Cool Stuff

Top 10 Green Winter Breaks

Eco-friendly get-aways

Posted: 05 December 2007, 02:12

Ski Mountaineering in Scotland - Cairngorms, Scottish Highlands

You will learn all the skills necessary to master the art of ski mountaineering – climbing with skins on skis, avalanche awareness, the science of mountain navigation and, of course, the secrets of successful off-piste skiing.

From £399 (4 days) excluding flights, starting/finishing in Edinburgh

Arctic Circle dogsled expedition

An adventurous journey by dogsled, travelling from cabin to cabin through the Arctic wilderness of Swedish Lapland. This region is the heartland of the Sami (or Lappish) people and their herds of roaming reindeer.

From £1799 (7 days) including flights from UK, from £1489 excluding flights.

Iceland weekend adventure holiday

This trip includes two nights in the capital and one night in a rural guesthouse. Discover the awe-inspiring volcanic and glaciated landscape on foot, by snowmobile, and by using crampons and ice axes on a sensational glacier walk. See Gulfoss waterfall, the geysers at Geysir and the Blue Lagoon, Iceland's most famous thermal pool.

From £729, including flights.

Snowhole expedition in the Scottish Highlands

This five day expedition takes you through Britain's highest mountain range - the Cairngorms. Once you've undergone a day of skills training you embark on a two-day expedition deep into the snowy wilderness. You will help construct a roomy, communal snowhole, in which you will spend a night.

From £313 for five days - includes full board accommodation, provision of snowholing and cooking equipment, plus transfers from Inverness airport/Aviemore rail station.

Long weekend watching whales and the Northern Lights in Norway

From October to January pods of Orcas gather in remote Tysfjord as they follow giant shoals of herring. You will also have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snorkel with the Orcas. Every evening you will have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights.

From £835, includes return flights from London, transfers, three nights half-board accommodation and one day whale watching.

A 22-day skiing and snowboarding holiday in Everest, Nepal

Nepal has no skiing resorts and hence any skiing or snowboarding has to be backcountry and exploratory and is best suited to thrill-seeking adventurers. This trip also includes treks in the Sagamatha National Park - the highest wildlife reserve in the world and a trip to Everest Base Camp.

From £1,212 - includes domestic flights only, all meals, accommodation, ski instructor, guide, porters, transport, permit, airport transfers and one day heritage sightseeing in Kathmandu valley.

Rare privilege to partake in a 10-day Saami reindeer migration – Arctic Circle

Undertake the winter adventure of a lifetime, assisting the Saami people of Finnmark on their annual reindeer migration. will be fully trained in the working methods of the Saami people and will then escort the reindeer from their winter grounds to the summer grazing area.

Price from £2,435 for ten days, including accommodation, all transportation, all activities, snowmobile hire, Arctic proof clothing, meals and airport transfers.

A 14 day snow leopard trek in Ladakh, Kashmir

Meet the amazingly hardy mountain people, visit some of their great Buddhist monasteries and villages and undertake a trek in search of the snow leopard with skilled local trackers.

From £2,395, including flights, meals, domestic flights, transportation, accommodation and tentage, a US $250 contribution to Snow Leopard Conservancy of India, expert tour leader, local guides and porterage.

Eleven day skiing holiday in Kashmir

Surrounded by some of the most stunning mountains in the world, the highest gondola lift anywhere on earth, under crowded resorts and some of the best powder skiing ever, Kashmir is perfect for the alternative skiing holiday.

From £1,935, including flights.

The Haute route, Argentière to Zermatt

The Haute Route was first completed on skis in 1911. It is perhaps the most famous ski-mountaineering itinerary in the Alps and justifiably so. This is a superb and coveted ski tour, and by the time you reach Zermatt you will have climbed and skied through some of the finest mountain scenery in the world

From £945 (9 days) excluding flights.

For similar holidays visit online travel directory www.responsibletravel.com or call 01273 600030. The website markets carefully pre-screened, handpicked holidays from over 265 specialist operators and over 550 accommodations.

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