Best Places for 2024 Autumn/Winter Travel
September
MEXICO - Fiestas, Feasts and Sustainable Travel
Average temperature: 29℃
Season: Beginning of Autumn
Travel time from the UK: 10 hours 30 minutes
Considered part of the tourism low season, September is a great time to visit Mexico with slightly lower, but still very comfortable, temperatures and fewer crowds. Independence Day celebrations will be in full swing by the middle of the month, with Mexico City holding the largest fiestas, where parades line the streets and the traditional dish of chile en nogada is handed out in abundance.
New for 2024, The Ultimate Travel Company has partnered with Journey Mexico to introduce several new immersive experiences, all of which focus on conservation and sustainable travel, highlighting Mexico’s fantastic wildlife, nature, architecture and cuisine. Focussing on one of the world’s most vibrant capitals, Mexico City, The Ultimate Travel Company has curated two brand new itineraries: ‘Discover Mexico City & Pacific Coast’ with a stay at the brand new Four Seasons Tamarindo (9 days from £10,277 pp) and ‘History, Art & Culture of Mexico City’ that includes the new experiences from Journey Mexico (9 days from £5,165 pp).
Both packages include international flights
BORNEO - Wildlife, Parades and Rainforest Lodges
Average temperature: 32℃
Season: Dry season
Travel time from the UK: 16 hours 45 minutes
September sees sunny days and sporadic rainfall, marking the tail end of Borneo’s dry season and is the best time to spot wildlife, particularly native orangutans, pygmy elephants and turtles on Lankayan Island. Malaysia Day lands on 16th September, promising colourful performances and parades in the busy Kuala Lumpur, whilst the Borneo Arts Festival is a celebration of the country’s rich culture.
Where to Stay: Sukau Rainforest Lodge, an award-winning lodge on the banks of the Kinabatangan River where wild orangutans, monkeys and exotic birds roam. River cruises, nature walks and water sports are available from the lodge, as well as simple days relaxing in the plunge pool and spa. The Ultimate Travel Company offers a two night stay at this incredible lodge as part of their 11 day ‘Simply Borneo’ trip - an exciting journey taking in the tropical rainforests and their array of exotic creatures.
11 days from £3,250pp including international flights
October
BOTSWANA - Waterways, Migrations and Cycling Safaris
Average temperature: 34℃
Season: Dry season
Travel time from the UK: 14 hours 20 minutes
October in Botswana brings warm, dry weather and is the best time to visit the Okavango Delta with its famed channels and waterways at their highest. The natural phenomenon of the annual catfish run at this time of year sees countless numbers migrating upstream, feeding on small fish in their path.
The Ultimate Travel Company offers a new sustainable way to explore the delta - ‘Botswana Guided Cycling Safari’ for adventurous cyclists looking to explore the ancient elephant paths that have shaped Botswana’s enchanting landscape. Led by two professional cycling safari guides, 40-70 km of animal trails and jeep tracks are covered per day, taking in a beautiful procession of acacia woodlands, wandering river banks, mopane forests and savannah grasslands. Stay in mobile campsites, topped off with two nights at the stylish Little Sable in the heart of the Khwai Private Reserve.
7 days from £6,735 pp including international flights
INDIA - Festivals of Light, Cruising Backwaters and Coffee Plantations
Average temperature: 30℃
Season: Dry season
Travel time from the UK: 9 hours 42 minutes
Seeing the return of warm, dry days, October marks the end of the rainy season in India with a national holiday to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. Diwali, the ancient Hindu festival of lights, runs throughout October and November with firework displays and the lighting of candles across the country.
The temperate climates are perfect for The Ultimate Travel Company’s Ultimate Southern India - 21 days of discovering Kerala’s backwaters, exploring tea and coffee plantations, cardamom fields and tropical jungles, while foodies will delight in Pondicherry; a melting pot of French and Tamil cultures known for its incredible restaurants.
21 days from £6,560 pp including international flights
November
JAPAN - Snow-capped mountains, festivals and bullet trains
Average temperature: 17℃
Season: Autumn
Travel time from the UK: 13 hours 35 minutes
With the turn of Autumn, November is the peak time to see the colourful leaves in mainland Japan, with milder, cooler weather and fewer crowds. Northern Japan in winter is a whole new experience where days are snowy but brightened by traditional festivals and events, including the Shitennoji Wasso Festival, celebrating those who have come to Japan from all over Asia.
Snow-capped mountains are the perfect backdrop for The Ultimate Travel Company’s ‘Simply Japan’ itinerary - an adventurous trip getting a look at the iconic peak of Mount Fuji, speeding through the countryside aboard a bullet train or wandering the pretty streets of Kyoto.
11 days from £5,375 pp including international flights
December
NICARAGUA - Active Volcanoes, Calm Lakes and Colonial Capitals
Average temperature: 25℃
Season: Summer
Travel time from the UK: 14 hours 5 minutes
The height of the dry season, with balmy temperatures, lush greenery and the occasional tropical shower along the Caribbean coastline. Boasting temperatures in the mid-20s, December is the perfect time to explore Nicaragua’s colonial architecture, historic centres, beaches and volcanoes. The highlands are the perfect spot for hiking, horse riding, birdwatching and learning about coffee and cacao production. Early December is when the ‘Purisima’ festivities take place which comprise processions, singing in the streets and fireworks displays across the country.
The Ultimate Travel Company offers Classic Nicaragua, perfect for this time of year because it crosses from colonial capitals with picturesque streets and historic buildings to self-sustaining plantations, the calm waters of Lake Nicaragua and active volcanoes, all explored in bright summer sunshine.
16 days from £5,995 pp including international flights
SRI LANKA - Colourful Marine Life, Warm Waters and Tea Plantations
Average temperature: 29℃
Season: Dry season in southwest
Travel time from the UK: 10 hours 30 minutes
Whilst the northeast of Sri Lanka sees tropical monsoons in December, the southwest remains warm and dry, with temperatures reaching 30℃ in Colombo. It is the perfect time to spot marine life with sea temperatures at around 28℃ and dolphins, turtles, whales and flying fish making appearances on the south coast.
Where to stay: 4 nights at Kahanda Kanda, set on a working tea plantation overlooking Koggala Lake, offering 12 standalone villas, some with private pools, scattered around tranquil gardens where fresh fruit and vegetables are grown directly for the curries served in the dining pavilion. 4 nights at Amanwella offers a coastal contrast, overlooks one of Sri Lanka’s most peaceful bays, with impeccably furnished rooms and and an Ayurvedic spa.
8 days from £5,585 pp including international flights (based on 2 people sharing)