No. 5
Hike on Ice at the Fox Glacier
Whether you’re an amateur or an expert, a hike on ice
at the Fox Glacier in New Zealand should be on your
bucket list. While most glaciers slope up, Fox is a river-
shaped bed of blue that spirals down to a green forest.
Book a Heli Hike with Fox Guides (foxguides.co.nz), which takes you on a
helicopter ride above the glacier and drops you in one of its remotest parts. If you
prefer extreme adventure, book the ‘All Day Heli Hike’ or set off on a two-day
overnight trek: sleep in traditional huts, sip on wine in the dark, and hope for the
world’s only mountain parrot to show up. Add more bouts of excitement to the
trip by skydiving over the frozen glacier, visiting Lake Matheson (the most
photographed lake in New Zealand), and driving to the stunning Gillespies
Beach. Stay in the rainforests around the glacier at the Te Waonui Forest Retreat
(tewaonui.co.nz) to rejuvenate and recharge.
Ski under the
Stars in Korea
Skiing in the Pyeongchang
county of South Korea,
host of the 2018 Winter
Olympics, is a lot like
K-pop: fast and full of
energy. The slopes at
Yongpyong Resort
(yongpyong.co.kr), called
the Dragon Valley, are
open till 2.30 am, letting
you ski into the night
under the starry skies.
Skiers arm themselves
with a bottle of Korean
Soju for the chilling
midnight airlift rides
before zooming down
from one of the 28 slopes.
After a night of skiing,
head to Peak Island at the
resort where you can get
your fix of local BBQ at the
food court, swim in one of
the pools, unravel your
inner popstar in a private
karaoke room, and let off
some steam at the
jimjilbang—a Korean
public bath. Stay in the
resort’s Greenpia
Condominiums that come
armed with Western
amenities, Korean-style
floor heating, and
spectacular views of the
mountains and slopes.CLOCKWISE: STEVE TAYLOR ARPS/ALAMY; PICTUREGARDEN/GETTYIMAGES; ROBERTHARDING/ALAMYFrom top: Hikers
negotiate a
crevasse and a
woman climbs an
ice cave at the Fox
Glacier in NZ;
a Christmas
Market at Graben
in Vienna, Austria.No. 7 Explore the Christmas Markets of Vienna
The best place in the world to explore the age-old tradition of Christmas
markets, Vienna, also happens to be the most livable city in the world
(according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2018 rankings). At the
market on Rathausplatz Square, listen to carol singers, shop for
souvenirs, eat traditional Viennese food, skate on the ice, and send letters
to Santa. If you arrive post-Christmas, attend the New Year’s market held
at Schönbrunn Palace to enjoy a jazz concert. The Vienna Opera Ball, held
in February, is also a great option for receding winter days (tickets start
from `25,000). To make the best of Vienna, book a suite at the 145-year-
old Imperial Hotel (imperialvienna.com). While in Vienna, visit Café
Central, where Freud and Trotsky famously hung out, or sample winter
beers at the Beer Store Vienna.6
No.REASONS TO TRAVEL NOW
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