It may feel like the fall season has only just arrived, but winter will be here before we know it, and it’s never too early to start planning. While adventure travel is a guaranteed good time in the warmer months because of the ideal temps and smattering of outdoor activities available, the blustery winter season is all about those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and natural phenomena. Flip the script this year and experience adventure travel at these five chilly destinations around the world.
Yellowstone National Park
While it's traditionally a spot travelers visit for scenic hikes in the summer and fall, Yellowstone is an underrated winter wonderland — the peaks and valleys are buried under glistening snow; steam gently drifts around geysers, and the world is quiet in the absence of visitors. Like any wintery escape, Yellowstone is the perfect terrain to explore via skiing and snowshoeing. Ice skating rinks are located at both nearby hotels, and the park’s snowcoaches are available to help travelers traverse the frozen roads and move about the area.
The best part about a visit to Yellowstone during this time is that while it’s ideal for adventure travel, visitors by no means need to be experts in any of the winter sports. The park is surrounded by numerous outfitters who are there to help with gear rentals and lessons, so that even the novice traveler can make the most of their time at Yellowstone. Don’t know where to start exploring? Firehole Basin and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone make for especially breathtaking sights in the chillier months.
Where to Stay
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins and Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins are located in the park and are therefore the closest accommodations. Mammoth Hot Springs is known for its heavy elk, bison and wolf activity if being one with nature is on the agenda, while Old Faithful is abundant in hydrothermal features including geysers, hot springs and mudpots.
Antarctic Circle
Make sure to pack plenty of extra warm layers for this one, because we’re heading way down south to the Antarctic Circle. Visiting this remote destination will take some extra planning, as November to March is the only time the ice melts enough to allow ships to pass through. Since it’s likely visitors are arriving here via cruise ship, keep an eye out for these places and activities that showcase the best of the area when choosing an itinerary.
Learn more about the Antarctic Circle and other Polar regions
First up, animal lovers will particularly enjoy the Weddell Sea, a region known for housing an emperor penguin colony in addition to seals, whales and other rare cold-water creatures. To get up close and personal to these stunning species, kayaking at Pleneau or Petermann Island is recommended — these travelers may also be rewarded with views of the Adélie penguin, a species endemic to Antarctica. For the especially brave souls, polar scuba diving might be of interest, though mountain climbing is a less-frigid alternative to take in this arctic terrain.
Where to Stay
Considering the Antarctic Circle’s isolated nature and that most travelers will arrive on a cruise, onboard lodging is the only available option.
Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard, an island archipelago between Norway and the North Pole, consists of nine main islands. The largest of the group, Spitsbergen, is where most travelers visit for their winter getaways. The winter season in Svalbard is split into two timeframes, so depending on what travelers are looking for out of their experience, the time of year can make a significant difference. From mid-November to the end of January, this period is known as the Polar Night, where Svalbard (and specifically, Spitsbergen) is in total darkness. While Northern Lights viewings are consistent throughout the entirety of winter, travelers visiting during the Polar Night can see the borealis in the middle of the day as the sun sits so far below the horizon.
If a dark trip isn’t appealing, Sunny Winter (late February/March to mid-May) might be the better time to go. Regardless of when specifically visitors arrive in the wintertime, the same activities are available. Dog sledding is popular, with options for quick tours or multi-day excursions; the longer trips usually take travelers to an underground ice cave exploration, and that’s a sight not to be missed. Snowmobiling is the main form of transportation on Spitsbergen (even for the residents), and as a coal-mining community, a tour of a former mine such as Gruve 3 is an informative experience.
Fun fact: Svalbard is home to the Global Seed Vault, a massive storage facility that holds seed samples from plants all over the world. If a natural disaster wipes out any species, they can be replaced with the stored seeds. Visitors can’t tour the interior of the building, but it’s still a fun, quirky addition to the trip.
Where to Stay
According to TripAdvisor, Funken Lodge, Svalbard Hotell Polfareren and Radisson Blu Polar Hotel are some of the most popular options.
Iqaluit, Canada
The capital city of Nunavut, Iqaluit is located on Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic. This winter escape is certainly not for the faint of heart, as low temperatures in November through March sit around -22 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes even lower. Aside from the chill, Iqaluit is known for its rare offerings, including beluga whale and narwhal watching and Arctic fox sightings at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park. Get in on the fun winter action with some kite-skiing at Frobisher Bay, snowmobiling along The Road to Nowhere and igloo-building away from the city center.
Iqaluit also has a strong Inuit presence, and a visit to the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum, which displays native artifacts, clothing and artwork, is the best way to learn about the Inuit’s culture, customs and traditions, in addition to Nunavut’s early beginnings. History can also be found on Qaummaarviit Territorial Park, a tiny island off the city, that holds the archaeological remains of the ancient Thule people.
Where to Stay
The Frobisher Inn, The Discovery Hotel and Capital Suites Iqaluit are the top reviewer recommendations on TripAdvisor.
Kiruna, Sweden
A similar destination to Svalbard, Kiruna is Sweden’s northernmost city, situated in the Swedish Lapland. Kiruna also has a Polar Night season from mid-December to early January, though even during this period of time, the city doesn’t experience complete darkness but rather a few hours of twilight. Considering Kiruna is home to Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain, a hike along the famous King’s Trail for views of this shining star is a must.
While exploration of the surrounding terrain offers unparalleled views of a Swedish winter, the city itself is historic, with plenty of opportunity for cultural immersion. The wooden Kiruna Church, embodying the Gothic Revival architectural style, is a popular attraction in addition to touring LKAB, the world’s largest underground iron-ore mine. The thing that makes Kiruna extra special, however, is the region around the city, known as Sápmi, home to the Sámi people. The Sámi people have inhabited this land for thousands of years and maintain their traditional way of life to the present day. Travelers interested in exploring this culture can visit the native lands and learn about the people’s history with reindeer herding.
Where to Stay
Reindeer Lodge and Camp Ripan come recommended via TripAdvisor, though the famous ICEHOTEL (yup, the one made completely out of ice) is only a few miles away for those who are feeling brave.
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