Connect With Nature: 4 Off-Grid Destinations for December
Welcome to the third instalment of Where to Travel When: Trippin's new series featuring our top destinations for each month.
We've divided our key December hotspots into four moods: from island and beach escapes to party destinations, via off-grid spots and festive choices. Regardless of how 2022 has unfolded for you, it's healthy to take a digital detox. If you're looking to switch off and spend your December connecting with nature, we've highlighted our top four picks to do just that. Scroll down for our selections, which include frozen waterfalls, pine forests and more.
Freetown, Sierra Leone
December arrives during Sierra Leone’s dry season, and its capital, Freetown, is a spectacular location to travel to in the winter. If you want to connect to nature, Freetown offers a plethora of national parks, nature reserves and beaches. Birdwatchers will have plenty to see during this time.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia Plitvice
The Croatian national park may be filled with glistening, azure waters in the summer but in December, it’s truly a sight to behold. Think snowy trees, frost-lined branches, a cool silver-blue sheen to its lakes, mossy banks and dramatically frozen waterfalls. As the most visited national park in Croatia, it’s famous for containing 16 interconnected lakes. Beat the tourists and head here in December, when you may just have the park all to yourself. Here’s a time when you can wander through and explore this dreamy wonderland without the crowds.
Ibiza
Ibiza may be one of summer’s most popular destinations, but during the festive season travellers can experience the magic of the island without its swathes of tourists. Mass tourism has changed the culture of Ibiza, but dive deeper and you can still find the pulse. December reveals a different side to the area, and its charm lies in its natural beauty. Walk along its stretches of white sands, pine forests, coves and rock pools. Enjoy the serenity of the island whilst you can.
The Arctic Circle, Norway
Of course, the Arctic Circle has to go in our top picks. This Norwegian delight is the ultimate festive season highlight for going off-grid and connecting to nature. There’s a lot to experience here that you won’t be able to elsewhere in the world. Stay for the natural phenomenon of the Polar Night, when the sun doesn’t rise above the horizon for 24 hours. Immerse yourself in the deep blue hours of this period, when you may also be able to catch some arctic light.
