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9 reasons to book a winter break

Escape dark and dreary days with a small group tour this winter. Whether you’re looking for sunshine, fewer crowds, a festive holiday with a difference or unique New Year celebrations, here are nine reasons to pick a winter travel destination for your next adventure.

Author: Helen Pettitt - Digital Content Manager at Explore Worldwide

Updated: 11 November 2024


Winter is the perfect time to escape the daily grind and reward yourself with a break.

Whether you're looking for a winter snow holiday or winter sun destinations, our wide range of small group tours offer something for everyone. Imagine snowshoeing your way through the Narnia-like landscapes of Finnish Lapland, unwinding on the golden beaches of Jamaica or celebrating culture-rich festivals in Ghana - winter is an ideal season to create unforgettable memories.

Plus, off-peak travel deals and fewer crowds mean you can enjoy your destination to the fullest. 

Read on for the 9 best reasons to book a winter break:

  • Winter sun
    • Break free of winter hibernation and top up your vitamin D levels on our Jamaica small group tour. This Caribbean country is one of the best places to go for winter sun, as you can indulge in island life on the warm, golden beaches of Negril.
      • Escape the festive season frenzy on our Maldives dhoni cruise to swim in turquoise-blue waters and spot manta ray, turtle and clown fish.
        • If you'd prefer an active break in the winter sun, jump in the saddle for an immersive tour of Cambodia and Vietnam by bike and pedal through exotic jungles of the Mekong Delta.
  • Exotic wildlife
    • Get up close with mountain gorilla on our Uganda and Rwanda Gorilla Discovery trip. Uganda's dry season occurs from December to early March, so this is the ideal time to catch a glimpse of these incredible primates. Visit Antarctica during the penguin-hatching season in January to see fluffy Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo chicks waddling around the vast ice floes. Or improve your chances of spotting one-horned Rhino during Nepal’s dry season in December on our Discover Nepal tour.
      Discover more wildlife tours
  • Fewer crowds
  • Cooler temperatures
  • Festive holidays
  • Winter wonderlands
  • New Year celebrations
  • Winter challenges
  • Festival celebrations

Jessa Explore No Content


 
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Jessa test multi content
Multicontent test

Our tour starts today in Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls offers a thrilling combination of land, air and water-based activities.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you'd an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This evening, we'll either be staying at the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1 kilometre/0.6 miles from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful, landscaped gardens and feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is served, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to choose from a host of adventurous activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'Budgeting and packing' section of the trip notes.

See more
Jessa test multi content
Multicontent test

Our tour starts today in Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls offers a thrilling combination of land, air and water-based activities.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you'd an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This evening, we'll either be staying at the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1 kilometre/0.6 miles from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful, landscaped gardens and feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is served, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to choose from a host of adventurous activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'Budgeting and packing' section of the trip notes.

See more
Multicontent test

As we travel south today, we'll explore the interior area of Savuti with its sweeping plains, rolling grasslands and marshes which are fed by the erratic Savuti Channel. The channel ran dry in 1982, changing the lives of all wildlife on the plains as the ground baked in the African sun. It remained dry for over 20 years until 2008 when the water once again began to flow attracting animals back in high numbers. We'll have time to watch the herds that live in and around this area including lions, elephants and possibly leopards, plus an abundance of bird species including the bee-eater and kori bustards.

Our campsite for this evening uses dome-type tents with private en-suite facilities added to the back of the tent. They're big enough that you can stand inside and are made from durable rip-stop canvas with sewn-in groundsheets. Each tent is equipped with sturdy camp beds, mattresses, fitted sheets, pillows, pillowcases and duvets. Other equipment used on safari includes camping basins, washstands, hot water bucket showers and water-based long-drop toilets. Safari-style fold-up chairs and large tables are provided. Our backup staff do all the cooking and cleaning as well as setting up and breaking camp.

See more
Jessa test multi content
Multicontent test

Our tour starts today in Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls offers a thrilling combination of land, air and water-based activities.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you'd an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This evening, we'll either be staying at the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1 kilometre/0.6 miles from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful, landscaped gardens and feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is served, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to choose from a host of adventurous activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'Budgeting and packing' section of the trip notes.

See more
Multicontent test

We'll make the most of our time in Chobe National Park and have two game drives today - one in the morning and a second in the afternoon.

We hope to have the chance to spot huge trumpeting herds of elephants around the southern bank of the Chobe River, where we can also find Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope.

