Let us share with you our knowledge and experience of Snowdon as you explore the quieter side of the mountain away from the crowds.

Knowing Snowdon as well as we do, our professional and qualified mountain guides will lead you safely to the summit with all the same magical views and once-in-a-lifetime achievement just with less hustle and bustle.

Every year more than half a million people climb Snowdon but National Park visitor stats show that only 3% know about our ‘secret’ route so you’re sure to have a peaceful day at one with the mountain. 

We meet bright and early in the morning just a short 20 minute drive from nearby Caernarfon. You’ll enjoy a circular route with different views returning via a disused quarry.

We operate our Secret Snowdon group hikes between Easter and October half term or if you want the ultimate relaxing adventure, ask us for a private booking. We’ll chat to you in advance and ensure you’ve got the right gear for an enjoyable day out.

On the day you’ll meet your Snowdon guide at the start point who’ll lead you safely to the summit (and back again!). Along the way they’ll share interesting facts (did you know when Snowdon was originally formed it was six times higher?), teach you some Welsh language (ask them how to pronounce the nearby village of Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch) and tell bad jokes (how do you know what the weather’s like at the top of a mountain? You climb-it (climate – get it?)).

Whether you’re doing it for charity, with a group of friends, as a family outing or just for your own pleasure, MountainXperience will take the hassle out of planning your adventure and keep you safe on the day. You’ll only meet qualified and experienced mountain guides who are fully insured and hold up-to-date first aid certificates to ensure your safety. 

If you’re ready to book your Secret Snowdon ascent with MountainXperience, simply choose your preferred date from our live availability calendar and our booking partners FareHarbor will arrange everything for you. Or why not buy a Climb Snowdon gift voucher for a loved one?

You might also like our Climb Snowdon or Snowdon Sunrise adventures.

Pick your own date

    If there's three or more of you in your group we can add a date that suits you. We'll then advertise this new date on our website for others to join or if you'd like one of our guides to run a private event just for you, please contact us.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    We deliberately keep our group sizes small to ensure your safety and to give you the most enjoyable experience. There’s typically up to eight people on our Secret Snowdon hikes but there will never be more than 12 in a group.

    Of course! Around half our clients come on their own. It’s a great way to meet other like-minded adventurers.

    Children are very welcome but must be accompanied by their parent or guardian at all times. If you’re unsure about your child’s suitability please get in touch and we can have a chat.

    That all depends on how quick you walk! If walking in a group then we’ll always aim to stay together and will go at the pace of the slowest person. You should treat it as a day out and expect it to take six to eight hours to get to the top and back down again. We never treat these days as races or endurance tests – the idea is to enjoy yourself.

    Absolutely not. As with many outdoor activities you can easily spend a fortune on the latest top-end clothing but there’s really no need. Hiking boots are better than walking shoes and walking shoes are better than trainers but if all you have is a pair of firm, comfy trainers then they’ll be fine.

    Starting from the bottom up, you’ll need something comfy to walk in. If you’ve bought new footwear try to wear them a few times before you climb Snowdon to make sure they’re a good fit. An extra pair of socks can also be a good idea. Walking trousers are great particularly the ones you can zip the bottoms off to make shorts. Jeans are really bad as if they get wet they become very heavy and are difficult to dry. The key to your top half is layers. Don’t wear a t-shirt then a big heavy coat – better to wear a t-shirt, a fleece of some sort and a jacket – that way you can easily add/remove layers as the conditions change. If you have a hat and gloves then pack them. Remember the temperature on the summit will always be considerably less than at sea level so be prepared. Finally you’ll need a rucksack to carry everything. No need for a huge expedition backpack – just something big enough to carry your lunch and spare bits. If you have any questions about what you need on the day, get in touch.

    This is what we’d recommend everyone should have when climbing Snowdon but we understand the weather on the day will affect what you pack.

    • Rucksack
    • Walking shoes/boots
    • Warm socks (plus a spare pair in your rucksack)
    • Walking trousers
    • Waterproof overtrousers
    • Base layer (eg t-shirt)
    • Mid layer such as a fleece (plus a spare in your rucksack)
    • Outer layer (eg a lightweight jacket)
    • Waterproof jacket
    • Some spare clothing items for emergencies
    • Woolly hat/sun hat
    • Gloves
    • Dry bags/bin liners to keep things dry
    • Walking poles
    • Food – enough to last you all day plus spare
    • Water – at least one litre preferably double that

    It can be at times, yes. You might have seen photos of crowds queuing at the summit for their photo opportunity however this is really only an issue on summer weekends and sunny bank holidays. To help mitigate this we always recommend an early start.

    Yes there is. But it only opens from around the end of Spring until late October and then only on good weather days so it’s always best to be self-sufficient and bring your own snacks and drinks.

    There are public toilets at the start of each route and when the summit visitor centre is open there are also facilities at the top.

    Unfortunately, due to our early start and the remote location of our meeting point,  public transport isn’t an option. You will need to have your own vehicle. There is a large car park with toilet facilities at the foot of the mountain.

    Well behaved dogs are welcome on our Snowdon hikes however due to the number of sheep and ground nesting birds, they will need to be on a lead throughout the day. You should also be certain that your dog is comfortable with the distance and duration of the hike. We wouldn’t recommend this activity as being suitable for your cat, hamster or goldfish.

    In 2022, more than 95% of our clients successfully reached the summit of Snowdon. Our guides will always aim to get you and the group there however sometimes it might not be possible for safety reasons.

    If it’s too windy or there’s too much snow or ice on the path then our guides will turn the group around at the point where it’s no longer safe to continue. On the rare occasion this does happen, it’s typically after the three-quarter way mark so hopefully you’ll have still had a good day out.

    Sometimes the general fitness or walking speed of a member of the group might mean turning back those who are struggling to avoid causing issues for the rest of the group although our guides are usually able to recognise this very early on in the day.

    Safety will always be our guide’s main priority.

    It typically takes around six hours to get to the summit and back down again. Sometimes we go a little quicker and sometimes a little slower – it depends on the group that day. It rarely takes more than seven hours. Please remember if you’re joining a group walk you’ll need to be able to keep up with the majority. If you’re really worried about being too slow we’d suggest hiring a private guide for you and your friends to ensure you get the best out of your day.

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