The Snowdon Challenge: Winter Edition
The usual 17km cycle, 14km trek and 5km power paddle, except this time, there’s snow involved
Trip Ref #10263
The Snowdon Challenge: Winter Edition
The usual 17km cycle, 14km trek and 5km power paddle, except this time, there’s snow involved
DURATION
1 night
LOCATION
United Kingdom
ANNUAL LEAVE
0 days off work
SEASON
Nov-Mar
GROUP SIZE
Up to 12 people
MEETING POINT
Llanberis, Wales
ACCOMMODATION
Classic
Hotel
DIFFICULTY
Challenging
You should have a good level of hiking and cycling fitness. If in doubt your host can provide a training program to help you prepare.
Take on one of the UK’s most rewarding mountain winter challenges in just one day
Bike across Snowdonia National Park, nail the 14km trek up Snowdon and kayak 5km round the stunning Llyn Padarn
10-hours of unrivalled action in one of the UK’s wildest winter adventure playgrounds
Day 1
Arrive and get briefed for the big day
Arrive at your hotel in Llanberis in the evening. At 19:00, you'll have a detailed pre-challenge meeting, after which you are free to explore the town or chill in your hotel in preparation for the challenge ahead.
Day 2
It's on!
Cycling
17km · 220m up · 180m down
Hiking
14km · 945m up · 1060m down
Kayaking
4.5km
Wake up early for breakfast and then hit the road. You’ll bike through the Welsh winter countryside, follow the shores of Llyn Padarn and skirt along the edge of Snowdonia National Park with the peak of Snowdon covered in snow looming in the distance. You'll stomp it up the Snowdon Ranger Trail on the west side of the mountain before ascending to the ridgeline.
Follow the ridgeline all the way to the summit for a victory photo and a quick breather before descending to the northwest via the more gradual Llanberis Path, finishing in Llanberis itself. You'll then go for a brisk paddle around Llyn Padarn, completing a large circuit of the lake, smash through the finish line and celebrate with a glass of the good stuff.
Winter challenge completed.
Included
Guides
Local, qualified and experienced kayaking instructors alongside cycling and mountain leaders
Accommodation
1 night's stay in a local 3-star hotel
Meals
Breakfast at the hotel and a packed-lunch up the mountain
Transfers
Transfers from Bangor train station and back
Equipment
Everything you need for cycling and kayaking will be sorted
Not Included
Some meals as described
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas where required
Day 1
Hotel · Twin share
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2
Departure day
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
A full English or continental breakfast is included at the hotel and a packed lunch is provided for the hiking bit of the challenge, including a sandwich, cereal bar, drink, chocolate and a piece of fruit. Llanberis also has plenty of restaurants and pubs to choose from and any dietary needs can be accommodated (including vegetarian and vegan), just let your host know when booking.
What is the accommodation like?
Llanberis
You’ll stay at either the Celtic Royal Hotel or the Royal Victorian Hotel in Llanberis. Both hotels feature comfortable and modern ensuite rooms. Exactly the kind of comfort you need before the challenge starts. You'll be staying in twin or triple share rooms.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Bangor Train Station or Llanberis Hotel
18:00 / 18:30
Ends
Llanberis Hotel or Bangor Train Station
17:30 / 18:00
Transfers
For those travelling by train - you'll be picked up at Bangor Train Station at 18:00 on Day 1. Or if you're driving, aim to arrive at the hotel in Llanberis by no later than 18:30.
At the end of your adventure, you will be dropped back at the hotel at 17:30 or Bangor Train Station at 18:00, the choice is up to you.
Travel options
Trains run frequently to Bangor from destinations all across the UK. There is car parking at the hotel for those driving.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included
- Cycling equipment (bike and helmet)
- Kayaking equipment (kayak, paddle and buoyancy aid)
- Safety equipment (first aid kit and radio)
What do I need to bring?
- Rucksack (15-25 litre)
- Thermal base layer
- Fleece top – not cotton
- Polyester, fleece or woollen trousers and tops (no jeans)
- Heavy-duty waterproof jacket and trousers
- Hat
- Worn in waterproof hiking boots or shoes
- Warm hat
- Warm gloves
- Padded cycling shorts (optional)
- Cycling shoes or trainers
- Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
- Water bottles or water bladder (2 litres)
- Snacks and energy food and drink for the day
Pre/post trip accommodation - double/twin room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation - double/twin room
… Per Night
Pre/post trip accommodation - single room
Payable Before Departure
Pre/post trip accommodation - single room
… Per Night
Optional Private Room Upgrade
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Room Upgrade
… Per Person
This level of challenge described was accurate for me and it presented something that was hard enough to push my limits on many levels. I have just dipped my toe in the water of adventure travel and learnt a lot. That also preparation is key and wilderness travel can present unexpected difficulty. I strongly recommend people taking trips with Much Better Adventures. Its eye opening, well organised, and comfortable. It is also encouraging & friendly. It seems like the opportunity for beautiful and affirming adventure is plentiful with this travel company. Thanks
We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 41kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
- A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
As this trip takes place during the winter, you must have a good level of walking and cycling fitness and be prepared to face rain, snow and high winds.
Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
On any winter adventure, you will potentially encounter high winds, rain, snow, ice and steep slopes. You should be prepared to face these conditions. The average temperature between November - March is between 3°C and 8°C. You should read the kit list carefully and pack everything listed.
Sure. You can leave anything you don't need on the challenge at the hotel.
Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.
Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.
Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.
We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.
You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.
Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.
Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.
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