Other mammals to be seen include buffalos, kudus, elands, waterbucks, sables and roan antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards, impalas and reedbucks. In the river are hippos and crocodiles and the waters teem with bream, barbel and tiger fish (freshwater barracuda). Our tour leader will decide on the exact running times of the day, and lunch arrangements, depending on the weather conditions and the season to give us the best viewing opportunities.

For those that wish to, there is an optional afternoon boat cruise along the Chobe River, where you'll have a fair chance to see lions, elephants, leopards and wild dogs from the unique viewpoint of a boat. Please see the 'Budgeting and packing' section for prices.

See more
Multicontent test

Leaving our Savuti camp behind us this morning, we'll continue over dirt roads into Moremi Game Reserve's Xakanaxa area (pronounced ka-ka-na-ka) or Khwai which is an integral part of the eastern waters of the Okavango Delta. The area is encompassed by Moremi Game Reserve and boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa. The game reserve has areas of dry lands rising between vast wetlands, and crystal-clear water channels on the edges of mopane and apple-leaf woodlands. Game viewing takes place alongside waterways and floodplains.

Giraffes, zebras and wildebeests are just a few species that we might spot here, along with an astonishing variety of birds.

For the next three nights, we'll be camping in Moremi where the waters feed an abundance of flora and fauna, including the frequently visiting wild dogs. Hippos are often heard by night too.

See more
Jessa test multi content
Multicontent test

Our tour starts today in Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls offers a thrilling combination of land, air and water-based activities.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you'd an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This evening, we'll either be staying at the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1 kilometre/0.6 miles from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful, landscaped gardens and feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is served, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to choose from a host of adventurous activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'Budgeting and packing' section of the trip notes.

See more
Multicontent test

Leaving our guesthouse this morning, it's a short one-hour drive to the Kazungula land border crossing between Zimbabwe and Botswana. Once border formalities are completed, we'll continue to our campsite located on the banks of the Chobe River.

Our newly built campsite is the perfect base for exploring Chobe National Park. Situated at the point where Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet, it's located right on the water's edge. We'll be staying in comfortable safari tents, built on fixed platforms. Each tent has a proper bed with all bedding provided. Tents also have en-suite bathrooms with a sink and flushing WC, and there is a separate dining room, bar and lounge area.

This afternoon, we'll head out on a late afternoon game drive - our first safari of the trip. Chobe is the heart of elephant country and is home to approximately 120,000 of the giant creatures.

Throuhout this tour, we'll travel in a customised, open-sided land cruiser. The land cruiser is ideal for game viewing but can be a bit brisk and windy - it's a good idea to bring some layers for travel days. The roads through Botswana also vary in quality, so travel days can be slow and bumpy, but the scenery and wildlife more than make up for this.

See more
Multicontent test

We'll make the most of our time in Chobe National Park and have two game drives today - one in the morning and a second in the afternoon.

We hope to have the chance to spot huge trumpeting herds of elephants around the southern bank of the Chobe River, where we can also find Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope.

Other mammals to be seen include buffalos, kudus, elands, waterbucks, sables and roan antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards, impalas and reedbucks. In the river are hippos and crocodiles and the waters teem with bream, barbel and tiger fish (freshwater barracuda). Our tour leader will decide on the exact running times of the day, and lunch arrangements, depending on the weather conditions and the season to give us the best viewing opportunities.

For those that wish to, there is an optional afternoon boat cruise along the Chobe River, where you'll have a fair chance to see lions, elephants, leopards and wild dogs from the unique viewpoint of a boat. Please see the 'Budgeting and packing' section for prices.

See more
Multicontent test

As we travel south today, we'll explore the interior area of Savuti with its sweeping plains, rolling grasslands and marshes which are fed by the erratic Savuti Channel. The channel ran dry in 1982, changing the lives of all wildlife on the plains as the ground baked in the African sun. It remained dry for over 20 years until 2008 when the water once again began to flow attracting animals back in high numbers. We'll have time to watch the herds that live in and around this area including lions, elephants and possibly leopards, plus an abundance of bird species including the bee-eater and kori bustards.

Our campsite for this evening uses dome-type tents with private en-suite facilities added to the back of the tent. They're big enough that you can stand inside and are made from durable rip-stop canvas with sewn-in groundsheets. Each tent is equipped with sturdy camp beds, mattresses, fitted sheets, pillows, pillowcases and duvets. Other equipment used on safari includes camping basins, washstands, hot water bucket showers and water-based long-drop toilets. Safari-style fold-up chairs and large tables are provided. Our backup staff do all the cooking and cleaning as well as setting up and breaking camp.

