There are two kinds of people. Those who start planning Christmas in October and those who wake up on December 20 wondering where the year went.
And then there’s a third category: people who want to travel but don’t want their January bank statement to look like a crime scene.
If you’re somewhere in that third category, we’ve got good news. You don’t need an international holiday, a luxury resort or a ₹50,000 budget to end the year somewhere exciting.
Sometimes, all you need is a backpack, a few days off work and a destination that makes you forget you have 47 unread emails waiting for you.
Whether it’s waking up to snow-covered mountains, riding through winding Himalayan roads, heading out on an all-girls holiday or spending Christmas trekking through pine forests, there are plenty of ways to make December memorable without spending a fortune.
Here are some of the best budget-friendly year-end trips under ₹21,000 to consider for your Christmas and New Year plans.
1. Backpacking Trips: Because Your Group Chat Needs to Leave the Chat
You know that friend who keeps sending travel reels with the caption, “We should go here”?
This is your chance to actually go.
Backpacking is for people who enjoy exploring multiple destinations, discovering little cafés, meeting strangers who eventually become friends and collecting stories that last longer than their phone batteries.
If you want to spend Christmas or New Year exploring the mountains without committing to an extravagant holiday, these trips deserve a look.
Himachal Backpacking: Manali – Kasol – Jibhi
- Starting price: ₹17,100
- Duration: 6N/7D
- Best for: Solo travellers, friends and mountain lovers.
Three destinations, one backpack and enough mountain scenery to make your Instagram followers wonder if you’ve permanently relocated to Himachal.
Manali brings the winter charm, Kasol brings the café culture, and Jibhi offers a quieter escape surrounded by pine forests and beautiful mountain landscapes.
Spend your days exploring local cafés, discovering scenic trails and enjoying the mountain atmosphere. If you’re lucky, you might even wake up to a fresh layer of snow.
Why go during December? Because Christmas feels a little different when you’re celebrating in the mountains. Add bonfires, good food, music and a group of fellow travellers, and you’ve got yourself a pretty solid year-end plan.
McLeod Ganj – Triund – Bir Backpacking Trip
- Starting price: ₹14,200
- Duration: 5N/6D
- Starting point: Delhi
- Best for: First-time backpackers, solo travellers, café hoppers and adventure enthusiasts.
Not every holiday needs to be about chasing snow. Sometimes, all you need is a mountain café, a scenic trek, a little adventure and absolutely no Monday morning alarm.
This backpacking trip brings together McLeod Ganj, Triund and Bir, three Himachal destinations with very different personalities.
Explore the monasteries, cafés and lively streets of McLeod Ganj before heading towards Triund for a rewarding trek and beautiful views of the Dhauladhar range. Then make your way to Bir, where you can soak in the laid-back backpacker atmosphere or try paragliding, subject to weather conditions.
It’s a great option if you want a mix of sightseeing, mountain adventures and relaxed exploration without spending your entire holiday trekking uphill.
Uttarakhand Backpacking: Auli – Chopta – Rishikesh
- Starting price: ₹20,700
- Duration: 7N/8D
- Best for: Adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers and travellers looking for a longer getaway.
One trip, multiple personalities.
Auli brings the snowy Himalayan views, Chopta offers beautiful mountain landscapes, and Rishikesh adds a little adventure to the itinerary.
From exploring the mountains to experiencing river rafting and enjoying riverside evenings, this trip offers a mix of experiences without requiring you to plan three separate holidays.
Why go during December? Imagine swapping your regular New Year’s Eve plans for a mountain holiday, followed by an adventure-filled escape in Rishikesh. That’s a considerably better way to spend your leave balance.
2. All-Girls Trips: Because the Girls’ Trip Shouldn’t Remain a WhatsApp Group Fantasy
Let’s address the real problem with planning an all-girls trip.
One person wants the mountains. One wants the beach. One has a wedding. One has a deadline. And one has already said yes without checking her bank balance.
If you’ve been waiting for everyone to agree on a date, here’s a thought: You don’t need to wait for your entire friend circle to be available.
JustWravel’s All-Girls trips bring together women who want to explore, travel independently and meet like-minded people along the way.
