A curious traveller's guide to where to go in 2025
Is your calendar looking empty while a thirst for adventure stirs? Now is the perfect time to plan all those 2025 escapes, and Cox & Kings has some incredible small group tours, specialist-led tours and tailor-made holidays that will satisfy all your travel yearnings.
But with a whole world of destinations on offer, how will you choose where to go next? Follow this a month-by-month guide to find inspiration on where best to travel throughout the year and when.
January
Sri Lanka blends ancient mysticism with natural splendour, and until April 2025, British citizens are eligible for a free 30-day tourist visa. Escape to the pearl of the Indian Ocean for lush tea plantations, dreamy beaches, superb food and the chance to spy leopards and elephants. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, celebrations are afoot to mark 50 years since the country's reunification. It's the perfect chance to join an escorted tour exploring both north and south.
Plan a trip to Vietnam in January to celebrate 50 years since the country's reunification
Credit : Getty
February
Make the most of the Chilean summer and travel the country's length, from the arid Atacama Desert to the glaciers of Patagonia via lovely lakes, vineyards and leafy capital Santiago. Then cross the border into Argentina and travel north to discover opulent Buenos Aires and the stunning Iguazu Falls. Also this month, India is warm and dry and celebrates the Kumbh Mela festival at four sites – Haridwar, Prayagraj, Ujain and Nashik. Meanwhile, carnival season sees many countries, including Brazil with its world-famous Rio and Salvador carnivals, erupt in a riot of colour, music and dance.
March
Bijou in size but bursting with biodiversity, Costa Rica offers misty cloud forests and sultry rainforest, volcanoes and incredible wildlife. Steeped in tradition and relatively untouched by tourism, Oman is one of the Arabian Gulf's best-kept secrets. And you can witness one of the great flowerings of the world with the arrival of cherry blossom season in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Discover Costa Rica's incredible wildlife for yourself in May
Credit : Getty
April
In spring, Morocco is perfectly poised between mountain chill and dry desert heat, with daytime temperatures hovering around the mid 20s (perfect for city explorations). This is a prime time for enjoying Egypt's ancient wonders, too, with fewer crowds and warm days. Don't miss the country's Sham El-Nessim celebration on 21 April this year, with its roots in the ancient Egyptian celebration of spring. Another Middle Eastern country that lures in late spring is Jordan, which is coming to the end of its rainy season. It's an ideal time to see the stunning Wadi Rum valley.
May
Tiny Ecuador is packed with great experiences for travellers - whether that's witnessing sea turtle and marine iguana eggs hatch on the Galápagos Islands, or exploring the country's Andean peaks and Amazon forest. Visit the Southern Caucasus states of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. This month, the weather is pleasant, the landscapes are blooming and the crowds are light. Late spring in Portugal is a dream time to explore and mid-May sees the arrival of the Festival de Sintra, a celebration of classical music and opera held in the pretty town's palaces and gardens.
Head to Georgia, including Tbilisi, above, in May for pleasant weather without the crowds
Credit : Getty
June
It's dry season in Peru and a perfect time to tick off the country's extraordinary Inca wonders off your hit list, with Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley the top spots. You can also take in Cusco's colourful Inti Raymi festival of the sun on 24 June. Soak up the magic of Mediterranean nation Malta at the start of summer for deliciously warm weather without the summer throng, or set your sights further afield – now is a great time to take a Cox & Kings small group tour to Tanzania for the Great Migration, a mesmerising wildlife spectacle in the Serengeti.
July
Always wanted to ogle a gorilla in the wild? Now is the time. The first of Uganda's two dry seasons brings prime conditions for a Cox & Kings tailor-made tour, trekking into its mountainous forests to watch troops of rare mountain gorillas. Bolivia offers the chance to step back in time to a country that has stayed true to its cultural riches, and it also features some breathtaking natural wonders, such as Lake Titicaca. Closer to home, Slovenia is simply stunning in summer: combine beach days on its sliver of Adriatic coast and hikes and lake swims in its pretty alpine region..
See Uganda's magnificent mountain gorillas in their natural habitat in June
Credit : Getty
August
With warm temperatures and long daylight hours, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia and their historic cities and pretty landscapes are at their most enchanting in August – see them all on a small-group tour. The summer months are the perfect time to make the most of Norway's untouched nature too. And in Zimbabwe, dry season begins, meaning the country's wildlife heads to watering holes, making a safari an extra special experience.
September
If Uzbekistan isn't on your travel list it should be. This alluring Central Asian nation celebrates its first major biennial in September 2025, with the opening of a range of new museums and galleries celebrating the country's modern culture and ancient heritage. In Italy, as the summer crowds thin out, the wine harvest begins and its white truffle season in Piedmont. Over in Colombia, September brings ideal weather for discovering the myriad wonders of the Coffee Triangle and its balmy coastline.
Be sure to add a trip to Uzbekistan on your list for September
Credit : Getty
October
The shoulder season in Madagascar sees the perfect weather for discovering the island's extraordinary landscapes and unique wildlife – this month offers average highs of 25C to 30C. Looking for a closer escape? The weather is still enticingly warm in Turkey and 29 October marks Republic Day, a national celebration where public squares and parks burst into life with colourful processions, live music and festivities. A tour of Yunnan Province in south west China delivers a riot of autumnal colours in October, and the scenery is at its most spellbinding.
November
Head to Oaxaca and Lake Patzcuaro in Mexico on 1-2 November for the Día de Muertos – the Day of the Dead festival – a vibrant celebration of the legacies of the dearly departed. November is late spring in Argentina, with warm, clear weather and recent rains making it perfect for visiting the stunning landscapes of Salta in the north and a perfect time to visit the rugged wonders of Patagonia.
The otherworldly landscapes of Salta await visitors to Argentina in November
Credit : Getty
December
Saudi Arabia has fully opened up to tourism and is emerging as a unique destination that blends ancient heritage, dramatic landscapes and dazzling futurism. With cooler temperatures this month, it's an ideal time to explore. Thailand also enjoys perfect temperatures, with the dry season in the north making this month ideal for soaking up culture in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, followed by trekking to visit hill tribes.
Find out more and book your specialist tour at coxandkings.co.uk or call 0333 060 3239
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