Winter is a phenomenon that a lot of countries experience but not all of these places have the two most quintessential of winter features―snow and ice!
From thick sleets to fine powder, snow and ice has captured the hearts of many children, adults and travellers alike. With entire towns blanketed in a veil of winter white, it’s the perfect scene to enjoy some piping hot winter food!
So what are the best countries to experience snow at? Here’s a list of SEVEN of them―one for each continent!
China (Asia)
Winter Season: December – February
Staring off in Asia, you really can’t miss the elephant in the room when it comes to winter snow. I’m speaking, of course, about China!
Meanwhile, Mount Huangshan out east in Anhui Province has gorgeous steep peaks covered in rime frosted trees and snow. If you plan it right, you might even catch its world-famous Sea of Clouds, whereby the different temperatures between heights creates a mesmerizing layer of clouds around its peaks!
And of course, we can’t leave out China’s star winter attraction―Harbin!
Harbin is renowned worldwide for its Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, which features some of the largest and most elaborate ice sculptures in the world. But not only that, it also has various other wintery activities such as ice skiing and Yabuli Ski Resort and warming up at various hotsprings.
Iceland (Europe)
Winter Season: December – March
It’s all in the name, enough said!
Iceland is a rugged land full of diverse frozen landscapes for the winter lover.
If you’re in it for snow, then take a tour on a snowmobile on Iceland’s second largest glacier at Langjökull. Or if you’re feeling particularly brave, then take a tour deep into caves!
Want a little variety? Then try out the Golden Circle, a route that takes you through some of Iceland’s greatest hits such as Gullfoss waterfall, the Geysir hot springs, and the huge valleys of Þingvellir National Park!
Canada (North America)
Winter Season: December – February
Up in the far north of the Americas, Canada’s vast territories are home to some of the best places to catch some pristine winter views!
First up is Banff National Park, Canada’s first! Here, the picturesque Lake Louise sits right next to gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains and the Columbina Icefield.
Stay in the nearby town of Banff, and you’ll get to enjoy skiing, snowboarding and even ice skating!
Or you could go for a fresh take on an old classic―Niagra Falls. The grand old horseshoe falls looks almost ethereal when ringed by gleaming snow under clear blue skies!
South Africa (Africa)
Winter Season: June – August
Yes, you read that right, there are places with snow in Africa!
Up in the Drakensberg Mountains or “Dragon” Mountains, snow falls regularly during the winter months around June to August, transforming the mountain range into a winter Shangri-La. Thanks to this, it attracts various visitors looking to snowboard or simply hike around its pretty peaks.
There’s also the Matroosberg Nature Reserve, which is located high above 2200m in the Boland Mountains. This mountain’s impressive slopes provide an excellent place to test your skiing or snowboarding skills! Or you could simply admire the region’s rugged winter landscape.
Chile (South America)
Winter Season: June to October
Yet another unexpected entry on this list is Chile, where snow from the Andes Mountains and cool temperatures make it one of South America’s hotspots for skiing!
If skiing’s your game, then Portillo―South America’s oldest ski center―comes highly recommended. In fact, its many hills and slopes have given birth to many of Chile’s Olympic skiing champions! Or if size is your thing, then try out the Valle Nevado, South America’s largest ski center.
Of course, winter in Chile is also the perfect time to catch a glimpse of the iconic Patagonian glaciers, monstrous walls of ice that seem to creep up towards you when you aren’t looking.
Take note of the massive Grey Glacier sprawled out across the lake at Torres del Paine National Park.
Australia (Oceania)
Winter Season: June to August
Australia may be famed for its scorching outback and dry weather, but its many mountains transform into a snow-filled wonderland every winter!
Person skiing down the slopes of Mount Buller. Credit to Luka Senica
The Australian Alps are home to some of Australia’s snowiest peaks, which includes Mount Buller and its vast and gentle slopes.
Here, visitors can ski down its powdery slopes or just barrel down on a toboggan. Or if you’re looking for something a little unique, try taking a ride on through the snow on husky dog sleds!
Besides the Alps on the mainland, there’s also Cradle Mountain on the island of Tasmania.
Admire its snow-capped twin peaks, spot local wildlife like wombats rolling around in the snow or get some winter legwork on multi-day hiking tours.
If you manage to reach its peak, you will be greeted by unique blocky rock formations and amazing of views of Dove Lake and Mount Ossa.
Antarctica (Antarctica)
Winter Season: March – October
If you’re still hungry for more ice and snow, then you can’t do any better than the place that has both in spades year-round―Antarctica!
Start in Paradise Bay, where giant glaciers guard the shores while broken icebergs lie spread across the waters. The spectacular sight of these massive glaciers and icebergs reflected in the still waters of the bay are something that should be seen to be believed. Plus, you might even see some whales passing by and penguins diving into its waters!
Of course, you can’t miss the continent’s largest ice shelf―the Ross Ice Shelf. Its pure white surfaces and sheer cliffs almost makes it look like a block of tofu from afar. If you’re lucky, you might be able to witness a new tabular iceberg breaking off into the Antarctic Ocean!
So these are the best countries in every continent to visit if you want some ice and snow during winter. Any cooler places you’ve been to? Let us know!