Winter Activities Worldwide: 11 to Book

1.Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Anchorage to Fairbanks One Way

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 57 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $259Our pick

You travel from Anchorage to Fairbanks aboard the Alaska Railroad, leaving at 8:30 am and arriving around 8:00 pm. Expect reserved seating, big windows, onboard snacks and dining for purchase, winter views of Denali, Hurricane Gulch, the Nenana River, and possible moose sightings. Commentary may come from Andy and Laura.

“Constant beautiful views and the whole team on board were super friendly. Andy and Laura were lovely and kind and provided funny and informative commentary of the landscape around.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Alaska Railroad Aurora Winter Fairbanks to Anchorage One Way

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $259

Spend about 12 hours aboard the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Anchorage, with reserved seating, baggage service, onboard narration, and optional meals. Watch for Denali, the Nenana River, Hurricane Gulch, the Knik River, wildlife, and remote cabins through large picture windows.

“The staff was very friendly and helpful. I loved my dining experience. I enjoyed following the trail guide as the person on the intercom informed us of the local surroundings.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Snow Monkey Park and Miso Production Tour Bullet Train from Tokyo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 26 reviews · from $289

Leave Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen and meet an English-speaking guide in Nagano. Visit a traditional miso producer in Suzaka, stroll chestnut-loving Obuse, then walk about 50 minutes each way to see Japanese macaques at Jigokudani. The current route does not include Zenkoji Temple.

“Loved this, loved the monkeys, well worth your time”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Winter Tour Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise & Flåm Railway

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 26 reviews · 10h 30m · from $414

Travel from Bergen by minibus to Dale, Tvindefossen, Gudvangen, and Njardarheimr Viking Village. Cruise the quiet Nærøyfjord to Flåm, then ride the Flåm Railway to Myrdal and return by train. English-speaking guides include Bjarte and Geir. Bring warm clothes, shoes, and snacks.

“Guide was very good and activities well paced. The whole day was thoroughly enjoyable with stunning scenery to see .”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Winter – Alaska Wildlife Center with Alyeska Tram

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 19 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $129

From Anchorage, ride south through Portage Valley to see bears, moose, bison, and elk, then reach Alyeska Resort and its 2,300-foot tram. Expect a small group, guide commentary, wildlife photos, and about six to seven hours on the road. Confirm the tram and guide details before booking.

“Alyeska itself is beautiful and fun, especially if you don’t have a lot of time but want a quick getaway from Anchorage. This really isn’t a tour, though, more like a group Uber ride. You’ll stop a couple places along the way, but mainly you’re just taking a van to Girdwood. When we got out the driver just told us when he’d be back to pick us up, but didn’t really offer any guidance on where the shuttle to Alyeska was, what it looked like, how often it ran, etc. We figured it out, but you’d think they could at least include a schedule or picture of the shuttle. Something.…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Cinque Terre by train and boat (no ferries in winter)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $96Top rated

Explore Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso with guide Veronica on a 6 to 7 hour small-group tour from La Spezia. You will use local trains, a seasonal boat, and walking routes, with time for cafés, views, shops, and village streets. Train and boat tickets cost extra.

“Fantastic villages! Veronica was wonderful and knowledgeable and suggested a wonderful way to return to La Spezia via beautiful Portovener.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Zakopane & Gubalowka Funicular – Private Winter Tour from Krakow

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 8 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $157

Leave Krakow at 8:00 am for a private winter day in Zakopane. Your guide takes you to Gubalowka by funicular, Chocholow, Wielka Krokiew, Krupowki Street, and Jaszczurówka. Guides such as Pawel and Tomas also offer warm, attentive help, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.

“Pawel was fantastic making our trip to Zakopane a memory we will never forget. We had lively discussions & he was very caring & attentive. We did the add on of the sleigh ride which was a bucket list item. It and the bonfire afterwards exceeded our expectations. Would highly recommend This tour company. Raph, the owner, picked us up at the airport & also did our salt mine tour. We were changing hotels that day & while just a block away, offered to move our luggage for us. Definitely great service!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier Cableway with Scenic Train Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $44Best value

Spend 6 to 10 hours exploring Jade Dragon Snow Mountain near Lijiang. Ride the Glacier Cableway toward 4,680 meters, visit Blue Moon Valley, and choose scenic train travel, extra cableways, or the Impression Lijiang show. Some options include a private guide, while others use WeChat support.

“Very easy peasy tour, the staff was very helpful in Wechat, stayed connected all the time to support. All the needed info was shared beforehand making the self-guided tour smooth and easy. The itineraries can be adjusted as per our requests and preferences. The driver was also polite and informative.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Winter Tour Viking Village, Nærøyfjord Cruise and Flåm Railway

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $382

Travel from Bergen to Gudvangen with an English-speaking guide, visit Njardarheimr Viking Village, cruise the Nærøyfjord, then ride the Flåm Railway and Bergen Line back to town. Guide Geir has led this route, which includes a minibus, fjord boat, three trains, and a maximum of 18 people.

“What an amazing day! Driving towards Gudvangen there is stunning scenery and the Viking village was really interesting. The ferry ride was filled with majestic mountain vistas however the Flåm Railway was the highlight for me. Our guide was great but know that you are making your own way to catch the trains once you get off the ferry.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Flumserberg Day Trip: Train + Cable Car + Snow Fun

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 6 hours · from $362

Join a private, guide-led winter day from Zurich to Flumserberg, with a scenic train ride, a 20-minute cable car trip to Tannenboden, and four hours of free time. Sergio may assist with lessons, while ski passes and equipment are optional.

Check availability →Read our full review

11.3-Day Private Tokyo and Nagano: Snow Monkeys, Tsukiji Market and Bullet Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $2,173

Travel from Tokyo to Nagano by bullet train with a private English-speaking guide. Visit Tsukiji Market, Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, Zenko-ji Temple, a sake brewery, and Yudanaka Onsen. Two nights, meals, trains, local transport, and monkey park admission are included.

“My husband and I booked this tour for part of our honeymoon trip to Japan and are so glad we did! Our tour guide, Akemi, was the best! She did a wonderful job of fitting in all the planned activities, but also adjusting based on our pace and preferences. We loved our first evRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review