Winter travel is witnessing growing interest from Indian travellers showcasing a mix of winter adventures, cultural/festive celebrations and exceptional experiences. Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, and its group company, SOTC Travel, announced their Winter travel trends 2025, unveiling evolving traveller preferences for the winter/end-of-year season.

A notable highlight this year is the extension of winter holiday travel timelines – till March—providing travellers with an expanded window to explore winter destinations and experiences. Alongside Europe’s alpine routes, Northern Lights and iconic Christmas markets, Indians are showing strong interest in global cultural calendars including the Rio Carnival in February and snow festivals across Japan, South Korea and China in January–February. This evolution reflects how diverse traveller segments—from families and couples to millennials, Gen Z and professionals—are making travel a year-round pursuit, with winter 2025 offering a rich blend of adventure, culture, wellness and luxury. We are also witnessing a growing interest towards closer-to-home destinations with easy visa/visa-free processes and improved connectivity.

Key Winter travel trends

• Soft adventure & Outdoor winter activities: Skiing, snowshoeing, Tobogganing/sledding, snowmobiling, husky/reindeer safaris across Europe’s Alpine regions of Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany, witnessing Northern Lights in Scandinavia and Russia’s Murmansk
• Direct connectivity, no-visa or easy visas and attractive pricing inspiring travel to short haul destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Morocco and long haul favourites like Australia, New Zealand
• India and Indian subcontinent’s Andamans, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, North East and Sri Lanka
• Winter wellness experiences like thermotherapy and cold plunges, ice bathing in Sweden’s Uppsala and Fjällnora; Norway’s Tjuvholmen and Svalbard, renowned Swiss spa town of Bad Zurzach, Japanese onsen, Korean jjimjilbang, mineral mud baths in New Zealand & Vietnam, wellness retreats in Bali & Thailand; Himalayan spa retreats and Ayurvedic centers in Kerala
• Distinctive stays: eco-friendly glamping in geodesic domes amidst the Swiss Alps; stargazing through glass igloos in Lapland; châteaux/palaces in France, Italy and Austria; traditional mountain lodges in Scandinavia/Georgia; wooden cabins in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, havelis and luxury tents in Rajasthan
• Event/Cultural calendars: Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China, the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in South Korea, Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavík, Amsterdam Light Festival, New Year’s Eve fireworks celebrations in Sydney Australia, USA’s Las Vegas, San Francisco and California; Christmas markets/ winter wonderland in Europe’s Switzerland, France, Austria, UK and Scandinavia; Rann Utsav in Gujarat, Hornbill festival in Nagaland, Bikaner Camel Festival in Rajasthan
• Wildlife safaris are gaining interest: reverse migration season in Kenya and South Africa; wildlife spotting and trekking in Australia and New Zealand; India’s national parks and sanctuaries like Ranthambore National Park, Periyar National Park and Kaziranga National Park opening up for the winter season
• Cruises continue to be the flavor of the season: domestic and international sailings – Resort World Cruise sailings in Singapore, Disney Cruise Line in Australia & New Zealand, MSC sailings in Dubai-Abu Dhabi; river cruising in Egypt

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “Winter travel is shaping up as a season of discovery for Indian travellers. With the introduction of new air routes, improved direct connectivity and attractive early-booker pricing, we are seeing strong demand across diverse segments—from multigenerational families and couples to millennials and working professionals. While Europe’s alpine adventures and Scandinavia’s Northern Lights remain timeless favourites, there is rising interest in closer-to-home destinations across South East Asia, Central Asia and India, driven by easy visa access and direct/improved connectivity. From a domestic front, Andamans, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa and North East continue to be the top destinations. What excites us most is the appetite for unique experiences—whether it’s winter wellness in Japan and Scandinavia, distinctive stays from igloos to palaces, vibrant cultural festivals, or wildlife safaris and luxury cruises in Antarctica.”

Mr. S D Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours – SOTC Travel, said, “Travel is increasingly becoming a year-round pursuit, and Winter 2025 reflects this evolution with a rich blend of adventure, culture and wellness. Europe’s winter wonderland and iconic Christmas markets continue to inspire festive travel, while unique experiences like witnessing the Aurora Borealis across Scandinavia and Russia are gaining traction. Cruising too has emerged as a strong favourite—whether international sailings across Singapore, Australia and Abu Dhabi, or river cruises in Egypt. This growing appetite underscores how Indian travellers are seeking distinctive experiences across destinations and formats, making winter travel more diverse and dynamic than ever. What’s especially encouraging is the rising interest from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, along with strong growth in the MICE segment, signaling a broader shift in travel aspirations across the country.”

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