8 Amazing Travel Adventures You Can Only Experience in the Winter

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat and one of Bolivia’s most beloved natural sights, spanning over 4,000 square miles. There’s debate as to whether it’s best to visit in the wet or dry seasons -- but we vote for the former. From January to March, the salt flats form a giant shallow lake fed by periodic rainstorms. The payoff? When the clouds break, the still waters turn the flats into a giant mirror that reflects back the mountains, clouds, and sky in a breathtaking spectacle that’s any professional or amateur photographer’s dream. 


Head to the salt flats a bit earlier -- in November -- and though the looking-glass landscape won’t be as stunning, thousands of flamingos make the region their breeding grounds, which is a spectacle in its own right. However, the wet season means sights like Fish Island -- a cactus and fossil strewn hill that improbably rises from the stark white salt flats -- are off limits. Keep in mind that this is a high-altitude adventure and guests should be prepared to deal with a day or two of acclimatization. All the more reason to simply extend your trip!

One of the most famous national parks in South America, Torres del Paine is home to towering Andean landscapes and some of the world's best trekking. The W circuit, a trek that takes four to five days to complete, is the park's most well-known feature and the infrastructure is high-end all the way -- at least by outdoorsy standards. With reservations, hikers have access to showers, proper beds, and even a cocktail or two at the refugios and lodges that dot the way. The scenery is stunning and includes turquoise lakes, jagged-tooth mountain peaks scraping the bellies of clouds, boulder-strewn meadows, and wildlife like pumas and condor. Patagonia on both sides of the Andes is prone to wild shifts in weather -- sometimes within one day -- so travelers should go armed with gear for both heat and snow. The weather is best, the daylight hours are longest, and most of the park is accessible in January and February, though this is peak season and there will be plenty of other high-altitude lovers on the trail.


Direct flights to Punta Arenas don’t exist from most North American cities, so spend a couple days exploring Chile’s cosmopolitan capital, Santiago, on the way. Noi Vitacura is a trendy boutique choice in the city’s high-end Vitacura neighborhood -- views of the Andes are spectacular from the hotel’s rooftop bar.

Yes, the plane tickets to Iceland cost several pretty pennies during Northern Lights season, but witnessing the aurora borealis -- a phenomenon that happens when solar particles interact with the earth’s magnetic field -- is worth every last cent. The winter months guarantee the longest stretches of uninterrupted darkness, which is key to seeing the lights; the sun is up for just over four hours on the island nation’s shortest day, December 22. That said, snowstorms can put a damper on the colorful spectacle, so travelers have to build some flexibility into their itineraries. Additionally, it’s worth the expense and the trek to stay outside Reykjavik, where light pollution can decrease visibility.  


Much of the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel has been constructed specifically with the Northern Lights (and ecological consciousness) in mind. The minimalist, urban-chic hotel offers sleek rooms with luxe features like organic linens, and a bar built to optimize Northern Lights views. The hotel is 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik and guests should anticipate renting a 4x4 to reach the property.

Above water, winter means that the Great Migration is underway in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Meanwhile, under the sea, whale sharks arrive to call the waters off East Africa home for the season. From November through February, between Tanzania’s Zanzibar and Mafia Islands, the 40-foot behemoths of the sea -- the ocean’s largest fish -- can be seen in their highest numbers in the region. The experience is surreal and requires a certain measure of bravery, but whale sharks are docile filter-feeders whose diet consists mainly of plankton. Zanzibar has dozens of outfitters that run tours into the more shark-heavy dive sites, and many tour operators run directly through the island’s resorts. Travelers should investigate dive companies ahead of time, though, as some tour operators are more respectful of this endangered species’ natural habitat than others.


The Baraza Resort & Spa is about as elegant as it gets on Zanzibar, with only 30 stand-alone villas that are the definition of breezy and beautiful, with private plunge pools. Travelers who want to drop less cash can try the more humble Dream of Zanzibar, which has nice local touches throughout.

With 44 rooms to choose from, Quebec’s Hotel de Glace is as wintry as it gets. Every year since 2001, the hotel has opened its icy doors from January to March. This is one of only two properties in the world where guests can eat, sleep, and get spa treatments in a building made completely of ice and snow -- 500 tons of it, to be exact. Even the tumblers and cocktail tables in the bar are hewn from blocks of ice. There are a few catches: Guests can only be in their rooms during certain hours overnight, and rooms lack en-suite bathrooms and TVs -- but each room's whimsical theme makes a night spent here a brag-worthy experience.

Death Valley can be dangerously hot during the late spring, summer, and early fall, but in January and February the temperatures rarely climb above 70 degrees and the otherworldly landscapes can be enjoyed for all of their stark, unadultered beauty. Snow-capped mountains frame the valley around Badwater Basin -- a salt pan that’s the lowest point in North America -- while the slopes of the Artist's Palette can be photographed in all of their dazzling geological colors. When the infrequent winter rains evaporate, the valley floor around Badwater Basin turns into a mind-blowing array of hexagonal salt formations that are fueled by a massive network of drainage springs and high mineral concentrations that make this lowest point in North America a sight to behold.


Many visitors make their way to Death Valley from Las Vegas, as the city is home to the closest major airport. Spend a day on The Strip in style before heading out into the desert's rugged landscape. The Cosmopolitan is one of Vegas’ trendiest and chic spots.

Previously mentioned, the world’s most famous big game migration takes place during the winter through the Serengeti in Tanzania. However, Botswana's Central Kalahari Game Reserve -- an inhospitable desert much of the year -- is the world’s largest wildlife preserve and comes to life in vibrant color during the very same months. In December, the seasonal rains turn the dusty expanse into grasslands peppered with watering holes, drawing herd animals like zebra and wildebeests, plus the predators who follow them -- hyenas, lions, leopards, and the like. The Kalahari is still shy of most tourists’ radar and visiting it feels like setting foot onto a truly undiscovered wilderness. Price tags can be higher than in more well-known safari destinations, but the payoff -- far from other tourists and alone with the animals -- is well worth it.

Not every winter destination requires hiking, diving, or braving cold temperatures. Spain’s Balearic Islands sit in the Mediterranean Sea off of Spain’s coast, and enjoy a relatively mild climate all winter. In January and February, mountainous little Majorca is covered in a soft white and pink blanket provided by the island’s thousands of flowering almond trees. The spectacle has drawn holiday-makers, painters, and photographers for decades, and provides a fine chance to enjoy a dazzling sight that rivals Japan’s Sakura-matsuri cherry blossom season. Bloom times vary year to year and differ a bit across the island, so it’s best to make historic Palma a home base. Simply rent a car, fire up the GPS, and enjoy hopping around to find the perfect view.


The HM brand of hotels offers some of Majorca’s most stylish options. The HM Balanguera is a laid-back, contemporary boutique property with a small rooftop pool and mountain views. Its sleek sister property, HM Jaime III, is right in the city’s historic center and has a spa.


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