A non skier's guide to winter

It may come as a surprise, but experiencing the snow-capped peaks, glacial wilderness and cosy winter lifestyle of mountainside towns isn’t reserved for those with a penchant for winter sports. Whether it’s snowcat jaunts on the slope sans skiers, the wide-eyed wonder of meeting Santa or gazing at the quivery glow of the aurora – some think it’s just the skiers that have it good, but we know a little different.

Follow the lights

In the starlit skies of the Nordics, there’s one of the greatest natural phenomena in the world that graces the bucket lists of every traveller – the aurora borealis. Otherwise known as the northern lights, searchers of these kaleidoscopic waves hunt out the best and darkest of skies for a chance to catch a glimpse. Iceland is one of our favourite spots, taking to a snowmobile or riding Icelandic horses to find the most remote and open viewing points.

Believe in Santa

A meeting as charming and magical as any child (or parent for that matter) could wish for, now is the chance to meet Father Christmas in his homeland. A walk or reindeer-drawn sleigh along the fairy tale path through the forest unearths a once-in-a-lifetime experience to visit the hidden home of the iconic Christmas figure. A private audience with Saint Nicholas himself can be preceded by a surprise visit from one of Santa’s Elves to bake gingerbread or play in the snow. Follow your visit with hot drinks and local snacks in a Lappish tepee, while a reindeer herder shares more tales about their herd. The fun doesn’t stop when Christmas is over, a visit in February and March sees Santa and his elves off-duty in preparation for the festive season to come. 

Wake up here

Frozen Narnia landscapes – all beguiling frost-tipped conifers and snow-dusted hills – demand exploration by all who visit them. But what these vistas keep secret is that it isn’t just the outdoors that are utterly enchanting. Childhood dreams are fulfilled in the forests and folklore of Octola Private Wilderness, where reindeers roam and floor-to-ceiling windows guarantee the fairy-tale landscape is always within reach. Going one step further, the cosiness of four wooden walls is abandoned altogether at the Icehotel; dining from crystal clear ice bowls and sleeping cocooned in warm sleeping bags atop the frozen beds carved annually out of the surrounding ice.

All aboard the Glacier Express

Switzerland takes the crown when it comes to dramatic winterscapes; sky-skimming mountains, glass-like lakes and chiselled glaciers are what define this panorama. It’s no wonder then, that picturesque transport is big in these parts – and none more scenic than the Glacier Express. On the journey between Zermatt and St Moritz, the carriages begin at the base of the Matterhorn and glide over the railroad linking some of Switzerland’s best ski resorts. It’s the halfway point that really hides a treat though, in the form of the The Chedi Andermatt. Where chilled bodies thaw in the 2,400m square spa, rumbling stomachs dine on raclette under the stars and the visitors who just can’t get enough of the snow head off to hike the deep powder of the Gotthard Pass.

Meet the coolest snowcat

As the gondolas come to a quiet halt and the last trail is emptied, the carved-up slopes are transformed into corduroy coverings in preparation for it all to begin again after the dawn. A somewhat behind the scenes look into what happens on the mountain when everyone is enjoying their après-ski, the curious and inquisitive climb inside the wrap-around windowed cab of a Prinoth “Bison 350” with an expert snow groomer. Perfecting the Aspen slopes while watching the sun bid farewell for another day behind the soaring summits.