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This month-by-month guide highlights the best holiday destinations for each season, from winter sun and summer villas to wildlife journeys, cultural trips and long-haul escapes, all chosen by our travel specialists for the time of year they work best. Whether you are looking for ideas for January, August or Christmas, explore our 2026 travel guide for expert inspiration on where to go each month.

Average temperature: 25 – 33 °C | Travel time from the UK: 14 -16 hours via US or Panama

Famous for its lush landscapes, abundant wildlife and warm, welcoming people, Costa Rica is an ideal destination for first-time visitors to Central or Latin America, especially in January when the dry season ensures sunny skies and perfect conditions for exploring.

Over two weeks, you’ll stay on a charming coffee farm near the capital, explore the winding waterways of Tortuguero National Park, and wander through the misty cloud forests of Monteverde Reserve. Discover the spectacular Arenal National Park, home to the famous Arenal Volcano and a wide range of activities from zip-lining and river rafting to horseback riding and hiking, staying at the only hotel located inside the park itself.

The journey concludes on the Pacific Coast at an eco-lodge overlooking the serene Golfo Dulce. Surrounded by jungle and the calm, warm waters of the bay, it’s the perfect place to unwind.

How: 14 days from £5,850 per person. Discover the Classic Costa Rica itinerary.

Average temperature: 25 – 33 °C | Travel time from the UK: 14 -16 hours via Bangkok

February is a good month to visit Laos and Cambodia, with warm, dry weather, clear skies and comfortable temperatures perfect for river cruises, temple explorations and jungle adventures. Fly into Thailand and begin your adventure with two nights in Chiang Rai, a serene introduction to Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle. From here, embark on a leisurely cruise down the Mekong River into Laos, arriving in the atmospheric former royal capital of Luang Prabang. With its golden temples, saffron-robed monks and elegant French colonial charm, this UNESCO World Heritage city remains wonderfully preserved and surrounded by lush jungle and cascading waterfalls.

Continue south to Pakse to explore the ancient Khmer temple complex of Wat Phou, a spiritual precursor to Angkor, before drifting among the tranquil islands of Si Phan Don – the “Four Thousand Islands” – where life moves to the rhythm of the river. Your journey concludes in Siem Reap, gateway to Cambodia’s legendary Angkor Wat. Here, watch the sun rise over the intricately carved spires of this vast temple city and uncover the mysteries of a civilisation lost to time, completing a journey rich in culture, nature and timeless beauty.

How: 13 days from £7,000 per person. Discover the Classic Laos and Cambodia itinerary.

Average temperature: 10 -17°C | Travel time from the UK: Under 2.5 hours direct

A chic and sun-kissed escape to France, the Côte d’Azur in March offers blue skies, alfresco lunches and timeless elegance. Split your stay between Hôtel du Couvent in Nice and Hôtel ��é�ٰ��DZ�DZ��� Monte-Carlo in Monaco for the perfect balance of coastal charm and Riviera luxury. Start in Nice, wandering the Promenade des Anglais, exploring colourful markets and sipping rosé on sunny terraces. Then travel along the coast to Monaco, where the glittering harbour, designer boutiques and refined dining await. The recently refurbished junior suites at the ��é�ٰ��DZ�DZ��� add a fresh touch to this iconic address – ideal for indulgent R&R less than three hours from home.

How: 7 nights from £6,300 per couple. Including flights, private transfers, daily breakfast, accommodation in a Classic King Room at Hotel Du Couvent, A Luxury Collection Hotel and a Deluxe Room at Hotel Metropole, Monte Carlo.

Average temperature: 5 – 15 °C | Travel time from the UK: 18 – 22 hours via Santiago de Chile

April is a wonderful time to visit Chilean Patagonia – the crowds have thinned, the air is crisp and clear and the landscapes are transformed by autumn’s golden and fiery hues. With quieter trails and a sense of tranquillity across the national parks, it’s the perfect moment to explore some of the lesser-known paths on the fringes of Torres del Paine and beyond.

Just 400 metres from Tierra Patagonia lies the edge of Lago Sarmiento, one of the largest and most pristine lakes in Torres del Paine National Park – this is a boutique luxury refuge in one of the wildest places on Earth. A stroll along its sandy shores marks the beginning of your Patagonian adventure, where each day reveals a new natural wonder. Accompanied by expert guides, discover fascinating geological formations, encounter native wildlife and set out on unforgettable horse rides, scenic treks, and cycling expeditions through the park’s dramatic landscapes.

After a day of exploration, return to your sustainably designed yet luxuriously comfortable hotel. Relax by the fireplace in a living space adorned with handcrafted local décor, savour exquisite regional cuisine, or unwind in the spa – complete with an indoor pool – as you watch the evening light fade over Patagonia’s rugged peaks.

How: 4 nights from £5,770 per person with a night layover at Santiago. Including international and domestic flights, and accommodation at Tierra Patagonia.

