Where to go when: holidays by season

For January–March sunshine, make a beeline for the Caribbean. Mauritius gets our vote in May and June, while July–September is time for Greek island hopping or Bali’s beaches. Come October–December, India’s palaces and spice-filled markets beckon. From a week in your flip-flops to a trip with a few check-ins, here’s where to go when.

January to March

Thailand

January to March is one of the best times to visit Thailand, with dry, sunny weather and blue skies across much of the country. There’s plenty to explore, from Bangkok’s bustling street life and glittering temples to Chiang Mai’s laid-back markets and elephant sanctuaries. Up north, you can cycle between rice paddies and golden stupas or hike through hill tribe villages in misty mountains. Down south, swap temples for turquoise waters – whether it’s luxury resorts in Phuket, dramatic limestone cliffs in Krabi or barefoot hideaways on Koh Lanta or Koh Yao Noi. Don’t miss a cooking class, longtail boat trip to secret beaches or the buzz of a floating market. For romance, adventure or just some tropical downtime, Thailand delivers.

Trips to try: Taste of Thailand | Thailand Beaches and Jungles

Sri Lanka

January to March is a great time to visit Sri Lanka’s west and south coasts, with warm, dry days and balmy evenings. It’s a small island with big variety – think leopard safaris in Yala National Park, surf-friendly beaches near Galle, tea-covered hills around Ella and Nuwara Eliya, and cultural treasures like Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Temple of the Tooth. You can ride a train through tea plantations, spot whales off the coast of Mirissa or stay in a restored manor house surrounded by jungle. Add in fresh seafood curries, Ayurvedic spa treatments and golden beaches, and you’ve got a rich cultural adventure, all in one neat itinerary.

Trips to try: Wild Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka’s Secret Retreats

Caribbean

January to March is prime Caribbean time, with warm sunshine and drier days. These islands share sea, spice and soulful living, but each dances to its own beat. Antigua, Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic know all about all-inclusive bliss. Head to Barbados, Dominica and Jamaica for rum, roadside food stops and a wander off the tourist trail. We’ll find your match, whether you fancy one island, two, a US city stop or a cruise between shores.

Trips to try: Barbados & Grenada | St Lucia North & South

April to June

Botswana

April to June sees Botswana move towards its dry winter season, with cooler temperatures and improving wildlife viewing. Put Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve on your list for Big Five game drives and luxury safari lodges. The Okavango Delta retains its lush waterways, which you can explore by boat or mokoro canoe, spotting crocodiles, bathing elephants, hippos and colorful birds. For the most dramatic views, soar above the delta in a helicopter. Meanwhile, over in the moonlike Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, the stargazing is out of this world and you can saddle up for horse riding tours.

Trips to try: Best of Botswana and Victoria Falls | Rivers and Rainbows

Japan

April and May are lovely months for exploring Japan, before June brings wetter weather to much of the country. Catch Tokyo and Kyoto’s cherry blossoms in early April, depending on the year, or visit Kyoto in May for the Aoi Matsuri parade. Wander through temple gardens, stop for a picnic beneath the blossoms or spend a night in a traditional ryokan. Japan’s ancient temples and futuristic cities are linked by high-speed bullet trains, so you can fit plenty into one trip. Highlights include views of Mount Fuji, traditional tea ceremonies and sushi-making classes.

Trips to try: Highlights of Japan | Japan Discovery

Mauritius

May and June bring warm days without the sticky heat of Mauritius’ summer (the school summer holidays and September–October are good options too). The beaches might bring you here, but leave a few days free to explore. Head out with a car and driver to see Chamarel’s Seven Coloured Earth, stop at waterfalls and colourful temples and eat your way around Port Louis. And why stop at one Indian Ocean island? Give your beach break a second chapter on Rodrigues’ quiet shores or among La Réunion’s volcanic peaks.

Trips to try: Luxury Rodrigues & Mauritius | Mauritius & La Réunion

July to September

Greece

Summer in Greece is a very appealing prospect, with sunny days and warm seas a short flight from home. Corfu, Crete and Santorini are enduring favourites for good reason, whether you’re after olive-backed beaches, ancient ruins or a whitewashed hideaway with a knockout view. A week on one island is an easy temptation. But you can also pair islands or start in Athens for ancient sights and a lively food scene.

Trips to try: Crete Two-Stop Trip | Athens & Islands

Tanzania

July to September is a great time to catch the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti, where vast herds of wildebeest and zebra gather around the Mara River. Their movements follow the rains, so timing varies each year. Catch the action from camps like Serengeti Bushtops, where you’ll spend your days on 4×4 game drives, ending with sundowners in the bush. Beyond the Serengeti, explore wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, look out for Tarangire’s impressive elephant herds or go birdwatching in Lake Manyara National Park. Finish with beach time on Zanzibar or quieter Pemba, swapping game drives for spice farms, snorkelling and a sunlounger by the sea.

Trips to try: Tanzania Explorer | Taste of Tanzania

Bali

July to September falls in Bali’s dry season, bringing sunny days for exploring and beach time. The island’s spiritual side is everywhere: flower offerings sit outside temples and homes, while ceremonies are part of everyday life. In Ubud, stay among jungle greenery, browse artists’ studios and stop for iced coffee overlooking the rice fields. Then head to Seminyak for sandy shores and beach clubs as the sun goes down. We’d combine the two, or go island-hopping through Indonesia with stops on Lombok and little Gili Meno.

Trips to try: Dragon Lights to Island Rites | Indonesian Island Hopper

October to December

UAE

October to December brings the UAE’s heat down a notch, with sunshine still in generous supply. Dubai is a city of superlatives: glittering skyscrapers, extravagant shopping malls and some of the world’s most iconic hotels. And you don’t need a marathon flight to get here. Give yourself two Dubai addresses: one for Downtown’s sights, another for the Palm’s beaches. Or swap Dubai’s see-and-be-seen scene for a few quieter days in nearby Ras Al Khaimah, learning about its pearl-diving past and unwinding by the sea.

Trips to try: Dubai & Ras Al Khaimah | Dubai City & Palm

South Africa

As spring turns to summer, the Cape warms up – ideal for combining Cape Town, the Winelands and a Garden Route road trip. Touchdown in cosmopolitan Cape Town for Table Mountain hikes, world-class dining and trips to Robben Island, then cycle through vineyards for tasting sessions in the Constantia vineyards. A Garden Route road trip will take you along the wave-worn coast to forested national parks, beaches and lagoons. Stop to whale watch in Hermanus and take eco-marine tours in Plettenberg Bay; savour oyster cruises in Knysna and outback-style adventures in Oudtshoorn. The Eastern Cape has private game reserves like Kariega and Shamwari, perfect for malaria-free safaris, complete with Born Free Big Cat sanctuaries and rhino conservation experiences.

Trips to try: Cape Town, Winelands and Kruger Safari | Classic Garden Route Self Drive

India

Cooler weather makes October to December a great time for palace hopping in the Golden Triangle and exploring northern India’s bazaars. There’s plenty to work up an appetite for, with street-food stops between forts, temples and sprawling cities. Head into national parks like Bandhavgarh and Panna to see Bengal tigers or experience the Ganges’ sacred ghats and puja ceremonies in Varanasi. From November, add beach time in Goa, or head south for a houseboat stay on Kerala’s backwaters. Along the way, make time for cooking classes, textile workshops or a toy train ride.

Trips to try: India’s Genuine Golden Triangle | Kerala Explorer Tour

The information within this feature is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication.