The best time for winter snow vacations in Norway is December to March, although the days are still very short around Christmas. There is usually a Norwegian school vacation mid-end February, so popular spots get busy.

For serious cross country skiing in Finland, don’t travel in December as the sun never rises.

Particularly in Lapland and Norway, Christmas and New Year get really busy, and expensive. So book ahead for good deals. For true Christmas spirit, head to Austria for glühwein and Christmas markets just about everywhere.

Ski touring usually takes you higher up into the mountains, extending the season in many places.

For polar bear watching vacations in Churchill, Canada, end October - beginning November is best when they start to move from land to sea in search of seals. March is cub time, and one of the finest spring, and snowy awakenings you will ever see. Just be sure to book far, far in advance.

It might seem crazy to go cross country skiing in the northern summer, but August to October are the best times for taking on the snowy slopes of Chile’s magnificent volcanoes.

If you are cross country skiing on fixed tracks, start your day when the sun has been up for a few hours, as the tracks will be cut and hard ice will have melted.

In Romania, the best time for winter snow vacations is January and February when you will get a good 4-6 hour of daytime hiking and snow can stay on highlands until as late as May.

The season can stretch from November to April in Albania at its highest points, but you will get more daylight and sun from February onwards.

Tom Wilkinson from our winter activities supplier, Exodus, gives some tips on the best time for winter snow vacations: “Late season can be great in the Dolomites as it feels pretty warm and there’s often still a good base of snow. There’s more daylight so you can afford a longer, lazier lunch, often in the sun, before carrying on. Some of the views can be spectacular at any time of year just as long as it’s clear. You wouldn’t really want to go in early January to some of our remote Norwegian lodges, as there is too little light and it’s extremely cold”.