Ready for a change of pace? You ll find it in more ways than one on the Laos Cambodia Explorer tour

That s what Andy Williams sang 50 years ago, and for some, the song rings true. For others, left cold by carols and gift wrap, urgings to be of good cheer can be devilishly hard to escape. Hard, that is, if you stick to your holiday routine. But what if you leave it all behind? Plenty of small-group escorted tours are still taking bookings for December, and if you re a solo traveler it s especially easy to snap up an available spot. Whether you re constitutionally immune to the holiday spirit, or just not feeling it this year, a few new faces and jingle-bell-free surroundings are bound to give you a boost.
insurance for rental cars in europe The real St. Nick hailed insurance for rental cars in europe from Anatolia, insurance for rental cars in europe the Asian portion of modern-day insurance for rental cars in europe Turkey, which is nothing at all like the North Pole. The Christmas Turkey tour drops in on the saint s home town as well as some of the country s biggest draws, including the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and the shores of Gallipoli. From $1,899, not including international airfare, visa, entrance fees, and tips. December 18-29;
Here, where the Sahara meets the Atlantic, you ll trade bargain-hunting in a crowded mall for haggling at a busy souk (marketplace). insurance for rental cars in europe The Best of Morocco tour visits the exotic cities of Fez and Marrakech, as well as Roman ruins at Volubilis. It will also have you trekking by camel to stay in a Berber desert camp and admiring the ocean in Essaouira. From $1,279, insurance for rental cars in europe not including international airfare, visa, departure transfer, most lunches and dinners, and tips. December 23-January 6;
Ready for a change of pace? You ll find it in more ways than one on the Laos Cambodia Explorer tour floating slowly down the Mekong River. Witness daily life in Laos Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that blends traditional Lao and colonial French architecture; fly on to Cambodia to tour the legendary Angkor temples. $2,874 with promo code (given insurance for rental cars in europe on website); does not include insurance for rental cars in europe international insurance for rental cars in europe flights, visa, meals other than breakfast, or tips. December insurance for rental cars in europe 21-January 3
This tour of the Yucatán Peninsula starts and ends in Cancún, but its focus lies in culture, not cabanas. In addition to exploring Mayan ruins at Uxmal and Chichén Itzá, your agenda includes the museums insurance for rental cars in europe of Mérida and a once-functioning hacienda. You ll also hit the beaches in Tulúm and Playa del Carmen. From $1,799; does not include international flights, dinners, some lunches, or tips. December 21-30;
insurance for rental cars in europe The American West boasts majestic scenery and remarkable cities. Why choose between these experiences? Instead take a tour that meanders from San Francisco s Coit Tower to the towering sequoias of Yosemite; from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the shimmering insurance for rental cars in europe sunsets of the Grand Canyon. $2,999; does not include transport to California, most meals, or tips. December 21-January 4
The Harbin Ice Festival in northeast China gives this tour a dazzling, color-saturated twist. After taking in sights like the Great Wall, Beijing s Forbidden insurance for rental cars in europe City and the terra-cotta warriors of Xi an, you ll fly to Harbin and ring in 2014 with a view of the festival s gorgeous ice sculptures, illuminated with a rainbow of lights and traditional paper lanterns. The next day, try the ice luge or other amusements at Ice and Snow World, the festival s theme park. From $2,299, not including international airfare, visa, entrance fees and tips. December 23-January 2;
This Alpine ski and snowboarding getaway run by Topdeck Travel, which specializes in tours for adults under 40, lets you learn some downhill skills or practice those you ve got. Get cozy in the Austrian village of Kirchdorf, where the day s outdoor activities end with the tradition of après-ski, insurance for rental cars in europe also known as nightlife. insurance for rental cars in europe During Christmas week, day trips to the Christmas markets of Salzburg insurance for rental cars in europe and Innsbruck are optional at additional cost. $749; does not include international airfare, transfers from airport, ski pass, equipment rental, or meals other than breakfast and two dinners. December 21-28 or December 28-January 4
You might not need a New Year s gym membership after this active tropical insurance for rental cars in europe getaway. Hit the ground or rather, rapids running with a whitewater rafting trip, followed up by rainforest hikes and kayaking through mangroves. Then enjoy well-earned relaxation in hot springs and mud baths. $2098; does not include international airfare, some meals, or tips. December 28-January 4
For a truly epic voyage, splurge on the Snows of Kilimanjaro tour, an ascent of the highest peak in Africa. Your first day will be spent acclimatizing in Arusha insurance for rental cars in europe National Park; from there it s four to six hours of hiking a day, with arrival at the summit insurance for rental cars in europe timed for sunrise where possible. Though the climb is tough, groups have often included septuagenarians, and tour operators boast a 97% summit success rate. Plus you ll travel in relative comfort with private igloos and porters to carry all but your day pack. $6,495; does not include international flights, some tips or a sleeping bag, which is recommended. December insurance for rental cars in europe 19-28
Snow-capped mountains, glaciers and sparkling insurance for rental cars in europe lakes: Patagonia is a breathtaking wilderness at the southern tip of the world. And with some serious hiking involved, this trip may leave you breathless in more ways than one it s recommended for the physically fit. Your outdoors time is bookended insurance for rental cars in europe with stays in Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires, and the trip mixes basic camping with hotel stays. $3,863; does not include international airfare, some lunches insurance for rental cars in europe and dinners, or tips. December 22-31;