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Are you struggling to decide which travel experiences to tick off your bucket list this year? With so many amazing destinations, unique events and fun experiences to choose from, we know it can seem a little bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate, month-by-month guide to the best places in the world to visit, and the best times to go, to get you on your way:
If ice and snow are your idea of a heavenly landscape, then January is your month to travel! It’s the best time of year to experience the magic of Antarctica, with long hours of sunshine, mild temperatures and a wealth of wildlife on display. In the northern hemisphere, you could be enjoying a moonlit dog-sled adventure through snowy Canadian countryside or getting your powder fix with a ski escape in Japan or the French Alps.
If you’re more of a sun bunny, let’s plan a relaxing break on the beaches of Barbados or the Mexican Riviera. The start of the year is also a wonderful time of year to experience the diverse landscapes and rich culture of India’s Rajasthan province and Sri Lanka.
Venture off the beaten track for your next Valentine’s Day celebration with a holiday in one of the world’s most unique romantic destinations. Whether it’s the ancient stone statues of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) or the unique wildlife of New Zealand’s Rakiura Stewart Island or Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, our favourite February holidays are sure to take your breath away.
Join in the fun of Carnival season in Venice or Rio de Janeiro, embark on a journey of culinary discovery through Singapore’s vibrant night markets or hit the slopes in Austria’s stunning Arlberg region. If lazing on a white-sand beach is more your idea of a romantic escape, we have a tempting array of unbelievably beautiful spots from Aruba to Zanzibar.
Whether you’re skiing in the mountains of British Columbia or tiptoeing through the tulips in a Dutch flower field, March is a fabulous time to enjoy the beauty of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Treat yourself to a shopping spree on a city break in Rome or experience the once-in-a-lifetime festive atmosphere of St Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
March is the dry season in many of our favourite tropical destinations, including Malaysia and the Philippines, where pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters provide the perfect conditions for an incredible snorkelling and diving holiday. Indulge in a variety of incredible eco-tourism experiences while exploring the forests and beaches of Guatemala and Nicaragua, or immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Cuba’s Old Habana.
From the ancient temples of Angkor Wat to the immense power of Hawaii’s active volcanoes, our favourite April holiday destinations offer an endless assortment of incredible landscapes. Go hiking amidst the pristine beauty of Lake Tahoe, explore the hidden coves that dot the coastline of Mallorca or go white-water rafting through tropical rainforest in Panama.
The desert landscape near Palm Springs is transformed into one of the world’s great music festivals when Coachella rolls into town every April. If you prefer your live music in a more intimate setting, you’ll love the scene in Austin, Texas, where iconic venues serve up everything from blues and country to indie rock.
Get in before the peak season crowds arrive and you’ll find popular Mediterranean destinations like Sardinia and the Amalfi Coast are delightfully welcoming. If an island-hopping holiday is on your travel bucket list for the next twelve months, May is also a great time of year to visit Greece, French Polynesia or the Bahamas.
The long daylight hours of an Icelandic summer mean you’ll have ample time to explore the wide-open spaces, which are cloaked in wildflowers at this time of year. Late spring provides ideal conditions for a hiking adventure somewhere in the world, from the scenic mountain ranges and national parks of South Korea to the awe-inspiring challenges of Peru’s Inca Trail or Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit.
Avoid the dreary grey the Australian winter with a holiday escape to one of our favourite tropical destinations. From beautiful beaches and tranquil rice fields to indulgent spa retreats and an amazing food scene, Bali truly offers something for everyone. The central Asian destinations of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are equally rich in culture, history and incredible landscapes but remain sufficiently off the beaten track that you’ll often feel you have the whole place to yourself.
The glamour of southern France is on full display during June, when the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix bring flocks of celebrities to its beaches and promenades. For memorable encounters of the non-celebrity variety, treat yourself to a gorilla trekking adventure in the mountains of Rwanda or go sea kayaking on a remote Scottish sea loch.
Taking a mid-year escape can lead to all sorts of incredible experiences, from unforgettable wildlife encounters in Alaska’s Denali National Park to watching the sunrise over an ancient Buddhist temple complex in Indonesia.
