The Snowdon Challenge
Tackle a 17km cycle, a 14km trek to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, and a 4km paddle on an 8-hour sweat to the finish line in beautiful North Wales
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, instructors and mountain leadersHotel
1 night in a local 3-star hotelMeals
Breakfast at the hotel and a packed-lunch up the mountainTransfers
Transfers from Bangor train station and backEquipment
Everything you need for cycling and kayaking will be sortedSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 16 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?
Take on one of the UK’s most rewarding mountain challenges and summit the highest peak in Wales (1085m)
Bike 17km of country lanes, nail the 14km trek up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and kayak 4km on the stunning Llyn Padarn
A day of unrivalled action in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, one of the UK’s wildest adventure playgrounds
Key Information
Day 1
Arrive and get briefed for the big day
Arrive at your hotel in the village of Llanberis in the evening (this is usually a Saturday evening; please check the exact days and dates of your departure). Llanberis is situated right at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) on the banks of Llyn Padarn, one of the largest lakes in Wales. At 19:00 you'll have a detailed pre-challenge meeting, after which you are free to explore the town or chill in your hotel in preparation for the challenge ahead.
Day 2
It's on – the Snowdon Challenge!
Cycling
Hiking
Kayaking
Wake up early (usually challenge day is a Sunday; please check the exact days and dates of your departure) for a hearty breakfast and then hit the road. You’ll bike through the Welsh countryside, pedalling along the shores of Llyn Padarn and skirting the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park with the peak of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) looming in the distance. Next, you'll stomp it up the Snowdon Ranger Trail on the quieter, west side of the mountain and zigzag through lush green turf and flat boggy bits, before ascending to the ridgeline. Follow the ridge all the way to the summit for a victory photo and a quick breather before descending to the northwest via the more gradual Llanberis Path, finishing in Llanberis itself. Then it's time for a brisk paddle around Llyn Padarn, completing a large circuit of the lake to smash through the finish line and celebrate with a glass of champers. Challenge completed.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Bangor Train Station or Llanberis Hotel
18:00 / 18:30 on Day 1
Ends
Llanberis Hotel or Bangor Train Station
17:30 / 18:00 on Day 2
Transfers
For those travelling by train – you'll be picked up at Bangor Train Station at 18:00 on Day 1 (this is usually on a Saturday; please check the exact days and dates of your departure). If you're driving, aim to arrive at the hotel in Llanberis by no later than 18:30, to be ready in time for the briefing at 19:00.
At the end of your challenge on Day 2 (usually on a Sunday; please check the exact days and dates of your departure), you will be dropped back at the hotel at 17:30, or at Bangor Train Station at 18:00 – the choice is yours.
Travel options
Trains run frequently to Bangor from destinations all across the UK. There is car parking at the hotel for those driving.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
A full English or continental breakfast is included at the hotel and a packed lunch is provided for the hiking portion of the challenge, including a sandwich, cereal bar, drink, chocolate bar and piece of fruit. Llanberis also has plenty of restaurants and pubs to choose from and any dietary needs can be accommodated (including vegetarian and vegan), just let your host know when booking.
What is the accommodation like?
Royal Victoria Hotel, Llanberis
You’ll stay at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis situated at the foot of Yr Wyddfa in 30 acres of gardens and woodland. There is a lively bar and restaurant, and the hotel features comfortable and modern ensuite rooms. Exactly the kind of comfort you need before the challenge starts.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
This trip has been rated as Moderate
This is a fully packed, active and fun day and therefore this trip has been rated as moderate. This trip is suitable whether you’ve done challenges before or it’s your first one. No particular level of skill is needed, but you do need a good level of walking and cycling fitness.
The hike up and down Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is about four hours, with a decent amount of ascent to cover (nearly 1000m), so will require some strong legs and determination. The cycling on this trip is suitable for everyone, you just need to be able to ride a bike on paved surfaces for a few hours. The kayaking around Llyn Padarn is perfect for beginners, although building a little arm strength before the trip can help with the paddling.
Cardio, strength and flexibility training will help you be in the best shape possible. The fitter and more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy this trip - it is a long and active day.
