Places worth the journey.

Ladakh is closest, at about 1 hour 20 minutes from Delhi to Leh, although you then need a day or two to acclimatise. The Maldives is about 1 to 1.5 hours from Bengaluru or Kochi, and Dubai about 3.5 to 4 hours from Delhi. All three work for a long weekend if you choose flight times carefully.

December is peak season in Dubai and the Maldives, with warm, dry days. Switzerland begins its snow season, and Japan is cold but often clear, with winter illuminations in the cities and snow in Hokkaido. Bali is in its wet season, and Ladakh is in deep winter, suited only to specialist trips.

Ladakh is at its best from June to September because it sits in a rain shadow beyond the Great Himalaya. Bali’s dry season covers the same months, and Switzerland is in high summer for hiking and lakes. Dubai is very hot then, and the Maldives is in its wetter south-west monsoon, though rates are lower.

We look at typical weather and sea conditions, whether roads, passes and mountain railways are open, crowd levels, and festivals that change what a visit feels like. Seasons are patterns, not promises, so each guide also notes the trade-offs of travelling outside the best months.

Some pairings work well. Dubai and the Maldives are about four hours apart by non-stop flight and are both at their best from about December to March. Switzerland combines easily with neighbouring countries by train. Japan and Bali are each better as a trip of their own unless you have two weeks or more.