Top Winter experiences/attractions: festive Christmas markets and decor/light ups, soft adventure and winter sports, seasonal gastronomy and unique stays

• Top destinations: Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Japan (International); Gulmarg, Spiti and Solang Valley, Auli, Nainital, Rajasthan, North East, Darjeeling, Siliguri, Coorg, Ooty and Kodaikanal (Domestic)

• Emerging on the radar: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Czech Republic, Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Croatia

Mumbai, December, 2024: The emergence of Winter Tourism is reshaping travel trends for Indian travellers, with a growing preference for destinations that offer an ideal blend of festive charm, scenic beauty and outdoor adventures. The allure of winter landscapes, combined with Christmas and New Year celebrations, has become a significant draw, especially for working professionals seeking to utilise their annual leave; also multigenerational families, honeymooners, groups of friends and GenS/seniors. Recognizing this shift, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have launched an extensive range of ready-to-book, air-inclusive, land-only and customizable Winter Holidays, catering to all budgets and preferences, across top domestic and international destinations. 

Showcasing the best of winter, the Companies’ portfolio features fun and exciting experiences – snowmobiling, snowboarding and tobogganing in Scandic Lapland; chasing the Northern Lights on husky safaris in Norway/Finland; skiing in the Swiss Alps or Nagano; ice skating, sleigh rides and carnival games in Georgia; exploring magical Christmas markets and festivities in Strasbourg, France— the "Capital of Christmas", the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan.

Additionally, the Companies’ domestic winter portfolio offers a variety of experiences from snowy mountain escapes to cultural festivals. Soft adventure and winter activities like mountain biking/gondola rides in Gulmarg; ice skating/snowboarding in Shimla, skiing in Auli; winter festivals including Gujarat’s Rann Utsav or Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival; glamping in Rajasthan.

Top Winter Tourism trends: 

• Growing demand for soft-adventure: skiing, snowshoe trekking, crab fishing safaris, snowboarding and snowmobiling, panoramic cable car ride and leisurely hikes across Europe’s Alpine regions of Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany, reindeer sleigh in Norway and horseback rides in Georgia

• Scenic Vistas: panoramic and sustainable train journeys like Switzerland's Golden Pass Line from Lucerne to Montreux offering breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps; Austria’s historic Semmering Railways with views of alpine landscapes, viaducts and tunnels carved into the mountains, wine tasting across quaint villages in France offering charming views of the French countryside

• Unique Accommodation: eco-friendly glamping in geodesic domes amidst the Swiss Alps; stargazing through glass igloos in Lapland; châteaux/palaces amidst vineyards in France, Italy and Austria; traditional mountain lodges/log cabins in Scandinavia/Georgia

• Distinctive Gastronomy experiences: fondue aboard Zurich’s Fondue Tram in Switzerland, chocolate and cheese experience amidst spectacular views at Glacier 3000, ice wine in  Germany/Austria or glögg/gløgg by the fireside in Sweden/Norway, trdelník (fried dough), sachertorte in Austria, Kjötsúpa (lamb meat soup) in Iceland, bredele cookies and gourmet dining at Michelin-starred restaurants in France; local wine tasting in Kakheti of Georgia

• Spa-Wellness retreats: spa-wellness rejuvenating experiences that include the endorphin rush of thermotherapy, with alternating temperatures of wood-fired/circular sauna baths followed by plunging into freezing waters of an Arctic ice hole, like ice bathing in Sweden’s Uppsala and Fjällnora; Norway’s Tjuvholmen and Svalbard, renowned Swiss spa town of Bad Zurzach, winter saunas and thermal baths in South Korea, onsen hot springs in Japan and Sulphur baths in Georgia

• Demand for Cruises: winter cruises and whale watching on board majestic Scandinavian fjords 

• Top destinations:

• International: Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Georgia

• Domestic: Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, North East

• Emerging Destinations: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Czech Republic, Iceland, Greenland, Denmark, Croatia

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “Our Winter Holidays are designed to offer not just stunning winter landscapes but also a range of unforgettable experiences. From family bonding over snow filled adventures, couples on romantic getaways, to friends savouring winter cuisine and wine, our offerings cater to the need and preferences of every type of traveller. Europe’s Christmas markets and festive displays in Switzerland, France, Austria; winter wonderland and Santa’s Village in Finland feature as top favourites for the season. Azerbaijan and Georgia have emerged strongly on India’s radar due to direct connectivity and easy visas while on domestic front, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Rajasthan and North East continue to be the top destinations.”

S.D. Nandakumar - President and Country Head - Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Limited said, “Winter tourism is experiencing a remarkable surge this season, driven by a growing appetite for unique and value-driven travel experiences. For value-conscious Indians, winter offers the perfect combination of lower prices and fewer crowds, making it an ideal time for exploration. Millennials and working professionals are leveraging their balance year-end leave and opting for our unique winter tours that offer offbeat experiences like ice skating, tobogganing, glacier hunting in Iceland, spa-wellness retreats in Sweden, Norway, Japan and more. Winter cruises, featuring whale watching in the majestic Scandinavian fjords, and chasing the magical Northern Lights are also in high demand. What is encouraging is the growing interest we're seeing from India’s Tier 2 and 3 markets and the powerful MICE segment.”