India, Jan. 11 -- Those who are used to living in the warm embrace of South Asia can sometimes suffer from snow-FOMO, the inexplicable longing for snow and wintery adventures, often accompanied by excessive scrolling of ski resort photos on Instagram as winters inch closer. As many of those living in India are starting to plan their days off during the holidays, it's hard to resist daydreaming about snowfall destinations and gulping down steaming hot food at standing markets. For travellers already heading to sun-soaked Thailand, this longing often turns into a tempting detour, with nearby snowy escapes offering a dramatic contrast to tropical beaches and balmy evenings.

While in theory it all sounds wonderful, considering the travel sur...