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Travel Calendar
Time your trip right with our Travel Calendar to find the best destination for your planned month of travel.
By Walk into Luxury
Our travel calendar highlights the destinations that shine each month of the year, helping you match your planned time of travel with the best destinations. If you have a specific destination in mind, and want to know when is the best time to go, check out our in-depth Seasonal Destination Guide.
January & February
Great for hiking in the Southern hemisphere, sailing the Patagonian fiords and cruising to Antarctica. If you're planning an Australian journey, pick Tasmania for a walking journey at this time of year.
Trip Inspiration
- 18 Day Glaciers National Park & Antarctica Journey
Combine a luxury journey through Patagonia's Glaciers National Park with an ultra-luxe Scenic Eclipse Antarctica cruise timed with calm waters and clear skies
Recommended destinations in January & February
- Marlborough & Abel Tasman Coast - best for coastal walks, kayaking and swimming
- Queenstown & South Island Walks - all trails are open and hiking conditions are mild
- Antarctica - peak sailing season for Antarctic cruises
- Patagonia - best for clear skies and access to Grey Bridges Hike on the W-Trek
- Tasmania - best for reliable dry conditions and warmer beaches for swimming
GREAT SHOULDER SEASON OPTIONS
January and February is typically a peak travel time, and availability can be a challenge in destinations like Australia. Special luxury travel options away from the crowds in these months include Bouddi Coastal Walk near Sydney, Longitude 131 at Uluru, and the annual True North cruise in South Australia which takes in Kangaroo Island at its Summer best.
Images (L-R): Bay of Many Coves, Milford Track, Scenic Eclipse, Towers Base Hike, Lake St Clair.
March & April
Great for visiting Australia and New Zealand as the peak of summer fades. Ideal walking conditions in Japan and Patagonia for access to the best trails.
Trip Inspiration
- 10 Day West Coast Luxury: Ningaloo, Margaret River & Rottnest
Discover Margaret River, Rottnest Island, Ningaloo Reef and Perth on this 10 day private journey showcasing the best of the Western Australia
Recommended destinations in March & April
- Ningaloo Reef - best from late March for swimming with whale sharks, and seeing the turtles hatch on the beach
- Margaret River - best for swimming, warm weather and hiking the Cape to Cape track
- Blue Mountains & Sydney's Central Coast - best for mild walking conditions
- Tasmania - best in March for reliable dry conditions and warmer beaches
- Kimberley - best from April for dramatic waterfalls after the rainy season
- Australia's Outback - from April to avoid the heat and humidity of the rainy season
- Marlborough Sounds & Abel Tasman Coast - best in March for coastal walks, kayaking and swimming
- Queenstown & South Island Great Walks - optimal hiking conditions and access to trails
- Patagonia - March for access to all trails in Torres del Paine National Park and nearby Glaciers National Park; April for less crowds
- Japan's Pilgrim Trails - ideal walking conditions on the trails
GREAT SHOULDER SEASON OPTION
For dry mild conditions away from the peak Summer crowds, we recommend visiting Marlborough & Abel Tasman Coast region in March or April. All the trails are open and water taxis operating but there is a calmer feeling with less people on the trails.
Images (L-R): Sal Salis, Injidup Spa Retreat, Mt Banks Hike, Pumphouse Point, El Questro Gorge, Longitude 131, Queen Charlotte Track, Milford Track, Tierra Patagonia, Kumano Kodo Trail.
May & June
Perfect timing for an Australian journey, with cooler weather and mostly dry conditions for hiking. If you're looking at Asia, Japan is ideal at this time of year, with access to the best pilgrim trails and alpine hikes.
Trip Inspiration
- 5 Day Kimberley Walk at El Questro Homestead
Discover the best of the Kimberley on foot and by air, and the gorges and waterfalls of El Questro on this luxury lodge-based journey
Recommended destinations in May & June
- Ningaloo Reef - swimming with whale sharks and snorkelling
- Margaret River - hiking the Cape to Cape track and visiting world-class wineries
- Kimberley - flowing waterfalls in May; ideal warm, dry conditions from June
- Australia's Outback (Uluru, Flinders Ranges, Top End) - best for milder weather and less humidity
- Blue Mountains & Sydney's Central Coast - best for ideal hiking conditions
- Japan's Pilgrim Trails - ideal walking conditions on the trails
- Japan's Alps - best from June for access to the alpine hike at Mt Hotaka
GREAT SHOULDER SEASON OPTION
Japan's Kumano Kodo & Kii Pensinula and the Nakasendo Trail are great value options in late May and June, just outside the peak season but before the wet season kicks in later in July-August. These popular trails are best outside peak months so plan for June to escape the crowds.
