Have you ever considered a winter holiday? From a Trans-Siberian top winter tour to a train ride through the Lake District and a taste of homemade vodka in Russia, there are loads of exciting things to do in colder destinations.

And if you’re one of those adventure travellers that enjoys snow, blustery winds and extreme winter sports, from Beijing to Moscow, you won’t be disappointed. Here are a few more ideas for the perfect wintery destination.

St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow 

Canada

Banff, Alberta boasts a famous Scottish castle-styled hotel in the Banff Springs Hotel. The hotel is set amongst the backdrop of the gorgeous Tunnel Mountain and the winter wonderland scenery will make suntans simple pale in comparison. Take to the Canadian Rockies with your skies and indulge I regional delicacies and fine cuisine while sipping on warming wines.

New York City, USA

New York offers an abundance of shopping bargains and sightseeing opportunities but it’s also perfect for a winter holiday. The city is less crowded during the colder months and there are some brilliant deals on accommodation too. The hustle and bustle of New York couple with the crisp, cool air will really stimulate your senses and you can enjoy avoiding long queues at the museums.

Laponia, Northern Sweden

Head to Laponia during the last week of February to join a winter survival course like no other. UK-based survival instructors show off their bush craft skills in the Arctic wilderness and participants are taught to build an ice-shelter, ice fish as well as create a fire from scratch and source water before figuring out how to make emergency signalling. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are also on offer. During a trip like this sightings of reindeer and the Northern Lights are pretty much guaranteed, as are glimpses of wolves, moose and arctic foxes.

Dymond Lake, Northwest Shores of Hudson Bay

Back to Canada for some unforgettable polar bear spotting sure to make for a wow-factor trans-siberian winter journey. Every winter the polar bears gather together on the shores of Hudson Bay as they wait for the ice to form. This will enable them to migrate to the north’s hunting grounds. This is the perfect venue to see polar bears socialising and if you plan on sticking

around the area for a while, check out Dymond Lake Lodge – a luxury and remote lodge with superb food and the perfect viewing tower. It’s also worth taking a trip in a Tundra Buggy and looking out for the Northern Lights, just don’t forget your camera!

Russia

Russia offers a multitude of activities, sights and wonders that make for the ideal colder getaway. Take a trans-Siberian winter tour through from Yakutsk to Oymyakon and on to Magaden. You’ll get to travel along the Road of Bones which leads to the infamous gulags which were a part of Stalin’s Soviet Union. This remote region is breath-taking and romantically remote, complete with ice-filled caves and reindeer sledding. Surely, you should get one of those Trans-Siberian tours railway, which allows you to see the wonderful sights of vast Russia.

Europe:

Copenhagen

For a fairytale winter trip, try Denmark. Head to Copenhagen’s cosy bars and sip of something warm as the snow flurries outside. The Tivoli amusement park, a 19th century attraction in the centre of town is truly romantic, especially at Christmas time.

Budapest

Head to Hungary’s capital to go skating hand-in-hand with your significant other or take a stroll around the picturesque Varosligeti Mujegpalya central park or visit the massive outdoor ice rink. Take an ornate thermal bath afterwards to warm the cockles and then head off to a ruin pub – a drinking venue that has been created in what was once an abandoned building.

Jasna

The Slovakian destination offers top-notch skiing and really affordable prices and the food and accommodation are well-priced too for budget-conscious travellers wanting a winter trip. Spend the days on the slopes with the divine Tatras Mountains as your backdrop before going indoors for cosy fireplaces and warm drinks.

Whether you’re looking for extreme winter sports or romantic, memorable travels, a trip to a colder destination and the chance to a trans-Siberian top winter tour is worth the experience.

Author-Bio:

Johanna Zhen lives in Shanghai, China and is currently a tour guide. She teaches international students and enjoys travelling wherever she can. Johanna is of British and Chinese descent and decided on her move to China to get back to her roots.