Northern Vietnam (Halong Bay, Hanoi and Sapa)
WHY: This marks the winter season in northern Vietnam so the temperatures are much cooler with little rain, which makes it ideal for exploring and hiking, and ideal for escaping the humidity of Singapore.
HIGHLIGHTS: The morning mist which rises off the water as you sail around the stalactites of Halong Bay offers a beautiful calming experience.
TOP TIP: Do the Bill Bensley trail, and stay in Capella Hanoi, Hotel de la Coupole Sapa, and Intercontinental Da Nang.
WHY: Beautiful summer weather during the Northern Hemisphere's winter.
HIGHLIGHTS: Experience it all away from the crowds of Christmas and New Year.
TOP TIP: Pack layers, including a raincoat as the afternoons can sometimes bring some showers which are perfect clearing the air and book your restaurants in advance!
WHY: Post festive break away and to escape the cold (for the UK).
HIGHLIGHTS: Low key Caribbean Island with great snorkelling & diving.
TOP TIP: Avoid first week of January as still higher festive rates.
WHY: Half Term vacation at one of the family friendly islands in the Maldives.
HIGHLIGHTS: Island escape whilst offering facilities to accommodate families.
TOP TIP: Indirect flights and jump between accommodation options can make a big difference in cost in the Maldives. If clients are happy to share e.g. one bedroom villa with kids on extra beds can make a big ££ saving.
WHY: Weather is perfect at this time of year to make the most of the outdoors and cooler climes to explore Angkor Wat .
HIGHLIGHTS: Angkor Wat at sunrise.
TOP TIP: If travelling with kids, try out the scavenger hunt around Angkor Wat to really immerse yourselves in the history of the ancient temples.
WHY: less crowds and beautiful weather. The grass in the Masai Mara is long and ethereal making the landscape breathtakingly beautiful, there is greater movement of elephants and whilst the longer grass can make some game spotting a little more challenging – the reward is 10-fold.
HIGHLIGHTS: the enormous skylines made even bigger by the clear weather.
TOP TIP: combine beach with bush as it is also one of the best times for the Kenyan coast with tides pulling any seaweed away from the shoreline making way for tropical white sand.
WHY: The National Parks are starting to become more arid, making for great sightings of the Benghal tiger.
HIGHLIGHTS: Stay in a luxury tented camp and head out for game drives.
TOP TIP: Combine the tigers in Ranthambore National Park with the leopards in the Jawai district for the ultimate safari experience of the Rajasthani desert.
WHY: Off season, so less busy.
HIGHLIGHTS: The vibrant colours you can experience with the bright green of the lush forests from the rain and the clarity the rain brings.
TOP TIP: Make sure you have a good camera, it’s a perfect time of year for photographs.
WHY: Combination of culture & city break.
HIGHLIGHTS: Great food, easy city to walk around and lots to see.
TOP TIP: Visit the Acropolis as soon as it opens in the morning to avoid the crowds & get a table in one of the rooftop bars in time for sunset.
WHY: Sri Lanka approaches the end of it’s dry season with great wildlife and hiking opportunities in the south.
HIGHLIGHTS: For a more intrepid adventure, climb the Knuckles Mountain Range to get the best views over the valleys. The mountain range is achievable for most fit hikers, and it is shaped like 5 equal mountains like a clenched fist.
TOP TIP: Take the train ride from Hatton to Ella for the most scenic journey passing through tea plantations, spice fields and local villages along the way.
WHY: Calmer time of year to visit to avoid the winds.
HIGHLIGHTS: Snorkel and meet the giant tortoises.
TOP TIP: Try a twin centre vacation with a stay on Mahe combined with one of the more remote islands.
WHY: Beat the summer crowds and explore Turkey before it gets too hot.
HIGHLIGHTS: Combine Istanbul, Izmir and Cappadochia for the ultimate 10-day adventure.
TOP TIP: Try a hot air ballooning experience over Cappadochia at sunrise.
WHY: Great time of year to enjoy shoulder season rates and to be able to kitesurf.
