Travel Inspiration: Where to Go & When

There's never been a better time to get out there and experience the world. Where will your next adventure be?

Balmy summer evenings eating tapas in Spain's cobbled laneways, or sipping mint tea beneath the snow-capped Atlas Mountains in December? Street parties in Nepal to celebrate Buddha's birthday in May, or a lively Jazz Festival on the Greek island of Syros in October? With so many options, choosing where and when to travel can be tricky. Whether you're flexible with dates or you've got a couple of weeks locked in for your annual leave, here are some of our top picks of places to visit, things to experience and good weather to chase throughout the year.

When would you like to travel?

South Africa Panorama route through mountains

January

After surviving the festive season and another year at work, you deserve a trip away. Trade the hustle and bustle for something more pura vida in Costa Rica (think tropical rainforests, pristine beaches and abundant wildlife), go diving in Belize's rich coastal lagoons, head to Tanzania for wildebeest calving season, hunt down Vietnam's best bánh mì on a Real Food Adventure, or experience Ethiopia's Timket Festival.

February

What better way to bid farewell to those January blues than with a weekend, week or couple of weeks away. You could spend your February exploring Oman's vibrant souks, hitting up Zanzibar’s beautiful beaches, partying the days (and nights) away at Brazil's electric Rio Carnival, hiking through Sri Lanka's picturesque tea plantations, or embracing island life in the Philippines.

View of Torres Del Paine lake in Patagonia region of Chile

March

Spring might've officially sprung in the UK, but if the weather hasn't picked up and you're craving a bit of warmth there are plenty of places you can jet off to. You could be rum tasting in the Cuban sunshine, sipping your way through Chile's wine harvest parties, spotting orangutans in Borneo, wandering through Cairo's maze-like marketplaces, or experiencing the vivid colours of Holi festival in India.

Geisha's walking through fushimi inari shrine in Kyoto

April

The dry seasons are beginning to roll in and everywhere is looking a little fresher – it's time to celebrate! You could be eating sushi and marvelling at cherry blossoms in Japan, eating your way through Porto (Portugal's food capital) before the summer crowds arrive, journeying into the desert wilderness of Wadi Rum, experiencing the Netherland's colourful tulip season, or witnessing Bolivia’s extraordinary salt flats

Group walking through mountains to everest base camp, Nepal

May

May sees tables and vino glasses appearing on cobbled streets, beaches in the Caribbean and the Meditteranean beginning to fill up and a more optimistic buzz in Europe's major cities. It's a great time to knock Everest Base camp off your bucket list, explore Crete and Santorini without hordes of tourists, gobble up the views at the Grand Canyon, or hike Peru’s iconic Inca Trail through the Andes.

June

The European summer is fast approaching, most of Canada's hiking trails are open and the dry season is kicking off across the African continent. Whether you’ve always wanted to slurp schnapps at a Swedish Midsommar celebration, track endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda, watch the sunrise on Bali's Mount Batur or watch playful baby lemurs in Madagasgar, June is the time to do it.

Giraffes walking through the masai mara in Kenya

July

Spirits are high in July as summer in Europe is in full swing,the once sweltering African heat is starting to simmer down and the Americas are drenched in glorious sunshine. Start the summer as you mean to go on by discovering clifftop castles in Romania, eating your way through Colombia's vibrant Medellin, experiencing a slice of nomadic life in Mongolia, or hiking through Alaska's incredible national parks.

A house overlooking the kokoda track hills in papua new guinea

August

August might be the peak season for UK travellers, but there are still plenty of places where you can escape the throngs of summer tourists. Why not head to Patagonia to hike its remarkable glaciers, spot hippos and elephants in Zambia's South Luangwa Reserve, kayak through Norway's idyllic Western Fjords, experience religious festivals in Tibet, or admire the ancient landscapes of Cappadocia on a hot air balloon.

September

As autumn sets in the UK, things start heating up in Australia. Keep your flip-flops and swimming costumes out for a little longer by heading down under for some once-in-a-lifetime type of experiences. Go on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, sip your way through South Australia's countless wine regions, or swim in lush rainforest waterfalls and spot crocs in the Northern Territory.

A woman sitting looking over porto venere grotto in Italy

October

October is the perfect time to chase the final bit of autumn warmth before winter arrives. Head to Greece to explore Athens' ancient ruins or sail around the Cyclades Islands, relax on hidden rooftop hangouts in Instanbul, bathe along Portugal's glistening seas (which have now had plenty of time to warm up!), or enjoy deliciously fresh produce in Italy after the autumn harvest.

November

If you've ever fancied tackling some of the most scenic hiking trails in the world, exploring epic glaciers or admiring rolling mountains with a glass of crisp sauvignon blanc, then now's the perfect time to travel to New Zealand. Cruise around fiords, waterfalls and icy peaks at Milford Sound, learn about rich Maori culture or go caving at the unique Cathedral Caves.

Decemember

Christmas is the time of giving, so why not use your travel experiences as a force for good to support the local communities you'll visit. You could help Manos Unidas Café to provide vocational training to people with intellectual disabilities in Peru, aid WWF to protect habitats and animals in Antarctica, or support KOTO – Know One, Teach One to train and empower disadvantaged youth in Vietnam.