While the typical New Year’s Eve itinerary often involves the high-energy beach parties of Goa or the crowded ridges of the Himalayas, a growing community of travellers is seeking a different rhythm. For those tired of the nightclub scene, the focus has shifted toward destinations that offer a slow and meaningful start to the year. Below, four seasoned travellers share their favourite quaint escapes where the focus is on tranquillity, heritage, and genuine connection.

Munroe Island: A grounding exhale in the backwaters

For Pragya Sharma, a freelance content writer and solo traveller from Delhi, the search for a tranquil New Year’s Eve began after a crowded Christmas in Kochi. “As magical as the experience was, the crowds were overwhelming, and I found myself craving some quiet. Naturally, the usual tourist hotspots were out,” she explains. Following a local suggestion, she discovered Munroe Island, a destination so serene that upon arrival, she says, “I could feel my entire nervous system exhale.”