Christmas And Chinese New Year Last-Minute Trips With Jacada Travel

It’s not too late for some bucket list travel this festive season

Looking for the perfect escape with your family during two of the most jam-packed times of the year? Jacada has secured the perfect list of destinations for your last-minute bookings. There’s something for the whole family, from exploring ancient and iconic landmarks in South America to experiencing a white Christmas in arctic Finland. Scroll through to check out this expertly curated list of bucket-list inspired, last minute travel destinations.

For incredible scenery and unforgettable landscapes, Iceland is a year-round destination that is perfect for both Christmas and Chinese New Year. To catch the famous Northern Lights, October to March are the best months to go as the nights are longer and provide a higher chance to witness this natural phenomenon. December through March is also one of the best times to visit the enchanting ice caves. Exploring these caves transports you to what feels like an otherworldly dimension where you will be enchanted by your luminescent surroundings. Vatnajökull Glacier, being the largest ice cap in all of Europe and covering about 8% of Iceland, is home to some of the most stunning ice caves on earth. For another other-worldly experience, visit Diamond Beach for a blinged-out spectacle. Here, icebergs wash up onshore, dazzling in stark contrast to the black sand beach. It is definitely a favourite amongst all visitors of Iceland.

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When travelling to Finland, December to March is the best time to go. From the wintery months of mid-October to the beginning of May, that is when the region is at its best. Guaranteed fun for the entire family, mush along snowy forest trails on a husky safari and end your day with a meal around a cosy campfire. The next day, dive into a powdery forest on a sleigh pulled by reindeers with a soundtrack of jingling bells, paired with a backdrop of the starry northern sky. With snow-capped forests and adorned wildlife, the home of the “real” Father Christmas is as close to a winter wonderland as you’re going to get! Of course, during Christmas, vacancies can be a bit of a challenge, but the lavish Villa Naavanneito – a chalet that is perfect for large families – is still open for a dream holiday.

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Despite all of its geological beauty, Swedish Lapland is acclaimed for its strong sense of cultural identity.  Dating back the middle ages, this land was home to the nomadic Sami people, and one thing that strikes many travellers time and time again, is the extreme warmth and welcome they give to visitors from all over the world. You and your family can enjoy sharing stories over fika, the traditional Swedish coffee and pastry, a truly immersive experience that is both fun and educational. For a day in the great outdoors, explore Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve – one of Sweden’s largest nature reserves that are made up of mountains, valleys and waterways – perfect for easy hikes, trekking and wildlife spotting alike. Essentially, Swedish Lapland is a lovely place that holds the warmth and comfort fit for any festivity.

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Peru is a country steeped in history and culture, backdropped by the most breathtaking scenery. Hands down, Machu Picchu is the one-stop destination for almost all travellers visiting Peru. But as the saying goes, the journey is just as important as the destination. Make your way to one of the wonders of the world in style, class and comfort as you hop aboard a luxury train making pit stops at Sacred Valley and Urubamba, some of the most beautiful and historically prominent parts of Peru. For real adventurers, Jacada can arrange a first-rate, private trekking experience for you and your family when you will all explore the Ollantaytambo Fortress, the salt terraces of Maras and the Inca ruins before hitting the famous Inca trail. This spectacular hike crosses epic mountain passes on the way to Machu Picchu – giving you and your family an all-round experience that will stay with you long after your journey is over.

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For sun-seekers, flee the winter months and go down under where you will be welcomed by white-sand beaches, rays of sunshine and iconic wildlife. Kangaroo Island is a large island off the southern coast of Australia and plays host to miles on end of magnificent wilderness. At every corner, children can marvel at koalas perched up on tree branches, while kangaroos (of course!) can be found grazing and hopping about on the grasslands, just a few feet from your fingertips! You and your family can embark on numerous trails where along the way, you’ll run into adorable echidnas, wallabies and goannas. There is even a colony of tiny penguins (the smallest of these birds in the world!) in the town of Kingscote. To wrap it all up, enjoy days on end of some of the world’s freshest ingredients including the island’s famed southern rock lobster, honey and wine.

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Rajasthan is India’s largest state, and with that, comes a world of activities for families of all ages. This vast yet charming region is peppered with traditional villages encapsulated with rugged mountains and awash with rolling hills of the stunning Thar desert. A Jacada favourite highlights a different kind of safari from the typical African Big Five. Here, you and your family will head to a luxury safari in the Aravalli Hills between Udaipur and Jodhpur where you will walk with the animated Rabari herdsmen and venture off on game drives in search of beautiful leopards. For some stunning birdlife, you must pay a visit to Keoladeo National Park where kids can jump on a bike and ride along the car-free road, ticking off as many feathered species as they can.

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