Don’t think that just because the temperatures are dropping that so should your wont for travel. We happen to think the cooler weather provides an excellent excuse to explore in a way that you just can’t during the warmer months.

So, swap sunburns for snowflakes, and thongs for snow boots - it’s time for a winter holiday. 

The colder months don’t just change the forecast—it transforms the map. Mountains become playgrounds. Lakes, dance floors. Forests, frozen trails lined with hush. 

Head to our very own snowy mountains for snow-filled adventures at some of Australia’s top ski resorts. Hop across the Tasman to New Zealand’s Southern Alps, and truly experience the Southern Hemisphere winter, northern-style slopes.

Can’t get away from June to September? No problem! In British Columbia, powder days mean steep runs and chairlift silence broken only by whoops on the way down.  Honshu delivers dry, perfect powder on repeat, while the Swiss Alps bring postcard peaks with fondue at the finish.

Beyond the downhill, the ways we move change. Lace up the skates and glide across a frozen lake in Alaska, or strap on snowshoes and explore among the trees.

The cold brings out the festive spirit like no other season. During the European winter, especially. From the cobbled lanes of Prague to the timber-framed squares of Munich, Christmas markets turn whole cities into golden villages. Stalls brim with carved toys, gingerbread hearts, and mittens stitched by hand. The scent? Cinnamon, firewood and hot glühwein.

Over in Japan, New Year temple bells ring 108 times to purify the soul. In Vienna, waltzes fill palace courtyards dressed in fairy lights. February’s Winter Carnival brings snow sculptures, maple syrup on ice, and parades that defy the freeze to Quebec.

For something a bit closer to home, look out for Christmas in July celebrations that bring a bit of Christmas magic to the mid year.

Beach towns like the Amalfi Coast or Santorini trade selfie sticks for silence. Lunches stretch into slow afternoons without feeling the need to vacate your table to make room for waiting patrons.

As a result, there’s more room to connect. A chat with the winemaker. A long lunch with no rush to vacate the table. Even big-ticket cities feel personal in the off-season.

Depending where you go, temperatures can still be incredibly comfortable for sightseeing. We think packing a jumper or two sure beats sweating amongst the crowds.

Nature runs on its own schedule, and sometimes to see it at its best, also means seeing it at its coldest.

The cooler months are the best times to spot whales along Australia’s coasts and when other animals are easier to spot as they’re not hiding in the shade.

Up north, spot wolves pacing among boreal forests or snowy owls perched low on frosted ridges. On the arctic tundra, thousands of caribou migrate, while red-crowned cranes perform their courtship dances in Hokkaido.

And just as winter is coming to a close, through the stillness brings colour. Plum blossoms bloom through February’s frosty air in Kyoto. Petal-pink clouds rise from bare branches. In the apparent desolation of California’s and Australia’s deserts, rains can summon wildflowers that ripple across the sand: poppies, lupines, and wattles flaring up then vanishing again.

Mugs hit wood. Gloves dry by the fire. A mountain onsen steams while snow piles on the stone steps. That’s the sound of festive ASMR - and it doesn’t stop there.

Whether you’re seeking refuge in an alpine cabin in the Snowy Mountains or a misty getaway in the Blue Mountains, there’s just something about tucking yourself into a cosy chair, under a blanket, by a fire that no summer holiday can come close to.

In Norway, the gingerbread is rolled thick and baked slow, spiced with cloves and a local story. In Canada, sled dogs wait at dusk, steady and silent, while bathhouses hum with steam and the scent of cypress. Ski chalets clatter with boot buckles, then go quiet as the soup is ladled out.

The chill comes with a warm bonus: better prices. Flights dip. Hotels cut rates. Even high-end lodges toss in a few extras—late checkouts, welcome hot chocolate, free transfers from the train.

Skip the peak-summer stampede and you might find yourself kicking back in a fjord-view room or a Kyoto ryokan that’s actually within budget. In places like Iceland or the Dolomites, midweek stays and shoulder-season deals mean more spa time, and less spend.

On Traveloka, perks stack up. Think discounted lift passes, snowshoe tours, museum bundles and thermal pool add-ons. Off-season doesn’t mean off-limits. It means front-row seats, for less.