It’s the start of the new year, and we hope you’ve all had a great 2011! We kick off 2012 with our Water + Snow Theme – which encompasses not only wet adventures, but also some fun on frozen water (aka skiing) since it’s the winter season in the northern hemisphere.

Mention ski, and Mongolia is not often on the forefront of anyone’s list. However, this remote country has established its first full-fledged ski resort located near the capital. While not challenging, skiers can boast having skied in Mongolia.

While on the topic of skiing, we’ve got a snapshot of some of Asia’s best and least known ski spots, from Japan to Korea and India. For more on Japan, check out our quick guide to spots in Hokkaido.

This issue, we’ll be featuring mountainscapes on 3 continents: Korea’s Gangwan-do province, the Austrian Alps near Innsbruck and the Patagonian highlands in Chile and Argentina. Whether it’s for kayaking, skiing or hiking, discover the charms of the three.

If you’re looking for a classic wet adventure, look no further than India’s remote Ladakh district. Rafting is a great way to glide past (and visit) some of the region’s picturesque Buddhist monasteries that tend to cling onto hillsides overlooking ancient villages against a backdrop of the mountainous countryside.

If you’re not into the cold, you can learn about daily life on the fishing villages that dot Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. If you want to dive, head to the hidden gem of Derawan in Indonesia for some of the most impressive dive sites around, or drop in on the Red Sea for some diving and archeological treasures above the water.

Until then, Happy Trails!