Snowdon Sunrise Challenge
Summit Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) as the sun rises with a Large Outdoors guide and a great group of fellow hikers for an unforgettable experience.
Experience Type: Day Experience
Distance: Approx. 9 miles (14.5km)
Duration: Most groups complete this walk in 6-8 hours
Level: Active Plus (see Large Outdoors Experience Levels here)
Age: 16+ (under 18s must be accompanied by their parent/guardian throughout)
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
Please Note: The exact time to meet will change throughout the year, based on sunrise times, but you’ll be meeting in the early hours of the date you book (between 00:30am and 03:00am).
In a Nutshell:
Walk in wonder under a blanket of stars before experiencing dawn from the summit of the highest mountain in Wales!
Enjoy walking one of the most popular hiking routes in the UK while it’s much quieter and admire those dark skies.
Share this memorable experience with a wonderful group of fellow outdoors-lovers, led by a qualified Large Outdoors guide.
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Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
You’ll meet your Large Outdoors guide in Llanberis - the exact time to meet will change throughout the year, based on sunrise times, but you’ll be meeting in the early hours of the date you book (between 00:45am and 02:45am). There’s time to check everyone’s head torches are working (an essential - see Compulsory Kit List section below), before beginning the walk with the rest of the group, led by your qualified and experienced guide.
You’ll be following the Llanberis Path, the most gradual of the six main paths to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa). As you head up the well-trodden path, your eyes will adjust to the darkness and you’ll be able to absorb the beauty of a truly dark night sky of Snowdonia National Park, an International Dark Sky Reserve. You’ll make progress at a safe and sociable pace with the help of your head torch. Hopefully under a blanket of stars (clouds permitting!) and perhaps enjoying moonlit views over the surrounding peaks, valleys, lakes and woodlands. The stillness and tranquility of the experience is a tonic to the daily hustle and bustle.
The aim is to reach the peak as dawn breaks and watch as the first light of the day creeps across the mountains and the sun edges over the horizon. A magical, unforgettable experience at a lofty 1,085m (3,560ft)! This is a bucket-list worthy experience and perfect to celebrate a special milestone; make amazing memories with friends and family; or perhaps even an occasion to pop “the question” for the romantics out there!
You might want to toast the moment with a cup of coffee from your flask or a chocolate bar (or both - our preferred option), or snap away at the Instagram-worthy vista, before it’s time to retrace our steps back down the mountain. With a new perspective in daylight, the descent offers stunning outlooks to enjoy, knowing the hard part is done as we make our way back to the meeting location. Most groups complete this walk in 6-8 hours.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: The exact time to meet will change, based on sunrise times, throughout the year - but you’ll be meeting in the early hours of the date you book (between 00:30am and 03:00am). Please check your email confirmation upon booking for your meeting time.
Meeting Location:
Llanberis Interchange (Bus Stop) *
Llanberis
LL55 4TY* Llanberis Interchange is a set of bus stops located off the A4086, adjacent to Llanberis Community Centre (Y Ganolfan). See our exact meeting location here (view in Satellite mode).
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Parking: There is a pay-and-display car park at Llanberis Community Centre, and others nearby, including Ger Y Llyn (Lakeside) Car Park and Electric Mountain Car Park. These are located off the A4086, along the south side of Llyn (Lake) Padarn.
Public Transport: Llanberis is located 10.6 miles from Bangor Train Station, with services to/from Holyhead and Crewe. Bus services are available to/from Bangor. Timetables and meeting time means an overnight stay is generally required if using public transport.
Finish Time: Most groups complete this walk in 6-8 hours.
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Included:
A Large Outdoors guide to lead you on your walk.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not Included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our General (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.
DON’T FORGET:
To bring your head torch - you will not be allowed to start the walk if you don’t have a working head torch with you.
Warm clothes (layers advised) - please remember on the mountain at night it can be significantly colder than during the daytime. Even during the summer months, a waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, plus warm layers, hat and gloves are compulsory kit for this experience. It can be 20C in the daytime but hovering around freezing at night on the summit.
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“The experience itself was amazing but the good connections with other attendees really made the trip. Had a real laugh with the group and that extends to our guide, who was great!” Craig, February 2021
“I loved the beautiful views and the sense of achievement. The guides were lovely and very knowledgeable.” Katy, May 2021
“Very well organised and our guides were really excellent. The experience was very relaxed and inclusive.” Laura, July 2021
“The whole experience was fantastic. Our guide was super helpful, he understood the groups abilities straight away and ensured that everyone was able to manage the walk and enjoy it. We had perfect weather too!” Michelle, July 2021
“I love achieving a challenge! Really appreciate that I felt comfortable to attend on my own. The guides made me feel really welcome and are incredibly supportive and encouraging. It's well organised, feel like you are in safe hands.” Verified participant, August 2021
“A really friendly, welcoming atmosphere. We were kept safe, educated about things around us, and we had a good laugh too!” Stephen, April 2022
“I enjoyed it very much. I thought David (guide) was very nice, he was patient kind and made an effort to speak with everyone. He took it steady and was informative and knowledgable.” Sam, June 2023
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What level of fitness is needed? This trip is rated as Active Plus and you certainly need to be capable of managing ascent and descent - you’ll be summiting Wales’ highest mountain after all! You’ll be walking around 9 miles (14.5 km) on the day, so ensure your training walks are an appropriate length and don’t forget to include some hills!
Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.Is there a time limit? We generally allow up to 8 hours to complete the walk (up to the summit and back to the meeting location), which is adequate for the majority of participants. Our guides do their very best to accommodate the speed of the group they are leading, whilst providing the encouragement needed to complete the challenge. Most groups complete this walk in 6-8 hours.
Can I buy food/drink on the walk? There are no stops for water refills or food along the route, so you should bring sufficient water (at least 2-3 litres per person) and plenty of food. Please note that Hafod Eryri – the summit building - will not be open at the time of this sunrise experience.
Is there a toilet? There are usually public toilets available near the meeting location. Please note that Hafod Eryri – the summit building - will not be open at the time of this sunrise walk.
Can I attend on my own? Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.
Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the activity and any additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.
Why walk with a guide?
Walking with a guide is an enjoyable, inspiring experience that helps you get the most out of your adventures.
Tackling a mountain isn’t something many of us do often, so we always recommend doing so with an experienced, qualified guide..
Why?
Well, our guides are expert navigators with in-depth knowledge of the routes. They understand the weather conditions and can decide the safest course of action should the weather change. Our guides are first-aid certified and know how to handle unexpected emergency situations.
Our guides will pace the walk, helping you travel at a comfortable pace while providing encouragement.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.
