Alternative festive escapes surge in popularity- top 10 destinations revealed

• Travel experts reveal the top 10 lesser-known Christmas destinations to visit, from Guatemala to Bhutan
• It comes as Wild Frontiers reports a surge in Christmas bookings for adventurous destinations, with bookings for Sri Lanka up by 100% in 2024 compared to 2023*
• Meanwhile, Oman has seen a 30% increase in bookings for this Christmas and Bhutan has experienced a 50% rise
• The travel experts also reveal different festive traditions from around the world, from tying up parents for ransom to decorating mango trees in India

Forget the typical Christmas markets! Wild Frontiers, a B Corp adventure travel specialist, reports a surge in festive bookings to destinations like Sri Lanka and Bhutan. From tying up parents for presents in Serbia to celebrating Christmas with mango trees in India, these traditions are transforming how we travel during the holidays.

To encourage adventure travellers to wander a little further and show curious adventurers some new parts of the world, Wild Frontiers has unveiled their top 10 destinations to spend Christmas this winter, along with some lesser-known Christmas traditions.

Countries such as Guatemala and Serbia have their own Yuletide customs, some of which involve children holding their parents to ransom. Read on to discover Wild Frontiers’ top 10 undiscovered places to spend Christmas, and what makes them so special.

1. Pakistan

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If you want to experience a different festive experience this year, the Winter Festival of the Kalash people takes place annually in December around the Rumbur, Bumburet and Birir valleys of the epic Hindu Kush mountain ranges. Beginning on the winter solstice, rituals are performed to wish prosperity on the villages for the coming year.

Traditional dancing and torch-lit processions take place over several days. Bonfires with wine and song precede offerings made to the gods upon the hilltops- it’s a festive experience to remember.

Try a 15-day tour to Pakistan with Wild Frontiers’ Hindu Kush Adventure, prices starting from £3670.

2. Serbia

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Serbia has a truly unusual festive tradition. Two Sundays before Christmas Day, children tie up their mothers, followed by their fathers the following Sunday, demanding ransom in order to free them in the form of presents. Don’t worry though, the children don’t get off lightly! Before all of this, the children have been tied up by their parents and only released on the receipt of presents, too.

Visit Serbia with Wild Frontiers’ ‘Into the Balkans’ 14-day tour, prices starting from £3795 per person.

3. Guatemala

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December in Guatemala is a tried-and-tested antidote to the Christmas frenzy you may have tired of. It’s warm and dry, and the friendly Mayan markets are bursting with many treasures for a shopping experience that’s the antithesis of bustling crowds back at home.

Guatemala has its own traditions, with Christmas Eve being important to the culture. Neighbours call on each other, echoing the journey of Mary and Joseph, before securing accommodation and heading to the town squares for dancing and celebration the night before Christmas.

Why not visit Guatemala with a 10-day Wild Frontiers Classic Guatemala trip? Prices start at £3715 per person.

4. Japan

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Want to experience another out-of-the-box tradition? Japan may be the destination for you. Along similar lines to Coca-Cola turning Santa from green to red, KFC’s 1974 Christmas campaign in Japan called for people to enjoy ‘Kentucky for Christmas’ and to this day it’s a very common tradition. Although Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan, it’s still marked by family visits to the global fried chicken giant for a deep-fried dinner.

Wild Frontiers’ Classic Japan tailor-made itinerary takes you on a journey through the most iconic sights to see for 12 days from £4165 per person.

5. Oman

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Oman is another destination Wild Frontiers has seen an increase in demand for this Christmas, with a 30% increase in bookings this December. For non-natives of the Arabian Peninsula, temperatures in December are the most pleasant of the year for exploration. Oman is a peaceful, humble nation, with a rich and fascinating history.

Swap the commercialisation of Christmas at home and instead dive into a world of sleepy fishing settlements, little-explored mountainous regions and the simple, generous hospitality of the Bedouin. Celebrate your Christmas day with a swim in the sea and opening presents on the beach to immerse yourself in a different tradition.

If you want to experience a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, Wild Frontiers’ 12-day Oman Desert Adventure could be for you. Prices start at £3645 per person.

6. Sri Lanka

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The Wild Frontiers travel experts have reported a 100% increase in bookings for Sri Lanka tours over this festive period, making it a solid contender for a non-typical Christmas. As the annual southwest monsoon has swept over the western and southern coasts by December, the resorts along both shorelines of the Indian Ocean are perfect places to visit this month.

For nature lovers, the Bundala National Park with its lagoons, grassland and dunes in December is the place to see big mammals including elephants, and hundreds of flamingos spend their winter here. On the coast, five species of the island’s marine turtles lay their eggs through to January, making Sri Lanka a truly magical Christmas.

Why not discover Sri Lanka on foot with Wild Frontiers’ ‘Walking in Sri Lanka: Along the Pekoe Trail’ tailor-made itinerary, from £2990 for 15 days.

7. Bhutan

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Following a 50% increase in bookings this Christmas for Bhutan, Wild Frontiers has cited Bhutan as one of the top places to visit this festive season. In December, the village of Bumthang sees a unique festival of colourful costumes, dancing, celebration and prayer rituals wishing for happiness and prosperity.

The carnival atmosphere belies a profound religious significance, allowing travellers to fully immerse themselves in a different festive experience. Christmas cheer is also spread through neighbours and inhabitants of all religions, making the environment inviting and merry, with events celebrating unity and love hosted throughout the country. Winter is also low season, allowing more room for travellers to explore with fewer crowds.

If you want to experience the culture for yourself, the Wild Frontiers group tour to the Land of the Thunder Dragon could be for you. This tour is 13 days and prices start at £4705 per person.

8. Madagascar

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For those seeking some Christmas sun, Madagascar is one of Wild Frontiers’ favourite destinations to visit in December. Although December is the start of the rainy season, don’t let it put you off, as the climate remains hot and dry with an average temperature of 28°C.

The weather makes it a fantastic time for watching lemurs go about their festivities, and you may even be able to spot some chameleons. For those seeking some winter sun, Madagascar has some glorious white sand beaches ready for relaxation; a particular Wild Frontier’s favourite in December is Ifaty, an ideal retreat to relax and soak up some sun.

Wild Frontiers’ 12-day Undiscovered Southern Madagascar group tour allows travellers to fully explore this wondrous destination, with prices starting from £5135 per person.

9. India

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Onwards to an Indian Christmas, where they have festive traditions of their own. Banana or mango trees are decorated in place of pine, and Father Christmas and his sleigh-pulling reindeer are swapped for Christmas Baba (in Hindu, or Christmas Thatha, in Tamil) and his horse and cart. Midnight mass is followed by sharing curries and in southern states, small clay oil lamps are lit and placed on the flat roofs to represent Jesus as the light of the world.

Experience this magnificent country yourself with the Wild Frontiers Central India Ancient Kingdoms and UNESCO treasures tour. 15 days with prices starting at £3780 per person.

10. Patagonia

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It’s mid-summer in Patagonia come December and as Christmas approaches, visitors from neighbouring South American countries head for the hills, forests, lakes and beaches for the laidback festive vibe. The urban hubs of Patagonia retain a rural charm while the vast tracts of beautiful wilderness offer the chance to reconnect with peace and nature ahead of the new year. For adventure lovers, this is the best time to hike the Andes with a stopover in Santiago to toast the festivities.

Experience Patagonia with Wild Frontiers on a 13-day Classic Argentina tour. Prices start from £6575 per person.