Skip the typical winter destinations and holiday crowds and try a road less travelled. From the Arctic Circle to the Indian Ocean, we’ve scoured the globe to find the best alternative winter holiday destinations for this year.
Take a look, and then find a flight on momondo to one of these winter holiday spots.
Manila, Philippines
Nicknamed the “the Pearl of the Orient”, the capital of the Philippines is an alluring place to visit this winter. With the dry season commencing in November, the warm winter temperatures make it ideal for sunbathing or sightseeing.
The metropolis has plenty to offer with museums, parks and shopping virtually on every street. But there are also superb attractions just a few hours away. For instance, you could hike to the peak of Mount Pinatubo or head to Tagaytay City, with its beautiful volcanic lagoon. Idyllic beaches and famous surf spots like Calatagan and Zambales can also be reached in no time at all.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Often overlooked due to the plethora of competing Caribbean destinations, Punta Cana is a fine alternative to the more crowded resorts. It’s a place where you can have an active holiday or just sunbathe all week long. Adventure-seekers can head into the hills to canoe or raft in the spectacular Dominican Alps, or snorkel to explore the surrounding corals and tropical marine life.
If none of that takes your fancy, you can just sip rum cocktails and watch the molten orange sun dip beneath the crystal blue horizon.
Murmansk, Russia
So many people are flocking to Reykjavik, Tromsø and Lapland to catch a view of the northern lights, but an equally impressive place to view them is in Murmansk. The Murmansk region, which is located on the Kola Peninsula bordering Finland, is not only a great place for the northern lights but ideal for other winter activities like skiing and snowboarding as well. Be sure to visit one of the traditional Sami villages too.
Saint-Denis, Réunion Island
Located in the Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar, Réunion Island has it all – beautiful beaches, tropical rainforests, dizzyingly high volcanic mountains and a colourful Creole culture. Plus, it is incredibly compact – it takes just four and a half hours to drive the entire circumference – meaning when you finish your mountaintop hike it takes hardly any time at all to travel down to the beach for a sip of the locally made rum.
Fortaleza, Brazil
On the northern end of Brazil lies Fortaleza, one of the more underappreciated South American destinations. Fortaleza is famous for its urban beaches, Praia de Iracema and Praia Meireles, where you can swim or simply chill in the beachfront bars and enjoy some people watching. Outside of its beaches, Fortaleza is renowned in Brazil for its live music and dance scene. On any day of the week, you will find a venue hosting a ‘Forró’, a party featuring the region’s unique style of dance and music.
Dalaman, Turkey
The District of Dalaman is a geographic and natural wonder. Not only is it blessed with eye-catching beaches along the meeting point of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, but it also has natural springs, lagoons and thermal pools. We recommend Ölüdeniz’s Blue Lagoon and Sultaniye’s mud baths where you can relax, and let the worries of the world soak away.
