Alternative Christmas travel guide

Have you ever thought about taking yourself out of the whole jolly holly Christmas thing and doing something slightly more exciting instead? Our alternative Christmas vacations ideas include opportunities to escape to Sri Lanka, Vietnam or Jordan, as well as Lapland, where a sack-full of animal encounters and cultural adventures await.

Escape with your family on a tailor made tour or sneak off solo - small group vacations offer a ready-made group of mates to explore off the tinsel-draped track at Christmas. All those dark, damp days off in December offer a great excuse to get away; after all, it would be a shame to waste them all on re-runs of Only Fools and Horses. From safari expeditions in Southern Africa to walking the Inca Trail in Peru, our alternative Christmas vacation ideas are the perfect addition to your festive wish list.

Although it can be tempting to avoid chestnuts roasting on open fires and winter wonderlands, that doesn't mean you have to steer clear of snow, . Families, especially, will find Finnish Lapland covered in white on December 25th. But think well beyond the ski resorts and Santa-centric theme parks. Our alternative Christmas vacations in Lapland offer something far more authentic and fun, too, including Northern Lights watching, snowshoe shuffling and thrilling husky sledding. Although it can be tempting to sneak a bit of tinsel into your luggage or hunt down a turkey dinner, complete with crackers, on 25th December, you’re better off celebrating with friends before or after you’ve set off on vacation. Throwing yourself into local traditions and enjoying regional cuisine is what traveling at this time of year is all about. Ring home and raise a glass, by all means, but don’t get downhearted if Christmas Day in Cuba or the Amazon just isn’t the same as back home. Don’t leave it last minute – booking early is the best way to grab a Christmas vacation bargain before prices rocket like Santa’s sleigh. Tour operators will often have much more affordable options available between the New Year and the end of August so best advice is to plan in advance. Small group tours also tend to get booked up fast so, again, it’s a good idea to plan your alternative Christmas before the clocks go back.