Breakaway's A to Z of winter snow adventure.

Anyone can do it! Breakaway's winter cross country skiing, walking and snow shoeing tours are very much tailored towards people who have never tried this sort of holiday before. You don't need any special skills or previous experience and, best of all, you don't need to be an athlete or overly agile to have a great time!

Beginners are by far our biggest customers, so we make sure some initial tuition (as a minimum) is included virtually everywhere. Within a couple of hours, you'll master the basics and know how to stop, start and feel in control. You'll learn how to land comfortably (should you fall!) and soon you'll be cruising confidently down gentle slopes practising your "gliding" stride!




Cross country is offered in all our snow villages. It involves no special clothing (your walking gear is fine) or expensive equipment, and it allows you to be very much in touch with nature and the local environment.

Downhill skiing is also an option in selected regions popular with families. If you have teenagers, we'd steer you towards the larger ski towns like Davos or Lautasch where, in addition to cross country and downhill skiing, you'll also find snow boarding, ice skating and lots of things going on in the evening.

Easy-to-follow trails criss-cross the valleys and link villages in all areas where we offer cross country skiing tours. Austria, Switzerland and Finland, in particular, offer mile after mile of immaculately maintained, and impeccably signed, routes.

Freedom, Fun & flexibility! Nothing will make you feel young and healthy like a day in the mountains. As adults, we rarely "play" in the snow, yet children seize every opportunity! There is a lesson there somewhere!

Great regional cuisine is essential after a day outdoors in the mountains, and we always encourage chefs to include regional specialities, based on fresh local produce and traditional recipes. Swiss Goms and Dobbiaco in the Italian Dolomites are particularly renowned for their gastronomic cuisines.

Local reps are on hand in selected villages where we offer fully accompanied ski, and winter walking, weeks. In places where we don't have resident staff, the hoteliers and hand-picked local partners look after our guests. And, wherever you choose for your holiday, you have the reassurance of our 24-hour emergency service at all times.

Independent holidays (where you explore on your own after some initial tuition to get you started) are popular with more confident beginners, and returning guests. Kandersteg and Dobbiaco are popular choices.

Join a group is our advice if you're travelling on your own, or you enjoy meeting new people when travelling. We keep our groups very small, typically 6-10 like-minded people who enjoy the sociability that this sort of holiday can provide. Venabu is a perfect choice for solo travellers.

Keeps you healthy! Simply breathing in the clean, crisp air feels good!

Learn a new skill. From trailing reindeer tracks in Finland, to gliding across snowy uplands in Austria, to snow-shoeing in the Swiss Alps - every holiday offers you the chance to try something different, or improve skills in something you already enjoy.

Multi-activity walking choices are offered in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland where, in addition to a fully guided winter walk and a guided snow shoe tour, you'll take a Nordic walking course and enjoy a traditional folklore evening.

No hidden extras. Every holiday includes a specific ski package - typically lessons, passes, boots, poles and ski rental - so you don't need to worry about expensive extras adding to your holiday cost.

Only do what you want to do. Whether you choose an independent, or a small group guided holiday, there is no pressure to conform or "keep up". If you prefer a day off - maybe to take advantage of many of the spa facilities on offer - then that's absolutely fine with us. It's your vacation, so your choice!

Panoramic sun terraces - with picture-postcard backdrops on all sides - make leisurely lunches a memorable part of any snow holiday.

Quiet mountain villages are key to Breakaway and, in many places, life has hardly changed over the centuries: tiny hamlets in Lapland where reindeer wander freely across country tracks; "chocolate box" Swiss villages where farmers ride the snowy roads on sleighs; snow-sure Tyrolean mountain retreats where elegant C16 mansions reflect the region's history as Seat of the upper classes.

Roaring log fires, intimate lounges, candle-lit dining - that's apres ski the Breakaway way!

Snow-shoeing is hugely popular in Europe, yet hardly known in North America. Simply strap the tennis racket style "shoe" over your own boots and off you go! Look out for lynx, fox and hare trails as you pad gently through the snowy woods! Kandersteg offers exclusive snowshoeing holidays.

Tailor-made travel is possible for all our holidays. So, if you want to fly and stopover in a particular city, or you want to extend, or shorten, your stay, just tell us. We'll work to fit around your schedule wherever we can.

Unique hotels, full of character - often with heated pools, saunas, gyms and spa facilities - ensure you are offered a touch of pampering at the end of the day! We recommend Dobbiaco for unashamed luxury!

Value for money has never been more important than it is today. Our tours will never be the cheapest on the market but, in terms of what's included, we don't believe you could find a comparable tour cheaper elsewhere.

Winter walking has become more popular over the last couple of years. For winter 2012/13, we have dedicated winter walking weeks in Austria's Leutasch and in Kandersteg, Switzerland.

Xmas and New Year are special at all our hotels and, in order that you can relax and fully enjoy the celebrations, we've included any supplements (eg gala dinners) in the tour price. Again, no hidden extras!

Young members of the family are welcome on all our holidays however facilities and amenities do vary from village to village. For very young children, we'd recommend Venabu in Norway, whereas Leutasch and Davos hold more appeal to older children and teenagers.

Zzzzz . Outdoors in the mountains is both exhilarating and nicely exhausting! After a well-earned gourmet dinner, and coffees by a crackling log fire, we reckon a good nights' sleep is pretty much a given!

posted by Breakaway Adventures @ 3:42 PM