The Adventure Gene Difference
Our signature Ultralight Comfort System™ is designed to keep you warm, dry, safe and happy.
All our snow camping trips are designed for hikers without any previous snow camping experience. If you can walk, you can snowshoe!
Our guides are industry pioneers and winter experts. With over 40,000km of experience, you know you’re in safe hands.
We only provide small group experiences. With 2 guides and up to 10 guests, you’ll be well looked after and can walk at your own pace.
The Winter Experts
Our winter trips are designed for hikers who want to experience snow camping in a safe and beginner-friendly environment.
Our Snow Camping Trips
Need help choosing a trip?
Our snow camping trips are designed for hikers – you don’t need to have any previous winter experience. We make planning simple by providing premium ultralight gear and clothing, nutritious food and private transport from Canberra. Just pack your shoes and the clothes on your back!
Since no previous snow experience is necessary, the trip you pick will depend on three key factors: time, trip style and difficulty.
Time
At 4 days long, Snowies Intro to Snow Camping is our shortest trip. This is a great way to test the waters with a quick getaway into the backcountry.
Our longer 6 day Mt Jagungal Snow Camping Expedition and 10 day Kiandra to Kosciuszko Snow Camping Expedition are perfect for greater immersion and skill building.
Trip Style
Snowies Intro to Snow Camping is unique because it is a base camping experience. On Day 1 we walk into camp and set up our tents. On Day 2 and Day 3 we carry day packs and explore the region. On Day 4 we pack up our tents and exit the backcountry.
On the other hand, on our Mt Jagungal and Kiandra to Kosciuszko trips we move each day. This means we carry our full packs, and set up our tents every afternoon. This allows us to explore more remote regions and visit a greater number of historic huts.
Difficulty
All trips are very similar in terms of average daily distance (~9-12km) and elevation gain (~400m). For any of our trips, having a high level of fitness is important.
Our 4 day Snowies Intro to Snow Camping is our easiest trip and is rated as Moderate. This is because we base camp and walk with day packs on Day 2 and Day 3.
Our 6 day Mt Jagungal trip is rated as Moderate – Challenging, reflecting that we carry our full packs every day, and venture into more remote terrain.
Whilst each individual day is roughly the same difficulty as our Mt Jagungal trip, Kiandra to Kosciuszko is rated as Challenging due to the extended length (10 days), and because we undertake a traverse of the Main Range – Australia’s highest mountains.
Snow Camping Trip Calendar
Check out our trip calendar for a visual overview of all upcoming snow camping trips!
FAQs
Curious about our winter trips? We’ve answered our most common questions to make planning your adventure stress-free.
What types of snow camping trips do you offer?
We offer immersive, tent-based winter trips in the Snowy Mountains, ranging from 4 to 10 days.
Designed specifically for those with no prior snow camping experience, these expeditions are fully guided. We provide world-class ultralight gear and clothing, nutritious food, and return transport from Canberra. Just bring your shoes and the clothes on your back!
Your guides are there to support and enable your adventure, drawing on their extensive experience in the snow. While you will be carrying your own gear and setting up camp, they are there to offer guidance, teach new skills, and ensure your safety.
On our 4 day trip, we base camp and do day trips. Our longer 6 and 10 day expeditions move camp every day. This allows for greater skill development, deeper wilderness immersion, and the chance to explore more remote, untouched terrain.
I'm new to snow camping, are your trips suitable for beginners?
Yes! You don’t need any prior snow camping experience to join us. We provide a detailed pre-trip preparation package, and our guides will teach everything you need to know. The only prerequisite is your physical fitness. It is essential that you are capable of carrying a 15kg pack for extended periods over uneven terrain.
Where do your winter trips go?
All of our winter trips are located in Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains. Where we go depends on the length of your adventure:
4 day trip: Starting at Guthega Power Station, we climb into the mountains and establish a base camp at Whites River Hut. Over the course of the trip, we summit Dicky Cooper Bogong and Mt Gungartan, and visit Schlink and Horse Camp Hut.
6 day trip: Also starting from Guthega Power Station, this trip pushes deeper into more remote terrain. This allows us to visit a greater number of historic alpine huts (Horse Camp, Whites River, Mawsons, Schlink, Valentines). We also traverse the Kerries and summit Mt Jagungal and Mt Gungartan.