HIGHLIGHTS: You can spend the morning Kite surfing or climbing Le Morne and spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, lots on offer for those who would like to be active.
TOP TIP: Stay close to Le Morne for the top Kite Surfing spots.
WHY: Beautiful mix of islands easily accessible by ferry or flight from each other.
HIGHLIGHTS: Exploring different islands, restaurants, and beaches
TOP TIP: Travel preschool vacations, if possible, to avoid the summer rush.
WHY: Untouched and rustic Indonesia, off the beaten track, back to nature.
HIGHLIGHTS: The new Cap Karoso.
TOP TIP: Check out Nihi Sumba’s daily beach run of wild horses.
WHY: The start of the dry season with lush landscapes, great game viewing and less people.
HIGHLIGHTS: The boom and drama of Victoria Falls with water levels at their highest. The shape of the shadows as you move through Mapani Forest and the incredible wild dog sitings.
TOP TIP: Pack lots of layers as the change in season brings lovely cold evenings.
WHY: Mongolia has an incredibly short travel season due to its harsh northern climate and July is one of the best months to visit. Days are long and temperatures are warm, which is perfect given most of your time will be spent outdoors exploring the country’s vast and diverse countryside.
HIGHLIGHTS: Hiking up the Khongoren Els sand dunes in the Gobi Desert for sunset; spending time with our nomadic friends learning to cook, herding the animals, and integrating yourself in their daily life; witnessing smaller, local Naadams (Mongolia’s national festival that takes place every July).
TOP TIP: Splurge and stay in one of our Mandala gers, a bespoke luxury ger located next to a nomadic family in the middle of the wilderness.
WHY: Family school vacation break to Verdura and book the kids into one of their sports programmes such as Juventus Football Academy.
HIGHLIGHTS: Villa accommodation to suit families or friends travelling together.
TOP TIP: Book early as spaces book up fast.
WHY: The wildebeest migration is on the move creating opportunity for some incredible game viewing.
HIGHLIGHTS: Alex Walker’s Lamai Camp. The location is incredible, taking you away from the crowds.
TOP TIP: Avoid the Ngorongoro Crater.
WHY: It is peak season for a reason – the weather is warm and dry with occasional showers, making it ideal for jungle trekking, wildlife safaris, and relaxing at the beach.
HIGHLIGHTS: Witness the majestic orangutans in Sepilok, enjoy a wildlife cruise down the Kinabatangan River to spot pygmy elephants, summit Mount Kinabalu.
TOP TIP: Book early as a lot of the wildlife lodges are small and can book up a year in advance.
WHY: Fantatsic family friendly hotels offering great rates & offers at this time of year.
HIGHLIGHTS: Lovely beaches, easy direct flights from UK & US, great accommodation options for families.
TOP TIP: Rainy season so bear this in mind, but it's becoming more popular as more reasonable rates & offers compared to other parts of the world for school vacations.
WHY: It’s the dry season making it the best time for walking and with wildlife resorting to waterholes for drink, the game viewing can be fantastic.
HIGHLIGHTS: Riverbed sleep out with Time + Tide – an incredible experience that should not be missed.
TOP TIP: Visit Victoria Falls, the waterflow is still high from the rainy season making it as dramatic as ever.
WHY: This time of year is perfect for outdoor sightseeing, after the summer heat has dissipated and before the harsh winters set in. These 2 cities pair perfectly as you can take a 4-5 hour high speed train between them, eliminating the need for often-delayed domestic flights.
HIGHLIGHTS: (Beijing) Hiking unrestored and remote sections of the Great Wall; potter about the city’s fast-disappearing hutongs and get a real taste for local life; bring the Forbidden City to life for kids with a symbol hunting adventure. (Xi’an) Experience the city’s Muslim influences on one of the best food tours we offer; get out into the countryside in an antique jeep, meeting the locals and exploring ancient cave dwellings.
TOP TIP: Avoid travelling over any Chinese public vacations!
