Tired of all things red and green this season? Jaclyn Tan knows just where you can go to avoid lit-up trees, mistletoes and that ho-hoholiday spirit 

Kashmir, India While this region remains the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan, relations between the two have improved since peace negotiations started three years ago. Bilateral trade and bus routes between the borders have increased in the last two years, and tourism in Kashmir is gradually growing. If being constantly watched by Indian soldiers on patrol doesn’t put you off, book that trip to Kashmir; you’ll be rewarded with majestic views of the Himalayas. The Kashmiri population is predominantly Muslim, followed closely by Hindus, so the chances of running into anything Christmas-like are slim. Instead, immerse yourself in the natural beauty and legends of the land – apparently Kashmir was formed when the great sage Kasyapa drained a lake to kill a water demon. 

Things to see and do: Take advantage of the winter season to ski in Gulmarg; it claims to be the only place in the Himalayas where you can ski with the magnificent view of the Pakistani Karakoram mountains, as well as one of the world’s cheapest places to learn skiing (US$11, or S$17, for a full-day instructor); boots, skis and poles cost US$6 (S$9) for full-day rental. Advanced skiers can try Kashmir Alpine Winter Adventures (+91 94 1940 7202, www.kashmiralpine.com) for a guide to more challenging terrain. Or you can sit back and spend the day riding the world’s highest gondola (at 4,084 metres above sea level) – all for just US$55 (S$37). 

Take a cruise on the Dal and Nagin lakes and experience a traditional Shikara boat ride. For the more adventurous, try whitewater rafting on River Indus to drink in the beauty of the Zanskar valley. Contact Aquaterra Adventures (+91 11 2921 2641, www.treknraft.com) and Mercury Himalayan Explorations (+91 11 2334 0033, www.himalayanadventure.com) for more information on river excursions. 

And if you still have time for a day trip, visit the Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh (+91 19 825 1373, www.thiksey.com); the 600-year-old structure is home to nearly 100 monks and houses a 15-metre-tall statue representing Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, among numerous stupas and murals of Tibetan calendars. 

Where to stay: Stay in a traditional houseboat (think floating hotel) on the Dal Lake, where a panoramic view of the Himalayas awaits every time you step out of your room. Made from cedarwood, these cosy rooms are furnished with wooden furniture and embroidered rugs. The Chicago Group of Houseboats (+91 19 4247 7489, www.kashmirihouseboats.com) offers rooms from INR900 (S$33) and is known for its highly personalised service. Butt’s Clermont Houseboats (+91 19 4242 0325, www.buttsclemonthouseboats.com) have played host to the late American politician Nelson Rockefeller, as well as Beatle George Harrison. Rates start from US$60 (S$90) per day. 

How to get there: Fly by Indian Airlines (from S$590) to Srinagar, Kashmir. 

Useful links: Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department (+91 19 4247 9548, www.jktourism.org), Ski Himalaya (www.skihimalaya.com). 

Sapa Valley, Vietnam The closest thing to Christmas you’ll find in this rural region of northern Vietnam are the pine trees that grow on the lush valley slopes. A trip to Sapa is like taking a journey back in time. Old tribal villages lie scattered across a vast, undulating terrain, while rice terraces and mud tracks stretch for miles. Here, wild pigs and roosters roam freely, women do their laundry by the river and the men transport bundles of firewood by foot. Challenge yourself to scale Fansipan,Vietnam’s tallest peak (3,143 metres), or just make friendly with Sapa’s tribesmen. 

Things to see and do: Trek Mount Fansipan, located about nine kilometres from Sapa town, and take in a bird’s-eye view of the mist-covered emerald valleys and surrounding villages. The terrain can be rough and the weather unpredictable, so it’s best to hire an experienced guide – Luxury Travel (+84 913 026 004, www.vietvoyage.com) provides customised trekking packages – to take you up the mountain. 

For something less strenuous, do a walking tour around the valley to experience the diverse co-existence of more than 30 different ethnic minorities. Each tribe dons a unique costume and speaks a different dialect; for instance, the Black H’mong people are easily distinguished by their dark-coloured clothing, while the Red Dao women wear red headdresses. Start at the Muong Hoa Valley, where Sapa’s largest rice paddies are. Hike down to the Lao Cai village, home of the Black H’mong, and then toward Ta Van village, where the Giay people live. Look out for the ‘Love Market’ on Saturday evenings, where young singles sing songs as part of a courting ritual to attract a partner. 

Where to stay: Victoria Sapa Resort (+ 84 20 871 522, www.victoriahotelsasia.com) is nestled in the Hoang Lien Mountains and provides mountain chalets with stone-hearth fireplaces. Rates start at US$145 (S$210) per room per night. 

How to get there: Fly by Tiger Airways (from S$190, www.tigerairways.com.sg) to Hanoi Airport, take a taxi to Hanoi Train Station, and take a nine-hour train ride to Lao Cai station (www.vr.com.vn). From there take a two-hour bus ride to Sapa (US$2 or S$3, one-way). 

Useful link: Sapa Tourism Office (+84 2087 1975, www.sapa-tourism.com). 

Terengganu, Malaysia 

Forget the pretentious Christmas parties this year; instead, make time for the simple pleasures offered by the fishing villages, wet markets and delicious cuisine found in this coastal state. Touted as the birthplace of Islam in Malaysia, the state’s history and culture date back to the first century. A hefty 90 per cent of its population is made up of Malays and life here revolves around age-old Malay traditions. 

Things to see and do: December is monsoon season, so visiting Terengganu’s popular beach haunts like Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian is a bad idea. Instead, visit the Pasar Payang wet market at Kuala Terengganu Waterfront and watch the locals go about their daily life bargaining for the best buys, ranging from buah salak (a fruit bearing a snake-like scaly skin) and dodol (a chewy coconut dessert). A five-minute boat ride from the Shah Bandar jetty takes you to Pulau Duyung, where you can observe the traditional boat-making process. The wooden vessels, known as payang, are constructed entirely based on memory and years of practice. A short cab ride from Kuala Terengganu will take you to Masjid Tengku Tengah Zaharah, one of the state’s most well-known architectural icons. Nicknamed ‘The Floating Mosque’, the masterpiece rests on stilts by a tranquil waterfront that reflects its beautiful white façade. Less than a kilometre from here, you’ll find the Malaysian Handicraft Centre in Chendering, a marketplace where hand-woven baskets, colourful batik and an array of other traditional crafts are made and sold. 

Where to stay: Tanjong Jara Resort (+60 9 845 1100, www.tanjongjararesort.com) is located eight kilometres from Dungun town and has a comprehensive list of excursions: bike tours through Dungun’s fishing village and hikes to the 200-metre-tall Chemerung waterfall. A three-day package – including daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, spa treatments and indera deria (Malay-style yoga) classes – costs about US$500 (S$725) per person. For something more traditional, try D’Ketapang Homestay (+60 13 923 4837, www.homestayketapang.com). RM60 (S$30) gets you a night’s accommodation with a local family in a Malay kampong, inclusive of breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. 

How to get there: Transnational coaches (6294 7034, www.nadi.com.my) depart twice daily (9am and 9pm) from the junction of Lavender Street and Kallang Bahru Road and cost S$36 for a one-way trip to Kuala Terengganu bus station. The journey takes approximately 11 hours. 

Useful link: Terengganu State Tourism (+60 9622 1433, www.tourism.terengganu.gov.my).