Less-travelled destinations to consider for a wintry holiday
I believe travellers are split definitively across three types of groups concerning temperature preferences. There are the warm and cool-weather people, and then there are the let-it-go, 'the-cold-never-bothered-me-anyway' people.
I fall firmly into the latter category, where anywhere with snow stirs my soul. My perfect vacation is one where the horizon stretches further than the eyes can see, snow-capped mountains bridging land and sky, with a generous layer of snow covering everything like icing on a cake. My best vacation was in Svalbard, the northernmost part of Norway, where -12 degrees Celcius during winter was considered "pleasant weather".
Perhaps it's the classic case of the grass is greener (or the snow is whiter) on the other side: tourists love coming Singapore for our summer vibes. And I love going to colder countries to break out the winter jackets and sweaters I got on sale.
If you identify with this wintry destination obsession, here are some lesser-known places you should put on your travel bucket list!
Food, alpine and romance in Austria
Check it out for: Food trails, Christmas markets and pristine alpine scenery that have made its way into James Bond movies!
Keywords to research: Vienna, Innsbruck, Graz, and Salzburg. Food trails and wineries in Austria.
How to get there: Fly into Vienna and explore the city with its robust transportation system, or take connecting flights or trains into Innsbruck, Graz, and Salzburg. The cities are well connected via the railway.
Walter Mitty moments in Iceland
Check it out for: An impressive amount of black beaches, waterfalls, volcanoes and landscapes quite unlike anywhere else. And when conditions are right, the Northern Lights will be visible as they dance across the sky.
Keywords to research: Iceland, Reykjavik, geothermal baths, Iceland road trips, Iceland nature.
How to get there: Fly into Reykjavik, and the easiest way to get around the country is via car.
Get a taste of the nomadic life in Mongolia
Check it out for: Centuries-old Mongolian culture that has remained relatively unchanged, such as the Dukha people, Altai people and more tribes with their unique way of living.
Related: The enduring Dukha, one of the last nomadic reindeer herders in Mongolia
Keywords to research: Outer Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar (Ulan Bator), Altai Mountains, Gobi Dessert
Pro-tip: Don't mistake it for Inner Mongolia, which is under the administration of China. Outer Mongolia exists as a separate country on its own.
How to get there: Fly into Ulaanbaatar, and get a reputable tour company to bring you around.
Get ready for winter adventures in Norway
Check it out for: Being the nearest country to the North Pole, Northern Lights, vast snowy landscapes and more.
Keywords to research: Norway, Oslo, Bergen, Tromso, Svalbard, Norway hikes
How to get there: Fly direct into Oslo, before taking advantage of the railways into different regions such as Bergen, Tromso and more. Some train tracks are closed during winter, so a good alternative would be travelling by car and domestic flights.
White Christmas and Ski Vacation in Graubunden, Switzerland
Check it out for: Swiss Alps and the various quaint villages that dots the alpine area of Graubunden, plus plenty of family-friendly ski resorts!
Keywords to research: Switzerland, Graubunden, Swiss Alps, Swiss railway, rocksresort Laax, Valbella Resort Lenzerheide, Grand Hotel Kronenhof Pontresina, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Chasa Montana Samnaun
How to get there: Fly direct to Zurich and explore the country via the robust transport system and/or car. Don't miss the railway experience, where trains with 180-degree and more windows weave through the various cantons and mountains in Switzerland, letting you check out the Swiss Alps views in comfort.
More things to do in Switzerland
Experience the freedom of winter sports in Colorado, United States
Check it out for: Powdery snow, skiing, hikes and more activities in the alpine areas of Colorado.
Keywords to research: Skiing in Colorado, Aspen Snowmass
How to get there: Fly direct to San Francisco and take advantage of the exciting things to do in the culture capital of United States, before taking a 1-hour flight to the ski town of Aspen Snowmass.
Other activities you can do in San Francisco
Check airfare here: Skyscanner | Trip.com | Expedia
Book accommodations and activities here: Agoda | Booking.com | Klook | KKday | HotelsCombined
General info here: Tripadvisor
Affordable data plans here
And while you are at it, be sure to get your travel insurance!
