From the big city Christmas lights of New York to the vastness and splendour of Antarctica, family-owned worldwide tour operator Collette has revealed its top five winter tours.
Encompassing nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, unique accommodations and plenty more, there’s an ideal tour to suit anyone and everyone.
Read on for the ultimate winter holiday inspiration.
Northern Lights of Finland
New for 2018, this small group tour offers the chance to view the natural phenomena that is Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, or discover Finnish culture and history on a tour of Helsinki with a local expert. Other highlights include leading your very own dog sled team through lush forests and meadows, a unique overnight stay in a glass igloo amid the Lappish wilderness, reindeer encounters, and plenty more Arctic treasures. Departure dates will kick off at the start of October 2018.
Winter in Yellowstone
Take a walk on the wild side and enter a Narnia-type world where native elk, badgers, wolves, foxes and bears roam free. Experience exhilarating wildlife encounters as you embark on a sleigh ride through the snow-scape. More active travellers also have the option of hitting the slopes for cross-country skiing.
Spotlight on New York City Holiday
For travellers who are short on time yet still want to see the very best of The Big Apple, this in-depth five-day tour takes you straight to all the best highlights the city has to offer. Experience a true New York City white Christmas with spectacularly decorated locations and landmarks, including Wall Street, the Empire State Building and Chinatown. Visit the Rockefeller Centre, go ice-skating in Central Park, and see an exciting live Broadway show in Times Square.
Canada’s Winter Wonderland
Nature enthusiasts will absolutely love this tour in which they can fully immerse themselves into the stunningly picturesque province of Alberta. Revel in the powdery panorama of Maligne Canyon and take a scenic ice walk or an exhilarating snow shoe walk, set off on a horse-drawn sleigh ride overlooking the mighty Canadian Rockies, and catch a gondola to the summit of Banff’s Sulphur Mountain, where a picture-perfect view awaits. Accommodation is a highlight in itself, with guests staying at two of Canada’s most spectacular hotels – the Victorian-style Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the regal Fairmont Banff Springs, also known as the “Castle in the Mountains.”
Antarctica featuring the Antarctic Circle
Discover the magic and wonder of winter in one of the most exotic and remote destinations in the world. Start your journey in exotic Buenos Aires, where you can turn up the heat and tango through the cobblestoned streets of San Telmo, or take a more scenic route to Tigre y Delta, before heading to Ushuaia, Argentina where you can witness whales, seals, penguins and albatross frolicking amongst incredible glaciers. Board the PolarCirkel and discover secret locations, including Deception Island, featuring black volcanic sand and beach waters warmed by geothermal vents, to Petermann Island, with breathtaking views across the channel to the Antarctic Peninsula.
