Four icy adventures

Take an exhilarating ride across snowy Alaskan landscapes aboard a dog sled. Photo / Thinkstock

Sometimes there's nothing like a chilly holiday to leave you feeling invigorated. Choose one of these activities or locations for a real breath of fresh air.

Go dog-sledding

Get behind a dashing pooch for a close-to-the-ground rush. You can try your hand at dog-sledding in a wheeled buggy down in Naseby, Central Otago, or go further afield to run with Alaskan malamutes across the snowy fields of their homeland.

See the Northern Lights

Earth's greatest light show begins in the east. As the planet rotates, the aurora comes into view. You can see the astronomical wonder across the northern reaches of the planet - from Whitehorse or Fort McMurray in Canada or aboard a cruise ship moored in a Norwegian fjord.

Stay in an ice hotel

Rest your head on an icy bed 20 minutes from Quebec City in Canada. The ice building bricks at Hotel de Glace are in place from early-January to late March.

Have a polar bear encounter

Polar bears are the travel editor's favourite animal. In Manitoba, Canada, the town of Churchill is regarded as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World". With the approach of each winter, the majestic bears gather in large numbers, waiting for ice to form on Hudson Bay.