home of Santa Claus. The region's Pyhä-Luosto National Park is a snow-blanketed wilderness of frozen valleys, ravines and tunturis (the remnants of 2 billion-year-old mountains).
Drive a husky or snowmobile on trails through trees bent under the weight of snow, passing herds of reindeer. Later, warm up in a traditional wood-fired Finnish sauna. In the evenings, head out to search for the northern lights, which can often be seen dancing overhead during the winter months.
Read more: What is Finnish Lapland like at Christmas?
3. Hike, Kayak and Chase the Aurora in Lofoten
- Duration: 5 nights
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Best for: Discovering Lofoten’s quieter side
The dramatically beautiful Lofoten Islands, in Arctic Norway, see a swell of crowds during the summer months. But visit during the winter and you’ll find it much quieter – and equally, if not more, beautiful when dusted in snow.
You'll glide through the icy waters surrounding the archipelago in a kayak at first light and after dark, searching for the northern lights. You'll also wild camp on Kvalvika, one of Lofoten's most iconic beaches, staying warm by a crackling fire. Enjoy the empty trails as you strike out to the viewpoints of Justadtinden (738m/2,421ft) and Ryten (543m/1,781ft), for panoramic views across the archipelago.
Read more: 7 of the Best Hikes on the Lofoten Islands
4. Husky Sled and Northern Lights Expedition in Norway
- Duration: 4 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Mushing
The Finnmarksvidda is a vast plateau in northern Norway - 8,494 square miles (22,000 sq km) of untrammelled wilderness. This is the place to visit if you’ve ever dreamed of driving a dogsled. Over a long weekend you’ll learn how to handle the sled and give commands to your dogs.
Then you’ll head out into the wilderness on a mini-expedition, driving your dogs across vast tracts of snowy tundra, immersed in the Arctic silence. You’ll bed down in rustic cabins, and you might even see the northern lights.
5. Snowshoeing Across the Mountains of Bulgaria
- Duration: 5 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Exploring Bulgaria's mountains
Head to Bulgaria to explore the Vitosha, Pirin and Rila mountain ranges on an epic snowshoe adventure. You’ll climb Cherni Vruh, the highest of the Vitosha Mountains at 2,290m (7,513ft). You'll snowshoe on a trail round the seven frozen lakes of Rila National Park, which are surrounded by jagged karst peaks.
The literal high point of the trip is an ascent of the impressive Bezbog Peak at 2645m (8,677ft), in the Pirin Mountains, a few hours’ hike from the final cable car station. Fuel up in the evenings with Bulgarian cuisine, a unique blend of Balkan, Mediterranean and Ottoman influences.
6. An Overland Adventure Through Kyrgyzstan
- Duration: 7 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: A unique winter road trip
You’ll embark on a road trip to some of the remotest corners of Kyrgyzstan, spending the nights in Kyrgyz guesthouses and cosy winter yurt camps. Along the way, you’ll go horseback riding across the frozen steppe, hike through the Konorcheck Canyon and bathe in the thermal hot springs of Keremet Suu.
In the Tian Shan mountains, you’ll explore the remote, eerie ghost town of Enilchek. You’ll visit Issyk Kul, a vast-high altitude lake, where you’ll meet a traditional eagle hunter and some yurt makers. This adventure provides a unique insight into a captivating country.
Read more: 5 of the Best Treks in Kyrgyzstan's Tian Shan Mountains
7. Ice Climbing and Winter Hiking in Iceland
- Duration: 4 nights
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Ice, fire and auroras
We love visiting Iceland during the colder months, when you can visit popular beauty spots without the crowds, when the otherworldly landscape is blanketed in snow, and when there’s a chance of seeing the northern lights.
Hike the ridges and crevasses of the Sólheimajökull glacier - you can even try your hand at ice climbing here. Tour the Golden Circle, taking in popular highlights such as the geothermally active Geysir and Gulfoss, a waterfall which freezes in winter. Head a little more off the beaten track in Thingvellir, where you’ll hike to a secret outdoor hot spring in the Reykjadalur Valley.
8. Wolf Tracking and Winter Hiking in Italy
- Duration: 3 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Wildlife tracking
Wolves have been making a steady comeback in Italy’s Abruzzo Mountains, thanks in part to the creation and ongoing management of the Central Apennines Rewilding Area. You’ll head out at dawn and dusk on hikes through the foothills and forests, searching for their tracks in the snow. If you’re lucky, you might even spot one of them!
Even if you don’t, you might spot other wildlife in the area, including the endemic Apennine chamois and golden eagles flying overhead. You’ll also get a chance to hike the Mainarde mountain chain, one of the wildest and least-visited areas of the Abruzzo National Park.
Read more: How Marsican Brown Bears are Bringing Life Back to Abruzzo
9. Hiking in the Italian Dolomites
- Duration: 3 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Experiencing the Dolomites’ quiet side
The dramatic limestone spires of Italy’s UNESCO-listed Dolomites are beautiful year round. But they’re particularly picturesque in the winter months, when the jagged rock is softened by a blanket of snow, and the trails are all but empty. In these quieter months, there’s a greater chance of spotting wildlife like chamois, ibex and the rare black woodpecker.