A leisurely road trip along an iconic stretch of coastline offers a wonderful chance to unwind while soaking up epic scenery: our top picks for July include California’s Pacific Coast Highway and South Africa’s Cape Winelands region.
If you’re craving some mid-winter beach time, the pristine beauty of the Seychelles or Australia’s Great Barrier Reef are enticing options for an idyllic escape.
We’ve sought out the Northern Hemisphere’s best summer travel experiences to ensure that your August holiday is truly spectacular, from sailing on the tranquil waters of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva to exploring the picturesque towns that line Montenegro’s Adriatic coast. Enjoy the Nordic region’s long hours of summer sunshine as you ride the carousel in Copenhagen’s enchanting Tivoli Gardens or set off on a cycling adventure along the Finnish coastline.
August is the dry season in Kenya, where incredible game viewing spectacles include the wildebeest migration across the Mara River and immense flocks of flamingos crowding the waters of Lake Nakuru. It’s also the ideal time of year for wildlife viewing in California’s Yosemite National Park, where black bears and bighorns compete against towering mountains and giant sequoia trees for your awestruck attention.
Springtime in Argentina’s spectacular Lakes District is a magical time to explore tranquil hiking trails, go horse-riding with gaucho guides and indulge in delicious Swiss-inspired chocolate treats. It’s also the time of year when autumn cloaks the northern hemisphere in vibrant colours, especially in the northeast United States where the fall foliage show is particularly flamboyant.
Colour is a recurring theme in our favourite August travel experiences, which include a river cruise through terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and exploring the colourful streets of Porto’s Old Town in Portugal. Walk the famous blue streets of Morocco’s fabled Blue City of Chefchaouen, gaze at the spectacle of rainbow-hued hot-air balloons rising over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, or marvel at the vivid contrast between land and sea at Ireland’s towering Cliffs of Moher.
October is an ideal time of year to sample a selection of incredible UNESCO World Heritage-listed sights, from an overnight cruise on Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay to a star-gazing experience at Jordan’s Wadi Rum.
Elsewhere, late summer weather provides ideal conditions in both Mexico and Cyprus: in both destinations you can divide your time between exploring ancient ruins and lazing on stunning beaches.
You’ll find exceptional wildlife viewing conditions in Botswana’s sweeping grasslands during October, when vast herds of zebra and wildebeest embark on their epic journeys of migration. At the same time in the Galapagos Islands, you can watch lumbering giant tortoises, cavorting sea lion pups and comical blue-footed boobies enjoying the warm sunny days, clear skies and calm seas.
Lose yourself in the epic landscapes of Patagonia, Namibia, the Himalayas or Oman, where immense mountain ranges and towering desert formations conceal a surprising diversity of life. The mild, settled weather that is typical in these remote corners of the globe during November is perfect for hiking, biking and exploring by day, and gazing up at a brilliant, star-filled sky by night.
The Canary Islands continue to turn on the sunshine so you can still enjoy sunbathing, surfing and swimming when the rest of Europe has already embraced the arrival of winter. Closer to home, November brings the epic sight of humpback whales migrating along the length of Australia’s East Coast.
Welcome the conclusion of another year, and the arrival of the festive season, by planning a holiday in one of our favourite Christmas destinations. You can even meet the big man himself during an adventure-packed holiday to Santa’s workshop in the snowy north of Finnish Lapland.
The fairytale atmosphere of European cities like Prague, Vienna and Bruges is enhanced by the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine wafting across snow-glittering market squares. Across the Atlantic, the European-inspired festive atmosphere of Quebec and Mont-Tremblant blends with an exuberant North American love of fairy lights, while the Canadian ski resorts of Banff or Lake Louise offer an enchanting setting for a Christmas ski holiday.
On the other hand, if you’re longing for a December holiday but it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without a beautiful beach on your doorstep, we’re sure Santa will be just as happy to deliver your presents to an overwater bungalow in the Maldives or a shaded hammock in Fiji’s Yasawa Islands.
From amazing animal encounters to zen-inducing wellness retreats, colourful cultural festivals to action-packed city breaks, your personal travel manager is ready to help you achieve your travel dreams for the next twelve months and beyond.
We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.
