6 Places To Travel In December Before The Holiday Rush Kicks In

’Tis the year when December travel plans start well before the holiday rush. The year-end calendar usually comes with a familiar itinerary of Christmas lunches, New Year parties and a social diary booked weeks in advance. But for those who would rather trade the crowds for something a little different, the first half of the month makes a good case for leaving town. Nagaland is in its dry season, which runs from October to May. The White Rann of Kutch is open for its winter season, which continues till March 7, 2027. Kyoto’s maples are still turning.

Imagine spending your mornings among Naga tribes in the hills of Kohima, stargazing over the White Rann on a moonless night, or waking up in a glasshouse cabin in Lapland.

Whether you are travelling with family, escaping with a partner or simply looking for an excuse to do something extraordinary, these six places to travel in December offer a rather compelling alternative to the usual year-end party circuit.

Places To Travel In December

October to May is the dry winter window, when the weather is clear and pleasant. Kohima has the Kohima War Cemetery, which honours nearly 1,500 soldiers from India, Britain and the Commonwealth who died in the Battle of Kohima. It is open daily from 9am to 4pm. Mary Help of Christians Cathedral is the largest in the Northeast, with Naga-Gothic design and a 16-foot carved wooden crucifix. Khonoma, about 20 km away, is described as India’s first green village, with hunting and logging banned. Dzukou Valley lies behind Japfu Peak, about 15 km south of the city. Naga cuisine relies on fermentation and smoking, and axone, made from fermented soya beans, is the ingredient to try.

December is also when the Hornbill Festival takes over Kisama Heritage Village, about 12 km south of Kohima. The state government started it in 2000, and it is named after the Great Indian Hornbill. The 16 major tribes, including the Angami, Ao, Konyak and Sumi, set up morungs, replica houses where visitors can sit by the fire and hear folklore. The programme includes warrior demonstrations, Naga wrestling, archery and the Hornbill International Rock Contest, and the Night Bazaar fills Kohima’s streets after sunset. Fly to Dimapur, which is 74 km from Kohima and a two to three hour drive.

Where to stay: Polo Hotel Kohima, on New Minister Hill, overlooks the city and the valley. The 56-room hotel opened on October 24, 2026, and is billed as Nagaland’s first five-star property. It has an infinity pool and a restaurant serving a seven-course Naga menu. Rooms carry tribal artwork and woven Naga textiles.

The White Rann near Dhordo is at its best at sunrise and sunset. Kala Dungar, the highest point in Kutch, looks over the salt flats. The Road to Heaven runs through the salt desert. Bhuj, the gateway, has Aina Mahal, Prag Mahal and the Kutch Museum. Mandvi Beach offers camel rides, and Dholavira is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Harappan ruins. Ajrakh block-printing workshops are held at Ajrakhpur. Bhuj is around three hours from Dhordo by road, and an entry permit for Dhordo has to be arranged before the visit. Two to three nights is a practical stay. Pack warm layers, as it gets cold after sunset.

Rann Utsav, which began on November 1, adds a festival layer to the trip. Tent City has a haat for textiles and crafts, with folk performances and regional dining.

Where to stay: Tent City Dhordo offers Super Premium Tents, Premium Tents, Swiss cottages and the Darbari and Rajwadi suites. Packages run on a two nights, three days basis. Bookings are on rannutsav.com.

Fly to Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) and take a ferry to Havelock, also called Swaraj Dweep. Radhanagar Beach is about 12 km from Havelock Jetty and a 20-minute drive. It is a vast stretch of white sand with coconut and mangrove trees on the western coast, and it is known for its sunsets. Swimming is allowed only in designated areas, and lifeguards are on duty from sunrise to sunset. Elephant Beach is reached by speedboat or a 2 to 3 km trek and is known for coral views and snorkelling. Kalapathar Beach is the one for sunrise. Neil Island is a short ferry ride away. Weather can delay ferries, so keep buffer time between transfers. Do not touch corals or disturb marine life, and stay out of protected areas without permission.

Where to stay: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans, sits on Radhanagar Beach. The all-villa property has 72 stilted villas across 46.5 acres and three restaurants, The Settlers, Turtle House and Shoreline. It has an infinity pool, yoga sessions and the J Wellness Circle Spa, and it curates a guided experience to Kala Pathar Island. The resort arranges ferry tickets and transfers.

Resorts here are built around private islands, so the stay itself is the itinerary. Fly into Malé, then transfer by seaplane or boat to the atoll. Baa Atoll is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Hidden sandbanks, snorkelling and stargazing over the ocean make up much of the day. Open-air spa treatments and daily yoga are standard at the better resorts.

Where to stay: Soneva Fushi is on the private island of Kunfunadhoo in Baa Atoll. It describes itself as the original barefoot island, with Beach Villas set in the jungle, Overwater Villas with retractable roofs and Signature Villas. It has an observatory for stargazing and more than a dozen dining options, including a zip-line to lunch and meals in the treetops. Seasonal programming includes visiting chefs and glass-blowing lessons. A seaplane from Malé takes about 30 minutes.

Tokyo’s ginkgo turns yellow around November 26 and its maples go red around November 29. In Kyoto, the late spots are the ones to chase in early December. Shimogamo Shrine peaks around December 8, Nijo Castle around December 2, and Kitano Tenmangu around December 1. Earlier spots such as Kiyomizu-dera and Arashiyama peak in late November. For evenings, Eikando is lit up till December 10 and Kodai-ji till December 14. Check each temple before you go, as schedules can change.

Where to stay: Aman Kyoto is in Kita-ku, about 30 minutes by car from Kyoto Station. It has 26 rooms, suites and freestanding pavilions set in a private garden and forest. The spa has spring-fed onsen baths and offers mindfulness sessions.

Winter activities include husky and reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling and northern lights tours. SantaPark is a cavern 50 metres underground and is open daily in December. Daylight is short, from about three hours 43 minutes on December 1 to about two hours 14 minutes at the winter solstice. Temperatures run from about minus 11 to minus 4 degrees Celsius. Cloud covers the sky on most December days, so aurora tours that drive to gaps in the cloud have the best odds. Seasonal attractions open through the month, with Snowman World on December 6 and Arctic SnowHotel on December 15. Finnair flies to Rovaniemi several times daily.

Where to stay: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, on Tarvantie in Rovaniemi, has 60 rooms. Each glasshouse cabin has a private sauna. The restaurant serves local seasonal produce, including reindeer and moose.