WHY: September is spring in Namibia. The temperatures are mild and the rainfall minimal. The warm days and cool nights make it the ideal climate for exploring. It’s also a month that isn’t so busy.
HIGHLIGHTS: The sight of wildflowers starting to bloom. The desert landscapes can experience a burst of colour, creating stunning contrast against the arid surroundings.
TOP TIP: If you are an ornithophile this is a particularly enjoyable time to visit as many of the migratory birds return, adding to an already impressive list of birdlife.
WHY: Keen divers can experience Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with the best chance to see Manta Rays in this area between May and November.
HIGHLIGHTS: A lot more for your money accommodation wise compared to e.g. Europe at this time of the year.
TOP TIP: This is lower season in the Maldives as this is rainy season so this can be a good time to get better rates & offers for those keen to spend a lot of the time out in the water.
OCTOBER
WHY: The weather is perfect at this time of year – beach weather on the coast and pleasantly cool in the mountains.
HIGHLIGHTS: Desert camping in the Wahiba Sands; witnessing turtle releases in Ras Al Jinz; some of the most exquisite hotel options in the Middle East.
TOP TIP: Make time to explore the hauntingly beautiful Jabal Akhdar Mountains.
Florence or other areas of Italy
WHY: To go white truffle hunting.
HIGHLIGHTS: A unique experience for foodies, combine with a longer trip in Italy and some cooking classes.
TOP TIP: Avoid school vacations if not travelling with children to take advantage of better rates.
WHY: This is a different experience from Northern Tanzania and is particularly good for a second or third safari.
HIGHLIGHTS: The remoteness and the diversity of landscapes including savannahs, woodlands, and the Selous Game Reserve, known for its riverine ecosystems.
TOP TIP: Take advantage of the unique opportunity to explore the Selous Game Reserve by boat. The Rufiji River, flowing through Selous, allows for boat safaris where you can observe hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species.
NOVEMBER
WHY: Combination of culture, city & beach.
HIGHLIGHTS: Six Senses Zighy Bay, beautiful setting and villa accommodation which is great for couples and families.
TOP TIP: Paraglide into check in and speedboat back to the boarder when staying at Zighy Bay.
WHY: The summer heat is gone, beat the peak September/October crowds, but just before the cold winter weather sets in.
HIGHLIGHTS: Spend at least a night in the capital Amman to visit Jerash, which is often compared to Petra; stay in a panoramic bubble tent in the Wadi Rum; make sure to rise early and get to Petra just as the gates open, beating the crowds and having the place somewhat to yourself.
TOP TIP: If you want to get off the beaten path, try the hike from Dana to Feynan. A 5-hour trail that not many people do, finishing at Feynan Ecolodge, a charming little eco hotel in the middle of nowhere.
WHY: It brings warmer, spring-like weather perfect to hike the trails of Patagonia’s Torres del Paine, explore the dunes and salt flats of the Atacama as it warms up and see the unique moai of Easter island before the busier peak summer months.
HIGHLIGHTS: Take advantage of the vibrant landscapes as the country blooms with spring moving into summer.
TOP TIP: Take the time to visit the Atacama’s beautiful high Altiplanic lagoons, Miscanti & Menique, some 4000m high in the Andes, surrounded by a volcanic-desert landscape and home to flamingoes and other bird species.
WHY: Beautiful weather just at the start of summer.
HIGHLIGHTS: The ultimate South Island road trip starts in Nelson, continues along the coastal route to the marine sanctuary of Kaikoura, heads inland from Christchurch to the mighty mountains and glaciers around Mount Cook, and ends in the adventure capital of Queenstown.
TOP TIP: Visit in early December when the weather is ideal, but before the festive crowds (and prices!) arrive.
WHY: Beautiful spot for those who are looking for relaxation but also like to be active.
HIGHLIGHTS: Head to the South of the island to the tropical rainforest to enjoy hiking, biking and for a view of the beautiful pitons.
TOP TIP: Some beautiful boutique style properties which can be combined for a twin centre on different parts of the island.
