DECEMBER
WHERE TO GO IN DECEMBER
Christmas arrives with full, boisterous energy. Decked out and shining like a bell. You can escape it (and go to Thailand). Or you can embrace it (and go to Lapland). But wherever you chose to spend the winter, we’re here for you.
We’ve hand-picked the ideas below to get your mind racing about where to travel in December. As ever, our luxury travel experts are on hand to give you detailed guidance and expert suggestions in choosing your trip.
AUSTRIA
Where the sachertorte is rich and bitter, and the white Alps scratch the sky itself, Austria – home to mirror-seeming lakes and the outrageously fun winter krampus festival – is, despite its genteel appearance, a really very surprising country. It’s the most wonderful time of year in the most wonderful place.
COUNTRIES
Where to visit in December
THAILAND
With the monsoon’s dissipation, the days give way to clear skies and bright sun. We recommend the south and the western Andaman coast, with Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Phi Phi and more. Up north, the culture of Chiang Mai still has its draw.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is sure to both mystify and inspire. This tear-drop-shaped, emerald island is the perfect marriage between a luxurious beach holiday and an immersive safari adventure. Spend your days at the family-friendly Wild Coast Tented Lodge at Yala National Park spotting leopards.
ARGENTINA
There’s remote, and then there’s remote. The Mitre Peninsula is a wildly diverse, protected ecosystem in the southernmost region of Argentine Patagonia. Snow-capped peaks, dense evergreen forests, glaciers, and fjords. Or get planning.
SOUTH AFRICA
A true festive escape. Dry, bright, warm days on the Cape and in the winelands. Camps and Bantry bay, Cape Town test kitchens, wine tastings and even some Sabi Sands safari.
KENYA
We’ve spent years perfecting our list of the best lodges, the perfect safari itineraries, and the best cultural excursions. As the original safari destination, Kenya does safari with unbeatable aplomb. What’s more, we specialize in pairing Kenya with post-safari sojourns in the Seychelles and Zanzibar.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia is a welcoming and fascinating place to immerse yourself into. The water festival of Bon Om Touk. The races of Phnom Penh. The splendour of Cardamom National Park and the glory of Shinta Mani Wild.
NEW ZEALAND
Two interlocked islands strung out in the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is an ecological and geographical dream come true; laying claim to some of the most outrageous landscapes on earth. If it was good enough for Peter Jackson and The Lord of the Rings, then it’s good enough for us.
ECUADOR & THE GALAPAGOS
Quietly, thirteen volcanic islands lie 600 miles adrift of the coast of Ecuador. These are the Galápagos Islands, home to giant tortoises and marine iguanas. We’ll take you on an adventure following in Darwin’s footsteps around the islands on one of our smaller vessels.
