Our Top 4 Winter Sun Destinations for 2015

With summer long gone, and the cold weather drawing in here in the UK, you may be considering where you should go for you next winter sun holiday. With tropical destinations such as the Caribbean, Africa and South East Asia to consider, there’s a long list to choose from. So to make your choice a little easier, we’ve put together our top winter sun destinations for 2015.

1. St Lucia

In the winter months, St Lucia is the ideal holiday destination if a combination of beach relaxation and rainforest exploration is what you’re looking for. It offers idyllic scenery with volcanic mountains towering over the island’s beaches, and hot weather averaging approximately 27° C in November. With its varied terrain, there’s plenty to keep you occupied – including tours through the rainforest and zip line adventures in the trees not far from Rodney Bay. It’s important to stay safe whilst exploring Rodney Bay. As a popular tourist spot, you can be open to pickpockets who work the area, so a money belt is a great way of ensuring your money stays close to you at all times.

Rodney Bay offers all you could need in terms of tourist facilities, but if you want to head off the beaten track and explore the real St Lucia, hiking the Piton Peaks is a fantastic way of coming across resident wildlife, and exploring the jagged emerald green mountains that jut out from the island. Gros Piton sits at 2617 ft tall whilst Petit Piton reaches 2460 ft. Once you reach the summit of Gros Piton, after roughly six hours of intense hiking, you’ll be greeted with staggering views stretching across the island.

2. Thailand

Thailand offers soaring temperatures during December and January, and is a prime winter sun holiday destination for travellers who love to explore unique cultures. Bangkok offers the temple of Wat Pho, where you can see the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand, as well as the statuesque reclining Buddha which signifies Buddha’s passing to nirvana.

If you’re looking to try some new cuisine, there’s no better place than the street stalls of Bangkok. Popular among the locals, the open-air markets are a great place to find seafood dishes and traditional Thai curries, and are a fantastic place to watch the locals go about their day. Heading away from the hustle of Bangkok, Mae Taeng valley, a short drive from Chang Mai, is where you’ll find an elephant nature park with a difference. Visitors to the park can volunteer to help with the elephants, but there is no elephant riding allowed. So if you’re conscious about the country’s wildlife, the elephant sanctuary should be top of your list.

Of course, if you need a break from the animated streets of Bangkok and Chang Mai, there’s always the sandy beaches of Phuket to visit, where there’s nothing better than soaking up some sun in a hammock among the palm trees.

3. South Africa

For a winter sun holiday that promises adventure, there’s no better choice than South Africa. With Cape Town as your base, there’s a plethora of sights to see, including whale watching just off the coast. In Hermanus, just outside of Cape Town, the Southern Right Whale comes to breed, and can be seen from the coast as they come further into the shallow water. Whale-watching from a boat, you’ll have a close-up look at these wonderful creatures. If you’d rather keep your feet on dry land, you’ll also be able to spot dolphins and seals from the shore too.

If you want to keep active in the sun whilst you’re away in South Africa, the Table Mountain hiking trail can be made as easy or as difficult as you like. Those opting for an easier hike up the entire trail should choose a three-day hike with overnight stays along the way. Here, you can explore the natural beauty of the infamous table top peak and the breath-taking views that rarely sit so close to a major city. Be wary of mosquitoes as there is risk of malaria in South Africa, but as long as you’re fully prepared with anti-malaria tablets and your protective mosquito net, you’ll be sure to avoid the critters.

4. Sri Lanka

Immerse yourself in the culture of Sri Lanka for a truly memorable winter sun holiday destination. Here you can enjoy many walking tours through the wild terrain where you’ll meet exotic birds, and if you’re willing to go the extra distance into the hill country of the south, you’ll experience some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful views. The main tourist spot in the south, Nuwara Eliya, is as far as most will reach on their hikes, but if you catch the somewhat rickety train to the village of Ella you’re well on your way to exploring territory that not many other tourists previously have. On your trek it’s advised you take a fully equipped first aid kit with you, just in case of minor injuries along your route.

For a different perspective on Sri Lankan culture, visit the Avukana statue near Kekirawa, in the North. At 40 ft tall, the granite statue was created in the 5th century and is said to have been the result of a competition between a sculpting master and pupil. It is now considered as one of the best examples of a standing Buddha statue from ancient Sri Lankan history.

With so many winter sun destinations to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which activity packed getaway is the right one for you and your family. Choose any destination from our list above, and you’ll be sure to have a truly memorable holiday, whatever you get up to.

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