Winter vacation tips
ADVICE FROM OUR EXPERT SUPPLIERS
Tips on seeing the Northern Lights
Laura Greenman, founder of Magnetic North Travel, one of our Nordic suppliers: "Our Northern Lights guides in Norway have started to favour places a little further afield from Tromso now as the roads near to this small city have become quite congested at times. Although harder to get to, Alta can be a superb spot to see the Lights. Also, we are seeing a change in Northern Lights visitors – they want to stay longer now and discover more of the country, get involved in other adventures such as dog sledding and horse-riding.”

Training & preparation
Chloe Knott at Exodus: “Always read the trip notes that accompany your trip, as they will give good guidance on how fit you need to be. We find that women tend to underestimate and men overestimate their abilities”
Emma Mason from our supplier Mountain Bug and expert in ski touring vacations: “It's very important not to set out into the mountains without the correct equipment and knowledge of the snow conditions. While you might be able to read the avalanche forecast, or pick a route from a guidebook, there is no substitute for the local knowledge and experience of a qualified ski touring guide”.
Packing tips


Cross country skiing advice
Tom Wilkinson, cross country skiing expert from our supplier, Exodus: “Don’t compare cross country skiing to downhill! It’s smooth, often peaceful, and a wonderful way of experiencing the landscape. Also, if you are a downhiller you often forget your heel is not attached particularly when doing a snowplough. It’s not about going 100 miles an hour. It is however more of a full cardio workout.”
Health & safety
Travel safely ON A WINTER ACTIVITIES HOLIDAY
Health
- It may seem obvious, but stay warm. You heat up quickly on a winter activity vacation but you cool down quickly as well. So always have layers, not cotton, but proper breathable, thermal layers. Your tour operator will advise on this, and it is always worth following their tips.
- Always wear sunscreen, hat and good IV protecting sunglasses when necessary.
- Stay hydrated. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing, for example, can be full on aerobic activities.
- Bring any medications you might need with you– winter activity vacations can take you into fairly remote spots.
Safety
Nearly all winter activity vacations require expert leader guides to hand, such as an International Mountain Leader (IML) or one recognised by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA) . A responsible tourism company should give details of all their guides on their website, their experience, qualifications and so on.
Wear a helmet when necessary. In cross country skiing you often carry them, for example, and only put them on when heading downhill.
Always know the local emergency number just in case. The emergency number in Europe is 112.
Keep weather aware, even if you have an expert with you to lead the way. If you are heading into back country in the mountains, a responsible winter activities company will teach the group how to use an avalanche transceiver and other emergency procedures during their introductory sessions, so that everyone is au fait with the safety procedures.
Winter vacation tips from our travelers
Winter tales
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful winter vacation travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful winter vacation travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
It was easy to put too many layers of clothing on when doing sporting activities such as skiing. Take your own balaclava or two and glove liners. You can rinse out your clothes it you get too sweaty and dry them in electric dryers that each hotel has. So you don't need to go over the top with too many winter clothes. The warm winter clothes they supply are excellent and all you need are some thermals for a couple of days - Thomas White on a Northern lights short break, Finland
Get as fit as you can before you go. Take layers of clothes for skiing and lighter clothes to wear indoors - Austrian hotels are very warm! –Amanda Ariss on a cross country skiing in Austria
I thought that "winter equipment provided" meant snowshoes, skis & boots etc but all clothing (plus thermos, head torch, rucksack) was also available to borrow, no need to pack anything other than a few baselayers & something comfortable for the evening. Having said that, it was nice to wear my own ski gear but don't buy things if you don't already have them....except maybe a balaclava/buff for the minus 30 days! - Pauline Hawes on a snowshoeing vacation in Finland
Take a tripod for your camera! An essential item. - Russell Needham on a Northern Lights vacation
Don't be worried if you are going alone - I made some great friends on the trip that I'll keep in contact with and no doubt plan other trips together - Sarah Daly on a Scotland winter walking vacation
Get as fit as you can before you go. Take layers of clothes for skiing and lighter clothes to wear indoors - Austrian hotels are very warm! –Amanda Ariss on a cross country skiing in Austria
I thought that "winter equipment provided" meant snowshoes, skis & boots etc but all clothing (plus thermos, head torch, rucksack) was also available to borrow, no need to pack anything other than a few baselayers & something comfortable for the evening. Having said that, it was nice to wear my own ski gear but don't buy things if you don't already have them....except maybe a balaclava/buff for the minus 30 days! - Pauline Hawes on a snowshoeing vacation in Finland
Take a tripod for your camera! An essential item. - Russell Needham on a Northern Lights vacation
Don't be worried if you are going alone - I made some great friends on the trip that I'll keep in contact with and no doubt plan other trips together - Sarah Daly on a Scotland winter walking vacation
Photo credits: [Tips on seeing the Northern Lights - Laura: Craig Dennis]
[Training and prep: Elias Högberg]
[Cross country skiing: Erik W. Kolstad]
[Review 1 - Adrian Porter: ADT 04]
[Review 2 - Kathy Agashi: Caroline Bennett]
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