A late-December Dubai trip may cost twice as much as it does now, but soaring airfares aren’t stopping Indians from packing their bags for desert safaris and luxe winter breaks.
More Indians are holidaying in style with travellers choosing alpine cabins, glass igloos, snow lodges, heritage havelis, and cosy European inns.
Private islands, gala dinners in demand
Travel platforms like Adotrip have recorded close to 40 percent increase in private island bookings this year, and people are opting for places like Maldives for private and personalised experiences.
Growth in luxury travel is evolving and happening faster than most people could realise, Dr Vikas Katoch, CEO and founder Adotrip, told Moneycontrol. "Travellers now want privacy-led itineraries, personalised cultural encounters."
- Heritage ryokans in Japan, palace stays in Rajasthan, vineyard villas in Italy, lakeside estates in Como are preferred by the millennials/ C-suite executives this year, he added.
- High floor suits in Dubai, Singapore, Monaco with private butler premium rooms are also seeing demand from consumers for year-end holidays.
Even Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings, is seeing more inclination towards experience-led and premium stays this winter.
"Properties that curate local, winter-only experiences, like Christmas market neighbourhoods, Northern Lights viewing stays, Scandinavian saunas, or storybook-style chalets-are seeing higher demand. Families are opting for comfortable, all-amenity resorts, while couples are gravitating toward romantic cabins. Younger travellers and groups are showing interest in adventure-friendly stays close to winter activities such as snow hikes, aurora tours, or geothermal spas," Agarwal said.
- A big chunk of winter bookings now include New Year gala dinners, desert safaris, treks, houseboat cruises or spa packages bundled with the room, instead of pure-room-only reservations, noted Abhishek Daga, Co-founder of Thrillophilia.
How much will flying in December cost?
Average fares on popular metro-to-leisure routes are up about 20 percent versus October.
- For Christmas and New Year holiday bookings, air fares for Dehradun, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram routes are 20-35 percent higher than in October, Daga observed.
"November is still negotiable; the last 10 days of December are not. Once you’re in that window, almost every leisure route prices like a peak product," he said.
Jet fuel and overall cost pressures are fuelling air fares, Gaur said.
- The tightest sectors are short-haul international destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Phuket.
- Domestic leisure routes include Mumbai/Delhi-Goa, Bengaluru-Goa, Delhi-Bagdogra, Delhi-Dehradun, Daga said.
Are more Indians going for winter breaks?
Demand for winter, Christmas, and New Year holidays is rising strongly this year, said EaseMyTrip's CEO and Co-Founder, Rikant Pittie.
Families and adventure travellers are driving much of the growth, with interest surging around 30-35 percent, compared to last year. International leisure bookings for November and December have increased by 25-30 percent, he added.
- Overall there is a 20-30 percent increase in demand for year end travel versus last year, Katoch said.
What are the top winter escapes?
European trips remain popular, with Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom attracting travellers for ski holidays and festive Christmas markets, Pittie said.
Warm‑weather escapes are also in demand, including Dubai, Bali, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, and the broader UAE region, offering beaches, outdoor parties, and easy celebratory getaways, he added.
Domestic hotspots
Indians are heading predominantly to North India, gravitating towards high-demand hill destinations such as Manali, Sangla, Shangarh, Nainital, Kareri, Dharamshala, Srinagar, and Kalpa, said Aviral Gupta, CEO, Zostel. From October through December, we’ve observed a price increase of 40–45 percent. He added that they are seeing a 10–15 percent uplift in occupancy beginning mid-December, compared to the same period last year.
- Goa, Gokarna: Still the default New Year’s Eve playground for young India, friends’ groups and couples, Thrillophilia's Daga said.
- Himachal, Uttarakhand (Manali, Shimla, Dharamshala, Auli, Mussoorie, Rishikesh): Classic winter escapes for shorter trips and long weekends.
- Rajasthan (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur): Big spike in demand for palace stays, desert camps and boutique havelis around Christmas–New Year.
- South India (Coorg, Ooty, Munnar, Wayanad): Popular with families looking for milder weather, greenery and slower holidays.
International hotspots
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi: Has emerged as top short-haul pick for families, for theme parks, desert safaris and New Year fireworks.
- Thailand (Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok, Pattaya): The biggest volume driver for groups and young travellers.
- Vietnam and Bali: Very strong momentum among couples and millennials looking for ‘Instagrammable’ itineraries, Daga said.
- Singapore and Malaysia: Preferred by families with kids, especially when clubbed with cruises.
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