What if i need to skip an activity?
You can skip any of the individual activities if you like.
What will I need to carry?
You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for your main luggage (which you can leave at the hotel or in the host's van), and then a smaller daypack to carry personal items during the challenge.
Summers in Llanberis are perfect for athletics because they’re not excessively hot or sunny. Daytime temperatures average a pleasant 19 °C, and nighttime temperatures cool off to 12 °C.
Because of its elevation, weather on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is considerably cooler and more fickle. Temperatures range from 10 – 12 °C during the day, but the skies are clear roughly half the days each month.
Snowden October 2024
What an incredible experience. Our guides Cat and Ewan were exceptional. Extremely friendly and Cat gave me great advice in order to complete the hike. I’ll defo being booking my next adventure through much better…. 😁😁
Expertly managed by Jim and
Expertly managed by Jim and the guides , Ewen and Kat were lovely, relaxed.and knowledgeable . Would highly recommend them and the experience
A fantastic day with cheery
A fantastic day with cheery friendly staff to get us where we needed to be. Well organised. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Snowden challange
Where to begin.arrived at the hotel the night before,very friendly staff,unfortunately arrived late,so missed the team talk out the front,which was a shame because we could have introduced ourselves to everyone for a while before going to bed.went down about 7 to a nice fried breakfast to set us up for the day.met up with everyone 8.15.they had all the bikes ready for us.there were 3 guides,Jim who moved all of the equipment and any gear we needed for the day from our start Finish points,and ewan and kat who would look after us.off we went on our bike ride,it was a lovely route,which was a mixture of road and cycle paths.nobody was pushed to rush along and the ride was very pleasant.there was one Hill which was quite steep,but they stressed to everyone to get off and walk if you need to,which a few of us did,including myself. I just couldn't quite make it to the top.got to the next point where Jim met us to take the bikes and get ready for the walk.they gave us plenty of snacks to eat and take up the mountain.we were there about 20 minutes or so,and then we were off.the views were amazing and the weather was perfect.we had a couple of short breaks on the way up to regroup and kat and ewan kept an eye on us the whole way.they encouraged us when we needed it,which was a few times for me.gets quite cold at the top so take a few layers you can take on and off as you go.there was a big visitor centre at the top ,so we all got in there and had a bit to eat and drink.we went up the ranger track which is moderately hard, but came down a much easier trail,which was very welcome. I think it took us about 5.45 hours to complete. Got to the bottom and strolled over to where we did our kayaking. It was lovely to have a little paddle around with everyone, and a perfect end to our amazing day.would thoroughly recommend to anyone.made some amazing friends,and I'm looking forward to my next adventure.
Awesome trip!
The guides were fantastic - very friendly and made us feel comfortable throughout the entire day. Highly recommend!
Snowdon August 2024
What a way to climb Snowdon!!!!! I enjoyed it a lot more then my other half.
I would definitely practice cycling up hills before hand as the one you cycle up goes on forever.
Theres no pressure to be quick. They had two guides - one for the fast group and one for the slower group. There was two of us in the slow group so we did miss all the group dynamics....but actually, we didnt mind that at all!
Our guide was Mark. He was great, encouraging and dropped in lots of handy tips to make sure we looked after ourselves along the way. We didnt think we'd make it to the summit but with Marks help, we got to the top. He was brilliant!!!
Be prepared. The ranger path is harder then we thought. It starts off with a steep zigzag, which is definitely made a lot more challenging doing it straight after the bike ride.
A great day! Our muscles are very sore and we can barely move but we have taken away many funny memories!!!
Hi guys, I had a
Hi guys, I had a wonderful day today. Spot-on really enjoyed it.
First experience with the company.
First experience with the company. Disappointed to say the least. I do appreciate that participants have different levels of ability and fitness, but the company obviously do not cater for this. I also felt that the organisation and leadership was poor. Sadly due to this first time experience I shan't be using the company again. Lost faith very rapidly. Possibly have been spoilt in the past with excellent organisation by other adventure companies.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review regarding a few issues that you experienced on this trip.
