The Traveller's Magazine
Baby it’s cold outside… Everyone is on about where they’re going this ski season but what about those who just don’t like to ski? From dog sledding trips across Greenland to epic sledging in Norway, here are a few trips to inspire your winter holidays if you’re not heading for the slopes.
St. Petersburg for a city escape
This city knows cold nights like no other. Winter isn’t just a short coming season, it arrives and stays around for months. St. Petersburg hardly sees the light of day in winter. The Neva River, which flows through the city, almost completed freezes over safe for a passage in the middle for small boats to come in and out of the harbour. If anyone knows how to do winter in style, it’s the Russians.
St. Petersburg’s White NightsGreenland for a dog-sled tour
Greenland is hugely underrated as a destination but if you want to take off on a truly unique adventure, why not try dog sledding? Few countries can really offer such an Arctic experience. It’s not just for recreation, Greenlanders use dog sled teams as a means of transportation all the way from early winter until spring, particularly for the seal hunt. There are different trips for everyone whether you want some scenery or to spot some polar bears.
Flights to GreenlandOslo for tobogganing at epic proportions
Looking for the best toboggan run in Europe? You’ll find it in Frogneseteren, just on the outskirts of the Norwegian capital. This run is an epic 2km in length and was used in 1962 when Norway hosted the Winter Olympic Games. Today it’s the country most famous place to go sledging and makes a great day out when visiting Oslo. Hire a sled for £10 and away you go!
Aberdeen for snow-capped mounts close to home
You don’t have to travel far to land yourself in a wintery wonderland. Scotland’s Aberdeenshire is the perfect place to get away in the snowy mountains. Settle yourself down at a cosy hotel in Aberdeen or Braemar. Lecht and Glenshee are close by in case you want to give skiing a go but if not, there’s no better season to follow the Speyside whisky trail, you’ve got to keep warm, haven’t you? Balmoral Estate is just around the corner as well.
To ski or not to ski? What are your favourite alternatives to a ski holiday?
