What you’ll be doing on a family winter vacation

Our winter sports vacations focus on traditional and authentic experiences that we feel are far more satisfying and culturally aware than your typical ski trip. They hold appeal for several generations of the same family, and for younger children especially some of these activities can be particularly entrancing when set against a wintery canvas.

Family winter sports vacations that are small group trips will often follow set itineraries, with a different activity to try each day. They tend to be created with children aged between four and 16 in mind. You can also opt for a tailor made vacation that allows you to shape the itinerary as you want it, perhaps also choosing to intersperse more strenuous activities such as cross country skiing with more relaxing days to prevent the kids from getting too worn out.

As all of these activities take place outdoors, usually in sub-zero temperatures, dressing for the weather is essential. If you have a big family the thought of equipping them all with suitable winter clothing for these conditions would be daunting, which is why many of our vacation companies actually have all the clothing you’ll need waiting for you on arrival, included in the price. Not only does that save you a lot of hassle and space in your luggage, it also means you can be sure of having good quality clothing that’s right for the temperatures.

All is calm, all is bright, all is perfect for some cross country skiing. In many cases the accommodation used will have trails nearby where you can ski to your heart’s content. Some will have equipment you can borrow, so if you already know what you’re doing then you can head out on your own whenever the mood takes you. In other cases, there may be a session of ski instruction in the itinerary, where an instructor will be available to show you the basics.

Snowmobiling may not be the most eco friendly way to get around, but in remote areas such as Finnish Lapland they’re a necessity. Reindeer farmers need to keep track of their herds, for instance, and a well maintained snowmobile is not as polluting as a 4x4 vehicle. Some snowmobile safaris require drivers to be aged over 18, and some height limits will also apply. Those under 18 can ride on a sled pulled by the guide’s snowmobile.

Petr Ivanek from our supplier Slovakia Explorer on why the High Tatras is becoming such a popular family destination: “The High Tatras region is a simply stunning place for family winter sports vacations. These are the highest mountains in Central-Eastern Europe, and vacations here offer a wide selection of activities for the whole family, not just skiing. In the mornings you play in the snow, in the afternoons you relax in outdoor thermal pools. It’s only a two-hour flight from London and very affordable too – you can find pretty much everything here that you’d get in the Alps, but for less.”