Christmas Trips · WINTER ACTIVITIES
December has more evenings than a trip has room for. These 15 winter activities justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Spend 90 minutes cruising Cologne’s Rhine aboard a warm panorama boat with live festive music, table service, and views of Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the crane houses. Buy Glühwein, hot chocolate, coffee, drinks, and snacks as you sail.
“It was relaxed, the music was festive and got us in the Christmas mood. Crew on board were friendly and welcoming.”
You’ll spend 3 to 4 hours exploring the American side of Niagara Falls with a guide such as Dayna, Nancy, or Tim. Expect five stops, winter views, the Cave of the Winds, an observation tower, pickup, and a maximum group size of 16.
“Great winter viewing. Looks like art. Tour guide, Kevin, was very good. Didn’t care for the attitude of the Staff at the Bakery where we stopped to grab lunch - arrogant women.”
Spend about eight hours exploring Grand Teton and the National Elk Refuge with a small group and a naturalist guide such as Kevin, Kyle, or Mark. Look for moose, bison, wolves, eagles, and elk, then ride a horse-drawn sleigh and stop for lunch in Jackson.
“Incredible, extremely informative tour! The BrushBuck Tour Guide, Hailey, was so knowledgeable and able to find us lots of great wildlife sightings. The National Elk Refuge was also amazing, and the sleigh operator fantastic. A highlight of our trip!”
Ride through Rocky Mountain National Park in a winter-ready 4x4 with guides such as Joe, CE, Royce, and Wesley. Stop at Horseshoe Falls, Old Man Mountain, Hidden Valley, and Sprague Lake for wildlife, photos, sledding, crampon walks, snacks, and hot cocoa.
“great time with our tour guide, Wes. great views, great recomendations, and alot of great information throughout the tour.”
Walk from Marché Saint Laurent to Bonsecours Market with a licensed Montreal guide such as Louis, Isabelle, Sylvia, or Jeff. Expect key Old Montreal sights, architecture, local stories, photo stops, and short indoor breaks. Dress for snow, ice, wind, cobblestones, and stairs.
“We had a great guide, Luis, who squeezed a lot of history into an hour and a half. We nearly froze to death though so it might be wise to add some warming stops along the way on very cold days. A good way to get a sense of the city before exploring it further.”
See Niagara Falls in its quieter winter season with guides such as Cherie, Angela, Peter, or Ricky. This two-hour New York tour includes pickup, the Observation Tower, Three Sisters Island, Goat Island, and Cave of the Winds, with close views, winter ice, and local stories.
“Our tourist was Kelly. She was very knowledgeable and you can tell she's done a ton of research on the area. Anytime you had a question she was able to answer it. The sights we got to see were breathtaking and beautiful. I would recommend going during winter season because you can get more of a private tour.”
Travel from Helsinki to Liesjärvi National Park for an easy 4.5 to 5 km winter hike with a guide such as Jeff, Mari, or Alex. Expect wildlife clues, snowy pine forest, a campfire lunch in a wilderness hut, and warm boots or spikes if needed.
“Jeff was absolutely fantastic very knowledgeable and a good cook. Definitely do this tour.”
Spend eight hours with a local Radventures guide visiting Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, and Banff National Park. Walk frozen trails with crampons, enjoy free time at Lake Louise, and watch for surprise stops. Guides such as Rae, Simon, and Michael are known for strong local insight and helpful photos.
“Great winter tour! Ginni was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. Had a great time!!”
Ride from Skagway across the White Pass into British Columbia and the Yukon, stopping at waterfalls, lakes, snowy viewpoints, and the Alaska sign. Guides such as Noah, Will, Mike, Mariah, and Brett add local stories, humor, and help with group photos. Passports are required.
“It was a beautiful experience and Brett is very knowledgeable! He’s got a good sense of humor, I’d recommend this tour to anyone going to Skagway.”
Leave central Helsinki with a guide such as Jeff, Mari, Alex, or Helena for an easy 4.5 to 5 kilometer walk in Liesjärvi National Park. Expect winter forest, wildlife notes, a heated wilderness hut, and a Finnish lunch with hot drinks and dessert. Winter boots and warm accessories are provided.
“Be patient. Depending on the time of year, the beauty and wonder will unfold differently for you. Our guide, Mari, was a gem. The random group drawn together that day- gracious. I can't believe my good fortune with the company I had along with weather that was absolutely breathtaking, not merely from the cold. This is not a fast-tourism experience. Being in nature is what you make of it. Come with curiosity and wonder. In this winter excursion, the snowy trail along with the bright and crisp air made us move slower, gave us time to be present and observe the gifts of the season. Do take this adventure, leave…”
Join local guide Ingunn and her friendly dog Nero for a 150-minute forest hike near Oslo. Ride 20 minutes by train to Kolbotn, walk through snowy woods to a viewpoint and lake, then warm up with a campfire, hot drink, and Norwegian snack in a group of no more than 10.
“It was great to experience the Norwegian countryside being guided by Ingunn who has such a passion for the outdoors and active life. Nero the dog is a great companion and lots of fun which adds another dimension to the hike.”
Meet near Oslo Central Station at 9:55 am and ride the scenic Frognerseteren metro into Oslomarka. Your English-speaking guide provides snowshoes, poles, and beginner-friendly instruction, then leads a small group through snowy forest trails before returning by public transport.
“Our tour guide Miles was amazing! Super personable and very knowledgeable about the tour as well as gave recommendations for Oslo. The views from the tour were amazing and was a great experience. Highly recommend!”
Spend about 4.5 hours touring Niagara Falls State Park with private transportation and hotel pickup. Guide Peter Green leads you to Cave of the Winds, Three Sisters Island, the Observation Deck, and several viewpoints, with winter access, history, and practical help along the way.
“Our tour guide Peter was top notch!!! He is very knowledgeable, and has amazing dad jokes!! The falls are absolutely beautiful!!! My husband and I visited in late March it was very cold, but definitely worth it!!! Another family on our tour had an 11 yr old daughter and Peter made it special for her too! We highly recommend this tour!!”
Meet Paul or Arman downtown at 9 a.m. for a five-hour mountain outing with transport, snowshoes, winter trails, forest views, and hot cocoa. The pace suits beginners, and guides may adapt the route when snow conditions change.
“What an amazing day! Surpassed our expectations. We went with our two boys (8 and 10) and they loved every minute. We had great conditions!! So much snow! As the conditions were great and the group was keen, we went off the beaten track - a true adventure! Not at any point did we feel unsafe in Paul’s very knowledgeable company! Our sons are used to hiking but I think most active 8-10year olds would love this experience!! 100pc recommend!”
Meet Chris at Makomanai Station for a small-group snowshoe trek through quiet Hokkaido forest. Equipment, lunch, transport to the trail, and Koganeyu Onsen admission are included. Expect about five hours outdoors, a flexible pace, and practical help for first-time snowshoers.
“The tour was fantastic, if you are in Sapporo you need to get on this tour. The national park was beautiful, and the snowshoe experience was exactly what we wanted. Chris was an amazing tour guide. He picked us up, provided us all the gear we needed, and took us through an amazing hike. Additionally, he was very responsive and helpful. I have extensive tattoos so he found an onsen for us that I could visit after the hike. It is tricky to find onsen sometimes in Japan if you are heavily tattooed. I woukd recommend this tour and Chris as a guide to anyone looking for this experience!”
Pick a market, a lights run or a night in the snow.
