4.     Snowshoeing Foodie Adventure in the French Pyrenees

You don’t have to be a skier in order to make the most of the mountains in winter. In fact, on this snowshoeing experience, you can discover areas well off-piste that you’d never be able to reach on skis, and experience these beautiful mountains to their fullest on a thrilling winter travel experience.

With an experienced mountain guide, set out into the snow-covered pine forests, spot deer, birds of prey or even bears, and summit your first Pyrenees peak as you crunch through the stunning landscape of wintery mountains and valleys.

Stay in a cosy, locally-run B&B and discover the wonderful range of local cuisine, as you rest up each day by a roaring fire with a home-cooked, hearty meal of regional specialities. And with unique experiences like a night time, torch lit walk through the forest to a cider house for a feast of French food, and you have one of the most compelling winter travel experiences on offer.

5.     Soak Up Winter Sun in Mauritius

Not all winter travel experiences have to be about snow and mountains, some find winter the best time to escape the cold, grey weather of the UK for more tropical climates and a winter sun travel experience. On this beautiful itinerary on the paradise island of Mauritius, you’re sure to find all the gorgeous weather, gold-sand beaches and warm seas you could want.

Discover the incredible blend of Creole, African, Asian and European flavours on a local food walk in the capital of Port Louis, head out on glass-bottomed boats and experience snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean, and simply relax on a white-sand beach for that feeling of true escapism.

You’ll also get to see the local side of the island, taking a wooden sailing boat to a tiny, uninhabited islet for a beautiful fish barbecue, and being invited for home-cooked meals at the homes of the local, so that you don’t simply see Mauritius, you experience it.

6.     See the Northern Lights in Lapland

Winter travel experiences don’t come much more magical than sitting in your own cosy glass-roofed cabin, gazing at the flickering tongues of red, green and purple northern lights gleaming above the pines.

On a Northern Lights holiday in Finland, you’ll head to the vast fells, quiet forests and frozen rivers of Lapland in winter, one of Europe’s last true wildernesses, and discover the Aurora Borealis like never before either from the comfort of your own bed, or out on magical snowshoe walks in the vast quietness that is Lapland at night.

By day you can experience husky safaris, reindeer rides, or that most quintessential of Christmas experiences for the kids, meeting Santa himself in his home town! One thing is for sure, once you’ve finished a day of exhilarating activities and enjoyed a beautiful meal by the fire, you’re sure to be blown away by the spectacle of the northern lights above Lapland, and remember your Finnish adventure for a long time.

7.     Adventure in Costa Rica

Experience a fully immersive tour of Costa Rica, a country of steaming volcanoes, beautiful cloud forest, dripping jungles dotted with clear lagoons and cascading waterfalls, white sand beaches and enormous biodiversity, and fall in love with this sliver of South America that has captivated so many travellers.

From spotting alligators and tropical birds in the mangrove forests of Sierpe, to having your breath taken away at the summit of Irazú, the variety of this winter travel experience, not limited thanks to its almost equatorial climate, is endless and fascinating, and you’ll pack a huge amount of activity in to find those secret swimming spots and those most thrilling hikes.

However, this itinerary gives you plenty of time to relax and unwind, whether in small eco-retreats nestled in the jungle, or in beachside accommodation where you can pass the time soaking in the Latin American sun. By the time it comes to returning back to wintery England, the colours of Costa Rica will still be burning bright in your mind’s eye, inspiring you to return.

Here at Not In The Guidebooks, we offer a wide variety of off the beaten track holidays, local, immersive itineraries and unique day experiences. Whether that’s camping in the Sahara desert in Morocco, crossing Cambodia by tuk-tuk, or finding foodie delights in France, there’s something to suit everyone that means you don’t simply see the world, you experience it.