Whether you prefer snowy adventures or warm-weather escapes, explore the world’s best active winter destinations across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres in December, January, and February.
When it comes to winter, are you a snowbird seeking out warmer climes and beachy settings? Or a chionophile—someone who embraces snowy, cold-weather adventures? There are joys to both, which is why Backroads has designed dozens of trips to incredible destinations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres perfect for active itineraries in December, January and February.
Not sure where to go? Let us offer you some seasonal inspiration, with 15 extraordinary sensorial delights worth traveling for. You can go to Africa to feel the vibrations of wildebeests rumbling across the Serengeti, head to Argentina to sip authentic yerba mate or see gray wolves on the prowl in Yellowstone National Park. And more. Read on to find something that inspires your next vacation.
December
Starting in mid-December, upwards of 6,500 elk—and in some years as many as 11,000—begin to congregate at the National Elk Refuge, outside Jackson, Wyoming. They form the largest wintering elk herd in the continental US. Many bulls, which can weigh up to 700 pounds, still have their antlers—an impressive and imposing sight. See them on our sleigh ride through the refuge.
Backroads will take you there:
Safari-goers in Tanzania’s Serengeti are often struck by the sounds of the Great Migration before seeing the animals themselves. When these plains fill with 1.5 million wildebeests, a herd on the move can sound like revving engines or an approaching thunderstorm of hooves and grunts, accompanied by a vibration you can feel through your feet and even in your vehicle.
Backroads will take you there:
Exceptionally soft, moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, the merino wool produced on New Zealand’s South Island is prized worldwide for active apparel. This month, high-country sheep stations are in the throes of shearing and lambing, but many welcome visitors.
Backroads will take you there:
Argentines are mad for mate. This caffeinated herbal beverage, made from the dried leaves of a native holly tree, is usually served hot—even in the height of summer—and studies suggest it may improve endurance and reduce perceived fatigue. Sharing a steaming gourd of mate is a strong social ritual that you’ll surely experience at least once while in the country.
Backroads will take you there:
Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve boasts one of Africa’s densest leopard populations. (Check out the 2025 documentary Land of Leopards, produced by National Geographic and filmed at the reserve.) While elusive, these big cats are tracked by urine markings, which smell pleasantly like hot buttered popcorn. Humid heat carries the scent, aiding guides. We track them on a mountain-bike safari.
Backroads will take you there:
January
The sight of earth’s largest flying bird—with wingspans of more than 10 feet—is a stunning sight in Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. Masters of energy-efficiency, they favor gliding the thermals over flapping and can cover 100 miles on a single flight. The birds are vulnerable, however, because females lay an egg only once every year or two. Backroads proudly supports a nonprofit in Ecuador that operates a successful breeding center; our guests receive an inside look at its conservation efforts.
Backroads will take you there:
As you walk in crampons over hardened glaciers, the metallic sound reverberates sharply over the open ice. You’re likely to hear this in Iceland, when we explore the Sólheimajökull Glacier. Alpinists have ears attuned to the auditory signal for safety reasons: a deep crunch means crampon spikes are embedded on a safe surface.
Backroads will take you there:
Begin your year with this Buddhist blessing, offered by a local monk gently sprinkling you with sacred water. Guests on our Cambodia trips are treated to this solemn ritual, thought to bestow good fortune, harmony and protection during travel.
Backroads will take you there:
If the pisco sour is the national drink of Chile (a claim it shares with Peru), then the Patagonian version is the calafate sour. Wild calafate berries are harvested in January and February and crafted into syrups used to infuse the region’s dark-purple version of the cocktail, imbued with a signature tart-sweetness.
Backroads will take you there:
Northern Vietnam is one of the planet’s most important growing regions for both spices. And during this cool season, they’re frequently added to traditional dishes and broths for their warming aromas as well as their natural medicinal properties. Star anise and cinnamon contain antioxidant compounds and are said to aid digestion.
Backroads will take you there:
February
February is considered the best month to wolf-watch in Yellowstone for two reasons: mating season has begun (as dawn and dusk howling attest) and hunting hits high gear as the predators follow elk—their main diet—into lower valleys. Plus, snow reveals fresh tracks, and the wolves’ dark coloring is more visible against the white, leafless landscape.
Backroads will take you there:
New Zealand’s Māori people have performed this chanting ritual for centuries to welcome guests, honor their dead, celebrate and prepare for war. On the North Island, the annual Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival runs from February 22–27, when 57 teams will vie for the title of National Champion. Our North Island tour includes a traditional Māori performance, but we recommend tacking on a festival day before or after your trip to enjoy this special event.
Backroads will take you there:
Sleep at the original Icehotel, located in Sweden’s Lapland. A fascinating sensory experience, your room’s walls, floor, ceiling and bed are all made of snow and ice cut from the frozen Torne River. (Not to worry: you’ll be plenty warm in a sleeping bag.) Different artists are chosen to design and hand-carve the hotel rooms each year, and in the spring the building melts away completely. Stay here with Backroads!
Backroads will take you there:
It’s queen conch harvesting season in Belize. The popular seafood has a slightly sweet flavor and is often compared to clams or scallops. You’ll see it dished out in coconut-broth stews with root vegetables like cassava and yams or sold by street vendors as deep-fried fritters served with lime and cilantro.
Backroads will take you there:
Heady and musky, the fragrant white flowers of Tasmania’s endemic leatherwood tree are in full bloom this month. On our trips, we explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, home to dense forests of the towering trees. Buy some local leatherwood honey before you leave as a souvenir; its scent will take you back to your time in this Australian island-state.
Backroads will take you there:
Tasha Zemke is a Backroads marketing writer and editor who hates the cold but would stay in the Icehotel if she could sleep in the Emperor’s Suite, which was created by a New Zealand artist for the 2026–27 season and features a bed surrounded by 41 ice sculptures of emperor penguins.
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