Here are three options worth checking out.
All-Girls Himachal Backpacking
- Starting price: ₹16,500 for regular departures.
- Duration: 6N/7D
- Best for: Solo women travellers and friends looking for a mountain holiday.
Manali, Kasol and Jibhi. Three destinations that make a rather convincing argument for taking a week off.
Explore mountain cafés, enjoy scenic drives, discover local experiences and spend your evenings surrounded by the beauty of Himachal.
It’s also a great option for women who want to experience group travel without having to coordinate every little detail themselves.
The festive plan: Christmas in the mountains, new friendships and enough café photographs to last you until next December.
All-Girls Meghalaya with Kaziranga
- Starting price: ₹26,000
- Duration: 6N/7D
- Best for: Solo women travellers, nature lovers
A little over budget? Yes. Worth putting on your festive wishlist? Absolutely.
If your idea of a girls’ trip involves beautiful landscapes, long conversations, waterfalls, caves, wildlife and making friends who eventually become your travel family, Meghalaya with Kaziranga is a rather good place to start.
Meghalaya has a special charm during Christmas. Shillong lights up with festive decorations, churches host celebrations, and the streets take on a lively holiday atmosphere.
But the experience doesn’t stop at Christmas festivities.
Explore the beautiful landscapes of Cherrapunji, discover living root bridges, visit picturesque villages and experience the crystal-clear waters of Dawki. The journey also includes Kaziranga National Park in Assam, adding a wildlife experience to the itinerary.
3. Winter Treks: For Those Who Think the Best New Year’s Eve View Comes With a Summit
While some people are busy booking rooftop parties, others are busy checking trekking shoes and packing thermals.
And honestly, we respect both. But if you’re someone who would rather wake up to Himalayan views than a DJ’s playlist, winter treks are calling.
The best part? Some of JustWravel’s winter trekking options start below ₹10,000.
Dayara Bugyal Trek
- Starting price: ₹5,850
- Duration: 3N/4D
- Best for: Beginners and travellers looking for a short winter escape.
A short trek, beautiful alpine meadows and Himalayan views. Dayara Bugyal is a wonderful option for those who want a taste of winter trekking without committing an entire week to the mountains.
During winter, the meadows can transform into snow-covered stretches, making the landscape look like someone has accidentally left the Christmas movie filter switched on.
The festive plan: A quick mountain escape, snow-filled photographs and four days away from the usual city routine.
Kedarkantha Trek
- Starting price: ₹7,200
- Duration: 4N/5D
- Best for: Winter trekking enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
The classic winter trek for anyone who wants their holiday to involve more than room service and Netflix.
Kedarkantha is known for its snowy trails, dense pine forests, beautiful campsites and rewarding summit views.
The winter landscape makes it especially popular among trekkers looking to experience the Himalayas during December and January.
The festive plan: Start the New Year with a summit view. Your legs might disagree with your decision, but your camera roll certainly won’t.
Brahmatal Lake Trek
- Starting price: ₹7,650
- Duration: 5N/6D
- Best for: Snow lovers and mountain photographers.
If mountain views had a fan club, Brahmatal would have quite a few members.
The trek takes you through beautiful forest trails, alpine landscapes and snow-covered campsites, with spectacular views of Mount Trishul and Nanda Ghunti.
The frozen lake and surrounding winter landscapes are among the highlights when conditions are favourable.
The festive plan: Six days in the mountains, a camera roll full of winter landscapes and absolutely no interest in checking office emails.
Kuari Pass Trek
- Starting price: ₹8,820
- Duration: 5N/6D
- Best for: Panoramic Himalayan views and adventure enthusiasts.
Also known as the Curzon Trail, Kuari Pass is famous for its sweeping views of the Himalayan ranges, including the Nanda Devi massif.
The trek takes you through forests, meadows and mountain campsites, with winter adding a beautiful layer of snow to the landscape.
The festive plan: Start the year with a mountain panorama that makes every city skyline look slightly underwhelming.
Sandakphu–Phalut Trek
- Starting price: ₹13,050
- Duration: 6N/7D
- Best for: Experienced hikers and mountain photography enthusiasts.