Head to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park in the heart of the Ampezzo Dolomites, where you’ll clip on snowshoes and hike through glittering pastures and tranquil pine forests, surrounded by snow-covered peaks on either side. In the evenings you’ll stay in a cosy mountain hut, where you’ll get to tuck into hearty Tyrolean cuisine like gnocchi or kaiserschmarrn (chopped sweet pancakes).
10. Summit Ben Nevis and Learn Winter Mountain Skills
- Duration: 2 nights
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Best for: A winter mountaineering taster
Climbing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK at 1,345m (4,412ft), is a challenging day hike during the summer months. But during the winter, the summit sees high winds, deep snow and poor visibility - it’s a chance to test your mettle by learning some winter mountain climbing skills.
Over a weekend you’ll learn how to use an ice axe and crampons, and how to survive in winter conditions. Then you’ll test these skills with an ascent of Ben Nevis, choosing a route depending on the current weather and the skill set of your group. One of the most challenging is the knife-edge CMD arête. There’ll be a real sense of achievement once you reach the summit.
11. Hike the Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia in Winter
- Duration: 4 nights
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Cappadocia, without the crowds
The central Turkish region of Cappadocia is renowned for its "fairy chimneys," spires of rock formed by volcanic activity and centuries of erosion. Around 4.8 million visitors headed to the region last year - most during the warmer months.
Visit Cappadocia in the winter to explore this unique landscape without the crowds. Explore the UNESCO-listed Göreme Open Air Museum – a labyrinthine network of Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries hewn into the rock. Hike among the spires and pinkish rock folds of the Red and Meskendir Valleys, warming up in a Turkish bath afterwards. There’s even the opportunity for an early morning balloon ride across this surreal landscape, which is particularly striking in the snow.
Read more: The Fascinating History of Cappadocia's Fairy Chimneys
12. The Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway
- Duration: 3 nights
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: Exploring the Norwegian Arctic
Across an epic long weekend, the Norwegian Arctic is your playground, which you’ll explore in a variety of ways. Based near the remote coastal town of Alta, you’ll navigate snowy forest trails on your fat bike, snowmobile across the Finnmarksvidda and drive a dog sled across the tundra. You’ll try your hand at ice fishing and defrost in the sauna later.
Chances of seeing the northern lights are high during the darker months. You don’t even need to brave the cold to search for them - you’ll be staying in aurora domes with transparent roofs, so you can watch them from the warmth of your bed.
13. Snow and Saunas in Estonia
- Duration: 4 nights
- Difficulty: Easy
- Best for: A Baltic winter adventure
Begin your adventure in the capital of Tallinn - it’s magical year-round, but winter transforms it into a fairytale scene. After exploring the charismatic Old Town, head out of the capital towards Lahemaa National Park, a protected area of forests and ancient bogs and marshes. Kick off your stay with an enchanting lantern-lit walk through the forest.
Spend the next couple of days exploring Lahemaa, kicksledding over the frozen marshland and snowshoeing through the forest, keeping your eyes peeled for elk and wolf tracks. You'll also visit a traditional Estonian smoke sauna, a UNESCO-designated tradition which involves ‘whisking’ yourself with birch twigs to stimulate circulation.
Read more: The UNESCO-listed Tradition of the Estonian Smoke Sauna
14. Hike Romania’s Carpathian Mountains in Winter
- Duration: 3 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Exploring Transylvania in the snow
The Apuseni Mountains, located in the heart of Transylvania, are a landscape of karst peaks with forest-clad foothills, prehistoric caves and deep gorges. You’ll clip on snowshoes and head out to explore the area's quiet hiking trails. stopping to meet a local family for tea on the way.
You can also explore below ground, heading to the spectacular Vârtop Cave, which is studded with stalactites and stalagmites. Then there’s the Tauz karstic spring, the deepest underwater cave in Romania, with its brilliant turquoise lake at the foot of an impressive rock wall.
15. Hike Mount Etna in Winter
- Duration: 4 nights
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Best for: Hiking a volcano in the snow
Sicily is often associated with sun-kissed summer holidays and sea swims. However, it’s also an ideal destination for an active winter hiking trip, especially if you visit the snowy heights of Mount Etna, the active volcano dominating the skyline.
Hike around the northern and eastern flanks of Mount Etna, through atmospheric birch forest and along lava ridges to the panoramic viewpoint of Valle del Bove (2,095m/ 6,873ft). Tramp part of the Pista Altomontana, a trail circumnavigating the volcano at an elevation of 1,800m (5,905ft), across a dramatic volcanic landscape of features and ossified flows, descending into underground lava tunnels. Bed down in cosy mountain huts, digging into hearty bowls of pasta and rustic seasonal main dishes.
Read more: Hiking and Climbing Mount Etna, Sicily's Highest Point
Inspired? Check out our Sub-Zero Adventures across the world!