Best Places to Travel in January

Where to stay – Compass House, The Cape Cadogen, Great Fish River Lodge

Although South Africa is a year-round destination, the best time to visit the Western and Eastern Cape in South Africa is the summer months between December and February. These areas include the iconic Garden Route, Hermanus, and the Eastern Cape Reserves such as Kwandwe, Shamwari and Addo Elephant Park. With temperatures averaging around 77°F and plenty of sunshine, itineraries combining Cape Town, the Garden Route and some time on safari offer exceptional conditions. The city of Cape Town comes alive on the 2nd January for a local celebration known as the Second New Year (Kaapse Klopse). Essentially an extension of a New Year’s celebration, locals wear bright clothing and traditional songs bring joy and energy to the city. Because of its size, there are variations with weather conditions across the country, so except high temperatures (around 95°C) and sporadic rain showers in the north and east (including Kruger and Madikwe).

Where to stay – Chilean Patagonia

Identified by jagged glaciers, crystal-clear lakes, and remote mountains, the Chilean Patagonia is often top of a traveler’s bucket list when it comes to visiting South America’s Chile. As Chile is in the southern hemisphere, the summer period is between November and March. With sunshine and clear skies, exploring destinations like Torres del Paine National Park and Tiera del Fuego in January is a great time. On average, temperatures are between 44-57°F in Patagonia in January which is the warmest month, on par with December and February. With that in mind, camps and lodges in these areas do generally fill up quickly because of this peak season, so it’s worth booking in advance. The weather in Santiago is dry and warm, which are good conditions for sightseeing and exploring Chile’s capital. During this period, many of the locals head out of the city for vacations, so it’s a good opportunity for tourists to see it without the excessive local traffic.

Where to stay – Coco Bodu Hithi, Karumba Maldives, Anatara Veli

Located in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a tropical paradise island, often fantasized about the warm ocean swims and the villas that sit on platforms in the middle of the azure waters. The period between November and April is the dry season, so typically warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine can be found here every day. For those looking to dive and snorkel, visibility is good in January so colorful coral and tropical fish aplenty can be seen. That said, November is often regarded the best time to see species, like manta rays and sharks so bare this in mind if diving is your main priority. For other things to do in January, a day visit to the Male Fish Market is regarded one of the biggest tourist attractions. You’ll see the local catches of the day, and most likely sample them in your evening meal.

Where to stay – Colombo, Galle, Kandy

January is outside of the monsoon season in Sri Lanka, and with hot temperatures and over 9 hours of sunshine every day, it makes it a fantastic time to travel to this tropical island. Located south of India in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is one of the most diverse islands on Earth. Home to national parks and jungles with elephants and leopards aplenty, and monumental religious and cultural structures and temples, there is so much to do on the island and as a result, the most popular itinerary is one where you travel around the island. The western and southern coasts of Sri Lanka have excellent weather conditions in January but note that as you head further north (to key destinations like Wilpattu, Anuradhapura, and Sigiriya), you may encounter a couple of showers. That said, these are short and sporadic and will not impact on your activities – be it hiking Sigiriya Rock, getting a guided tour of the temples, or enjoying a 4×4 safari in the national park.

Where to stay – Rekykjavik

There is a constant debate whether Iceland is best visited in the summer, or in the winter. Of course, each season has its own benefits and attractions, and it really depends on what you are looking for. The winter months – between November and April – the temperatures are bordering freezing, with an average of 33°F. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that this period is the low season in Iceland. However, despite the absolutely freezing temperatures and brutal weather conditions, it is one of the most unique and captivating times to go, especially for professional or amateur photographers. Adrenaline-filled activities like touring ice caves, doing a snowmobile safari, or even riding Icelandic horses in the snow can be enjoyed in January. It is also one of the best times to potentially see the northern lights dance through the dark skies.