If you fancy escaping the traditional Christmas celebrations by the fire — turkey, grey skies and all — here are a few ideas for making the most of this period by walking under different skies. With these Christmas holiday trek ideas, you're sure to find sunshine, new horizons and an original way to celebrate Christmas differently!
Explore the most beautiful valleys of Cape Verde
On the islands of Santo Antão and São Vicente, you can set off to explore completely hidden trails winding between desert foothills and basalt spires. Nestled between these peaks are magnificent valleys dominated by lush vegetation and charming small villages. With the gentle Atlantic Ocean never far away and consistently generous sunshine, it's an idyllic setting for peaceful walking over the festive season.
Desert and palm grove of the Drâa in southern Morocco
The Drâa river winds through a superb valley, connecting numerous villages where trekkers are always given a warm welcome. On this exceptional and accessible trek through southern Morocco, you'll discover a magnificent traditional kasbah in the Timidarte oasis, and can enjoy nights under the stars — don't forget a warm jacket for the evenings — with a few camels carrying the luggage. Nights in the desert and the discovery of local traditions will be as powerful as the beauty of the landscapes you pass through — a wonderful way to close out the year.
Red desert and rose-red city in Jordan
Beyond the magnificent city of Petra, this trek takes you deep into the southern Wadi Rum, far from the bustle of tourist activity. With bivvy spots in the heart of the desert, the discovery of Siq Al Barrah at the desert's edge, a whole world of ochre dunes and layered sandstone massifs opens up before you — an ideal journey to make at Christmas time.
Mai Chau Valley and Pu Luong nature reserve in Vietnam
From Hanoi it is easy to reach the beautiful mountainous region surrounding the Mai Chau valley. With magnificent landscapes of tropical forest and rice paddies, every turn in the trail brings an exceptional discovery. What's more, homestay hospitality in the region is often of a high standard and offers a genuine insight into rich local traditions. Heading back down towards the plains, you can hike through to Pu Luong park — the inland Ha Long Bay — where hundreds of karst peaks create a unique landscape. With reliably fine weather at this time of year, a trek in Vietnam is always a brilliant idea!
Tenerife and its volcanoes
At the heart of the Atlantic, Tenerife has preserved its original beauty, and its landscape of contrasts makes for a fantastic playground for nature lovers. Between the lushness of the north and the arid south, the trails lead you across rugged volcanic massifs with terraced tropical crops, then up to ridgelines with breathtaking panoramas. The Teide massif will undoubtedly be the highlight of any such trek — its unique, desert-like slopes sure to leave a lasting memory long after returning home.
The oases of the Adrar in the Mauritanian desert
The Adrar is a magnificent massif, criss-crossed by dozens of wadis and sublime canyons. It provides a fantastic backdrop for a Saharan trek between countless oases and encounters with nomadic tribes. If time allows, you can also explore the superb ancient city of Chinguetti and its historic libraries — a perfectly serene, calm and restorative setting to see out the year.
