Luxury Travel with Ampersand Travel: Planning the Year Ahead

As summer starts to fade and we gradually get into the back-to-school mindset, at Ampersand Travel we think this is the perfect time to start planning your holidays for the year ahead.

Based on our own travels and our extensive experience, we’ve mapped out our travel plans across Asia and Southern Africa over the next 12 months.

Whether you're dreaming of a winter getaway or a sunny escape, taking advantage of the fresh start that comes with the back-to-school season can help you plan and secure your dream holiday well in advance, ensuring you access to the best possible experiences and accommodation available.

September: Namibia

September marks the start of the short spring season in Namibia, making it one of the best times to visit. It’s the peak of the dry season which means sunny clear skies, low humidity, low chance of rain and warm temperatures that most travellers will find comfortable. It’s also the best time for wildlife viewing as vegetation is sparse and there are limited water sources so animals tend to gather around the waterholes.

October: South Africa

October is a beautiful month in South Africa, when the weather is generally good and the dry and dusty landscapes are transformed into a colourful carpet of wildflowers along the West Coast. October is also within the whale watching season, July to November, making it an ideal time to see Southern Right Whales breaching and frolicking off the Garden Route coastline, after their migration from Antarctica to the warm waters off South Africa where they will have their young.

Learn more about whale watching in South Africa, and other extraordinary wildlife migrations across Africa and Asia in our blog post: Iconic Wildlife Migrations in Africa and Asia.

November: Bhutan

November is a fantastic time to visit Bhutan, particularly if you enjoy trekking. Temperatures are cool and clear blue skies mean that the stunning Himalayan mountains are always in view. At this time of year, endangered black-necked cranes migrate from the Tibetan plateau to the Phobjikha Valley where they remain until February. In Gangtey, a colourful festival is held in November to celebrate their arrival, which we can arrange for you to attend.

Interested to know more about Bhutan? Read our 5 Reasons Why Bhutan Should be on Your Travel Bucket List.

December: Sri Lanka

If the idea of darker evenings and cold weather doesn’t float your boat, Sri Lanka is the dream destination in December, offering glorious winter sunshine, rich culture and off-the-beaten-track adventure. Explore the Hill Country tea plantations at their driest or unwind on the white-sand beaches of the south west coast. Clear, azure-blue waters make it an ideal time for swimming, surfing, snorkelling and blue whale spotting.

Find out our top 5 favourite villas in Sri Lanka here.

January: India

For those looking for a dose of sunshine, South India is an absolutely perfect destination to visit in January. The tropical beaches of Goa and Kerala have calm, warm seas which are ideal for swimming and the sun shines for around 9 hours a day. In North India, temperatures however are around 18-20°C, making it a good time for those who like to spend days out sightseeing and visiting the key tourist attractions such as Royal Palaces of Rajasthan, the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

February: The Maldives

Escaping the UK in the bleak month of February is a tempting prospect; short days, dark evenings and cold weather start to take their toll, so it’s a great time to get your healthy dose of Vitamin D! For a fantastic change in climate, we recommend the Maldives - the ultimate desert island paradise with picture-perfect turquoise waters blending into endless sandy beaches and luxury accommodation. February is the driest and sunniest month of the year, with constant warm temperatures of around 28°C and clear blue skies, allowing for a relaxing beach holiday, luxury honeymoon or family holiday. As there is very little rain at this time of year as well, it means the visibility for diving and snorkelling is superb.

March: Vietnam

March is the best time of year to scale the length and breadth of Vietnam. The usually sticky humidity has vanished into beautiful sunshine, making it an ideal time for relaxing on the southern beaches or trekking in the northern mountains. What’s more, it’s shoulder season which means you can see much more for less. Explore Vietnam’s cultural heartland, meander down the tranquil Mekong and discover the country’s culinary delights. A tailor-made holiday to Vietnam can also easily be combined with the cultural gems of Laos and Cambodia which are equally perfect at this time of year.

April: Japan

Although spring is on its way, April is traditionally one of the UK's wettest months, and so a great time to get away. Over in the Far East, April is a lovely time of year to visit Japan which sees the start of ‘sakura’ (cherry blossom season) when parks, gardens, and streets are transformed into pink paradises. The mild weather is ideal for hanami (flower viewing) across various locations including Tokyo (Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen), Kyoto (Maruyama Park, Philosopher's Path), and Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park).

May: China

May is a great month to visit China, offering a mix of cultural experiences, natural beauty and festivals including Labor Day, the Dragon Boat Festival and Luoyang Peony Festival. Temperatures at this time of year are generally warm and mild, making it an ideal time for trekking in the Yunnan Province, when the mountain slopes are covered in flowers, particularly rhododendrons. The first few days of May are a national holiday, which makes travelling very busy, so we would recommend planning around these dates.

June: Zambia

The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season between June and November, when visitors can expect warm days and blue skies. The rivers are still full and the bush is colourful after the rains making for some beautiful scenery. June and November are the shoulder season, so a great opportunity to make the most of lower rates, quieter camps and excellent game viewing without the crowds.

July: Indonesia

For a far-flung adventure in July, Indonesia is your best bet. However, it will be filling up in the popular destinations so we suggest exploring some of Indonesia’s remote islands. After all – there are over 17,000 of them! Find fabulous accommodation in Lombok, Bali’s lesser-known neighbour, or head to Raja Ampat, where it will be dry and warm, perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving above some of the world’s most pristine corals.

August: Botswana

August in Botswana is a safari lover's dream! Winter in Africa equals some of the best game viewing of the year, when the vegetation is sparse and animals are easily seen around the drying waterholes. Despite it being the dry season, the Okavango flood waters begin to rise as the water filters through from the central uplands of Angola, offering a unique opportunity to explore the islands in a mokoro and get even closer to wildlife.

If you’re looking to book a bespoke luxury trip to Asia or Southern Africa over the next 12 months, we’d love to hear from you. Our expert team can help recommend the best destinations depending on your month of travel.

Give us a call on +44(0) 207 81 99 770 or email info@ampersandtravel.com.