Images (L-R): Sal Salis, Cape to Cape Walk, Kimberley Walk, Bamurru Plains, Pretty Beach House, Muni Kyoto, Gosenjaku Hotel
July & August
Winter in the Southern Hemisphere brings with it mild and dry weather in the outback and Ningaloo and Kimberley regions. Further afield, the Atacama desert has perfect conditions for its world famous clear star-gazing skies.
Trip Inspiration
- 4 Day Best of Japan's Alps: Kamikochi, Mt Fuji & Mt Hotaka
Discover Kamikochi and Mount Hotaka in Japan's Northern Alps, and Mt Fuji in the South, on this private luxury journey from Matsumoto to Tokyo
Recommended destinations in May & June
- Ningaloo Reef - best in July for swimming with whale sharks; best from August for swimming with humpback whales
- Kimberley - best for warm and dry conditions, cruising and access to the Bungle Bungles hike
- Australia's Outback (Uluru, Flinders Ranges, Top End) - best for milder weather and less humidity
- Atacama Desert - best for mild weather and clear skies, ideal for star-gazing
- Japan's Alps - best walking conditions and access to the alpine hike at Mt Hotaka
GREAT SHOULDER SEASON OPTION
Ningaloo Reef in August (or September) is a great option for fine mild conditions after the school holiday crowds leave, and offers the chance to witness the humpback whale migration along the coast. You might catch a late whale shark, but if not, the Mantarays, turtles and other marine life still make for great snorkelling.
Images (L-R): Sal Salis, True North Kimberley Cruise, Longitude 131, Tierra Atacama, Mt Fuji
September & October
Trip Inspiration
- 5 Day Red Centre to Top End including The Ghan
Discover Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Nitmiluk Gorge and Kings Canyon by air and on foot on this exclusive journey including overnight onboard The Ghan, and the ultimate in outback luxury at Longitude 131˚
Recommended destinations in September & October
- Atacama Desert - best in September for mild weather and clear skies, ideal for star-gazing
- Kimberley - early September for warm and dry conditions and access to the Bungle Bungles hike
- Australia's Outback (Uluru, Flinders Ranges, Top End) - mild weather and less humidity
- Ningaloo Reef - swimming with humpback whales and snorkelling
- Margaret River - best time to see wildflowers on the Cape to Cape track
- Japan's Alps - best in September for access to the alpine hike at Mt Hotaka
- Japan's Pilgrim Trails - ideal walking conditions on the trail
- Taupo and surrounds - best from October for milder conditions and a mighty Huka Falls after the winter rains
- Queenstown & South Island Great Walks - best from October for hiking trips on the South Island, when all trails are open
GREAT SHOULDER SEASON OPTION
Time your trip to Patagonia and the Atacama Desert for the shoulder months of October (or November) for less crowds and mild conditions. The shoulder season in Patagonia is markedly better value than the peak months of December to February, making a combined Best of Chile journey a great value option at this time.
Images (L-R): Salt Flats Atacama, Kimberley Walk at El Questro, The Ghan, Sal Salis, Smiths Beach Resort, Huka Lodge, Kepler Track, Matsumoto Castle, Eko-in Temple Lodge.
November & December
Trip Inspiration
- 4 Day Kepler, Milford & Routeburn Track Walk
Heli-hike the Kepler Track and enjoy guided walks on the Milford and Routeburn Tracks, returning each day to luxury lodge accommodation
Recommended destinations in September & October
- Taupo and surrounds - best in November for mild conditions and a fast-flowing Huka Falls
- Marlborough Sounds & Abel Tasman Coast - best from December for warmer weather and swimming conditions, kayaking and coastal walks
- Queenstown & South Island Great Walks - best for hiking trips on the South Island, when all trails are open
- Tasmania - December for dry conditions and warmer beaches
- Margaret River - November for ideal hiking conditions on the Cape to Cape track
- Antarctica - best for cruising as the sailing season officially opens
- Patagonia - best for hiking and access to all trails in Torres del Paine National Park and nearby Glaciers National Park
- Atacama Desert - best in December for less crowds
- Japan's Alps - best until early November for best walking conditions
GREAT SHOULDER SEASON OPTION
We recommend Nikko National Park in November for the end of the Autumn foliage outside the peak month of October.
Images (L-R): Cape Kidnappers, Queen Charlotte Walk, Fiordland Lodge, Maria Island Walk, Cape to Cape Walk, Australis Antarctica Cruise, Grey Glacier Hike, Awasi Atacama, Fufu Kawaguchiko.
In Australia and New Zealand, luxury travel is closely linked with accessing our natural landscapes and world-class food and wine, and trips that prioritise these elements are our absolute passion. If you need help planning your next luxury lodge stay or private adventure, our local Journey Designers are here to assist seven days a week.
