December:
Myanmar / Argentina / Czech Republic
Myanmar
The land of the Golden Pagoda is rustic, raw, spell binding and intriguing. The pagodas are omnipresent, scattered across in the countryside of ancient Bagan and towering majestically in the centre of Yangon like Shwedagon. Like pagodas, even tea houses are ubiquitous and you can find one in every street.
From the picturesque countryside to the stunning vistas of Inle Lake, rural Myanmar enchants as you float through the mystical villages and wooden houses on stilts in the Shan state, encountering one leg rowing fishermen.
Witness cultural performances: be it dances with cymbal sounds, or puppetry shows and indulge in local Burmese cuisine including tea leaf salads.
Walk on the U Bein bridge at Amarapura or take a day tour to the colonial hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin with it’s vibrant horse carriages. Explore the countless Buddha statues nestled in the Pindaya caves and walk through the busy streets of Yangon to see the colonial architecture.
Shopoholics can buy indigenous handicrafts like Lacquerware from Bagan; lotus wool shawls and silver ware in Inle; puppets, Burmese umbrellas, Jade and Rubies from Scott’s market in Yangon.
Argentina
The land of six continents brims with diversity: waterfalls, desert, glacial fields , mountains, beaches, lakes, wine valleys and December is when you can do justice to all of them! From the Andes, where the seas meet mountains to the massive Iguazu falls.
Begin at the bustling capital Buenos Aires: with its monuments and hidden tombs. Visit the open air market of San Telmo and shake a leg in the colourful streets of La Boca.
Get a birds eye view of the countryside from a hot air balloon and take a safari into the clouds in Salta.
Visit Mendoza for skiing, wine tasting and sky diving over stunning landscapes.
Witness the melange of peaks, glaciers and lakes at Los Glaciares, a UNESCO-listed park and book an ice-trekking tour or a more relaxing boat tour that takes you up close to the glaciers.
Take a multi-day trek like the Huemul Circuit with spectacular panoramas, hike in the charming villages of Villa La Angostura and San Martin de Los Andes or visit Tierra Del Fuego for walking around Fjords and woods.
Horse Ride in Cordoba along the rounded hills of Sierras Chicas, spot marine life in the Beagle channel and in Puerto Madryn and stay in a fishing lodge to go River trout fishing in Lakes district.
Czech Republic
Wake up to a light dusting snow, when streets are alive with Christmas markets. You are in Prague in December and this may sound crazy, but there is a LOT to do and if you wish to relive a winter fairy tale, now is the time.
Taste traditional Czech food and mulled wine in the Christmas markets, visit the charming Old Town square with its colourful buildings and souvenir shops, City Hall, Saint Ludmila Cathedral and Prague Orloj (astronomical clock).
Walk along the Wenceslas square, over the Charles bridge, along the cobbled streets of Mala Strana and soak in the views from the Prague Castle.
Witness the unique Czech tradition of Mikulas (St. Nicholas) Day on 5th December, where children sing to earn their Christmas presents. Patrons of classical arts can visit the old opera houses hosting plays and concerts and architecture buffs can discover Modern Prague though it’s functionalism style buildings, like Kostel Nejsvětějšího Srdce Páně Church (Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord) and Žižkov Tower.
Go cafe hopping at Cafe Louvre and Cafe Imperial to warm yourself and enjoy free give-aways of traditional Czech Christmas cookies. Enjoy a beer spa which includes a hot beer bath, a yeast mask, freshly brewed beer or go on a snow hike in Pustevny.