When the British winter has you wondering if the sun actually ever existed and you haven’t seen your own skin in weeks, you know it’s time to jet off in search of winter sun. You need somewhere exotic, somewhere sunny and warm, somewhere with beautiful palm tree-lined beaches, smiling people and delicious food. Here are our best places to travel across this season:
Thailand
A favourite that never gets old, Thailand is whatever you want it to be – there are multiple combinations of culture, nature, spirituality, vibrant city life, history and adventure. Did I forget to mention that it has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches? The weather in Thailand is fabulous from late October all the way through to March, which is a very generous window.
Why not try a classic three-centre holiday of Bangkok buzz, northern hill tribes around Chiang Mai and beach relaxation; masterfully created by us with boutique hotels and signature cultural experiences? Or for something a little different, head east to less-discovered Kanchanaburi for rafting and jungle trekking at the Float House, followed by private island beach bliss at Koh Munnork, just south of Bangkok? For families, why not have a look at our fantastic Indochina and Thailand holiday here?
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The Maldives
Spectacular marine life, laid-back-luxury, a romantic hut on stilts, freshest of the fresh seafood, kids clubs to allow you some me-time…oh Maldives, how you appeal.
The “wet season” in the Maldives generally ends around November, but don’t let that put you off. The Maldives is a genuine year-round destination because the islands are so low-lying; if there are any rain clouds you may have a hard downpour of an hour or so, but the rest of the day will be glorious. What’s more, many resorts slash their prices in “wet season”, meaning you could stay in a super-duper luxury hotel for a bargain price.
Avoiding Christmas holidays (when prices are really high), The Maldives is superb for winter sun. British Airways offers direct flights from London Gatwick on certain days of the week, too.
Myanmar
Mysterious, magical Myanmar has great weather from mid-October to April. It’s a cultural heavyweight with a turbulent history and rich religious roots, as well as an anthropologists’ dream with hill tribes and ethnic minorities abundant across the beautiful natural landscape. There’s an impressive amount of coastline on offer too, with hundreds of pristine beaches waiting to be discovered.
It’s a big country, we’d recommend giving at the very least 10 days to see some of the main highlights like the temples of Bagan and Inle Lake.
Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos)
From October onwards, Indochina (a collective term for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) will be sun-seeker heaven. Extensive short-flight networks have really opened up this region for explorers, so you can experience the ‘not-yet-experienced’ with our amazing private guides whilst easily hopping to a beautiful beach for some relaxation. The beaches in the south of Vietnam are particularly good at this time of year, which you can easily combine with a leisurely overland trip through the Mekong Delta, taking in the temples of Angkor, the cultural centre of Phnom Penh and the old-world colonial glamour of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon).
For something really off-beat, why not discover rural southern Laos with its winding rivers and Khmer-style temples, then travel down through rural Cambodia to spot Irrawady river dolphins before finishing in the oh-so-charming seaside towns of Kep and Kampot?
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India
Sujan Rajmahal Palace
From November, India offers delightful sunshine, idyllic beach weather and various festivals to make your holiday extra special. It’s the country’s peak season with conditions perfect for exploring the main sights and beyond. Diwali and the Pushkar Camel Fair are two major festivals taking place in November, both visually spectacular. Across February onwards, there are many temple festivals in the southern state of Kerala letting you experience the way of life in a particularly exciting and immersive way.
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If you were interested in a winter holiday, do get in touch with us on 020 3603 2578. There are absolutely no obligations and we’re here to offer advice for any stage of your holiday planning. For more general information, do download our not a brochure; it gives you an overview of things to do, where to stay, the best beaches, top food to try, weather patterns and transport links for each of the destinations we specialise in.