Stuffing yourself with hash pies and gallons of mulled wine is n’t for us all, and not everyone gets excited by the first sighting of that Coca-Cola announcement. So for all the Ebenezer Scrooge’s out there, say bah humbug to the gleeful season and hop on a aeroplane to one of our top places to avoid Christmas.
- Morocco
Marrakech is just a quick three and a partial hour hop, skip and jump from London and is one of the closest progeny-aways from the gleeful fuss. Wander the souks in the calm knowledge that you ’ll not see a single Santa or window covered in cotton hair, but rather, hundreds of brightly coloured scarves, mountains of spices and little rustic camels. Still, rather of sitting in front of the fire feeling too full to talk – let alone move – head to the High Atlas Mountains for a spot of paragliding or trekking, If you fancy doing commodity daring this Christmas. Anticipate no electricity, fine roads and cold- handling water. You could n’t be further from Christmas if you tried, while bivouacked out in a simple guesthouse where the Sahara and Atlas Mountains meet. - Nepal
Spending Christmas girdled by snow may be a bit too gleeful for some but remember, the Himalayas aren’t just any mountain range, but the mountain range. A force to be reckoned with, if you ’ve got the will power to do so. Known as a Mecca for trampers and rovers, this is the perfect destination for any true Grinch out there who loves a bit of an adrenaline rush. Nepal is n’t just for adventure junkies, take the occasion to ride mammoths before hopping in a canoe and drifting to small Nepalese townlets. Or for further wildlife sightings, head to the unmissable Chitwan National Park for some stirring sights of barracuda and rhino. - Thailand
As well as being free from grim Christmas cheer, this is the perfect time to visit Thailand for some downtime sun. This is the country’s‘ cool’ period, when the moisture drops but the sun still shines. Stay down from the lemon and filling by testing some of the original cookery or lounge in joyful insulation on one of Thailand’s numerous uninhabited islets.
Bangkok is a megacity of contrasts from peaceful tabernacles to bustling night requests and road- food booths. You ’ll soon forget your loved bones are enduring the wet and windy British downtime while you immerse yourself in the megacity’s fascinating culture. - Jordan
While heading to indelible Petra is a must-have for any caller to Jordan, there are numerous other lodestones for the devoted Xmas-avoiders to enjoy. Head to the Dead Sea for magnific evenings at the smallest point on earth, enjoy traditional Bedouin hospitality and tasteful desert food, or come nose-to- nose with turtles in the Red Sea.
Still, and with the least quantum of excursionists in cringe-good socks and sandals, take a night- time stint to a candlelit storeroom for hot mint tea and story telling, If you want to see Petra at its most magical. Remember to wrap up warm – the temperature drops oppressively at night. - Japan
Still, make a point of steering clear of the hum- barrel of Tokyo, If you decide to head to Japan this downtime to drown out the Christmas chorales. Although Christmas isn’t traditionally celebrated in Japan, the megacity isover-run with robotic Santas and other similar automatic Christmas oddities. Head to Kyoto for some traditional culture. Do not miss geisha skimming from retired doorways, spangling tabernacles floating on water, bamboo groves around every corner and unanticipated spots of tranquility just staying to be discovered. - Zanzibar
The islet of Zanzibar conjures numerous an fantastic image – its mix of African, Indian and Arabic societies have mixed so well you ’ll likely noway want to come back from this paradise on earth. The small islet has an important history, from irruptions, slavery and revolutions to the birth of Freddie Mercury. Yet an atmosphere of calm reaches in swells over the flaxen strands and stupefied-out requests.