Snowshoeing is essentially hiking over snow with the assistance of snowshoes, a device which you attach to your snow boots that features a wide frame to distribute the weight of the person over a larger area, to prevent the foot from sinking into the snow.

The frame is made of lightweight plastic or metal, deters snow accumulation and displaces your weight across the snow.

Snow shoeing is a great way to explore the snowy landscape. It is also a high energy activity and a full body workout– not only will you burn much more energy than the equivalent walking distance, but snowshoe exercise puts your entire body to work. And because your body will be relying on proprioception whilst you’re out in the snow, you can improve your balance and condition those muscles to work even harder. 

No prior experience or training is required, which makes it a really inclusive activity.

No previous experience of snowshoeing is needed but a moderate physical condition is required.

On this tour the daily treks take around 5 to 6 hours (including stops) and our average speed is about one kilometre per hour. The depth of the snow is normally 60–70 cm and we will usually be walking in soft snow which makes the walking slow and strenuous. We always include a lunch break of about 1 to 1.5 hours.

The terrain is quite variable with many short up and downhills but there are no long climbs. The route goes through the forest, along ridges and over lakes.

This tour is of moderate difficulty, and can be quite strenuous, depending on the snow conditions. No previous experience of snowshoeing is needed but a moderate physical condition is required.

If you do physical activity that gets your heart rate up a minimum of 3 times a week for at least 45 minutes, you’ll have a great time on this trip!

We encourage you to be kind to yourself when deciding if this is the activity for you.

You should be prepared for cold weather. Whilst you are snowshoeing, the body generates enough heat to keep your body warm but during the breaks you’ll get cold quickly. Therefore it is very important to have a warm, insulated coat to put on when you stop.

The best way to protect yourself from the cold is to wear a number of thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The outer garment should be a windproof shell, and you should take care to protect your feet, fingers and face.

We recommend a variety of wool or synthetic base layers, a mid layer if cold, topped by a lightweight, windproof, breathable waterproof hiking jacket (shell) with a hood, with a warm, insulated jacket in a backpack to put on at rest stops. On your legs, we recommend windproof, water repellent, breathable soft shell type fitted trousers or leggings, with a base layer underneath if needed.

We recommend avoiding cotton clothing as it gets wet and cold and doesn't dry fast.

Baselayers - a selection of synthetic, wool or silk baselayers.

Mid-layers – a fleece or wool jumper and trousers/leggings. Mid-layer clothing makes it possible to adjust thermal insulation according to the weather and rate of physical activity.

Outer layers – Windproof coat and trousers (these do not have to be waterproof or made of Gore-tex, water resistant is enough!)

Head – Windproof hat which protects the ears as well. Remember to protect your face too, especially if it’s windy. A buff, balaclava or a scarf are useful.

Hands – Windproof mittens protect your fingers better than gloves. For the breaks you can bring another pair of big insulated mittens to put on top. Mittens are available to rent for free.

Feet – Socks made of wool mixtures are the best choice. Cotton socks are not good for the cold weather!

Winter boots should have thick soles and have enough space for a couple of pairs of socks. Winter boots are available to rent for free.

Other vital items are sunglasses and sunscreen.

Please see our full packing list here.

Snow boots are available to rent free of charge – highly recommended over buying your own, as UK boots often aren’t suitable for the conditions.

Mittens are also available to rent free of charge - especially useful for those who are prone to getting cold hands!

Yes! You can find it here.

No! Your luggage is transported to the wilderness cabins for you. The space in these cabins is limited so we recommend leaving unneeded clothes and items at the basecamp. You could pack a smaller bag just with what you need for the cabins or if you are travelling with a partner/friend, you might take just one bag for the both of you. We will have some smaller bags to borrow if you need them.

Yes! Ensure you bring a daypack with you that has plenty of space for layers that you need to peel off and put away. We recommend a backpack of about 20 litres. 

It is a good idea to carry a warm, insulated jacket in your bag that you can put on at rest stops to stop you from getting cold, and a spare pair of gloves because wet gloves are the worst! Make sure there is some space in your bag before you begin as you are likely to need to put layers away as you warm up.

It is a really good idea to carry a couple of smaller, lightweight dry bags to keep the clothes in your backpack from getting wet.