10 day trip: An epic winter traverse of Australia’s most iconic long-distance winter route, starting in Kiandra and finishing at Mt Kosciuszko. On this trip, we visit over 10 historic alpine huts, and explore both Jagungal Wilderness and the Main Range. This is our only snow camping trip that traverses Australia’s tallest mountains in winter.
Is snowshoeing like hiking?
Yes, snowshoeing is very similar to hiking. If you can walk, you can snowshoe!
The main difference is that it is more physically demanding because you have extra weight on your feet. A good rule of thumb is that 10km in snowshoes feels like hiking roughly 15km.
Can I use skis?
We use snowshoes instead of skis because there is less skill involved, making our trips suitable for beginners. Snowshoes allow you to focus on enjoying the trip and building your winter skills without the complexity of skiing.
If self-sufficient ski touring is a long term goal, we highly recommend learning to snow camp first, practicing your skiing separately at the resort, and then combining the two later!
Will I be cold?
All trips include access to our Winter Ultralight Comfort System™. Designed by experts and curated from manufacturers around the world, this premium gear and clothing package is designed to keep you safe, warm, dry and happy in the mountains!
Our setup features double-walled winter tents, -18°C sleeping bags, and -20°C sleeping mats. We also supply fleece layers, down jackets, down pants, down booties, and waterproof overboots for your shoes to keep the snow out. This keeps the vast majority of hikers warm, but we have extra layers ready if you tend to get cold easily.
We also provide an ultralight thermos for hot drinks during the day!
Which winter trip is right for me?
No snow camping experience is required for any of our winter trips. Therefore, the trip you pick will depend on time, trip style, and difficulty.
You can find a comparison of the trips here!
Am I fit enough?
All of our snow camping trips require you to carry a 15kg pack for extended periods over uneven and off-track terrain. To ensure you are ready, you will need to do some training before the trip. We highly recommend engaging in at least 3 hours of physical activity each week, such as running, cycling, swimming, team sports, or hiking up and down hills. Walking on flat pavement is not adequate preparation.
In addition, you should aim to complete at least 3 practice walks carrying a 10-15kg pack for 4-6 hours (including breaks) before we depart.
What do I need to bring?
We provide all the gear and outer-layer clothing. This includes (but is not limited to) tents, sleeping bags, snowshoes, hiking packs, hiking poles, down jackets, down pants, fleece layers, mittens and goggles.
The only things you need to bring are your base layers and personal items:
Long-sleeve shirt and hiking pants
Your normal walking shoes (either trail runners or hiking boots)
Socks and underwear
A hat and sunglasses
What’s included in the trip price?
Included in the trip price is the following:
- Use of world-class ultralight winter gear and clothing (valued at over $7000)
- Cooked meals, snacks, and hot drinks (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day)
- Return transport from Canberra
- 2 expert guides (a 1:5 guide-to-guest ratio)
- Resupply logistics (for the 10 day Kiandra to Kosciuszko trip)
- Pre-trip support and a detailed preparation package (including a packing video)
What group sizes can I expect on a trip?
All trips are intentionally small, with up to 10 guests, accompanied by 2 guides. This ratio ensures a personal, comfortable, and well-paced experience.
Who will be guiding me?
All of our guides are highly experienced in navigating the Australian winter backcountry. While each guide brings their own unique style and interests to the trail, they all share a commitment to being supportive, knowledgeable, and ensuring your trip is one to remember. We will let you know who your guides are about a month before departure, though please note this can occasionally change on short notice.
Are there toilets?
On our 4 day Snowies Intro to Snow Camping, you will have access to a drop toilet every morning and evening.
This is the same for our 6 day Mt Jagungal Snow Camping Expedition, except for one night.
On our 10 day K2K expedition, there are three nights where we will not have access to a drop toilet.
When drop toilets are unavailable, you will use our alpine toilet system to carry your waste until you reach the next toilet. We will run through this on Day 0.
Do I need to share a tent?
No, you do not need to share a tent.
Am I too old?
We don’t believe age is a good measure of ability. We have guided many people in their 60s and 70s (and 80s!) and sometimes they are the fittest in the group.
Our hikers are typically aged between 16 and 75 years old.
What if I am too slow?
It’s very common to be concerned about being too slow, or the slowest in the group.
Our trips are designed to be achievable and enjoyable – not a race. There is time for plenty of photos and breaks! Additionally, with small groups and 2 guides, we are able to cater to a wide range of paces, ensuring everyone feels supported.
I still have questions?
We know preparing for a trip brings up plenty of questions! Email or call us, and one of our senior guides will be more than happy to answer them.
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