Winter Travel: Himalayas, South Asia, Global Escapes

Winter travel recommendations range from snowy Himalayan treks and hill‑station retreats to warm beaches and luxury cultural getaways across South Asia and beyond. In India, classic winter treks such as Kedarkantha, Brahmatal and Dayara Bugyal, destinations across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir — including Manali and Dharamshala — and cultural circuits to the Taj Mahal, Delhi and Jaipur offer varied experiences for beginners and experienced travelers. South Asia’s 2025 winter lineup highlights nearby options from Bhutan’s peaks to the Maldives’ beaches and Sri Lanka’s retreats, while November and festive‑season Indian highlights include Varanasi, Coorg, Shillong and the Andaman Islands and suggestions to look beyond Goa for carols, midnight Masses and snowy hilltop celebrations. Elsewhere, travelers can opt for Tenerife and Iceland’s dramatic winter landscapes, rebuilt ice hotels and igloos in Sweden, or alpine skiing and après‑ski in Aspen, the Catskills and Hudson Valley, with family needs met by multigenerational resorts such as Grande Lakes Orlando.