Explore the two jewels in Russia’s imperial crown, and everything in between, as you ply the waterways of the tsars between Moscow and St Petersburg over nearly two weeks. Start in the capital by taking in Red Square and the former royal citadel, the Kremlin, which is now home to the president. Once you’ve seen the Moscow sights, pack your bags – you’re about to set sail along Europe’s longest river, the Volga, immersing yourself in Russia’s rich history along the way.
Admire the ancient architecture of the ‘Golden Ring of Cities’ – Uglich and Yaroslavl – and enjoy the journey’s grand finale with an evening at the ballet in St Petersburg.
Strap into a Soviet spacesuit, see how a g-force simulator operates and watch as astronauts test out zero gravity at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. You can even see a full-size, water-submerged copy of the MIR space station. Explore the training centre with a tour guide and watch as astronauts jog around – heck, you could maybe even join them. Once a highly restricted zone, the heart of the Russian space program is now open for tourists.
Travel to Norway’s northernmost archipelago, Svalbard, and sail on
the century-old German tall ship, the Noorderlicht. The Noorderlicht offers a 12-day voyage sailing in the high Arctic around North Spitsbergen, where polar bears outnumber humans. Marvel at spectacular fjords, ice-covered seas and Arctic glaciers, and enjoy an abundance of wildlife-spotting opportunities. See walruses beached on ice floes, reindeer, arctic foxes and, of course, polar bears.
Unwind from the slopes in a spa separated from the snow by a 15-metre sheet of glass. Tucked away in the forest near Norway’s fjords, glaciers and mountains, Juvet Landscape Hotel immerses guests in the beauty of Scandinavian nature with its eco-conscious design.
The hotel has a cabin, mill house and hillside huts, but best of all are the seven wooden retreats perched on stilts over the forest floor. Muted walls and furnishings give full attention to the pièce de résistance – a sweeping glass wall looking out over birch and pine growing by the Valldola River. In winter, enjoy cross-country skiing just outside your door and moonlit snowshoe treks through the surrounding forest. In spring snow still covers the mountains and you can ski in the sunshine wearing just a T-shirt and shorts.
It’s a winter wonderland year-round at Saas Fee. Squeezed between the glaciers of the Pennine Alps, this Swiss village is a guaranteed snowfest day in, day out. If you think you’re too cool for school, think again; there are several ski schools on the mountain teaching basic skills through to advanced moves. There’s even a freestyle skiing eld to pick up some new tricks.
Embark on a mountain trek, sail into the sky on the cableway for jaw-dropping 360-degree mountain views or take the world’s highest funicular railway to explore a glacier inside the planet’s largest ice grotto. Whatever you choose to do, remember the village is a car-free zone, so try to conserve some energy for your post-adventure stroll back to your hotel.
With a backdrop of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountains, SnowpenAir allows punters to get high listening to the likes of James Blunt and Bryan Adams. For two days in April, the world’s highest open-air concert showcases some of the world’s biggest acts, as well as some homegrown heroes to keep the local crowd happy.
Forget warm beers and the stench of portaloos that typically hovers over festivals, and instead breathe in the fresh alpine air and enjoy a schwofen (dance) on the slopes.
Party hard in an abandoned factory and brush off the cobwebs with the help of crisp air and powder snow the following day. Open from December through May, Bansko, Bulgaria’s largest ski resort, offers one of Europe’s longest ski seasons but the best time to go is in March when Horizon Festival hits the slopes.
This boutique event packs 30 parties into an eclectic mix of venues, including abandoned hotels and a geothermal pool, over six nights and seven days. Think international DJs pumping out house, techno, groove and funk in secret spots on Pirin Mountain and on stages lurking in forests and medieval halls.
If you decide to add Cyprus to your next itinerary, put a few days aside for some fun in the snow. That’s right, in the heart of the Troodos Mountains, Mount Olympus has four ski slopes.
It’s a short season, from January to March, and it’s all pretty gentle, but it does have the honour of being one of the few places in the world where you can get your hit of snow-based action for part of the day then sunbake yourself silly at a beach resort just an hour later. Nearby Paphos has 27 beaches ranging from very popular to almost deserted, the perfect way to warm up after your unexpected snow experience.
When you hit slopes around the world you expect vistas daubed in snow, but the pistes of Sierra Nevada boast panoramas far more unusual – the shimmering expanse of the Mediterranean Sea. Andalucían rays beam down on Europe’s southernmost ski slopes most days of the year, making it the ideal place to go if you’re torn between sun and snow.
As the ski season slips into spring, the days get warmer and the sparkling blue begs you to swap your boots and poles for togs and a towel. Make for the shore, known as Costa Tropica, just 100 kilometres away.
Those who detour this island thinking it’s all beach resorts and sunburned English backpackers getting lagered on cheap beers are missing out. Sure, both of these things do exist, but you can avoid them with ease – or at least find a former not overrun by the latter – while getting a culture and history hit to rival anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
Of course, Cyprus has a bit of tumultuous past, and the island is still split into two ‘halves’, with Turkish Cypriots living in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south. The division is easiest seen in the capital Nicosia/Lefkosia. It’s a city that embraces the past with its ancient walls, narrow streets and numerous museums, as well as the present in a vibing scene of cool cafes and bars. Thankfully, the checkpoint between the Turkish and Greek parts of the city is now open 24 hours a day.
For those with an interest in times past, a visit to the Paphos Archaeological Site, on the southwest coast, is a must. Originally established by the Ptolemies in the late fourth century BC, the city changed hands many times in the years following. It is still being excavated, but there are sites dating from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages on show, including a necropolis known as the Tombs of the Kings.
Of course, you’ll want to head to the beach at some point. Paramali is known for its excellent kite-surfing conditions, and Nissi Beach at Ayia Napa is gorgeous but often very crowded. Instead, hire a 4WD and head to Lara Bay on the Akamas Peninsula for a wide sweep of sand, spectacular views and few tourists, except for the flippered kind – loggerhead and green turtles come here to lay their eggs in summer.
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