On this trip, we generally have 2 guides accompanying the group, and in addition we have a support driver/guide on call throughout the day who can also provide assistance wherever necessary. We believe that this gives us plenty of flexibility to manage the group as best we can according to various abilities and preferences.
If you have any further questions or comments you would like to share with us, please email the customer experience team on [email protected]
Ruth MBA Operations Team
Awesome adventure
Was an incredible day out, was fortunate to have really good weather for the trip. Between the bike ride, the hike and the kayak, you will have absolutely breathtaking views to enjoy. Highly recommend
A fantastic day out
First challenge and I was nervous, but I didn’t need to be! Everything was so organised and my group we lovely. We had amazing weather (24 degrees!), the challenge was well-paced. Wonderful scenery and an all round fantastic day out. When can I book the next adventure?! 😂
Great experience and organisation
Well worth making the trip to Snowdon for! MBA team really put everyone at ease, made it feel fun and led the day absolutely seamlessly. Guides are all outdoors enthusiasts and felt very well looked after in their hands. If you do this trip, go up the afternoon before and do the 2 hour walk around Llyn Padarn - splendid views of the lake and valley. I certainly couldn’t be more impressed with MBA and already looking at future trips!
A great day out!
An enjoyable and challenging adventure. The trip went off without a hitch thanks to Mike, Sue and Jim. The flapjacks for lunch were also amazing!
Snowdon Challenge
Well organised trip, basic but decent accommodation and a good day out. The bike and kayak sections are secondary to the walk up the mountain so bear that in mind if you prefer wheels and paddles to feet
Snowden Adventure
Great experience, would recommend it. Plenty of info emailed beforehand and everything was well organised with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Thanks Mark, Sue and Jim from Adventurous Ewe.
Great time, great time
Had such a fantastic time with a wonderful group today. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a way to get back into - or start - being a bit more adventurous. Mike was an amazing guide. Beautiful time, but exhausting! (In a good way).
Great day
Perfect organisation from Jim as all transfers were organised smoothly. All equipment is provided so you just need to enjoy the trip. Worth it.
Fab weekend with the girls
I’d like to say thanks to MBA/Adventurous Ewe for a well organised day, even though the weather wasn’t kind to us. The team at AE knew exactly the pace of the group and what we all wanted out of it. It wasn’t a mad pace, which I appreciated, so we were able to enjoy the day and even stop off to see the waterfall.
Snowdon
Really great trip. All the guys were superb. Tom taking us up the mountain and cycle and Jim arranging things and manning the van. Fantastic views, great hotel. Thoroughly recommend.
Cannot thank Jim, Kat, and
Cannot thank Jim, Kat, and Tom enough for leading us through an incredible weekend. The energy and meticulous organisation each brought ensured a well-organised and immensely fun experience for all of us.
We embarked on this adventure as a stag group, and one of our members had an injury. Kat was exceptional in accommodating this, tailoring the weekend to suit our needs perfectly. Her adaptability and attentiveness made it clear that anyone concerned about their ability to keep up would be well taken care of.
From start to finish, the team at Much Better Adventure went above and beyond to ensure we had an unforgettable time. The camaraderie, stunning scenery, and expertly planned activities made this a trip we'll remember for years to come. If you're considering a challenge like this but are worried about any potential hurdles, rest assured that you will be in excellent hands.
Excellent organisation by Jim and
Excellent organisation by Jim and the team. Everything was there for you. There was no rush and I didn't feel under any pressure to rush up the mountain, which was good as my legs turned to lead half way up. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and had a great laugh finishing off with the kayak. Brilliant day. Hotel was very comfortable with good food and great staff, packed lunch was just right
Fantastic Snowdon challenge
Fantastic guides and organisation. Well paced for the whole group. Lunch was lovely. Not so sure about the ‘champagne’ at the end! Would definitely recommend
Great trip
Really recommend this trip (and MBA) - the guides Abby and Mark were great and with the hot weather the views were spectacular. The kit list should also include swimwear to paddle post kayaking and although the challenge was meant to finish in time for the station at 6, we were probably an hour behind so build flexibility into your plans for heading home if you want the full experience.
