Five snowy experiences every walker should try

We often think of winters as a bit of a slog, hoping to simply endure them until we hit the longer evenings and milder climes of spring. However, there's lot of magic in this period too, if you just know where to look. Curling up with a mulled wine after days stomping through snow in mountain surrounds, trying something new with snowshoeing, and opening the door each morning to crisp fresh air are all experiences that you can enjoy only during these chillier darker months.

We've rounded up the winter walking experiences that will transform your winter into something magical. We might even go as far as to say, to be enjoyed...

A fresh layer of snow has an impressive ability to make even familiar landscapes feel brand new. The forest you walked through yesterday suddenly looks like a completely different place. Branches bow beneath fresh powder, every path seems untouched and the world feels noticeably quieter. Not silent, exactly, but quieter in a way that encourages you to slow down and pay attention.

Guests on our Snowshoeing in the Slovenian Alps holiday experience this every day. The Julian Alps provide the backdrop for a week of snowy trails, traditional mountain villages and landscapes that seem purpose-built for winter walking. It's the sort of scenery that repeatedly prompts people to stop, not because they're tired, but because they want another photograph.

Snow has a habit of turning every walk into a detective story. Suddenly, the landscape is covered with clues. Tiny footprints dart away towards the trees, larger tracks disappear over a ridge and every marking in the snow prompts speculation about what passed through earlier that morning.

On our Snowshoeing the Austrian Alps from Bach in the Lechtal holiday, the snowy landscapes of the Lechtal Alps provide a constant reminder that winter is full of life. Forests, alpine meadows and mountain trails become a giant outdoor storybook, with every set of tracks adding another chapter. You may not see the animal responsible, but you'll almost certainly spend part of the day discussing it. 

Every experienced winter walker knows there's a point during the morning when thoughts start turning towards lunch. On our Snowshoeing the Austrian Alps from Bach in the Lechtal holiday, one of the highlights is a fondue lunch at 1,812 metres. The combination of mountain air, snowy scenery and melted cheese somehow manages to make perfect sense.

There are also traditional mountain huts, cosy inns and warming drinks along the route. Together, they make a compelling case that winter walking may have the edge over summer after all.

The Northern Lights have fascinated travellers for centuries, and once you've seen them for yourself it's easy to understand why. Waves of green, purple and white light ripple across the night sky, appearing and disappearing with a sense of unpredictability that somehow makes them even more memorable.

Our Northern Lights and Snowshoeing Delights Cruise combines winter walking and snowshoeing with the chance to witness one of nature's most remarkable spectacles. Travelling through Norway's stunning winter landscapes, you'll explore snowy trails by day and keep an eye on the skies after dark.

Unlike mountain scenery or wildlife encounters, this is an experience that can only happen during the longest winter nights.

Snowshoeing has a surprisingly intimidating reputation. Mention it to someone who's never tried it and they'll often assume it requires specialist skills, training or an advanced understanding of snow. The reality is refreshingly straightforward: if you enjoy walking, you're already most of the way there.

That's one of the reasons so many guests are pleasantly surprised on holidays such as Snowshoeing in Andorra, and Snowshoeing in the Slovenian Alps. Within a surprisingly short time, snow-covered meadows, forest trails and mountain landscapes become yours to explore.

We hope that this all serves as a reminder that winter can be full of adventure too. Why not make this year's winter one that you'll be looking to repeat time and time again?