Don’t want the sun to set on your adventures? With this round-up, it won’t have to.
Seasons? Never heard of ’em. With this list of sunny spots for every month of the year ahead, you won’t have to worry about summer feeling too far away ever again.
January
Kick things off in Cambodia. January sits smack bang in the middle of a weather window that’ll keep you warm and dry, avoiding the rainy season (June to October) and the worst of the humidity, which tends to ramp up in April and May.
Intrepid’s nine-day Cambodian Traveller trip makes the most of the comfortable conditions, with cycling tours to rural villages around Battambang, a sunrise visit to Angkor Wat and perhaps a rooftop drink in Phnom Penh. You could even time your travels to take in the Lunar New Year festival – but prepare to share the experience with a crowd.
February
For February sun, turn your attention to Tanzania. It’s warm (but not too warm) and dry, and its calving season for wildebeest (January to March) as they move in their millions from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park into Kenya’s Masai Mara as part of the annual Great Migration, with the chance to see their young.
The 10-day East Africa Highlights trip takes you into the Serengeti, where you can keep your eyes peeled for lions, impalas, leopards, giraffes, antelope, birds and more. At a sunset dinner beside Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical lake, you can toast to a perfectly timed trip.
March
Stretching more than 1000 snaky miles from north to south, Vietnam is a mixed bag when it comes to weather. But there are prime pockets of sunshine if you’re seeking some Viet-style vitamin D. To hit good weather across the whole country, aim to travel from November to April, but especially March.
The dry-season conditions are ideal for getting outside on the new nine-day Premium Walking & Hiking in Vietnam adventure, where you’ll take in the rice-terrace-steeped mountain village of Hoang Su Phi, acquaint yourself with the hill-tribe culture of Sapa and roam through the valleys and bamboo groves of Tu Le, all while staying in noted eco lodges, such as Garrya Mu Cang Chai.
April
April marks the tail end of Costa Rica’s dry season, but even with the odd shower creeping in there’ll still be more than enough sunshine to draw you away from the concrete jungle and into the real one.
Make the most of it on an eight-day Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft trip, getting right into the action in one of the world’s greenest countries. Raft down the rapids of the Pacuare River, hike misty jungle trails in Monteverde cloud forest and cycle along the Puerto Viejo coast. With plenty of free time included, you could also surf Caribbean waves in palm-fringed beach towns or go stand-up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal.
May
Get set for some glorious shoulder-season conditions in Greece in May with few crowds but good temps. The sun’s out and the water’s losing its bite, so you can just as easily spend all day kicking back on beaches as you can exploring ancient wonders.
The eight-day Athens to Santorini trip lets you do a bit of both. Sail the Aegean for all the swimming and snorkelling your heart desires and take a half-day trip to the island of Delos – one of the most important archaeological and mythological sites in the Greek Islands.
June
In June, set your sights on Morocco. Going now means you can enjoy longer days without the scorching temperatures of peak summer.
Get things started on the 15-day Premium Morocco in Depth trip with some fresh seafood in Casablanca, before you picnic at the ruins of Volubilis, share tea with an Amazigh family in the Dades Valley and camp in a remote oasis among the dunes of the Sahara.
July
While the rest of the world is fighting for elbow room on the Mediterranean beaches of Europe in July, this month marks the perfect moment to ditch the crowds and head north to Norway. During the height of country’s summer, days are long – stretching to 18-plus hours – given you extra time to enjoy the country’s friluftsliv (outdoor lifestyle). The new week-long Norway: Hike, Bike & Kayak trip takes in glassine fjords by kayak and scenic rail journeys, before cycling back through rural farms and staying in mountainside cabins.
August
Making tracks to Peru in August means getting there during the dry season – excellent for a hiking excursion. Naturally, for many, the Inca Trail is a highlight. But a new adventure lets you swerve the crowds in favour of the Salkantay Trek, taking you via turquoise lakes, cloud-forested trails and into authentic Andean communities, before summiting Machu Picchu Mountain for an alternative hiker’s-eye view of the ancient Inca citadel.
September
Uzbekistan doesn’t necessarily jump out as an obvious destination for sun chasers, but spend September here and you’ll soon see the light. Temperatures aren’t scorching but the days are long, making for dream desert camping and sightseeing conditions.
On the nine-day Uzbekistan Adventure, you’ll spend a night at a yurt camp in the Kyzylkum Desert, settle in for a homestay in the remote Nuratau Mountains and spend time in the World Heritage-listed city of Bukhara.
October
You can rely on the Galapagos for a sunny getaway in October. Travelling this month means getting in before the rainy season and you’re likely to see adorable sea lion pups on the archipelago’s shores.
The eight-day Galapagos Island Hopping trip makes it easy to explore. And the warm temperatures make swimming with sea turtles and snorkelling around Leon Dormido (Sleeping Lion) – an eroded volcanic cone that sea turtles, rays and colourful fish call home – even more incredible.
November
You can rely on Thailand‘s temperatures to stay strong year-round – it’s just the rain you’ll need to avoid. Travelling in November lets you do just that and the 12-day Premium Northern Thailand trip helps you do it in style.
With the sun shining on the Land of Smiles, you’ll spend time at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, meet Lisu hill tribes and take a cruise on a traditional rice barge.
December
End the year on a sunshine high in India or Sri Lanka. Visiting now means avoiding peak heat, while still enjoying plenty of bright, warm days.
Spend 15 days exploring Rajasthan, searching for the elusive Bengal tiger in Ranthambore and admiring the shimmering lakes of Udaipur. Or, across the Palk Strait, on the 14-day Premium Sri Lanka in Depth trip, relax on palm-fanned beaches, have a barbecue dinner in Dambulla and safari through the wild grasslands of Yala National Park.
Pack your shades. With Intrepid’s small-group adventures, the future looks bright.