For those who want to spend their holidays chasing some of the most spectacular mountain views in the Eastern Himalayas, Sandakphu–Phalut deserves a spot on the list.
The trail is famous for its views of the Himalayan giants, including Kanchenjunga and, in favourable weather, Mount Everest.
It’s a longer trekking experience that rewards you with incredible landscapes and a completely different perspective on winter travel.
The festive plan: Seven days of mountain trails and views that deserve their own Instagram account.
Note: Trekking prices are indicative regular starting prices. Festive departure rates, snow conditions and operational schedules may vary. Always check the latest departure calendar before booking.
So, Which Year-End Trip Should You Pick?
Still confused? Here’s a little cheat sheet.
| Your travel personality | Our pick |
| The backpacker | Manali–Kasol–Jibhi |
| The adventure enthusiast | Auli–Chopta–Rishikesh |
| The biker | Spiti or Tawang (higher budget) |
| The girls’ gang | All-Girls Himachal |
| The solo woman traveller | All-Girls Kedarkantha |
| The first-time trekker | Dayara Bugyal |
| The snow enthusiast | Kedarkantha |
| The mountain photographer | Brahmatal or Kuari Pass |
How Much Should You Actually Budget for a Year-End Trip?
Here’s where people often make a small mistake.
They see a package starting at ₹7,200 and assume that’s the amount they’ll spend from the moment they leave home.
Not quite.
Your final trip budget depends on your departure city, transport, package inclusions and personal expenses.
Before booking, account for:
- Package cost: The starting price of your selected departure.
- Transportation: Flights, trains or buses to the starting point, if not included.
- GST: Check whether applicable taxes are included in the displayed price.
- Personal expenses: Snacks, shopping, cafés and optional activities.
- Winter essentials: Thermals, jackets, gloves and appropriate footwear.
A little planning now can save you from a rather unpleasant January surprise.
This December, Give Your Bank Balance a Break. Not Your Travel Plans.
Another year of deadlines, meetings, endless notifications and people saying, “Let’s plan something soon.”
Maybe it’s time you actually did.
A little snow, a new destination, a bunch of fellow Wravelers and a New Year’s Eve that doesn’t involve spending half your salary on a party ticket.
Whether you’re a backpacker, a biker, a trek enthusiast or someone who has been waiting all year for a girls’ trip, there’s an adventure worth exploring.
Check out JustWravel’s Christmas and New Year departures, pick your budget and find your next travel gang.
Because your year-end deserves better than another evening scrolling through everyone else’s holiday photographs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some affordable JustWravel trips include Dayara Bugyal Trek starting at ₹5,850, Kedarkantha Trek at ₹7,200, Brahmatal at ₹7,650 and Kuari Pass at ₹8,820. Backpacking options include Himachal from ₹17,100 and Uttarakhand from ₹20,700.
The All-Girls Kedarkantha festive departure is listed from ₹9,500. Several regular winter trek and backpacking departures are also below ₹21,000, although their festive-date prices may differ.
JustWravel currently lists the Manali–Kasol–Jibhi backpacking trip from ₹17,100 and the Auli–Chopta–Rishikesh backpacking trip from ₹20,700.
Yes. Options include All-Girls Kedarkantha, All-Girls Himachal Backpacking and All-Girls Kerala. The regular starting prices range from ₹7,500 to ₹20,000, with festive departures having separate prices.
Dayara Bugyal, Kedarkantha, Brahmatal and Kuari Pass are among the JustWravel winter treks with regular listed starting prices below ₹10,000.
Currently, its listed motorcycle expeditions start above ₹21,000. Spiti, Tawang and Bhutan are among the biking experiences available at higher budgets.
Absolutely. JustWravel group departures welcome solo travellers who want to explore with like-minded people. You can join a fixed departure without having to organise your own group.
Inclusions vary by itinerary. Check the individual package page for accommodation, meals, permits, local transfers, activities and transportation details.
Price note for publication: The prices in this article are indicative regular starting prices unless specifically identified as festive departure prices. Confirm all prices, dates and package inclusions against the live JustWravel inventory before publishing.
