PORT OF CALL

Cozy cabins in the snow, culinary odysseys or islands swaddled by Aegean seas – choose your adventure and close out the year with a holiday to remember. No passports needed.

- SAUMYAA VOHRA

THE WELLNESS GETAWAY

GOKARNA

An instant flashback to the unspoiled, quieter regions of Goa from a couple of decades ago, this Karnataka beach town (that literally translates to “cow’s ear”) has an inimitable charm about it. The fact that it’s just a touch more inaccessible than its tourist-friendly beach counterparts adds to its calm – though being surrounded by forests, clear water and rocky inlets helps – making it the beau idéal for a domestic wellness getaway. Choose between luxury villas at Kahani Paradise and its idyllic views of the Ghats and the Arabian Ocean, or the meditative environs of Ayurvedic retreat SwaSwara by CGH Earth. If you turned to Kahani, you’ve chosen high-ceilinged suites six minutes from Paradise Beach, replete with badminton courts, yoga rooms, and a menu crafted from the day’s freshest seafood and veggies from the local organic markets. If you turned to SwaSwara, a peaceful few days await with spa treatments, art yoga, meditation, and a thoughtful – but gourmet – diet. If you feel like stepping out of either estate, head to Kudle beach for a run or some yoga by the rocks, finishing with tea at Mantra Cafe while you watch the glorious sunset in lifelike HD.

TRAVEL TIP: Sneak in a hike or boat ride to the lesser known Half Moon Beach–its as peaceful as they come

THE CULTURAL GETAWAY

PUDUCHERRY