15 Winter Activities Worldwide Worth Booking

1.Winter Kayaking, Swedish Fika, and Hot Sauna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 817 reviews · 3 - 6 hours · from $138Our pick

Kayak among Stockholm’s winter islands with an English-speaking guide such as Sam, Max, Jules, or Rowan. You’ll receive a dry suit, safety briefing, fika, photos, and time in a wood-burning sauna if selected. Small groups of up to eight make this a friendly, well-supported outing for confident beginners.

“We did the full package of the ride to the kayak center, kayak tour, fika, and sauna. The bonus was fika while on the tour (I thought we’d only have it when we were finished) and doing a float in a dry suit. We even did a few polar plunges! Maks, our guide, was great. He was super personable, knowledgeable, and positive. We felt very safe and well taken care of. This was a huge highlight of our Scandinavia trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Winter Kayaking, Swedish Fika and hot Sauna Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 156 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $160

Spend about three hours sea kayaking near Vaxholm with guides such as Sam, Jules, Rowan, and Karl. You’ll use a dry suit, paddle through winter channels and possible sea ice, pause for hot drinks and fika, then warm up in a sauna. The 8-person group suits fit beginners who are comfortable in cold water and have good mobility.

“We loved the relaxed paddle around the islands mysteriously emerging from the mist. Perfect for beginners too The fika and sauna were a lovely way to unwind”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Arctic SnowHotel Tour and Snow Sauna Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 92 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $175

Travel from Rovaniemi to Arctic SnowHotel for a guided English or Finnish tour of snow rooms, an Ice Bar and Ice Restaurant. Then use a private snow sauna, Finnish sauna and outdoor jacuzzi. Return transfers, a sauna drink, towels and slippers are included. Dinner is optional and costs extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Snow Sauna Experience, Jacuzzi and Dinner in Kota

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 79 reviews · from $289

Spend seven hours at Arctic SnowHotel with an English-speaking guide, touring ice rooms, using a private snow sauna, Finnish sauna, and outdoor jacuzzi, then eating a three-course dinner in a warm Kota restaurant. Round-trip transfers from selected Rovaniemi stops are included, along with access to sledding areas and the Sky Bar.

“A new experience for the books. Worth every penny and the food was amazing!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Sofia: Seven Rila Lakes Snowshoe Walk & Thermal Spring Pools

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 79 reviews · 1 day · from $129

Leave Sofia for a guided 2.5-hour snowshoe walk above the Seven Rila Lakes, using a chairlift to reach 2,150 meters. Guides such as Velko, Alex, Daniel, and Kiril adjust the route for weather and ability. Afterward, relax in Sapareva Banya’s hot mineral pools.

“Velko was our guide on this wonderful trip. He knew everything about Bulgaria. Kind, patient, and he always had a solution for anything that came up due to the weather. Congratulations.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Nagano 1-Day Tour:Snow Monkeys,Zenko-ji,Obuse,Sake,Onsen

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $337

Spend about eight hours exploring Nagano with a private English-speaking guide such as Hori, Mutsumi, or Emi. Visit Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, Obuse, and possibly the Hokusai Museum, with hotel pickup available for selected central Nagano hotels. Transport, stops, and pace depend on your chosen vehicle option.

“Tour guide was informational and thorough. He took us to a cherry farm and tasted some cherries fresh from the orchard. The Snow Monkey Park was something to experience. Tour guide was able to chase an overly aggressive monkey away. He took us to a Soba restaurant and it was delicious. We felt safe with his driving.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Snow Monkey & Shibu Onsen Afternoon Tour (Depart: Iiyama & Nozwa)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · from $78

Join guides such as Tommy, Tome, or Rossella for a 4.5-hour afternoon outing to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and Shibu Onsen. Pre-secured park tickets save time, while the cedar-forest walk, sake brewery, old bathhouse town, and seasonal countryside stop add local flavor. Expect about 4 km of walking, with snow, mud, stairs, and changing weather possible.

“Tommy provided a wonderfully informative tour along a forest path lined with Japanese cedars to the snow Monkey park. He took us on a stroll through the Ossen village where he delighted us with stories and facts. Along the drive he described the abundant regional fruit, vegetation and wildlife. Wonderful tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Seven Rila Lakes Snowshoe Hike and Thermal Baths Full-Day Tour from Sofia

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 43 reviews · 1 day (approx.) · from $144

Leave Sofia early with a certified mountain leader, ride the chairlift to 2,150 meters, and snowshoe toward the frozen Kidney Lake in Rila National Park. After about 2.5 hours on snow, descend by lift and relax in Sapareva Banya’s hot mineral pools. Equipment, hotel pickup, and private transport are included.

