Escape to distant shores this winter

Whether looking for a white Christmas, an escape to the sun, or something completely different this winter, The Adventure Company is offering some amazing experiences to fend away the winter blues this year.

Where to find a white Christmas

If you’re looking for a beautiful winter wonderland, The Adventure Company recommends heading to the mountain ranges of Eastern Europe. Travellers can make the most of the snow with a range of winter activities including dog-sledding, snowshoeing, skiing or snowboarding.

On the Family Bulgarian Winter Experience, families can enjoy these activities as well as star gazing at a local observatory; wild animal tracking in the snowy landscape; and learning more about traditional Bulgarian life and customs over a meal with a local family. Kids will be raring to get back to school to tell all their friends what they got up to in the holidays! The Bulgarian Winter Experience is available over the Christmas and February half-term school holidays, with prices starting from £679 per child (minimum age five) and £899 per adult including flights, many activities and the services of a local tour leader.

Solo adults, or adults without kids, might want to opt for the Tatras Winter Adventure, a weeklong multi-activity trip based in the Tatras Mountains of Slovakia. The snow-clad mountains are the perfect base for an invigorating week of winter activities. Departures between December 2008 and March 2009 cost from £839 per person, plus €50 local payment.

Escape to sunnier climes

Swap the gloom of Britain for the bright colours and tropical landscapes of Latin America or Asia, both of which are ideal winter sun destinations.

Discover the lush rainforests, mountains, endangered wildlife and exciting activities of Central America on the Costa Rican Adventure, a 16-day tour taking in the highlights of the country including Irazu, Poas and Arenal Volcanoes; the Cloudforest of Monteverde; palm-fringed beaches; and white-water rafting down the Pacuare River. Prices start from £1,929 per person plus US$300 for tours between November 2008 and April 2009.

Alternatively, take the family to Cuba for Christmas on the Viva Cuba! trip which departs on 21st December 2008. For almost three decades, Christmas was not celebrated in Cuba after Fidel Castro dropped it from the holiday calendar. Find out how the occasion is celebrated today, ten years after it was re-instated, whilst exploring Cuba’s beautiful sights including the elegant city of Havana. Also on the menu, learn how classic Cuban cigars are made, take a boat trip to fishing villages off Cienfuegos and explore a haunted castle before relaxing on a beautiful beach. Prices for the 12-day trip in December start from £1,549 per child and £1,929 per adult. A further departure date in the school Easter holiday is also available.

The New Year is the best time to visit the south of India, after the monsoons have passed and the weather is pleasant for travellers. The Adventure Company’s Tropical South tour runs until April 2009, with prices starting from £1,399 per person plus £50 local payment. For many, the highlight of this 16-day trip is the time spent aboard a traditional houseboat, cruising along palm-lined rivers past emerald green rice paddies synonymous with Kerala. Visiting Hindu temples also gives fascinating insight into the country’s culture.

Looking for something different?

Create a truly memorable winter with a trip to the some of the earth’s extremes.

Enjoy a winter high – quite literally - on an ascent of Mount Toubkal in Morocco – North Africa’s highest peak at 4,167m. This eight-day trekking trip includes an acclimatisation period at Neltner, the base camp for Jebel Toubkal, where trekkers will have plenty of time to practice with ice axes and crampons for the final ascent. Winter Toubkal costs from £649 per person, plus £80 local payment, with departures between November 2008 and March 2009. Or why not head to Nepal for a trekking-based holiday in the Himalayas? The Adventure Company offers almost a dozen different options, including Everest Base Camp (departures until April 2009).

Travel to one of the last frontiers on Earth on an expedition cruise to Antarctica, where the dazzling white glacial landscapes will make the cold weather all seem worthwhile. These cruises are only available in the winter months, so book now for what will truly be the trip of a lifetime. The Adventure Company’s 16-day Antarctic Peninsular costs from £4,799 per adult (departures in December 2008 and February 2009), while the 23-day Falkland Islands & South Georgia costs from £7,899 per adult (departures in November 2008 and February 2009).

If geographical extremes do not appeal, take a step back in time to one of the world’s oldest civilisations in the Feluccas & Pharaohs family trip in Egypt. The mysteries of the ancient temples and pyramids, plus the adventure of a felucca trip down the Nile and snorkelling in the Red Sea make this a favourite for both adults and kids. This trip is available year-round, with several departures in the Christmas, February half-term and Easter holidays. Prices for the 10-day trip start from £909 per child and £989 per adult.

To find out more about The Adventure Company’s winter getaways, or to book any of the trips listed here, visit Adventurecompany.co.uk.