- Be inspired with our round-up of some of the best places around the world to visit in 2020
- Month-by-month guide with ideas of where to go – from river cruises and escorted tours to city breaks
- Useful information on temperatures, events and what to see and do in each destination
Planning a holiday for 2020? Whenever your departure date is we have great escorted tours, river cruises, city breaks and solo travel holidays to be enjoyed all year round. As there is so much choice, we’ve compiled a calendar of top destinations for 2020 to help inspire you with year-round travel ideas. Take a look at some of the best places to travel through the year for some wonderful travel suggestions.
Places to visit in January
Antarctica
Kick-off a new year with an adventure like no other on a voyage to Antarctica! Yes, you’ll need to pack your thermals, but our polar expedition to the world’s least-visited continent takes you to iceberg-filled bays and offers the chance to see seals, whales, and penguins.
New Zealand
If you prefer the heat, beat the winter blues on our tour of New Zealand. You’ll arrive in the middle of a New Zealand summer when the average temperature in Auckland is a pleasant 24°C. New Zealand is a destination that’s perfect for outdoor pursuits and January is an ideal month to explore both islands.
Auckland, New Zealand
Places to visit in February
Marrakesh, Morocco
Temperatures start to rise in February in Morocco – expect highs of around 20°C in Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains – so it’s one of the best places to travel to for a winter escape. Visiting early in the season offers a range of other benefits.
Africa
Not only is February one of the best times to visit Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, but it’s also an ideal month to go on safari in Botswana, especially if you’re a birdwatcher – Chobe National Park is home to over 450 species. Combine a visit to both, along with Cape Town, on our worldwide tour.
Chobe National Park, Botswana
Places to visit in March
Golden Triangle, India
The Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Taj Mahal, Jaipur’s Amber Fort – all these iconic sights, and so much more, are on the itinerary of our 15-day India tour. Travel in March to avoid the rainy season and scorching heat. Average temperatures in Delhi will be around 30°C.
Tenerife
Spring is in the air in March in Tenerife, when daytime temperatures reach a welcoming 22°C. Book a holiday to put a spring in your step – our Discover the Real Tenerife & La Gomera tour visits La Laguna, Teide National Park, and Santa Cruz.
Teide volcano, Tenerife
Places to visit in April
The Dutch Bulbfields
A holiday in Europe in April means only one thing – ticking off an entry on your bucket list and seeing thousands of Dutch tulips in bloom. Join our Amsterdam, Kinderdijk & the Dutch Bulbfields river cruise, and you’ll also spend time at Keukenhof, the world’s most extensive flower garden.
California
Although a year-round destination, spring is an excellent time to travel to California and the Golden West. Arriving before the peak tourist season, you’ll miss the vast crowds at Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Yosemite Valley, and at the latter wildflowers will be blooming.
California
Places to visit in May
Oberammergau, Germany
Don’t miss out on an escorted tour to see the world-famous Oberammergau Passion Play in the Bavarian Alps. If you don’t catch an epic five-hour performance in 2020 (16 May-4 October), you’ll have to wait another ten years for a chance to experience this unique event again.
Jordan
In May, one of the best places to travel to is Jordan. Temperatures are warming up – around 27°C in Petra – but you can comfortably sightsee before the country becomes overly hot. It’s also an ideal climate to sleep overnight in the Wadi Rum desert, a holiday highlight.
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Places to visit in June
Japan
Tourist numbers to Tokyo are going to soar between 24 July to 9 August when the city hosts the 2020 Olympic Games, so avoid the crowds and enjoy a Japan tour in June. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and you can still soak up the country’s excitement for the summer of sports ahead.
Malaysia and Borneo
June is a perfect month to visit Malaysia and the neighbouring island of Borneo – it’s a warm 32°C, mostly dry and it’s an optimum time to see orangutans in the wild Sabah. Our tour visits the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, the largest of its kind in the world, also featured on Judi Dench’s Wild Borneo Adventure.
