8 MOST BEAUTIFUL WINTER TRIPS

If snow makes you happy and winter weather fills you with wonder, you’ll want to check out some of the most beautiful places to experience the season. We’ve bundled up and donned skis, snowshoes, and ice skates, we’ve driven dog sleds and snowmobiles, all to explore frosted landscapes in places outside your old standbys.

From snow monkeys and exotic enclaves in Japan, to pristine wilderness in Russia and Canada, to mammoth ice formations and northern lights in Greenland and Iceland, to charming pistes in Italy, to reindeer deep powder in Finland, winter beauties are beckoning.

These are not about the ski resort experience. Nor are these are not about escaping winter to sunny beach weather. These are not about hunkering down in front of your own fireplace to wait out the cold. All of these can offer their own kinds of beautiful experiences, for sure. But no. These are all about full force, head on, real deal, heavy duty winter in the most breathtaking places we could find.  

So get cozy will you check them out below… then get your parkas and other requisite winter gear and check them out for real.

1. LAKE BAIKAL -- RUSSIA

Legendary Lake Baikal is perhaps most beautiful in winter, when the lake's surface is frozen solid. The deep blue ice is spectacular, studded with millions of trapped air bubbles that sparkle like endless swaths of diamonds under clear sunny skies. Giant slabs and jagged shards of ice push up through the 1.5 meter thick solid surfaces as high as 12 meters to form massive sculptures. We are always in awe.

2. SHIRAKAWA-GŌ, JAPAN

Shirakawa-gō, a village in the high mountains of Japan, wears a heavy blanket of snow throughout the winter, isolating the inhabitants for so much of the time they created their own unique cultural practices and lifestyles. While this World Cultural Heritage Site is also delightful in spring and autumn, winter is its magic time.

2. ILULISSAT, GREENLAND

Ilulissat is like a giant gallery for icebergs. It is one of the most beautiful spots in Greenland, sitting 250 km above the Arctic Circle at the edge of a UNESCO World Heritage icefjord.

In winter, the fjords and bays freeze over and the northern lights come out and shimmer overhead. Travel by dog sled or snowmobile to get around -- everything else is frozen solid.

4. LAPLAND, FINLAND

Finnish Lapland is more than just Christmas-land, home of Santa. It’s a winter wonderland with hundreds of beautiful frozen lakes. Perhaps you might like an ice-fishing safari? Over 200,000 reindeer are there to keep you company. Wolves, wolverines and brown bears along with huskies and white Samoyeds keep them in check.

Nordic Visitor provide dog sled and reindeer sleigh tours and other activities in Finnish Lapland.

While it’s not well known for its ski mountains, you’ll find Lapland’s Yllas , Levi, Luosto & Pyha resorts quite charming and the runs righteous!

Authentic Scandinavia offers tours specifically for viewing the Northern Light.

5. LAKE LOUISE, BANFF -- ALBERTA, CANADA

Lake Louise, in Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada, is truly a winter wonderland. Endless trails for dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing lead to endless views and thrills.

Get your twirl on as you skate across Banff’s gorgeous frozen backcountry lakes.

Check out sleigh rides and dog sledding with Kingmik, Snowy Owl or Howling Dog Sled Tours.

Warm up and reset at cozy lodges such as Sundance Lodge, Shadow Lake Lodge or Skoki Lodge.

If you want to document your journey in the most beautiful way, take a winter night sky photo-tour with Paul Zizka.

6. KYOTO, JAPAN

While most people long for Kyoto’s springtime cherry blossoms, those seeking winter’s beauty find this ancient city to be a peak place to be.

Snow turns the landscapes into a special magic, as it layers atop the geometric shapes and bright reds of the cities shrines and temples. Check out Kinkakuji, (aka the Golden Pavilion or Rokuonji) , a spectacular golden temple compound, as it reflects on Kyokochi Lake.

7. JÖKULSÁRLÓN, ICELAND

Ice-caving is the wonderful winter thing to do in Jökulsárlón, Iceland. You’ll make your way through icy tunnels carved out by millions of years of glacier activity. The pale turquoise ice walls and organic formations glimmer against your headlamp lights. And when you emerge, you’ll have a chance at an amazing view of the Northern Lights as they reflect on the land and waters of the ice lagoon.

7. DOLOMITES -- SOUTH TYROL, ITALY

If you want some winter mountain magic beyond downhill skiing, the Dolomites, in the north of Italy are ready to deliver. This UNESCO World Heritage site, with its charming villages of Arabba, Pedraces, and Corvara set against the snow covered mountains is a beautiful laid back mix of culture and adventure. There are more than 350 peaks over 3,000 meters high to explore. There’s plenty of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with arctic hares, silver foxes, golden eagles, and delicate chamois to keep you company.

8. BRYCE CANYON -- UTAH

Bright white snow strikes a bracing contrast against the red rocks and blue skies of Bryce Canyon National Park, in Utah, in winter. This natural, in Utah is a fabulous place for snowshoe hiking during the day as well us under the full moon on frigid nights.

Here is more snowshoe hike info and moon hike schedule.

Read more about Winter Wonder all this week on BeautifulNow, including Magic Winter Wonderland: Lapland. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by bfatphoto. Lake Baikal, Russia.
2. Image: by bfatphoto. “Ice stone in Lake Baikal.” Lake Baikal, Russia.
3. Image: by Tsuda. “Shrakawa-gō Ogimachi.” Shirakawa-gō, Japan.
4. Image: by Shaun Merritt. “Ilulissat Harbour, Greenland.” Ilulissat, Greenland.
5. Image: by Timo Newton-Syms. “Snowy Trees.” Lapland, Finland.
6. Image: by zsoolt. “Reindeer.” Lapland, Finland.
7. Image: by Shane. “Lake Louise - Canada.” Lake Louise, Banff. Alberta, Canada.
8. Image: by DaveBloggs007. “Lake Louise along the trails.” Lake Louise. Alberta Canada.
9. Image: by Scott Lin. Kyoto, Japan.
10. Image: by Claudia Regina. “Stars over Iceland.” Jökulsarlon, Iceland.
11. Image: by Antelao. “Monte Pelmo.” Dolomites. South Tyrol, Italy.
12. Image: by Joe Jiang. “Mesa Arch Sunrise II.” Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.
13. Image: by Rob Lee. “Bryce Canyon with Snow.” Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.
14. Image: by Ralph Kränzlein. “Jökulsarlon.” Jökulsarlon, Iceland.
15. Image: by Tero Laakso. “Snowy winter landscape panorama - Riisitunturi.” Lapland, Finland.
16. Image: by Guido Appenzeller. “Ilulissat.” Ilulissat, Greenland.