Discover a dozen unusual yuletide celebrations and traditions, from rollerskating and leering demons to, er, a pooping log…

Climbing a mountain doesn’t have to involve crampons and oxygen masks – and to celebrate International Mountain Day on 11 December, here’s an aspiration list of achievable peaks to scale. From Morocco and Japan to Guatemala, St Kitts and Tanzania, we’ve summit for everyone!

Explore the best places to learn local dances around the world.

Nowhere does festivals quite like Asia – from colour-spattered chaos in India to wrestling in Mongolia, waterfights in Thailand and lanterns in Taiwan. Choose from eight scintillating events across the region.

Asia is a trekkers’ paradise, with trails spidering the continent – from the lofty Caucasus Mountains to the Japanese Alps, among the hilltribes of Indochina and the tea plantations of Sri Lanka – and of course through the vast Himalaya. Here’s a selection of accessible walks highlighting diverse aspects of this fascinating region.

Peru’s Inca Trail doesn’t have the monopoly on walks revealing past glories. Tackle these ten treks to traverse over 5,000 years of history past temples, forts and vast stone monuments