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WHEN TO GO

INDIA, PAKISTAN, NEPAL, BHUTAN & SRI LANKA
India is so vast that it is possible to travel at almost all times of the year and find an area of the country where the weather is at its best. In general our winter from October to March is the best time to visit the majority of India. Monsoon rains lasts from June to September, however, this is the best time to visit the northern region of Ladakh. Areas of South India often receive a second monsoon from around mid-October through to November. The best time to visit Bhutan and the foothills of the Himalayas is from September to November and then again from March to May. The best time to see Nepal is from October to May – with November being the best month for mountain views and March to May for the flora. Sri Lanka has a tropical climate the year round but the best time to visit is from September to April.

INDOCHINA
November to February are probably the best months to visit Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Summer months in Phuket can be unsettled whereas Ko Samui is at its best from April to September. Malaysia has a tropical climate all year round and sudden downpours can occur at any time. Eastern Malaysia is at its wettest from November to March and Western Malaysia in March and April and from September to November.

CHINA & JAPAN
In China the climate can vary considerably depending on the area visited. In general the best time to visit China, Japan and South Korea is during our spring or autumn. From March to May and September to early November the weather, in general is pleasantly warm, avoids the heat of summer and the cold, especially in northern China, of winter.

NORTH AFRICA, TURKEY & MIDDLE EAST
Overall the best time to visit Morocco and Turkey is from March to June and September to November. From December to February the climate is similar to Southern Europe and can be variable, either warm and sunny or cool and wet. For mountain walking spring, summer and autumn are fine in the Atlas Mountains. Marrakech can be enjoyed all year round, although it can be very hot from June to August.

Egypt and Libya both have Mediterranean climates in their coastal regions with hot summers and cooler winter temperatures whilst the sun shines the year round with rainy days the exception rather than the rule. Summer in the Sahara can be very hot, however, winter is sunny and pleasant in the desert during the day with temperatures dropping below freezing at night making both countries year-round destinations.

The best time to visit Syria and Jordan is in the spring, from March to May, when wild flowers are in bloom or during the autumn, October to November, when the weather is milder. Summer is long, from May to September and in general hot and dry. Winter is an ideal time to visit Jordan’s Red Sea coast with its warm and sunny days.

ETHIOPIA
Because of its high altitude Ethiopia experiences a temperate climate despite its proximity to the equator. The best time to visit is from October to May and the rainy season is normally from June to September.

CENTRAL ASIA
Covering such a vast area of different terrains, landscapes and features, Central Asia’s climate can vary noticeably throughout the year. The general rule to follow is that summers are usually hot whilst winters can be very cold as well as the fact that it will be more temperate the further south you travel. For the majority of the region March to late October is the best time to travel. Spring is mild and flowers will be in bloom, summer can be hot but is dry, whilst autumn is clear and crisp with the occasional frosty morning.

ARMENIA
The best time to travel to Armenia is either during the spring or autumn, however, the only real times that should be avoided are from late November to late February when temperatures can become very cold. March to May is a beautiful time, green and blossoming and from June to September days are warm and rainfall is a rarity. Autumn, from September to early November, is a glorious time of year characterised by long warm days, however, as befits a country so geographically diverse certain regions vary throughout the year.

IRAN
A year-round destination, Iran is fortunate to have a climate where all seasons have their advantages. In general any time from spring to autumn is a good time to travel, however, as with any other large country, climates change from region to region – an example being winter where the coastal plains are pleasantly warm as opposed to the far northwest which can be bitterly cold. Overall, spring, summer and winter are warm, sometimes hot and usually dry thus making March to the end of October the best time to travel.

SOUTH AMERICA
Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands can be visited the year round, although the best time for visiting the Andean areas is between May and October. The Galapagos Islands have hot and sunny days with brief showers from January to June with the rest of the year tending to be drier but cooler with overcast weather. Seas can be slightly rough in July and August. The Amazon regions in Peru can be hot and damp all year round, but is at its wettest from May to October.

Chile and Argentina have many different climatic regions. The Lake District is at its best from October to March while the peak season months of December and January attract many visitors. Patagonia has a very changeable climate and being this far south you must be prepared for anything even during the high season months of October to March. Weather conditions in Patagonia can be severe during June, July or August making this region effectively closed. The north-west of Argentina can be very hot from December to February while the Mendoza region is temperate the year round. The Atacama Desert and Easter Island can be visited all year but the Atacama is at its best from October to June.

In general Brazil can be visited at any time and has a warm tropical climate other than in the far south and south-east of the country which have a cooler period between June and September. Brazil’s Amazon is hot and humid all year long with the heaviest rains from December to March which cause the rivers to rise and lakes to flood. The best time to visit this area is from June to August. The Pantanal is at its best during the dry season from May to September.