Spend Christmas on safari in Africa

AFRICA
A winter safari in Africa makes for a Christmas you will never forget. Spend Christmas Day watching lions and tigers running in the wild, then share your Boxing Day with a herd of elephants and a troop of monkeys. Some companies provide special Christmas surprises like a roast dinner in the middle of the plain or a champagne breakfast in a four wheel drive. On Sir Richard Branson’s game reserve in Ulusaba, you can spend Christmas Eve singing carols with The Justicia Best Boys Choir around the tree, before retiring to your luxury cabin and preparing for Christmas Day on safari.

Fly to Johannesburg from £719pp (opodo.com); flight to Ulusaba’s private air strip approx £340 (full information on ulusaba.com). Master suite at The Rock Lodge, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve costs from £6,000 per couple for five nights and includes all meals, drinks and discount vouchers.

LAPLAND
For the ultimate Christmassy experience, nowhere beats Lapland, Finland. The capital city Rovaniemi is a great choice for fantastic shopping, clubs and bars and there’s even a SantaPark built into a series of underground caves. Nearby Levi offers endless wintry adventures across Christmas card scenery – the kids will love dashing through frozen woodlands on a husky trailblazer or reindeer sleigh. Cross-country skiing trails are plentiful and afterwards you can warm up by one of the endless log fires with a hot berry juice or in a traditional smoke sauna. If you’re lucky you’ll be treated to the spectacular natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) which appear in the evening when the sky is clear.

Fly into Rovaniemi, adults from £898, children from £825, for a four night full board stay at the Levistar Apartments in Levi Fell. Price includes flights and various rides and trips; for a full list visit holidays.monarch.co.uk. Flights depart from London, Manchester and Birmingham.

THAILAND
If a taste of the exotic is more appealing, then head for the beautiful beaches and bustling cities of Thailand. Whether that’s snorkelling in the clear waters off the coast of Phuket, indulging in a famous Thai massage, or taking in a katoey (ladyboy) show in Bangkok. The Christmas Day full moon party on the island of Koh Phangan is unmissable, with beautiful views of the moon and a dancing frenzy with 7,000 other party goers on the white sands. Thailand is a buddhist country and Christmas isn’t a public holiday, but the day is still celebrated at school or work with presents, Santa Claus and carols. There is always plenty on offer for the tourist to experience a western Christmas, with themed bars, Christmas lights in Bangkok and a seemingly endless celebration of eating and drinking.

Fly into Bangkok, adults from £1000 with Thai airways. Departs from London, Manchester and Birmingham visit http://www.thaiairways.co.uk/holidays for more information.

*All prices are for flights departing 23 December.