Where we go, and when to go.
Six regions, each led by guides who live there. Timing changes everything, so here is when each one is at its best, month by month.
Seasonality
The year at a glance
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Avoid
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morocco & the Sahara | January: Possible | February: Good | March: Best | April: Best | May: Good | June: Possible | July: Avoid | August: Avoid | September: Good | October: Best | November: Best | December: Possible |
| Peru & the Andes | January: Avoid | February: Avoid | March: Possible | April: Good | May: Best | June: Best | July: Best | August: Best | September: Best | October: Good | November: Possible | December: Possible |
| Norway & the Arctic | January: Good | February: Best | March: Good | April: Possible | May: Possible | June: Best | July: Best | August: Best | September: Good | October: Possible | November: Possible | December: Good |
| The Aegean | January: Avoid | February: Avoid | March: Possible | April: Good | May: Best | June: Best | July: Good | August: Possible | September: Best | October: Best | November: Possible | December: Avoid |
| Japan | January: Possible | February: Possible | March: Best | April: Best | May: Best | June: Possible | July: Possible | August: Possible | September: Good | October: Best | November: Best | December: Possible |
| Tanzania & Zanzibar | January: Good | February: Best | March: Possible | April: Avoid | May: Avoid | June: Good | July: Best | August: Best | September: Best | October: Best | November: Possible | December: Good |
Scroll sideways on small screens. Ratings balance weather, crowds and what there is to see.
Mountains, medinas and the deep desert
Morocco & the Sahara
Snow on the High Atlas, the red walls of Marrakech and the dunes of Erg Chebbi, all within a few days’ drive. Spring and autumn are warm by day and cool at night; summer in the desert is fierce.
- A night in a Saharan camp
- Cooking in a Berber home
- The 9,000 lanes of the Fes medina
- Summit of Toubkal, 4,167 m
Best time to visit
Best: March, April, October, November
Inca trails and high valleys
Peru & the Andes
The dry season from May to September brings clear skies over the Sacred Valley and the Inca Trail. February is the wettest month, and the trail itself closes for maintenance.
- The classic Inca Trail
- Weaving cooperatives in Chinchero
- Lima’s great kitchens
- Machu Picchu at sunrise
Best time to visit
Best: May, June, July, August, September
Midnight sun and northern lights
Norway & the Arctic
Two seasons, two trips. Summer brings 24-hour daylight for walking the Lofoten ridges; the dark months from November to March are for the aurora, huskies and whales.
- Northern lights above Tromsø
- Ridge walks in the Lofoten
- Orca and humpback whales
- Red fishermen’s cabins
Best time to visit
Best: February, June, July, August
Islands, coves and the coastal path
The Aegean
Greek islands by wooden boat and Turkey’s Lycian Way on foot. Late spring and September have warm seas without the August crowds and heat.
- Sailing the Cyclades
- The white rocks of Sarakiniko
- Walking the Lycian Way
- Sunken city of Kekova
Best time to visit
Best: May, June, September, October
Pilgrim trails and night markets
Japan
Cherry blossom from late March and the red maples of November are the classic times. June is the rainy season and high summer is hot and humid, though never dull.
- The Kumano Kodo pilgrim trail
- Onsen ryokan with a view of Fuji
- Kyoto before the crowds
- Tokyo’s izakaya alleys
Best time to visit
Best: March, April, May, October, November
The great migration and spice islands
Tanzania & Zanzibar
The dry season from July to October is best for game drives, with the herds crossing the northern Serengeti. February is calving season in the south. April and May bring the long rains.
- The Serengeti migration
- Ngorongoro Crater at dawn
- Stone Town’s night market
- Dhow sails off Zanzibar
Best time to visit
Best: February, July, August, September, October
Still deciding?
Tell us your month. We’ll tell you where.
Our team has travelled every trip we sell. A twenty-minute call usually settles it.