Average temperature: 12 – 22 °C | Travel time from the UK: Approximately 12.5 hours

May is a beautiful time to visit South Korea, when mild temperatures, clear skies and vibrant spring blooms create the perfect setting to explore the country’s cultural and natural treasures. Over two weeks, journey through South Korea’s most captivating destinations and immerse yourself in its rich history, dynamic cities and celebrated cuisine.

Begin in Seoul bedding down at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, where ancient palaces and temples stand alongside contemporary architecture, bustling food markets and the historic Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Continue to Andong, the spiritual heart of the country, to see South Korea’s largest temple, its longest wooden bridge and the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village, where traditional life continues much as it has for centuries.

From there, travel to Gyeongju – once the capital of the Silla Kingdom – to explore its royal tombs, pagodas and archaeological treasures, before heading south to the coastal city of Busan, famed for its beaches and seafood markets. Conclude your journey on the volcanic island of Jeju, where dramatic cliffs, waterfalls and serene trails showcase the wild beauty of South Korea in full spring colour – staying at The Shilla Jeju.

How: 14 days from £10,975 per person. Discover the Ultimate South Korea itinerary.

Average temperature: 18 – 26 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 2 to 3 hours

is a very good June choice if you want the Balearics before high summer takes hold. The island is softer and quieter than its neighbours, with clear water, dry-stone countryside and a pace that feels immediately more relaxed. June is warm enough for long beach days and lunches outside, but still early enough to enjoy the island at its gentler best. Menorca is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which helps explain why it still feels so intact.

The Ultimate Villas collection here leans into that sense of place. is set on a 300-acre estate and brings together former farm buildings, stone walls and vaulted ceilings in a way that feels deeply connected to the island. sits within a private 210-hectare estate in southwest Menorca and has a large pool, landscaped gardens and a private path down to Cala Macarella and Cala Macarelleta. For larger groups, offers eight bedrooms, a saltwater pool and tennis court on a 160-acre estate near the south coast.

How: Speak to us about our Menorca villa collection, including characterful fincas and private estates close to some of the island’s most beautiful calas.

Average temperature: 20 – 28 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 13 hours to Tanzania, plus light aircraft and boat transfers

July is a wonderful month for this new Tanzania combination, pairing the raw drama of Ruaha with the softer rhythm of Pemba. It is a time of dry-season safari, when days are clear, wildlife viewing is strong and southern Tanzania feels at its most compelling. Rather than following a more familiar route, this itinerary combines one of the country’s more remote safari settings with a beach stay that feels properly away from it all.

Begin at Ikuka Safari Camp in Ruaha, where just seven spacious tented suites and a family unit look out towards the Mwagusi River. The camp has a particularly intimate feel, with panoramic views, a dramatic main lodge and experiences including game drives, walking safaris, the Rock House sleepout and hot air ballooning during the June to October season. It is a thoughtful choice for clients looking for a safari that feels both refined and genuinely wild.

From here, continue to Fundu Lagoon on Pemba, arriving by boat for a complete change of pace. The combination works especially well in July: a few days of early mornings and safari dust, followed by time to slow down by the ocean and make the most of the beach, the water and the sense of seclusion. It is an elegant bush-and-beach pairing, and one of the more distinctive Tanzania journeys to feature in the second half of the year.

How: Speak to us about the new Ikuka Safari Camp and Fundu Lagoon combination, valid from June 2026 to March 2027, with added-value benefits included.

Average temperature: 24 – 31 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 10 hours 30 minutes to Colombo

August is one of the most rewarding times to visit Sri Lanka, especially if you want to combine the island’s cultural heart with a few days by the sea at the end. The great sites of the Cultural Triangle still make a compelling place to begin, with Sigiriya, Dambulla and the ancient cities giving the journey real depth from the outset. From there, the route moves naturally into the cooler Central Highlands, where tea country, mountain roads and rail journeys shift the mood completely.

Our Ultimate Sri Lanka itinerary captures that range particularly well, taking in ancient monuments, Kandy, wildlife and the hill country in one well-paced journey. It is a strong choice for clients who want more than a single-centre beach holiday, and who are drawn to the island for its layered mix of history, landscape and wildlife.

For August, the strongest final note is the coast. At this time of year, Sri Lanka’s east coast comes into its own, with sunnier weather, warm seas and a more restful close to the trip. That seasonal contrast makes Sri Lanka such a good late-summer choice: a journey that begins among ancient sites and tea-covered hills, then ends with a few quieter days on the beach.

How: 15 days from £8,065 per person. Discover the Ultimate Sri Lanka itinerary.

Average temperature: 10 – 18 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 9 to 10 hours to Vancouver

September is a particularly good time to visit western Canada, when British Columbia begins to edge into autumn and bear viewing becomes especially dramatic. The forests start to shift in colour, the air feels clearer, and this is the period when bear viewing is at its most dramatic, with grizzlies drawn towards the salmon run before winter. It is a month that gives Canada a very particular sense of season, somewhere between wilderness adventure and the first quiet signs of autumn.

