Mumbai, Dec 3: 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 Activities
Travelers are opting for skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowmobiling, and husky/reindeer safaris across Europe’s Alpine regions Switzerland, France, Austria, and Germany. Northern Lights trips to Scandinavia and Russia’s Murmansk are also in high demand.
• Visa Ease & Direct Connectivity Boosting Travel
Short-haul destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Morocco are trending, alongside long-haul favourites such as Australia and New Zealand.
• Domestic & Subcontinent Favorites
India’s Andamans, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa, the North East, and Sri Lanka continue to draw winter travellers.
• Winter Wellness Tourism Growing
Experiences like thermotherapy, cold plunges, and ice bathing in Sweden’s Uppsala/Fjällnora; Norway’s Tjuvholmen/Svalbard; and the Swiss spa town of Bad Zurzach are gaining traction. Japanese onsens, Korean jjimjilbangs, mineral mud baths in New Zealand/Vietnam, Bali and Thailand retreats, and Ayurvedic centres in Kerala are also popular.
• Distinctive & Immersive Stays
Eco-friendly glamping domes in the Swiss Alps, glass igloos in Lapland, French/Italian/Austrian châteaux, Scandinavian and Georgian mountain lodges, wooden cabins in Himachal/Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan’s havelis and luxury tents define unique winter stays.
• Events & Cultural Festivals
Iconic global events include the Harbin Ice Festival (China), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival (South Korea), Reykjavík Winter Lights Festival, and Amsterdam Light Festival.
Popular celebrations include NYE fireworks in Sydney and major U.S. cities, Christmas markets across Europe, and India’s Rann Utsav, Hornbill Festival, and Bikaner Camel Festival.
• Rising Interest in Wildlife Safaris
Travellers are exploring reverse migration seasons in Kenya and South Africa, wildlife trekking in Australia and New Zealand, and India’s national parks like Ranthambore, Periyar, and Kaziranga, which reopen for winter tourism.
• Cruises in Demand
Cruising remains a favourite, with sailings by Resort World Cruises (Singapore), Disney Cruise Line (Australia/New Zealand), MSC (Dubai–Abu Dhabi), and river cruises 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.”