New Zealand in winter
It’s thought New Zealand acquired the Maori name Aotearoa or ‘the land of the long white cloud’ due to the nation’s abiding daylight. Even in winter this moniker rings true, with New Zealand’s colder months heralding sunshine and good times aplenty.Avoid the queues, peak pricing and the summer holid
Top winter experiences in northern Sweden
Wrap up warm and let northern Sweden work its magic on you this winter. Here are nine incredible experiences to get you started.The IcehotelBuilt from blocks of ice from the Torne River, the award-winning Icehotel (www.icehotel.com) opens its doors from December–March. Its ice rooms, furniture and i
Powder on your doorstep: ski adventures close to US cities
Head out into the great white winter for the best quick-break ski adventures North America has to offer. Each of these top five destinations is within easy day-trip distance of a metro area, making it easy to catch some powder shots on just a tank of gas.Crystal Mountain: perfect powder in Washingto
10 epic views thatll have you packing your bags for Zermatt
One of Europe’s most glamorous ski resorts, Zermatt has been attracting ski bunnies and adrenaline addicts since the mid-19th century. This charming car-free town sits at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps, so whether youre clambering up mountains, skiing down them, hiking around
Off the beaten piste: 7 far
Yes, Chamonix, Verbier and St Anton will give you varied terrain, cracking après-ski and classic Alpine vistas. But there comes a time in every skier’s life when it all begins to feel a little homogenous. These seven European and Scandinavian resorts do things a little differently. Some are wildly r
Where to hit the slopes in California
Lonely Planet has produced this article for Visit California. All editorial views are those of Lonely Planet alone and reflect our policy of editorial independence and impartiality.Famous for its sand and surf, California also has lofty mountains that become blanketed by snow in winter. Swoosh down
Dope slopes: choosing a ski resort in North America
Skiing in North America is all about wide swooping runs, gorgeous forested glades, powder shots and some of the fluffiest, deepest, most bewitching snow on the planet. There are bottomless snow days on the west coast, champagne powder in the Rockies and many a throwback ski and board bum paradise in
Lapland beyond Santa: culture and wilderness in northern Finland
Theres more to Finnish Lapland than Santa encounters, as Lonely Planet author Kerry Christiani found when she headed 500km north of the Arctic Circle, discovering a Christmas card scene of frozen lakes and boreal forest, reindeer-driven sleighs and snow that lies deep and crisp and even - all bathed
Top five things to do in Greece in winter
The mention of Greece brings up images of white arcing beaches and sparkling aqua waters under sun-drenched skies. But the secret in plain sight is that this nation blessed with more than 6000 islands actually offers some of its best features outside the tourist-crazed summer season. Greece in wint
Backcountry basics: going off
Skiing and snowboarding off-piste, away from the marked trails and into the great white wildness of the mountain, is one of winter sports’ greatest thrills – and the Alps is one of the best places to do it. When conditions are good, and you sweep seemingly effortlessly down great stretches of snow,
Where to ski in Switzerland: 5 great winter resorts beyond the big
Verbier, Zermatt, St Moritz, Davos-Klosters – these alpine resorts are synonymous with skiing in Switzerland. And for good reason – they offer some of the most varied terrain, a range of accommodation options and the best après ski and fine dining scenes in the Swiss Alps.These resorts are also amon
Walking in a wacky wonderland: nine remarkable winter celebrations of the world
Who says Christmas has to be conventional? Pudding races, turkey parades and encounters with birch rod-lashing Alpine devils should all be on your calendar this festive season. Read on to unwrap some of the worlds craziest Christmas and New Year events.Turkey Festival, FranceIf you need more inspira
Carving Korea: a guide to skiing and snowboarding in South Korea
Though South Korea may not spring immediately to mind as a winter sports destination, its well-developed resorts and abundance of snow make it a worthwhile choice for keen skiers and snowboarders. It’s also one of the few places in the world where you can hit the slopes by day and party in a major m
San Francisco in winter: six reasons to ditch the cold for some California sun
It’s gray outside; you’re tired of dressing like a polar explorer; and your coworker just sneezed on you again – it’s time to escape winter and head to defiantly sunny San Francisco. Here are six ways to explain your departure so your boss understands – or at least sympathizes enough to approve your
Skiing in Italy: find your perfect resort
Italy’s northern borders are delineated by an arc of majestic mountain peaks, including some of the tallest peaks in the Alps in the west and the spectacularly beautiful Dolomites in the east.Winter here often means sun as well as snow, and ski resorts are less about athletic prowess, and more about
Tis the season: whats on in London over winter
London in winter has an atmosphere all of its own. Festivals, sales and sporting events illuminate the dark evenings, cosy pubs come into their own and ice rinks and carol concerts ring in the Christmas spirit. Many attractions, meanwhile, are far quieter than they are in summer.And while locals lov
California’s top winter sports
Lonely Planet has produced this article for Visit California. All editorial views are those of Lonely Planet alone and reflect our policy of editorial independence and impartiality.California has a long tradition of extreme sports, from surfing monstrous waves at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay to the re
Independent travellers guide to skiing in Kyrgyzstan
While Kyrgyzstans Tian Shan mountains are steadily growing in renown among international tourists, most visitors aim for the warmer months of the year to hike up craggy passes and descend to the shores of alpine lakes.Equally adventurous, but far less explored by visitors, are the areas winter sport
The Lofoten Islands, Norway: there but for the grace of cod
It appears indistinct at first, a light smudge behind a grey bank of clouds. As the wind whips in off the ocean and races howling across the valley, small puddles of clear sky appear, briefly revealing the Milky Way and the smooth arc of a satellite far above. The smudge starts to glow and build, la
Western Serbia’s winter wonderland
On your next trip to Serbia, reset your radars beyond Belgrade to the rising winter adventure scene in the rural west of the country. Every January, celebrities and future filmmakers descend upon the Narnia-like wilderness of the west for Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival, where rakij
