Where to go when: our top holiday destinations by season

Where will your next adventure take you? Perhaps you’re craving a tropical beach holiday or an intrepid cultural excursion to India; maybe a Big Five African safari is on your bucket list, or you dream of seeing Japan’s famous cherry blossoms? To help you make up your mind, here’s our expert guide on where to go when on your next holiday. Whether you’re travelling in January to March, April to June, July to September or October to December, we have the best destinations for you. 

January to March 

India

Visit India now to avoid its scorching summers and tumultuous monsoon season. You’ll enjoy dry, pleasant temperatures with regional variations like icy blasts in the Himalayas all year round. India offers diverse adventures, from palace hopping in the Golden Triangle to sprawling cities stuffed with bazaars and street food delights. Explore jungle-covered national parks like Bandhavgarh and Panna to see Bengal tigers or experience the Ganges’ sacred ghats and puja ceremonies in Varanasi. If you crave beaches, travel south to hippy-loving Goa or sail the lazy backwaters of Kerala. Along the way, try everything from cooking classes and tie-dye workshops to toy train rides. 

The Philippines

The UK winter is the perfect time to escape to the Philippines. This nation of over 7,000 islands offers dry, balmy temperatures for basking on white-sand beaches. Glass-clear waters are a paradise for diving and snorkelling, with rainbow reefs home to turtles, exotic fish and whale sharks. Island hop from Bohol, land of bug-eyed tarsiers and Chocolate Hills, to El Nido and Boracay, where water-front resorts await with spas, infinity pools and dolphin-spotting boat trips. If you’re into trekking, head to the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of Banaue and Batad, then discover hanging coffins and mountain scenery in Sagada. 

April to June 

Botswana

It’s peak safari time in Botswana, with dry and sunny conditions. For Big Five game drives and luxury safari lodges, Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve deliver. 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. 

Japan

Japan’s famed cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the spring, complemented by sunny-yet-cool temperatures. Blooms sweep into Tokyo and Kyoto in April and May, when local festivals like the Aoi Matsuri parade in Kyoto occur. Wander through parks decorated with pink petals for picnics and photo shoots. Culture vultures will love Japan’s ancient temples and traditional ryokans, which contrast with its futuristic cities and high-speed bullet trains. Highlights include Mount Fuji hikes, geisha encounters and sushi-making classes. You can even learn how to swing a samurai sword and take part in a Japanese tea ceremony. 

Mozambique

Mozambique is ideal for a standalone off-the-beaten-track beach break or some R&R after a fast-paced safari in Botswana or South Africa. The weather in spring is dry with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the mid-twenties. Popular destinations include the Machangulo Peninsula and Bazaruto Archipelago, where you can stay in lavish resorts among shifting sand dunes. Sunbathe on powdery beaches lapped by the Indian Ocean and take diving or snorkelling trips to coral reefs where colourful marine life abounds. There’s plenty of time to relax in resorts like Anantara Bazaruto Island or Machangulo Beach Lodge, with private plunge pools and villas, seafood beach dinners and sunset dhow cruises. 

July to September 

Rwanda

Its prime gorilla trekking season in Rwanda, with dry conditions and temperatures in the mid-twenties. Book ahead to get your hands on a precious trekking permit. Volcanoes National Park is home to around 340 endangered mountain gorillas; take guided expeditions through lush jungles shadowed with mist-topped volcanic peaks to see them. Secluded, high-end resorts lie just outside the park: Gorilla’s Nest and Wilderness Sabyinyo. For chimpanzee tracking, Nyungwe National Park is a biodiverse hotspot while Akagera National Park offers a more traditional African safari experience by 4×4 and boat. 

Tanzania

The Great Migration kicks off in Tanzania at the start of the summer, when million-strong herds of antelope, zebra and wildebeest begin their journey across the arid Serengeti plains. 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. Tanzania also offers fantastic wildlife sightings in UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater and bird-watching tours in Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, which are also home to tree-climbing lions and impressive elephant herds. Unwind in Zanzibar or far-flung Pemba; home to remote beaches, spice farms and dive-worthy waters. 

Kenya

By July, the Great Migration has pushed north and you can witness the herds make daring crossings across the Mara River, pursued by crocodiles and land predators. The spectacle culminates on the fertile plains of the Maasai Mara in Kenya, where you can stay at five-star tented camps like Governors’, home of Big Cat Diaries, for an iconic safari. Admire aerial views of the migration on a sunrise hot air balloon ride and take guided bush walks, scenic sundowners and Maasai village visits to complete the experience. End on the sun-blessed Mombasa Coast for barefoot beach luxury in Diani or Watamu. 

Zimbabwe

Summer trips to Zimbabwe bring clear sunny weather. Start with a trip to Victoria Falls, the world-famous Smoke that Thunders; adventurous types can see the falls by zipline or helicopter and take white-water rafting trips on the Zambezi. July to September is the most popular time to visit the falls, when water levels have started to drop and reduced spray ensures better visibility, making for excellent photo opportunities. Dry season draws animals to vital water sources, making it a great time for safaris. Colossal herds of buffalo and elephant roam Hwange National Park en-route to its man-made waterholes where you can enjoy supreme wildlife sessions. Mana Pools National Park and UNESCO-listed Lake Kariba are great for water safaris that cruise past crocodiles, hippos and a host of birdlife. Private reserves have chic tented camps and lodges with night drives and bush walks. 

October to December 

South Africa

A winter trip to South Africa means blue skies and sunshine, particularly on the Cape. 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.

Namibia

Come to Namibia for a road trip that’ll take you through the Namib Desert, along the Skeleton Coast and into the vast wilds of Damaraland. The weather remains dry and in the mid-twenties, with crystal-clear skies in NamibRand for some of the world’s best stargazing. Parched conditions mean you’re in for a treat safari-wise at Etosha National Park, where the waterholes are teeming with animals. Stop to sandboard and ride fat bikes through the desert, take catamaran cruises to spot the marine big five and meet rescued cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation in Okonjima.