Feeling cold can be a little bit discomforting to the average person who's always seeking to make their environment pleasantly warm. Many people don't understand that cold can also feel pleasant if you know how to embrace it.
Take Wim Hof (the Ice Man), for example; this man always keeps preaching about the benefits of cold that range from sharpening the mind to improving your immune system (who doesn't want to have a robust immune system?).
While you really don't have to climb the Alp Mountains wearing only shorts like the Ice Man, you still can benefit tremendously from embracing cold environments. Personally, feeling super-cold makes me appreciate warmth even more, which is like fasting in Ramadan; you feel hungry deliberately to appreciate the blessing of good food.
Anyway, here are 6 of the most iconic destinations in the world where you can embrace the cold (spoiler alert, they're all mountains).
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The highest peak in the world was once a place that most people just look at from far away with a sense of awe. Nowadays, at least 800 people climb these majestic mountains every year.
Ever since the second half of the 20th century, more than 10,000 expeditions and 76,000 climbers have fought their laziness and climbed the highest mountains on Earth.
If you want to be one of these lucky ones who went to the top of the world the hard way, gather all the willpower you can get your hands on.
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First of all, you should never miss a trip to the Alps when you're in Europe.
Sure, all the wonderful cities and fancy European culture are worth the visit, but one can never forgo the fact that nature in Europe is totally worth it, especially the Alps.
Grab your winter kit, and go to Switzerland where you can enjoy the vibes of the Alps with good-tasting cheese and hot chocolate, like Swiss way.
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The Atlas Mountains are perfect for novice mountain climbers and trekkers who aren't ready yet for the big giants.
The Atlas Mountains are also not that extremely cold nor too high. If you want to practice trekking to prepare for the Himalayas or the Alps (for example), going on a trip to Morocco where you can climb Mount Toubkal is recommended.
Reaching the top of Mount Toubkal means you conquered the highest peak in North Africa.
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Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the beautiful sceneries on the entire earth. Aside from that, it's the highest peak in Africa.
The soaring Mount Kilimanjaro is situated in the African Wilderness of Tanzania. It has some volcanos that are no longer active.
However, the most wonderful thing about this Mount is the fact that it's super close to the Savannas where all sorts of iconic wild beasts of Africa live; the list includes lions, giraffes, elephants, zebras,... basically, the whole lineup of the Lion King.
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Mount Fuji near Tokyo is not just about winter travel and the cold, it's about nature taking an aesthetic turn. You just know it's Mount Fuji when you see it in pictures (or in real life).
The image of Toky and Mount Fuji in the background is so iconic. All the anime and manga fans who love Japanese culture should include visiting Mount Fuji during a calm winter week on their bucket list.
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Look at any map of the world, focus on South America, and the thing that stands out the most is the gigantic line of mountains that make up the Andes.
Its varied terrain that encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, forests, grassland, desert, and lakes is suitable for an extended adventure.
But most importantly, a trip to the Andes can take you to the ancient Incan Citadel of Machu Pichu, which is an absolutely stunning historical site.
Just make sure you have enough time on your winter vacation to explore the best parts of South America, namely the Andes.
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To keep up with the spirit of the Ice Man: Wim Hof, you should probably check out some of his breathing exercises that help you resist the cold and have fun while the temperature is waaaay below ZERO.
Check out his YouTube Channel for more info about why cold is good for you: Wim Hof.
