Winter Activities

Our winter activities programme is simple. It’s all about seeking out alternative ways to have fun in unspoilt locations, so you won’t find standard skiing or snowboarding breaks here. We escape the crowds rather than join them. The result is a fresh range of activities from snowshoeing to snowmobiling and dogsledding to cross-country skiing. If you really are looking for something different then you have just found it! This year marks an exciting year for Exodus as we have recently joined forces with Waymark Holidays, the UK’s leading provider of cross-country and Nordic skiing holidays. Their unrivalled experience and fabulous range of destinations and courses has added real depth to our Winter Activities offering.

Winter Snow Conditions Update: 29th February 2008

With the end of our cross-country skiing season in the Alps almost over, it’s time again to concentrate on the late snow arriving in Scandinavia. All resorts still have plenty of snow on track, with conditions starting hard and crispy in the mornings (after the overnight freeze) then softening as the day progresses. You may well find changing wax type on your skis at lunchtime ensures that you maintain good traction in the late afternoon. Off track conditions are again crispy in the morning and softening later, but given the fluctuating temperatures extra care should be taken against avalanche risk and conditions should be checked with local staff before heading out.
 
As an example, the Kvitavatn/Gaustablikk area is experiencing daytime temperatures ranging from -3°c to +7°c, with occasional cloudy days and lights winds. Sjusjoen is dry and cloudy with temperatures during the day ranging from 0 to +4°c. Track conditions are good. The Valdres area – close to Hovda, Kamben and Synnseter, has similar conditions and weather. However, the forecast for Norway in general is for temperatures to drop this weekend and stay low for the next week, with potentially even a few centimetres snow fall in some resorts on Saturday, Sunday and Monday – highest probability being Saturday.

Back to Europe and the season finishes for us in France, Italy and Austria, with Chamonix set for a major snowfall on the 1st March – pinch, punch - first dump of the month! The Pyrenees, although without fresh snow for a while now, may even get a light dusting on Tuesday when the temperature drops temporarily below freezing. Austria again is forecasting snow over the next week – most likely Sunday in the case of the western Tyrol and resorts like Seefeld, Trins and Oetz and in Italy the 29th February saw fresh snow in the Dolomites.

All in all the season looks to be holding up to its promise of spring snow on the way, with those travelling to Scandinavia on track to sunny March days with good snow under skis, snowshoes and dogsleds!