See more
Jessa test multi content
Multicontent test

Our tour starts today in Victoria Falls. Often referred to as the adventure capital of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls offers a thrilling combination of land, air and water-based activities.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Victoria Falls at any time. If you'd an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Victoria Falls Airport (VFA), which is around a 30-minute drive from the hotel. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

This evening, we'll either be staying at the Batonka Guest Lodge or Pioneer Lodge. The two are sister properties located just over 1 kilometre/0.6 miles from each other and are almost identical. Both are set in beautiful, landscaped gardens and feature a swimming pool, spacious rooms, an expansive terrace where breakfast is served, a bar and a stylish lounge and dining room which are both extremely comfortable.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to choose from a host of adventurous activities including whitewater rafting, canoeing and cruises on the Zambezi River. Full details are listed in the 'Budgeting and packing' section of the trip notes.

See more
Multicontent test

Leaving our guesthouse this morning, it's a short one-hour drive to the Kazungula land border crossing between Zimbabwe and Botswana. Once border formalities are completed, we'll continue to our campsite located on the banks of the Chobe River.

Our newly built campsite is the perfect base for exploring Chobe National Park. Situated at the point where Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana meet, it's located right on the water's edge. We'll be staying in comfortable safari tents, built on fixed platforms. Each tent has a proper bed with all bedding provided. Tents also have en-suite bathrooms with a sink and flushing WC, and there is a separate dining room, bar and lounge area.

This afternoon, we'll head out on a late afternoon game drive - our first safari of the trip. Chobe is the heart of elephant country and is home to approximately 120,000 of the giant creatures.

Throuhout this tour, we'll travel in a customised, open-sided land cruiser. The land cruiser is ideal for game viewing but can be a bit brisk and windy - it's a good idea to bring some layers for travel days. The roads through Botswana also vary in quality, so travel days can be slow and bumpy, but the scenery and wildlife more than make up for this.

See more
Multicontent test

We'll make the most of our time in Chobe National Park and have two game drives today - one in the morning and a second in the afternoon.

We hope to have the chance to spot huge trumpeting herds of elephants around the southern bank of the Chobe River, where we can also find Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope.

Other mammals to be seen include buffalos, kudus, elands, waterbucks, sables and roan antelopes, zebras, lions, leopards, impalas and reedbucks. In the river are hippos and crocodiles and the waters teem with bream, barbel and tiger fish (freshwater barracuda). Our tour leader will decide on the exact running times of the day, and lunch arrangements, depending on the weather conditions and the season to give us the best viewing opportunities.

For those that wish to, there is an optional afternoon boat cruise along the Chobe River, where you'll have a fair chance to see lions, elephants, leopards and wild dogs from the unique viewpoint of a boat. Please see the 'Budgeting and packing' section for prices.

See more
Multicontent test

As we travel south today, we'll explore the interior area of Savuti with its sweeping plains, rolling grasslands and marshes which are fed by the erratic Savuti Channel. The channel ran dry in 1982, changing the lives of all wildlife on the plains as the ground baked in the African sun. It remained dry for over 20 years until 2008 when the water once again began to flow attracting animals back in high numbers. We'll have time to watch the herds that live in and around this area including lions, elephants and possibly leopards, plus an abundance of bird species including the bee-eater and kori bustards.

Our campsite for this evening uses dome-type tents with private en-suite facilities added to the back of the tent. They're big enough that you can stand inside and are made from durable rip-stop canvas with sewn-in groundsheets. Each tent is equipped with sturdy camp beds, mattresses, fitted sheets, pillows, pillowcases and duvets. Other equipment used on safari includes camping basins, washstands, hot water bucket showers and water-based long-drop toilets. Safari-style fold-up chairs and large tables are provided. Our backup staff do all the cooking and cleaning as well as setting up and breaking camp.

See more
Multicontent test

Leaving our Savuti camp behind us this morning, we'll continue over dirt roads into Moremi Game Reserve's Xakanaxa area (pronounced ka-ka-na-ka) or Khwai which is an integral part of the eastern waters of the Okavango Delta. The area is encompassed by Moremi Game Reserve and boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa. The game reserve has areas of dry lands rising between vast wetlands, and crystal-clear water channels on the edges of mopane and apple-leaf woodlands. Game viewing takes place alongside waterways and floodplains.

Giraffes, zebras and wildebeests are just a few species that we might spot here, along with an astonishing variety of birds.

For the next three nights, we'll be camping in Moremi where the waters feed an abundance of flora and fauna, including the frequently visiting wild dogs. Hippos are often heard by night too.

See more