The world's 12 best unique winter travel experiences

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This was published 5 years ago

The world's 12 best unique winter travel experiences

Tasman Glacier Mt Cook, Ski plane.

Tasman Glacier Mt Cook, Ski plane.

SKI THE TASMAN GLACIER, NEW ZEALAND

For a big mountain adventure even intermediate-level skiers can handle, "Ski the Tasman" at Aoraki/Mount Cook in New Zealand is the benchmark. Fly in a ski-plane up the Tasman Glacier, land at the top, explore the ice caves, then ski one or two runs of up to 10 kilometres down the glacier, all of it beneath soaring alpine peaks. It is the most spectacular blue run you will ever ski. See skithetasman.co.nz

ICE CLIMB FROZEN WATERFALLS IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK, CANADA

Falls Creek back country tours.

Falls Creek back country tours.Credit: Jim Darby

The largest national park in the Canadian Rockies is among the best places in the world to learn the thrilling sport of ice climbing. Surprisingly, no experience is necessary, several adventure outfits provide everything you need, from gear to expert tuition to have you swinging ice axes and shimmying up a frozen waterfall in no time. With more than 10,000 square kilometres of pristine alpine wilderness, this is one part of Canada you can't afford to miss. See rockaboo.ca

SKI OFF-PISTE AT FALLS CREEK, VICTORIA

Way beyond the lift lines at Falls Creek in Victoria, former Winter Olympic and World Cup ski racer Steve Lee runs exhilarating adventures skiing or snowboarding the easy bowls of Rocky Knolls or the steeper terrain of Mount McKay with snowmobiles for the uphill ride. It's a fresh way to get fresh tracks and exposes a unique aspect of Victoria's largest snow resort. See facebook/skiingwith stevelee

Ice climber rappels into the head of Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Ice climber rappels into the head of Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada.Credit: Alamy

GO SKIING IN IRAN

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There's so much that's surprising about a visit to Iran – the long history, the sophisticated culture, the incredibly warm welcome – but perhaps the biggest shock is the skiing. Iran has mountains, tall, snow-covered peaks that lurk on Tehran's northern horizon, and they provide excellent ski conditions for a fraction of the price you're used to paying. At resorts such as Dizin, the powder is deep, the people are friendly and the lift lines are short. See dizinskiresort.com

GO HELI-SKIING IN NEW ZEALAND

Climb aboard the fastest, most versatile ski lift ever invented. The Kiwis have a heritage of excellence in mountain guiding and running helicopters. Put the two together and you have some wonderful adventure options for skiers and snowboarders on mountain ranges that are matched only by the Himalayas for their vertical rise from the valley floor. Try it on the South Island around Wanaka and Queenstown See heliskinz.com; methvenheli.co.nz

TAKE THE OLYMPIC BOBSLEIGH RUN IN WHISTLER, CANADA

Your speed: 125km/h. The G-forces your body is being subjected to: four. The time it takes to descend 1000 metres of icy bobsleigh track: about a minute. The fun factor: off the charts. At the Whistler Sliding Centre in British Columbia, anyone who's willing to try can jump in a four-man Olympic bobsleigh and careen down a real-life track – with the help of a professional pilot, fortunately. See whistlerslidingcentre.com

SKI THE FRENCH ALPS

There's something different about skiing in the French Alps' most exclusive resorts, about hitting the slopes in Meribel and Courchevel, in Megeve and Val d'Isere. It's not what's on the snow here, which is as good as anywhere in Europe. It's the off-piste activities, as celebrities and wannabes, the rich and the ring-ins, don their furry jackets and designer hats and enjoy some of the continent's best apres-ski. See france.fr

GO ICE-CLIMBING NEAR BANFF, CANADA

Ice-climbing almost seems too extreme for the inexperienced: the crampons strapped to your boots, the ice axes poised in your hands, the wall of ice towering above. Who would take that on? However, in Johnston Canyon, near Banff, rank amateurs can give ice-climbing a try in safety, attached to a rope, and with expert guidance. It's extreme – but it's possible. See yamnuska.com

GO SNOW-KITING IN THREDBO, NSW

Anyone who enjoys the terrain on Thredbo's upper slopes will know the wind blows a bit up there. Taking advantage of that is snow-kite enthusiast, Jennie Milton, who explains that in the mountains, the wind flows around the terrain features much as water flows around rocks in a river. She picks the right place and runs snow-kiting clinics for capable skiers and boarders. And she makes sure they get back again. See Facebook/Snowkite Base Camp

DISCOVER MOUNTAINS NEVER SKIED BEFORE IN GREENLAND

Take first descents under a midnight sun on mountains never skied before in Greenland. You'll have your own helicopter, ski guide and private chef with access to 250,000 square kilometres (that's six times the size of Switzerland) on Greenland's unchartered east coast on a six-day heli-ski adventure among active volcanoes. See arcticheliskiing.com

GO CROSS COUNTRY SKIING THROUGH YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, US

The world's first national park truly comes into its own during winter and there's no better way to explore this geothermal-rich wilderness than from a pair skis. Slice your way past bubbling thermal pools and hissing geysers, wild bison, Big Horn sheep, birds of prey and more on one of the many back country ski trails dotted throughout the region. Don't worry if you can't ski, you don't need slalom expertise, cross country skiing can be learned in a few hours. See yellowstonepark.com

DODGE THE CROWDS SNOWBOARDING MARMOT BASIN, CANADA

Thanks to its relatively isolated location in Jasper National Park, this is a wonderfully uncrowded ski field with eclectic terrain spanning 700 hectares over 91 runs. Visit mid-week away from holiday season and you'll feel you practically have the mountain to yourself. Its unique location in this adventure playground also means you could ice climb a frozen waterfall or trek through a canyon in the morning then snowboard after lunch. See skimarmot.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Andrew Bain, Elspeth Callender, Jim Darby, Anthony Dennis, Ben Groundwater, Ute Junker, Nina Karnikowski, Steve McKenna, Jane Reddy, Jane Richards, Craig Tansley and Guy Wilkinson

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