“Our tour guide was amazing! The view was absolutely beautiful. Definitely want to come back during the summer to do the hike again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Ice Restaurant Dinner with Snow Sauna & jacuzzi

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · from $318

Spend 6.5 hours at Rovaniemi’s Arctic SnowHotel with return transport, a guided tour, ice restaurant dinner, snow sauna, Finnish sauna, and outdoor jacuzzi time. Choose elk, Arctic salmon, chicken, or vegan falafel, then enjoy dessert on an ice plate. English and Finnish guides lead this small-group visit.

“We felt that the overall experience was excellent and the Ice Hotel and snow sauna were very unique experiences. However, we were asked to be at the meeting point 1/2 hour prior to the start of the experience. That seemed somewhat excessive, but we were willing to do that to prevent any unnecessary delays. But when the bus transporting us came 15 to 20 minutes late, it meant that we had to stand out in the cold for approximately 45 minutes for absolutely no reason whatsoever. If you are going to demand punctuality from your guests, you should make sure that the transportation is punctual as well.Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.1-Day Winter Tour From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $150

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with a local English-speaking guide to see wild macaques bathing at Jigokudani, enjoy lunch at Japanese Dining GOEN, visit Zenko-ji Temple, and taste Nagano sake. Guides such as Jens and Yama have led especially well-paced outings. Expect snow, ice, and a 1.6-kilometer forest walk.

“Best day! Exceeded our expectations! Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and super friendly. We really loved how smoothly the tour went, pick up & drop off was great & on time, the Snow monkeys were amazing a real site to see, the lRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.From Nozawa Onsen: Snow Monkeys and Zenko-ji Day Trip & Sake

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · 10 hours · from $135

Travel from Nozawa Onsen with an English-speaking local guide to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, and a sake tasting stop. The day includes park admission, lunch with vegetarian choices, and transport. Guides such as Endo, Kieron, Lin, and Yama have led recent departures, with a forest walk and snowy conditions part of the experience.

“This trip and guide exceeded all expectations! Yama was a friendly local beekeeper guide, who was informative and very attentive to the group. It was amazing to be so close to the monkeys in such a beautiful location. I recommend trackers for your shoes for this tour. The monkeys wandered in between us and the little ones ran around playing and bathing! We did the snow monkey tour with a fantastic local cuisine lunch in a 200 year old farm house, visit to Nagano (beautiful town - be sure to walk the dark monk trail in the temple) and sake sampling. Highly recommend this tour for a taste of the…”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Snowshoe Adventures and Onsen Bliss Winter Escape in Furano

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $78

Join a certified local guide, including Ikki, for a small-group snowshoe walk at about 1,000 meters in Daisetsuzan National Park. Walk through fresh powder, look for fox tracks, and use provided gear and translation support. Round-trip pickup is included, followed by Hakuginso Onsen for ¥700 extra.

“Great winter activity that’s not snowboarding/skiing! Beautiful landscape that was taken in at a leisurely pace. Would absolutely recommend doing the Onsen afterwards, great way to warm up after walking around in the snow. Our guide Ikki was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Snow Monkey Park, Soba Lunch and Shibu Onsen Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $97

Spend four to five hours with guide Umut visiting Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, eating soba in historic Shibu Onsen, and relaxing in a public bath. The small group is limited to seven people. Admission, lunch, transport, and an onsen entrance fee are included, while the stamp towel and snacks cost extra.

“I can highly recommend taking this tour, the snow monkeys did not disappoint and our guide Umut was very friendly and showed us where to buy the most amazing apple pies!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Snow Monkeys & Ghibli Onsen Town with Free Time to Explore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 7 hours - 510 minutes · from $191

Travel by private car from Nagano, Myoko, Nozawaonsen, Togakushi, Joetsu, or Kamiminochi District to Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park and Shibu Onsen. Guides such as Dai and Chris tailor the day, arrange local lunch, show you the old hot spring town, and may help arrange a private onsen visit. Photos taken during the tour are gifted afterward.

“Brilliant tour! Guide was very informative and easy going! Showed us a few hidden gems :) Anything we wanted to see he made it happen! Had the best experience- highly recommend ! Amazingly tour, was just stunning !🙌😃”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.From Sofia: Rila Mountain Winter Day Trip – Nature and SPA!

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 8 reviews · 9 hours · from $35Best value

Travel from Sofia to snowy Borovets, where you can visit Tsarska Bistritsa, the former royal residence, and enjoy mountain air beside the Bistritsa River. Then spend 3.5 hours at a Sapareva Banya spa with five panoramic mineral pools and saunas. An English-speaking host, transport, water, and audio information are included.

Check availability →Read our full review