Snowshoeing guide

We’re walking in the air. No people far below. The villages go by like dreams, the rivers and the hills, the forests and the streams … so go the lyrics to The Snowman. And so goes the feeling when snowshoeing through remote, white, mountain villages, because snowshoeing takes you into another world. One that is far from the world of skiing, and totally about winter walking. Powder plodding rather than powder pushing. Pondering the pistes rather than bashing them.

And snowshoes are no longer like battered old tennis rackets; they’re made from lightweight aluminium with crampons for extra grip. Attach them to waterproof walking boots, grab some poles for extra leverage, follow your mountain guide and you’re off. Five minutes later forget you are wearing them. Until you try to go backwards, that is. And then you fall flat on your face. Don’t pack your pride for a snowshoeing vacation, just pack your childhood sense of adventure. And go walking in the air.

Read more in our guide to snowshoeing vacations.

… you are unfit. This is a pretty serious workout, and you are often out and about all day.

The Dolomites are wonderful late in the season as the temperature really warms up, but there is still plenty of snow late Feb-early March the best sun and snow combo conditions The French Alps, particularly around Chamonix are wonderfully quiet in January once the New Year celebrations are over. Plus, you can head to good altitudes here, so the snow stays around for quite a while. In Albania you will find quiet spots all the time, but the days start to get longer from February, with more sun too. In Finland, February and March offer the best snowshoeing conditions with a lot of soft snow and also the days start to get light. In Romania, you will get a good 4-6 hours of daytime hiking during January and February. March and April are perfect months for snowshoeing in Austria, higher elevations still blanketed in the white stuff and spring in the air.