"I’m dreaming of a white Christmas." Those are the words of the famous song that’s played everywhere at this special time of year. White because we’re all hoping that it snows at this time of year. Of course, it depends on the country in question, as it is not the same in the northern nations of the Old Continent as it is in the south, such as Spain, Italy or Portugal. But there’s something we can rely on, one of the factors that most influences snowfall is altitude, and Madrid is the second highest capital city in Europe, after Andorra la Bella, in terms of elevation above sea level.

What should I consider before giving a gift this Christmas?

First of all you have to ask yourself if the person you’re giving a gift to likes the cold - if they are unlikely to be comfortable doing an outdoor activity, it is best to avoid it. This brings us to the second point. It’s undeniable that Christmas presents are traditionally something that has to be opened and enjoyed instantly. However, things are changing and the good thing about giving one of your loved ones an experience like the ones offered by Yumping is that you can redeem it at another time, throughout the year.

Giving an adventure or a relaxing activity as a gift during this period doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be done during the Christmas period, it can just as well be saved for later. In short, it is not at all unreasonable to book a jet ski or horse riding trip for one of the summer or autumn months just because it is Christmas time. Last but not least, on this very special Christian holiday, the gift itself has a much greater impact than it does on a birthday, anniversary or Mother's or Father's Day. And there are two specific dates, Christmas Day and Epiphany, the latter being more traditional in Spain, to give gifts to your family, partner or loved ones. Whichever you celebrate, not receiving anything at Christmas is a low point, a peak of disappointment. If you don’t believe us, ask the naughty children playing with lumps of coal.

What are the best experiences that can be done in the winter?

Don’t worry, no one’s saying that you’re never going to stop unwrapping pairs of socks at Christmas time. They have always been (and will always be) the gift par excellence. But what you might not have thought about is that, later on, those socks would come in handy for Yumping's winter activities. The legendary Sonia and Selena, who topped the charts with "I want to dance all night", sang in the same song ""when the heat comes, the boys fall in love.” But what happens when winter sets in? Well, snow enthusiasts happily get that loved up feeling and rush to their favourite resorts to practise some of the sports on offer.

Let's start with the classics, those that bring together veterans and beginners season after season. We are, of course, referring to the king, skiing, and the queen, snowboarding. When it comes to these sports, the most common thing is to buy a ski pass for a whole weekend or even more days and combine downhill skiing with other typical snow activities such as renting a snowmobile or riding a sled. Fortunately, Spain is home to some of Europe's most outstanding resorts, so it’s simple to diversify your options.

Here are some of the more original snow experiences. You've probably never heard of it, but how about mushing? Does that ring a bell? If not, we can tell that Mushing, which has been around for centuries, refers to riding a sled pulled by sled dogs, such as the Huskies. If you want to feel like Ethan Hawke in "White Fang" and gain the trust of this domesticated species of wolf, mushing should be your priority. Sometimes you wonder how Eskimos can live in Antarctica or other icy parts of the world. The solution is simple: igloos. At Yumping, we offer you the opportunity to build an igloo to protect yourself from the polar cold using the techniques of this culture, it’s one of the favourite activities for children. And what about walking in the snow as if it’s not even there, without slipping once, on a route of several kilometres? This used to be a fantasy, but since the invention of snowshoes, it has become one of the most widespread winter activities. In fact, it’s the best way to cross forests or climb steep slopes with as little effort as possible.

Another popular plan is to travel to Vigo, in Pontevedra, book a guided tour of the city and see the Christmas lights in the historic centre, in the Puerta del Sol. These lights, made up of eleven million LED bulbs, have no need to be jealous of those of other major European capitals such as London, Prague, Zagreb or Vienna.

What other experiences can you give outside of winter?

There are plenty. So many that we’re just going to mention the highlights. Once again, the cold weather can affect some activities and not others, so we advise you to choose the place carefully. We would also like to ask you: is it better to visit Moscow during the winter season? There is no one right answer to this question, but we feel that it is. And we feel the same way about certain non-winter activities: they might depend on wind, cold or rain, but they give us something extra. Think, for example, of a hot air balloon ride, or a flight in a light aircraft, or riding a horse to a bullfighting ranch: you see the landscape in a new light, with other tones and tints, from a point of view that we’re not used to.

If you want to take refuge from the weather, we can suggest a host of alternatives of different kinds. All the activities related to speed allow the driver to take cover and the situation of the circuit, regardless of whether it is wet or dry, doesn’t stop the fun. -so long as you’re careful. One of our favourite experiences is a getaway to another town that includes one or two nights' accommodation, a gastronomic sampling session or a wine tasting. Similarly, some ski resorts incorporate a stay at a spa, such as the magnificent Caldea thermal centre in Andorra. If you stop and think about it, you’ll realise that these activities make much more sense in winter. And let's not forget about family plans either, as the youngest members of the family are also catered for with, among many other things, admission to an aquarium or a children's playground.

How can I get away from the cold and do activities typical of other seasons at Christmas?

The only option is the Canary Islands, the only place in Spain where the climate remains stable throughout the year, with an average of approximately 22 degrees Celsius. It’s not too much to long for an escape during the winter and have a holiday in paradise. For children, there are several zoos such as the Oasis Wildlife in Fuerteventura or the prestigious Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz, chosen on several occasions as the best in the world. For the rest of us, there are a huge number of activities on offer such as jet ski hire, hiking trails, diving baptisms, parachute jumps, hang-gliding flights, whale watching trips, paddleboarding excursions, climbing, canyoning, road cycling, you name it! We’ve got it.

As you can see, it’s an unbeatable selection that covers all bases. Check in our Yumping search engine to find what suits you best and start preparing your programme for next Christmas.