Northern Lights and Arctic adventures; European Christmas markets and Alpine escapes; winter sun across Europe; adventure experiences across Australia and New Zealand
Fall & Winter are emerging as a strong new travel window for Indian travellers, with growing interest in journeys beyond the traditional summer holiday period and an increasing shift toward a more year-round travel calendar. Following geopolitical uncertainty’s impact on summer travel plans to Europe, interest is now returning to experiential journeys to these destinations. Responding to this shift, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel travel services company, and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have curated a portfolio of Fall & Winter holidays across key international destinations, bringing together seasonal highlights, distinctive experiences and varied travel styles for the Indian traveller.
The Northern Lights continue to remain one of the season’s most compelling draws, with Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland offering immersive ways to experience the Arctic. Beyond Aurora viewing, travellers can explore snow-covered landscapes through husky/reindeer sledging, snowmobile excursions and snowshoeing. Travellers are also choosing unique accommodations such as the famous glass-ceilinged igloo houses, snow-hotels, log cabins and Arctic tree houses.
Europe takes on a distinctive character in winter as its cities and towns transition into the festive season. France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK and the Czech Republic offer Christmas markets, illuminated streets, seasonal gastronomy and cultural celebrations. For travellers looking beyond the festivities, the Alps bring together scenic rail journeys, mountain stays, winter sports and panoramic landscapes, while distinctive alpine accommodation and local culinary experiences add another layer to the journey. Across Scandinavia, winter cruises and whale-watching experiences offer another immersive way to experience the season, combining dramatic fjords, Arctic landscapes and wildlife encounters.
North America adds another dimension to Fall & Winter travel, combining dramatic landscapes, outdoor adventure and vibrant festive experiences. Canada’s Rockies offer snow-covered mountain scenery alongside skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, wildlife encounters, gondola rides and scenic winter trails, while the USA brings together New York’s iconic holiday season with experiences ranging from festive light-ups and seasonal markets to mountain escapes, winter sports, scenic road trips and nature-led adventures.
For travellers who would rather leave the cold behind, Australia and New Zealand offer a completely different seasonal proposition, with spectacular New Year celebrations adding to the appeal. Australia brings together vibrant city celebrations, spectacular coastlines, wildlife encounters and outdoor adventures, while New Zealand offers mountains, lakes, fjords and nature-led experiences. Together, the destinations provide a compelling option for travellers seeking sunshine, adventure, the outdoors and memorable New Year experiences during the months September to January.
Across these destinations, Fall & Winter travel is evolving beyond sightseeing towards more immersive, season-led experiences. From Arctic adventures and festive Europe to North American winter landscapes and sun-filled celebrations in the Southern Hemisphere, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel are bringing together journeys that combine destination, season and experience.
Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Travel is increasingly being defined by the experience a destination can offer at a particular time of year. Fall and winter open up some of the world’s most compelling travel moments, from the Aurora across Arctic skies and snow-covered Alpine landscapes to Europe’s festive traditions and the outdoors of the Southern Hemisphere. At Thomas Cook India, we have been offering these diverse seasonal experiences to Indian travellers and bring deep expertise in curating journeys that go beyond conventional itineraries. We are seeing a clear shift towards holidays that are richer, more immersive and built around meaningful experiences, with travellers willing to explore beyond conventional winter destinations. This is reshaping the opportunity for the industry, as seasonal travel evolves from a destination choice into a more experience-led way of discovering the world.”
Mr. S.D. Nandakumar – President and Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Limited said, “The winter holiday is evolving from a standard itinerary into a carefully curated experience. Travellers are increasingly combining the core destination with experiences that add depth to the journey — whether that is a Northern Lights escape, a scenic rail journey, a unique stay, local gastronomy, wellness or a snow-filled adventure. What is particularly encouraging is the diversity of this demand: couples are seeking immersive and romantic escapes, families are combining festive celebrations with adventure, while younger travellers and groups are actively seeking experiences and destinations beyond the conventional winter circuit. This allows us to create more distinctive, experience-rich journeys that reflect how Indians want to travel today.”
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