We had a great time,
We had a great time, guides were amazing managing the varied group. Stunning views and great organisation thank you Abby and Mark.
Great day, Kat was a
Great day, Kat was a brilliant guide, weather was a bit misty but otherwise everything else was excellent.
Stunning
Had a great weekend in a stunning part of the world. Met some great people and was fantastically organised by a team that couldn’t do enough for you. Couldn’t recommend highly enough.
Snowdon challenge and my first MBA day!
Absolutely brilliant adventure, very well organised from start to finish, the team were great, met a lovely bunch of people, the hotel was nice too and well located for all the activities, good quality and good selection ofequipment, very talkative and full of knowledge team, the hike up snowdon was amazing with beautiful scenery and the Lake was perfect for kayaking
All in all a brilliant day and highly recommended!
Snowdon challenge
From start to finish this was an amazing experience. Chris and Jim our guides for the day were friendly and helpful throughout. Snowdon was a bit of a challenge in the weather conditions and I felt like giving up at one point but persevered with support from everyone. Lovely group of people and a fantastic day outdoors. Inspired me to look for a new adventure, hopefully in more clement weather 😊
Fantastic mini getaway!
The trip was really well organised and Jim & the team were so attentive. The hotel was excellent and had a wide selection for breakfast. Communication ahead of the trip was great so we knew exactly what to expect. We weren't able to make it to the top of Snowdon due to weather conditions but the team made sure we still had a wonderful time. I would highly recommend it!
I couldn't recommend this more!
I couldn't recommend this more! It was a wonderful adventure in Snowden and extremely well-run. Met some great people along the way and am looking forward to joining more trips. Thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. The challenge was well organised, the accommodation was good and the leaders were excellent. I will definitely be doing more in the future.
Itinerary Activities
- Guided 17km bike ride along the shores of Llyn Padarn
- Guided 14km hike up the Snowdon Ranger Trail
- Guided 4km kayak around Llyn Padarn
Guides
- Expert, local, kayaking instructors alongside cycling and mountain leaders.
Accommodation
- 1 night's stay in a local 3-star hotel
Meals
- 1 breakfast at the hotel
- 1 packed lunch up the mountain
Transfers
- Group arrival transfers from Bangor train station on Day 1
- Group departure transfers to Bangor train station on Day 2
- Transfers during the trip
Equipment
- All cycling equipment
- All kayaking equipment
Our trips are hassle-free by design. We include all the activities and equipment, as well as many of the meals, so you can simply rock up with your rucksack and share the adventure with your new pals.
Travel to and from the trip
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
Tips
Tips are not included in the trip cost; these are entirely at your discretion. If you would like to tip, the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality.
Personal Expenses
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness. Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine, as their insurance offers all of the above.
Visas
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included
- Cycling equipment (bike and helmet)
- Kayaking equipment (kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid)
- Safety equipment (first aid kit and radio)
What do I need to bring?
- Rucksack (15-25 litre)
- Warm jacket
- Waterproof jacket with hood
- Waterproof trousers
- Worn in hiking boots or shoes
- Warm hat
- Thin gloves
- Padded cycling shorts (optional)
- Cycling shoes or trainers
- Old Trainers (for kayaking that you don't mind getting wet)
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
- Water bottles or water bladder (2 litres)
- Snacks and energy food and drink for the day
Pre/post trip accommodation - double/twin room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation - double/twin room
… Per Night
Pre/post trip accommodation - single room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation - single room
… Per Night
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
… Per Person
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 29kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
The kayaks used on this trip have a maximum combined weight capacity of 220kg/34 stone.
Sure. You can leave anything you don't need on the Challenge at the hotel.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.
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DEPARTURE DATES
Saturday 5th April 2025
to Sunday 6th April 2025
Saturday 12th April 2025
to Sunday 13th April 2025
Early Bird Offer - Next 2 spots available at 5% off
Saturday 19th April 2025
to Sunday 20th April 2025
Early Bird Offer - Next 2 spots available at 5% off
Saturday 26th April 2025
to Sunday 27th April 2025
Early Bird Offer - Next 1 spot available at 10% off
