Hardangervidda National
Park, Norway
The allure of Northern forests is hard to escape. Winter
camping here puts you in the heart of wilderness, testing
your survival skills. The National Park is a great area for
hiking and fishing. Go to Oslo Airport iand take a bus
to reach Hardangervidda. For a self-propelled winter
camping expedition, get ready to haul a toboggan and
pack your snow-shoes.
Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India
The shimmering landscape during the full moon at Rann
Utsav leaves you enchanted. This carnival of folk music,
dance, camel safaris and live-in tents starts every year in
December and continues till Holi festival. Buy authentic
handicraft items such as bandhani saris and traditional
ornaments. Check out the Wild Ass Sanctuary, too. It’s an
easy 102 km drive from Bhuj.
Rekyjavik and Blue Lagoon,
Iceland
Reykjavík has exciting winter sports such as jeep tours,
horse riding, dog sledding and snowmobiling on a glacier.
Celebrate Christmas for two days and enter the New Year
with the most impressive fireworks. Reykjavík-Keflavík
Airport is the main hub for international transportation and
thus is easy to reach. Just 45 minutes from Reykjavik rests
Blue Lagoon, a geothermal pool of magic. White-silica
mud against a spectacularly lunar backdrop will send you
into a feel-good frenzy. The water’s always warm but your
hair might just freeze!
Chopta, Uttarakhand, India
Move over Simla and Mussourie. Chopta offers
Himalayan relief from big city blues at just 450 km
from Delhi. Once there, a quick trek takes you to an
altitude of 4000 mts. Surrounded by dense forests,
with snow covered trails during winter; Chopta has
majestic views of the snow clad Himalayas.
Tallinn, Estonia
The spectacle of frozen waterfalls, the coastline and the
country’s snow-covered forests and National Parks leaves
you in awe. After a day filled with activities such as kiiking
and wife-carrying, end it with a sauna. Stock up on traditional
quilts, felt hats and slippers at the cosiest and most enchanting
Christmas market during late November. Tallinn Airport is just
3 km from the heart of the city.
88 Travel Secrets September-October 2015