In the UK, we rarely get a chance to get out into the cold weather for long enough to make a sport out of it. If you’re lucky, you might have an outdoor ice rink visiting a city centre near you over the festive period; but to really make the best of cold weather sports, you’ll need to venture overseas.
Let’s take a look at some of the winter sports holidays that everyone should make a point of trying at least once in their lifetimes. If you find that you have a good time, then you can make a point of returning every year!
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Downhill Skiing
No roundup of winter sports holidays would be complete without mentioning skiing. There are literally thousands of ski resorts in Europe, catering to holidaymakers of all ages and abilities. If you’ve never been skiing before, make sure you choose a resort that’s friendly to newbies. If you’d prefer, you can elect to go snowboarding instead.
Cross Country Skiing
While it might seem strange to note, by simply removing the slope from your skiing holiday, you’ll end up with an experience that’s so far removed from the holiday you’re used to that it deserves its own category. On a cross-country skiing trip, you’ll get the chance to take in the countryside, but without quite so much adrenaline flowing in the process. Norway cross country skiing is a perfect way to see the Scandinavian countryside, and you won’t need to spend much time practicing to get up to speed, even if you’ve never been out on a pair of skis before.
Glacier Hiking
If you want to see the outdoors at its most awesome and unblemished, then why not dispense with the skis entirely and go hiking along an Icelandic glacier toward the northern lights? You’ll see some of the most weird and wonderful natural phenomena known to humankind – and you’ll get your share of physical exertion packed in along the way!
Fat Biking
Mountain bikes are a fantastic way to traverse rugged terrain – and with the help of super-fat tyres, they’ll even be able to cope with snowy conditions – even those on ski slopes. They’re a great alternative for those who can cycle but can’t ski, and some European resorts have even opened up special trails specifically for them.
Kayaking
Heading out onto an icy-cold lake in the middle of winter might require a little more bravery than most of us can summon – but if you make the trip, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of some truly breath-taking terrain, and you’ll get a sense of seclusion that’s a world away from the high-octane winter sports we’ve looked at thus far.
What say you?
Thoughts on the Best Winter Sports Holidays to try at Least Once?
Let’s hear it!
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