Forget the turkey. Leave your Christmas bon bons at home. Pack your bag. Here at Seven Skies we’ve put a bit of the exotic into Christmas and handcrafted our Top 5 ways to spend an exotic Christmas Day.

A Bhutanese Christmas at 3,800 metres - Christmas at sea level is overrated. You wake up in Bhutan at 3,800 metres in the grounds of an ancient monastery. Your luxury safari tent has you thinking you might be in Africa – handmade rugs, luxury linens, wooden washstands – until you step outside and there are prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. Now you start trekking until the fabled roof of Tiger’s Nest Monastery comes into view. Climb some stairs, step inside and let the resident monk here give your prayer flags a special Christmas blessing – it will give you merit for the next life should you need it. Back at our luxury mountain sanctuary, settle in for Christmas drinks and dinner 2,300 metres above everyone else.

A spiritual Christmas - Laos style. Wake up early. Everyone else is. But you’re not unwrapping your presents just yet. With the morning dawn mist just rising, head down to Luang Prabang town where the Christmas Day action is just getting started. It’s time for the giving of alms. Gather your rice in your basket and find your place. Laos monks in saffron robes are coming. Make your offering - it will give you merit for life - and soak up the heady atmosphere. Back at La Residence, a swim in the infinity pool and a Christmas lunch awaits.

Christmas in the Borneo jungle - the orang-utans are waiting. You’re very comfortably ensconced in a luxury chalet in the heart of the Borneo rainforest when you wake. Maybe start the day with a soak in your outdoor jungle jacuzzi – a surefire way to a good Christmas Day. After a hearty breakfast, a canopy walk and some rare wildlife is in order. It’s Christmas so the orang-utans are waiting. Walk across the roof of the jungle then cool off in some natural pools – you won’t be wishing you were donning your Christmas hat now.

An Icelandic Christmas - snow, the Northern Lights & a jacuzzi. Start the day with the ultimate wake-up call. Sir and Madam, we have the Northern Lights. Haul yourself out of bed, pile on something warm, and head outside. Unwrapping presents is passé when you have this. Soak up the spectacle - Christmas morning is just around the corner. Wake up to the ultimate Icelandic Christmas Day. A spot of snowmobiling is in order. Then warm up in the steaming outdoor jacuzzi. Who needs the beach. Then settle down by the fire for Christmas drinks followed by a feast of Icelandic reindeer carpaccio, lobster soup, wild mushrooms, Icelandic cured salmon and whipped local skyr with blueberries.

Forget the turkey - it’s time for a Sri Lankan Christmas curry banquet. You wake up in Sri Lanka. Surprise! Start the morning with a refreshing dip in an infinity pool with a view that will make your eyes hurt. Be waited on hand and foot over a breakfast of watermelon juice, champagne if you wish, and Sri Lankan string hoppers. Visit Sri Lanka’s national treasure, Ena de Silva’s, for a Sri Lankan curry banquet lunch prepared by the wonderful ladies here. Retreat back to the sanctuary of The Kandy House. Enjoy a gin and tonic on the lawn, and play a game of croquet or two. Take a walk through the paddy fields and surrounding villages and spread some Christmas cheer.