Imaginative Traveller's Xmas Adventurous Alternatives
Our top 5!
Kick back on the sandy beaches of Koh Samui, catch the 'Big 5' in the Serengeti National Park or follow Buddhist pilgrims to the summit of Burma's Golden Rock. Here's Imaginative Traveller's top 5 'Xmas Day Alternative Adventures'. We know what we'd rather be doing...
Where: Burma
Trip name: Best of Burma, 15 days, departs 16th December ex Rangoon
What you'll be doing on Xmas Day: Following Buddhist pilgrims to the summit of Golden Rock, one of the holiest sites in Burma and from where you can see magnificent views.
Other trip highlights: View the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon, visit the giant stupa and Buddha in Bago, cruise the Irrawaddy River to Mandalay, discover the incredible temples of Pagan, meet the famous leg-rowing fishermen in Inle Lake.
Cost: £1402 per person (includes local kitty payment). Flights ex London from £999.
Where: The Serengeti, Tanzania and Kenya
Trip name: Serengeti Trail, 8 days, departs 21st December ex Nairobi
What you'll be doing on Xmas Day: Game viewing in the Serengeti National Park, one of the best safari destinations in Africa, home to the 'Big 5' as well as zebras, gazelles, cheetah's, wildebeest and giraffes.
Other trip highlights: Explore the Ngorongoro Crater, camping on the rim to gaze at the grasslands below (elephants have been known to walk through the camp); interact with local communities at Mto Wa Mbu and Musoma, weave through the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, stay on the shoreline beside Lake Victoria.
Cost: £851 per person (includes local kitty payment). Flights ex London from £639.
Where: Japan
Trip name: Land of the Rising Sun, departs 21st December ex Tokyo
What you'll be doing on Xmas Day: Taking a cruise across Ashino-ko before enjoying picturesque views of the region from a cable car, perhaps catching a glimpse of Mt. Fuji.
Other trip highlights: A luxurious trip, you'll explore Tokyo and beautiful Kyoto, take the bullet train to the many sacred sites of Nikko, sample some Takayama sake in the Japanese Alps, visit the rebuilt and reborn city of Hiroshima.
Cost: £2040 per person. Flights ex London from £739.
Where: Thailand
Trip name: Beachcomber departs 23rd December ex Bangkok
What you'll be doing on Xmas Day: Relaxing on the soft sands of Koh Samui, snorkelling and swimming in warm, azure waters.
Other trip highlights: Visit the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok, explore the jungle of Khao sok National Park, Krabi, camping on a remote, tropical beach, Phuket.
Cost: £775 (includes local kitty payment). Flights ex London from £1599.
