Top 3 Places To Visit over Christmas and New Year

Christmas is just around the corner and we’re heading fast into the New Year. It is the perfect time to escape the cold winter weather and plan a getaway.

​Below, we’ve picked 3 of our favorite places, which have been selected for their beauty, tourist attractions, cuisine and culture. 

Group tours are the best way to experience the beauty this world has to offer while hanging out with new likeminded travel buddies and friends. 

So if you have a taste for adventure and you fancy something a little different this festive season, we’ve got tons of ideas to keep you busy on your travels.

And if you don’t quite fancy booking a last-minute getaway to paradise, then keep these destinations in mind for next year. It’s never too late to book your dream vacation. And if you don’t have anyone to travel with - don’t worry! We’ve got you covered.

We offer group tours to many of the popular tourist attractions and hotspots across the world. So if you want to meet some new, adventurous people on the trip of a lifetime, check out some of our tours in the WiGo Trips app. 

So without further ado, let’s explore some of the highlights from Argentina, Bali and Japan.

Argentina

Argentina is home to some of the most striking natural wonders of the modern world. It has got its fair share of glaciers, mountains, vineyards and tourist attractions. It’s hard to condense the beauty that is Argentina into a few short paragraphs, but I’ve highlighted 3 of the most magnificent.

Patagonia

Based on the southern tip of Argentina, Patagonia is a rugged landscape, with peaks, valleys, lakes and dense forests as far as the eye can see. If you’ve ever planned a trip to Antarctica, then Patagonia gives you a sneak peek into the breathtaking icebergs that you’ll encounter in the Antarctic peninsula. 

Many people go to Patagonia to hike and enjoy the spectacular sites such as Torres del Paine, Lake District of Bariloche and Tierra del Fuego.

The population density in Patagonia is approximately 1-2 persons per square kilometers, making it one of the most sparsely populated regions in the world.

So if you want to enjoy this immense and awe-inspiring landscape for yourself, then Patagonia is the place to go.
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Quebrada de Cafayate

The first thing you will notice when you land in Quebrada de Cafayate is the unusual, rust-colored rock formations. Most tourists like to hike or drive along the Río de las Conchas, traveling into the gorge and the heart of the canyon.

Talampaya National Park

Talampaya National Park is based in La Rioja Province and it is one of the most important archeological and paleontological sites in Argentina. It has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site and has its fair share of unusually shaped rocks and fossilized dinosaurs.

Bali

Bali is famous for its beaches, temples and festivals, which represent the perfect way to spend your Christmas and New Year. Why endure the cold winter, when you can just bask under the sun?

Temples

Some of the best temples in Bali include Tanah Lot, Uluwatu Temple, Besakih Temple, and Goa Gajah. Of course, there are many others but those are just a few that spring to mind. These temples are a unique mixture of ancient ruins, Hindu and Buddhist monuments and heritage sites.

Many of these temples, like the Ulun Danu Beratan temple are set in the backdrop of natural scenery. Ulun is set in Bali’s central highlands for example, while other temples such as Tirta Empul are located near springs, natural lakes and serene landscapes.

Denpasar Festival

There could hardly be a better time to visit Bali than at the end of the year when the Denpasar Festival takes place. It is held every year between December 28th-31st and includes plenty of cultural performances, art displays, exhibition and musical shows. So if you want to celebrate Christmas in style, head on down to Denpasar Festival.

Ubud Monkey Forest

The Ubud Monkey Forest combines dense, natural greenery with the best of Bali’s wildlife. It is also known as the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, which contains more than 700 monkeys and 186 species of trees.

Japan

Japan is beautiful at any time of the year, but its beauty seems to magnified in the Christmas holidays. Plenty of celebrations take place in Japan during the festive period and New Year. If you happen to be in Japan around this time, consider the following 3 destinations:

Yamaguchi

This pretty little city sparkles in the festive season. In 2009, it was officially given the name of Christmas City when it is beautifully adorned with decorations, bright lights and Christmas trees.

​You can also head over to the Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church in Kameyamacho for Christmas services.

Kyoto

Kyoto is spellbinding at the best of times with its minimalist temples, traditional Japanese buildings and mountains. But during Christmas, it is especially beautiful with traditional streets, districts and extravagant decorations that provide a uniquely Japanese experience. 

Yokohama

If you fancy a little bit of Christmas retail therapy, then Yokohama should definitely be on your list. The star of the show is Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Christmas Market, which is very similar to the German markets you see all over Europe, except with a Japanese twist.

Here you can find ornaments, trinkets and plenty of souvenirs. The market is held every year from November 26th until Christmas day.

Fancy taking off sometime soon?

​Fancy taking a group tour across the United States? Our ambassadors at WiGo Trips have collectively organized dozens of adventures across the US and other parts of the world. Be sure to visit our app for more information.

Janine Griffiths
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Janine is a copywriter and marketing manager from England, with a background in journalism. She runs a popular travel blog called janinesjourneys.com and a Youtube blog where she shares her top tips and travel advice with other travelers. As a digital nomad, Janine spends most of her time exploring new places, creating dynamic marketing 

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