Where to go on holiday in January
If you’re planning a winter holiday next year, January is a great time to visit the Caribbean – particularly if all you want to do is lie on the beach. The south offers warmer climes, with the islands of Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados routinely reaching the high 20s but without the high humidity of summer. It’s also a good time to enjoy Sri Lanka’s amazing beaches when it’s mostly warm and dry in the central, western and southern regions. And the rush of the city and the glamour of luxury desert adventures can be found on a trip to Dubai – an excellent place to banish the January blues at a time when heat is guaranteed.
Caribbean
Filled with breathtaking scenery, each island has its own distinct character and we offer ten Caribbean islands to explore. St Lucia’s verdant volcanoes are beautiful at this time of year and the excitement of Cuba’s adventurous soul is tempered with long dips in the seas, where balmy temperatures average 25°C. Warm days filled with bright sunshine make January the perfect time to visit – without the worry of tropical storms and hurricanes.
Dubai
Holidays to Dubai take you to one of the world’s most glamorous metropolises, and at just a seven-hour flight away you don’t have to travel to the other side of the world to get some guaranteed winter warmth. With temperatures around 20°C during the day, pleasantly comfortable, cool nights and just one day of rainfall per month, it’s the perfect time to go for warmth without the stifling heat of the summer.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a culture lover’s heaven; full of ancient ruins and colonial-age relics (if you have more time, a visit to the Cultural Triangle is a must), fantastic national parks teeming with free-roaming wildlife, and beaches and tea plantations that dazzle with colour. January is a good time to visit the beaches of Negombo, Bentota or Tangalle as the weather is generally warm and dry in the central, western and southern regions.
India
When you visit India you leave with a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Our handpicked holidays take you to a land of colourful festivals, sacred landmarks and stunning scenery – from the beautiful beaches of Goa and the temples of Madhya Pradesh to the tranquil backwaters of Kerala and the culture of the Golden Triangle. At this time the humidity is lower than the rest of the year, the days are warm but not fiercely hot, and the monsoons are many months away.
New Zealand
With the epic landscapes of both the North Island and South Island, New Zealand has an array of attractions. There are dazzling glaciers (best viewed by helicopter), geothermal sites with bubbling sulphur pools and erupting geysers, sophisticated rooftop bars, pebble beaches and dramatic fiords. With humid, tropical heat on the beaches of the North Island and cooler, fresher temperatures in the mountains of the South Island, January is the perfect time to visit this captivating and naturally stunning destination.
Thailand
Thailand has long been a favourite with travellers. Famed for its beaches, wildlife, vibrant cities and unique cultural attractions, it’s one of the few places in the world where you can see a city, rainforest and coast in one trip. With dry and sunny days at around 30°C this time of year, tempered by the balmy waters of the South China Sea, it’s the perfect escape for some January warmth.