Our Ultimate Canada Bears itinerary is built around exactly that experience: seeing wild bears roaming freely in their natural habitat in one of the most beautiful landscapes in North America. Rather than treating Canada simply as a broad touring destination, this journey narrows the focus to one of its most memorable wildlife encounters, making it especially appealing for clients who want a trip shaped by place and season.

Gina Murray’s journal on bear viewing in Canada adds another layer to the story, explaining why British Columbia is such a compelling place to see black bears, grizzlies and even the rare white spirit bear, and why this period from late summer into early autumn is so rewarding. It helps position the trip not just as a holiday, but as a specialist-led wildlife journey grounded in real expertise.

How: 14 days from £13,500 per person. Discover the Ultimate Canada Bears itinerary, and read Gina Murray’s guide to bear viewing in Canada.

Average temperature: 20 – 30 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 15 hours to Baja California

By October, Baja California feels stripped back to its essentials: ochre desert, empty coastlines and the wildlife-rich waters of the Pacific. This is a very different vision of Mexico, shaped less by colonial towns and tropical beaches than by raw landscapes, marine life and a powerful sense of space. We love it for that contrast, and for the way the peninsula brings together desert, ocean and a sense of real distance.

Our whale-watching itinerary brings that wilder side of the region into focus, using Baja California’s extraordinary marine environment as the thread that ties the journey together. It offers a more elemental kind of Mexico, one defined by remote landscapes, shifting light and the feeling of being a long way from the familiar.

Jonny Livingstone’s journal adds another dimension, tracing Baja California through its vineyards, whale lagoons and wild coastlines. It helps show why this corner of Mexico feels so distinctive, not simply as a wildlife destination, but as a place where desert, ocean and a strong sense of remoteness all come together.

How: 14 days from £13,950 per person. Discover the Baja California Whale Watching itinerary, and read Jonny Livingstone’s guide to Baja California.

Average temperature: 8 – 17 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 14 hours to Tokyo

November suits Japan particularly well. The pace of the country seems to soften, the air turns cooler and clearer, and the season lends itself naturally to a journey shaped by ryokan stays, hot springs and time spent in gardens, markets and old neighbourhoods. Late November is also when autumn colour reaches places such as Kyoto, adding another layer to a trip already defined by atmosphere and detail.

Our new Ryokan Wanderings itinerary takes that mood as its starting point, moving from Tokyo into Japan’s traditional heartlands and using ryokan stays and onsen time to set the pace. After time in Tokyo, the journey continues to Kaga Onsen, with a guided day in Kanazawa visiting Kenroku-en, the castle grounds, Omichō Market and the Higashi Chaya district. From there it moves on to Kyoto, before finishing in Hakone with time to enjoy the onsen and, if the weather is clear, views towards Mount Fuji.

What makes Japan such a strong choice for November is the way the season works with this style of travel. It is a month for slowing down rather than racing through the headlines: tea, gardens, temple districts after dark and the restorative rhythm of a ryokan stay. This itinerary captures that especially well, giving Japan a more intimate and considered feel.

How: 11 days from £12,845 per person. Discover the Ryokan Wanderings itinerary.

Average temperature: -2 – 5 °C | Travel time from the UK: Around 19 to 22 hours to Ushuaia, plus your onward expedition voyage

December changes the scale of things. Antarctica at Christmas is not about festive gloss, but about ice, distance and the rare privilege of travelling to one of the most remote places on earth at the height of the austral summer. It is a journey that feels unlike anything else in the year: longer days, extraordinary light and a landscape defined by silence, wildlife and the sheer drama of the polar world.

Our Christmas in Antarctica itinerary begins with a night in Ushuaia before boarding an expedition ship and sailing south across the Drake Passage. From there, the focus is the Antarctic Sound, the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula, with daily plans shaped by sea, ice and weather conditions. Zodiac cruising, shore landings and opportunities to see penguins, whales, seals and seabirds all form part of the experience, giving the journey a sense of immersion rather than observation from a distance.

To support that, we also have two very good editorial reads that bring the experience to life from a more personal angle. “The Christmas They Cancelled for Antarctica” follows Madeline Lu and her family as they decide to trade their usual Christmas at home for an Antarctic voyage, while the family review adds Eva Lu’s perspective on what it actually felt like to experience Antarctica as a teenager, from the Drake Passage to Christmas on board.

What makes this such a striking December choice is the timing itself. The Christmas period is spent in Antarctica, continuing to explore with landings and Zodiac excursions planned around conditions, alongside the changing light and wildlife of the season. It is a bold way to end the year, and one that feels far removed from the familiar rhythms of December at home.

How: 14 days from £11,100 per person. Discover the Christmas in Antarctica itinerary.

Speak to one of our travel experts, each with first-hand knowledge of the destinations they specialise in, and let us create a tailor-made holiday shaped entirely around you. Whether you are drawn to winter sun, cultural discovery or more remote adventures, we will design something personal, considered and entirely your own.

Call +44 (0) 2039 933538 or make an online enquiry.