Best places to travel in December 2020

February might be bleak in the top half of the world, but it’s summertime down south and New Zealand and southern Australia are basking in the life outdoors. Walking trails are open and you can stretch out on the beaches while they're at their best. In Hong Kong, 15-day-long festivities kick off in February, when ancient Chinese traditions combine with true multicultural modernity. Relive New Year’s there before spring boarding to dry and sunny Cambodia to extend your journey in Southeast Asia.

Japan’s springtime blossom starts to pop open in March, and milder temperatures coupled with the showings of early plum blossom make it a good-value time to travel here ahead of the peak blossom season. In Bhutan, the subsiding cold is encouraging high-altitude rhododendrons to wake, while a number of colourful festivals take place. And a full spectrum of coloured powders plume in the air in Indian towns and villages as locals celebrate Holi festival. Our specialists can give you advice on how best to experience the ‘festival of colours’ as part of your trip to India.

Travel to South America in April as nature offers wonderful bird watching in the Galapagos, including likely sightings of the fascinating mating ritual of the blue-footed booby. The Iguaçu Falls, bordering Brazil and Argentina, are also at their most dramatic after the summer rainfalls. In Morocco, the April climate is cool enough for you to explore Marrakesh’s souqs or hike the High Atlas Mountains in clearer air. And, if Easter falls in April, a trip in the Philippines is a window into the Spanish legacy of a ‘fiesta’ culture, and the weather is fantastic for the beaches.

If you’re planning a May break, the sun is always out over Bali’s soft-sand beaches at a time of year before the crowds hit their peak. Planning in advance pays off, as some of our favourite hotels are quick to book up. On a cruise in Canada, off the west coast of Vancouver, you can spot migrating gray whales and their young, along with minke and killer whales. And for a trip in the mountain air, hike along the wildflower trails of the High Atlas in Morocco. The comfortable temperature allows you to enjoy the scenery by day and camp out in Bedouin-style tents by night.

June marks the start of the dry season in southern Africa and the chance to see newly born game as you safari in Botswana. Newborn gorillas are given their names in a traditional festival in Rwanda each June and we can design you a trip there gorilla trekking, which pairs nicely with added time on safari in Kenya's Masai Mara. June is also an ideal time for visiting Costa Rica in the quieter green (or rainy) season when you’ll still find plenty of dry weather, quieter national parks and better views of the famous Arenal Volcano.

Ladakh in India is an ideal destination for July, with warm weather and little rain to accompany the Himalayan scenery. Spend time in Leh immersing yourself in the Tibetan Buddhist culture and exploring the monasteries, lakes and high-altitude deserts. We also recommend the Manu Rainforest in Peru in the month of July. Few parks can match its incredible wildlife, which includes giant otters, caymans and flocks of macaws.

In August, Africa plays backdrop to one of the great wildlife spectacles: the annual migration of over two million wildebeest from the Serengeti plains to the grasslands of the Masai Mara. In Colombia, the start of August heralds the annual flower festival in Medellin. It attracts visitors worldwide with more flowers than you’d imagine possible, fireworks and live music. Or travel to Kandy in Sri Lanka at the time of the Parahera Festival held at the Temple of the Tooth, where Buddha's tooth is said to rest. Get swept up in dancing and parades by torchlight.

September kicks off the changing of the seasons in many regions, bringing with it shifting climates and bright landscapes. Before the wet season sets in, take a trip to Borneo and observe the orangutan at the Sepilok sanctuary in Kota Kinabalu. In Peru, September is the best time to take a hike to Incan city in the clouds Machu Picchu while there's still very little rain. And there’s no better place to witness the seasons change than in China, as the locals celebrate the harvest season across the country with the Mid-Autumnal Festival.

October is a great time to immerse yourself completely in another culture. Head to India and join millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains for Diwali, the five-day ‘Festival of Lights’. Experience the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival with the locals in Myanmar, where revered Buddha images are paraded around Inle Lake in an elaborate barge for over 20 days. Or discover the historical sites in Jordan, where the lifting of the summer heat allows you to explore in comfort the Roman ruins at Jerash, and biblical sites such as Mt Nebo and the desert of Wadi Rum.

Though the temperatures may begin to drop, November still offers plenty of opportunity for active adventure. Trek to the top of the world in the Himalaya Mountains in Nepal, and witness the sunrises over the tops of the peaks. Enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving in the warmer temperatures of the Red Sea in Egypt, where the water is a clear blue and the coral reefs teem with marine life. Or experience Vietnam by bicycle, along the countryside around the historic merchants' town of Hoi An or through the rice terraces and remote villages of Sapa.

December brings celebrations of all shapes and sizes across the world. Embrace a wintry yet magical Christmas in Russia, where Gorky Park turns into an ice rink and sleigh rides are offered throughout the month. Top off your year joining in a New Year’s celebration in another part of the world. Travel to Brazil and watch the cariocas (Rio’s locals) dressed in white as they gather on a sunny Copacabana in tribute to the goddess of the sea. Or head to Australia for a New Year’s celebration of a lifetime in Sydney. Witness fireworks exploding off the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, while enjoying the summer temperatures.