How about quiet trails, ghost tours this winter?

Forget overbooked ski resorts, boring sun-and-sand getaways and Insta-famous Christmas markets. This season, choose calm over crowds

- Teja Lele

(PHOTOGRAPHS FROM STOCK.ADOBE.COM)

Every winter, the spotlight turns to travel and people seek out the best places to go to either embrace or escape the winter chill. Agoda’s latest data shows that Indian families are embracing winter travel like never before, with a 30% jump in accommodation searches for December 2025 to February 2026 compared to last year. The spike isn’t driven by the usual sun-and-sand getaways. Instead, families are looking toward snow-covered landscapes and winter festivals.

Improved connectivity, simpler visa processes and affordable options have removed much of the friction from international travel. "There’s a growing fascination with snow, winter sports, and cultural festivities," says Gaurav Malik, country director (Indian Subcontinent and Indian Ocean Islands) at Agoda. “Winter is increasingly seen as a great time for meaningful family travel.”

This rising interest includes off-the-map places, as Indian travellers start looking beyond the obvious winter capitals.

Here is a gentle winter guide inspired by that shift, places where you can find peace, quiet, and small joys.

If you're seeking alpine calm without the glitz of St Moritz or the bustle of Zermatt, Laax delivers serenity with style. This sunlit village in Graubünden offers over 200km of slopes and some of the Alps’ best snowboarding terrain, amid a design-forward, sustainability-conscious ethos. Laax is ideal for skiers who want quiet trails, green design, and a slower après-ski rhythm.