There’s no shortage of awe-inspiring destinations to visit in the world, but selecting where to go, and when, can often be daunting. We’ve trotted the globe to find YOU the best places to visit aND THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THEM…
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It’s peak season for sunshine and beach getaways in the Maldives, where there are some fabulous new resort openings, and Sri Lanka, where the Galle Literary festival will usually be taking place. The weather is perfect for an art, food and wine safari in South Africa’s Western Cape (don't miss Africa's 'Tate Modern' in Cape Town, the Zeitz MOCAA Museum of Contemporary Art Africa) and it's a lovely time of year to explore the beaches, desert and mountains of Oman.
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In February summer is still in full swing in Australia and New Zealand but the long school holidays are over, which means less crowds and more availability. The Maldives, the Caribbean and Sri Lanka continue to enjoy perfect beach weather (it's also a good time of year for leopard safari in Sri Lanka's Yala National Park staying at Wild Coast Tented Lodge).
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Visit India in March and you can combine a tour of Rajasthan's palaces, temples and tigers with the exuberant festivities of Holi, India’s most dazzling celebration, when streets throughout the country are transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour. March is also a great month for festivals and wildflowers in Bhutan, and it remains a prime time to visit South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape...
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April sees the end of Mauritius' wetter summer months, with lovely sunny weather expected across the island. In the Seychelles, April (along with October) is a 'transition' month between the Southeast and Northwest Monsoon, and is thus considered one of the best months for a visit to the archipelago: the winds die down as they change direction and sunny days are the norm.
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For African beaches and azure waters, Mozambique is a good choice in May, offering clear, sunny days and light winds. The water is clear and calm during these months, creating superb conditions for diving and getting close to the fascinating marine life. In Western Australia it's the middle of whale shark season (which runs from March to September) so it’s a great time to visit Ningaloo Reef and explore Australia’s most remote city, with the direct Qantas flight linking London to Perth in just (!) 17 hours.
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As far as we're concerned, June marks the start of the adventure season. It’s the beginning of peak season for safari in South Africa, because the climate is cooler and vegetation is sparser. In Botswana, the flood waters may have reached the Okavango Delta and it's a rewarding season for game viewing.
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Winter in southern Africa offers superb game viewing in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia and the cool, dry weather makes it an excellent time for travelling in Namibia. With the flood waters in the Okavango Delta at their highest in Botswana, July is a wonderful month for exploring the waterways in a mokoro.
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Beyond the Okavango Delta, the waters have begun to recede, concentrating the game at the dwindling water sources. In Zambia, the weather is perfect for a walking safari. The cool and dry weather makes August a wonderful time to tour Namibia. The Great Migration normally spills into the Masai Mara, braving the crocodiles to cross the Sand and Mara rivers.
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We could keep waxing lyrical about Africa (it's a GREAT time to go pretty much across the board in southern and east Africa as well as Indian Ocean islands) but wanted to remind you that September is a prime time to visit British Columbia in Canada. Closer to home, for anyone without school children, there's also a good argument for taking your European summer holiday a little later in September...
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Morocco is now firmly back on the radar for an October holiday - at this time you can expect lovely hot days in Marrakech; the Atlas Mountains are beautiful; snow has yet to fall in the foothills, and Essaouira and the coast are still warm enough to visit for a beach holiday.
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November is a funny month for travel. Most people are aware that the holiday season is coming soon, with breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, and so they stay put for the rest of the month. But smart travellers know that there are plenty of deals to take advantage of around this time in lovely warm destinations such as the Caribbean, Oman and Mauritius before the Christmas rush and prices spike.
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So here we are again, and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...If you find yourself torn between the desire to escape the cold of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the desire to fully embrace it by taking to the slopes, then we have discovered the PERFECT solution!