Top Yoga Destinations to Visit in December
November 13, 2019
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The wonderful month of December…winter in the Northern Hemisphere, where travelers either love the snow and head to mountain resorts or hate it and chase winter sun; or summer in the Southern Hemisphere, where Santa delivers the gifts on the beach.
We’ve looked at the inquiries from travelers planning a yoga retreat in December and put together a list of some of the best places to visit this month if you plan to work on your practice. Whether you prefer the sun or the snow, rest assured we’ve covered both. Don’t forget those mittens!
Snow or Sand and Yoga Retreats in India
India is a such a large country that visiting during December will give you both the snow and sand experience. Which is quite fabulous, if you ask us!
Ladakh is one of the best places to head to during winter. If you fancy trekking, here you can find unique and exciting trails. Plus, the snow-capped mountains make for a mesmerizing experience. There are two things to consider: most of the hotels are closed during winter so you’d need to find other forms of accommodation, and due to the heavy snow, the roads may be closed, so add some “buffer days” to your plans. Also, home to amazing winter scenery is the region of Kashmir.
But if you crave sun then you need to head to Kerala. It’s the number one searched-for destination in India and a true paradise. The beaches, the wildlife, hills, and lakes make it a great choice for your winter vacation in India. Or head to Goa and enjoy the beach vibes along with the Goa Film Festival.
Planning to join a yoga retreat in India? Rishikesh, the capital of yoga, is always a good idea, but Kerala and Goa are also great choices, especially if you plan to enjoy some relaxing time, as well as meditation sessions during the retreat.
With landscape varying from the tropical beach to snowcapped mountains, India’s climate and weather are complex. December marks the start of winter, which is also the high season for traveling to India. The weather is dry and sunny while the temperatures range from mild in the north to warm in the south. The average high temperature in Goa is 26C/78.8F, while Delhi enjoys a high of 23C/73.4F. In Bangalore expect 26C/78.8F during December.
Beach Time and Yoga Retreats in Spain
Spain has a mixed landscape, ranging from beaches to snow-capped mountains. And while Spain is one of the best places to enjoy summer on the beach while sipping some sangria, it can be a lovely option for a winter escape, too.
Head to Granada and enjoy the backdrop of snowy mountains. Yes, it’s cold thanks to being surrounded by the mountains and even so, you can soak up the sun rays and feel their warmth. For a snowy adventure, why not visit Toledo? It is a UNESCO World Heritage Town and chockfull of history and culture.
Madrid is the perfect choice for a cultural escape and to admire the Christmas lights. And of course, you should also check out the many museums.
And if you are after winter sun, hop on a plane and go to the Canary Islands. They are the warmest in Spain during winter and the water may even be warm enough to swim.
There are plenty of yoga retreats in Spain to enjoy during December. Whether you want to try pilates, meditation or even horseback riding together with yoga, you'll be very happy with the many options available.
Spain is a large country with various climate areas. Add in the islands and you have quite a variety of weather to experience. The Balearic Islands enjoy warm days in December with a max of 15C/59F. But it can be windy and rainy. The nights can get quite cold, close to freezing. On the mainland, December is one of the coldest months but even so, the max temp can reach 14C/57.2F. But winters at the Mediterranean are notoriously windy and wet, so back that windbreaker! The average high temp is 10C/50F in Barcelona, 13C/55.4F in Palma, and 12C/53.6F in Valencia.
Christmas on the Beach and Yoga Retreats in Indonesia
Although December means wet season in Indonesia, this doesn’t mean it lacks things to do. Plus, since it’s outside of the high season, you get to pay more affordable rates for accommodation and flights. Just be prepared to enjoy both rain and sun!
If you want to avoid the cold climates during the winter holidays, head to Bali or the Gili Islands and wait for Santa on the beach. While on it, try some yoga and surfing! There are a lot of yoga retreats in Bali in December. You can mix culture and surf with meditation, and yoga.
December means wet weather for Indonesia. In Bali, the rain is not constant and there are still enough hours of sunshine to not avoid it. The average high temperature is around 27C/80.6F. As for Lombok and the Gili Islands, they see similar weather as Bali. The temperature average is 28-29C/82-84F and the sun is present between rain showers. The humidity is also high (around 85%).
You may want to spend as little time as possible in Jakarta as the heavy rain makes it prone to flooding. The average temperature in the capital is around 27C/80.6F.
Looking for a yoga retreat in December and the above destinations didn’t convince you? Worry not! At BookYogaRetreats you can find may other amazing yoga retreats in Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, and many more places around the world.