Where to go when guide
Tied to school holidays, keen to miss the monsoon season or hoping for an off season deal?
Where to go on holiday in December
December offers lots of holiday options, from festive classics like log cabin stays in frosted Finnish Lapland, to off-season surprises, such as cultural tours of Morocco’s cities and mountains. Northern Europe is a family-friendly favourite; smaller children love seeing Santa and can learn about Sami reindeer culture, while winter multi-activity tours appeal to teens and adults alike. For warmer weather, head to Caribbean waters, where Costa Rica’s rainy season has left its foliage lush and green. In Asia, it’s dry and not too hot, perfect for island hopping, wildlife spotting and adventurous activities. Want to know where not to go? December is not a good time for southern Europe, which is wet and cold, China which is freezing and northern Brazil, which is very busy and hot.
Antarctic Peninsula
December signals the start of the expedition cruise season; the icebergs have broken up enough to let small cruise ships pass through and get close enough to see the wonderful wildlife. And what a show; you’ll arrive as the first penguin chicks hatch and seal pups are born. Antarctica’s warmer weather and longer days, and lots to look at, mean places go quickly – booking early is essential.
Costa Rica
A tropical climate and landscapes that range from mountains to cloud forest mean weather in Costa Rica can be variable. Go In late December when it’s dry but green – just don’t forget your waterproofs, this is still a rainforest. If you’re not the traditional type, you can swap Christmas customs for warm days spent wildlife watching – this is when animals are easier to spot.
Finland
Where could be more festive in December than Lapland, home of Father Christmas himself? Families often flock to Finland to see Santa, so it can be a bit busy. Bear in mind also that, in December, Finland will be dark, with only a few hours of sunlight each day. Still, it’s the best time of year to see the night sky illuminated by the spectacular Northern Lights.
Thailand
In December, Thailand is dry and its temperatures have started to dip, making active holidays more manageable. It’s the best time of year for trekking, which you can do with tours that operate alongside the local Thai hill tribes. It’s a festive time of year here too, and parts of the island will be awash with colourful celebrations: Chiang Rai Flower Festival and the Colours of Doi Tung Festival.
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£3279 to £4549
15 days
ex flights
Northern Lights family holiday, tailor made
An Aurora-cabin glass roofed experience in Finnish Lapland
From
£1465
4 days
inc UK flights
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
India´s best experiences including the Taj Mahal & Tigers
From
£1424 to £1570
10 days
ex flights
Finnish family winter adventure holiday
See the Northern Lights in Finland
From
£2699 to £3279
8 days
ex flights
Cross country skiing holiday in the Dolomites, Italy
A famously beautiful range of jagged peaks
From
£1999 to £2249
8 days
ex flights
Family winter activity holiday, Finland
A family multi-activity week away from the crowds
From
€1125 to €1175
8 days
ex flights
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December holiday advice
Who better to ask for advice on where to travel in December than our specialist tour operators themselves? If you’re deciding where to go, read on to see what the experts have to say...
Ali McLean, from our partner Activities Abroad, explains why Finland is fantastic for active families: “I always plump for Finland in winter. The lakes freeze and the forests and fells are blanketed in snow turning the great outdoors into one huge adventure playground. The Finns love the arrival of winter and who can blame them? It is the variety that draws me to Finland when it comes to winter activity holidays.”
Clarita Derwent, from our Cuban partner Cuban Adventures, on her favourite way to spend the festive season: “Christmas in Cuba is fantastic because it’s the coolest time of year, but there’s a lot of festivals and parties. Combining a New Year’s Eve feast and fireworks, the Christmas Eve Las Parrandas de Remedios parade and a Christmas Day celebration is just a beautiful way to spend Christmas in the Caribbean.”
Sarah Wightman on when to see wildlife in Antarctica: “At the start of the season you get the most incredible ice formations – it’s just unbelievable. But sometimes the ship can’t get where it need to go as the ice blocks are so big – so quite often you can stand on deck and can’t get off as much. The bit in the middle – from December to early February – is the most popular because you can get off the ship, the penguin chicks and other birdlife are still there, and you get close to 24-hour sunshine.”
Mike McHugo, owner of our Moroccan High Atlas Mountains accommodation, the Kasbah du Toubkal, with some advice for packing: “Many people don’t realise that Morocco is a cold country with a hot sun, particularly out of the peak season. Even if you get good weather, once the sun goes down Morocco can be cold even in Marrakech and the south, never mind in the mountains. So people don’t pack correctly; Marrakech can have frost in winter, for example.’’
Clarita Derwent, from our Cuban partner Cuban Adventures, on her favourite way to spend the festive season: “Christmas in Cuba is fantastic because it’s the coolest time of year, but there’s a lot of festivals and parties. Combining a New Year’s Eve feast and fireworks, the Christmas Eve Las Parrandas de Remedios parade and a Christmas Day celebration is just a beautiful way to spend Christmas in the Caribbean.”
Sarah Wightman on when to see wildlife in Antarctica: “At the start of the season you get the most incredible ice formations – it’s just unbelievable. But sometimes the ship can’t get where it need to go as the ice blocks are so big – so quite often you can stand on deck and can’t get off as much. The bit in the middle – from December to early February – is the most popular because you can get off the ship, the penguin chicks and other birdlife are still there, and you get close to 24-hour sunshine.”
Mike McHugo, owner of our Moroccan High Atlas Mountains accommodation, the Kasbah du Toubkal, with some advice for packing: “Many people don’t realise that Morocco is a cold country with a hot sun, particularly out of the peak season. Even if you get good weather, once the sun goes down Morocco can be cold even in Marrakech and the south, never mind in the mountains. So people don’t pack correctly; Marrakech can have frost in winter, for example.’’
More Best places to go in December articles
There’s plenty to choose from, whether you’re looking for warmth, winter or wildlife.
A guide to some of the most popular places our travellers like to go at this time of year.
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