See orangutans in Borneo
Places to visit in July
Canada
Long summer days to spend in the great outdoors means July is an excellent month for a Canadian holiday. It’s the warmest time of year to visit Banff and Vancouver – temperatures reach 22°C – and on the east coast, whale-watching excursions are available in the Bay of Fundy.
Croatia
In the height of the summer, the mercury can reach 30°C in northern Croatia. However, on a solo travellers’ yacht cruise aboard the MS Il Mare, there will be a refreshing sea breeze – and swimming stop-offs in picturesque bays are an idyllic way to cool down.
Rab, Croatia
Places to visit in August
Porto, Portugal
Europe can be unbearably hot in August, but not Porto. Yes, temperatures still hit 28°C, but visitors won’t swelter in the heat, thanks to the Atlantic Ocean’s cooling breeze. It’s a good time to book a Douro, Porto & Salamanca river cruise before the popular autumn season.
Norway
Our Norwegian fjords cruise on the Azamara Pursuit sets sail on 21 August – and it’s the perfect time of year to see the country’s spectacular natural beauty. Visit Norway in August, and you’ll also experience another natural phenomenon – the midnight sun, otherwise known as White Nights. For more information, see our guide to cruising the Norwegian fjords.
Sognerfjord, Norway
Places to visit in September
Boppard, Germany
A Rhine river cruise in the autumn is memorable for a whole host of reasons. Tree leaves turn vibrant shades of red and gold, vineyards celebrate their harvests, and wine festivals are in full flow. One of the biggest, in Boppard, takes place on 25-28 September 2020.
Iceland
Travellers love Iceland for its landscape of lava fields, glaciers and geysers, and a tour is all the more special if you catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Nights get darker in September, and there’s a good chance of a clear sky – ideal conditions for spotting the aurora borealis.
See the natural beauty of iceland, like the Seljalandfoss waterfall
Places to visit in October
China
Little rain and mild temperatures – 20°C in Chengdu, home to a giant panda breeding centre – makes China one of the best places to travel around in October (it’s worth knowing, though, that the first week is a national holiday). The autumn foliage is especially stunning in the countryside near the Great Wall.
Mexico
Day of the Dead celebrations are becoming ever more elaborate throughout Mexico. If you join our Majestic Mexico tour that departs on 30 October, you just might stumble upon festivities when you arrive in Mexico City. Our 14-day itinerary also takes in Chihuahua and Oaxaca.
Day of the Dead decorations in Oaxaca
Places to visit in November
Egypt
Cairo is around 10 degrees cooler if you visit in November rather than the height of the summer, though you can still expect temperatures of 25°C on our Nile cruises. It’s also an excellent time to visit Egypt’s must-see sights without the crowds that descend during the following two peak tourist months.
Maldives
Year-round temperatures rarely dip below 25°C in the Maldives. Still, if you book our South Malé, Vaavu and Ari Atolls cruise to depart in November, you’ll bask in 30°C sunshine – and have the best chance of spotting whale sharks and manta rays that feed on the islands’ plankton.
Try snorkelling in the Maldives
Places to visit in December
Krakow, Poland
As the festive season approaches, it signals one thing – that it’s time to visit a Christmas market. While Decembers in Poland are cold – Krakow can struggle to reach 3°C – the city is a winter wonderland in the run-up to the 25th. Start ticking presents off your Christmas list on a Krakow city break.
Bruges, Belgium
The UNESCO-listed city of Bruges is another destination that sparkles with fairy lights during December, and it’s easy to travel to Belgium by Eurostar. Once there, stroll around the Yuletide markets, buy traditional decorations and gifts – and don’t forget to try the warming glühwein.
The canals of Bruges
Only 24 destinations have made our list of the best places to travel to in 2020; however, there are so many more that you could visit in the year ahead. What destinations are on your wish list? We can help you find the right holiday for you, one that’s most suitable for your preferred departure date. Try searching our website for more ideas.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
