Where to go, and when

9 good choices for January

• Indian OceanThe MaldivesDry season at its best: calm seas and clear skies.
• CaribbeanBarbadosClassic Barbados: dry, sunny days of 27 to 30°C, cool trade-wind nights and a glassy Caribbean Sea on the west coast.
• AsiaSri LankaThe classic month.
• AfricaZanzibarThe short dry season settles in and gets drier as the month goes on.
• AmericasMexicoCool, crisp mornings in Mexico City, around 24°C in Cancún and dependable sunshine.
• AsiaThailandThe classic month.
• AfricaSouth AfricaCape Town at its warmest and driest, with average highs around 26°C.
• AfricaThe Great MigrationCalving begins on the southern Serengeti plains.
• Middle EastDubaiThe coolest month, with highs around 24°C and nights near 14°C.

9 good choices for February

• Indian OceanThe MaldivesThe surest weather of the year, with glass-calm lagoons.
• CaribbeanBarbadosReliably dry and bright, with the Holetown Festival filling St James with parades, folk music and food stalls for a week in mid-February.
• AsiaSri LankaDry and settled on the south and west coasts, with the safari season opening as water levels start to fall in Yala and Udawalawe.
• AfricaZanzibarOften the hottest month and one of the driest, with around 56mm of rain.
• AmericasMexicoArguably the finest all-round month: dry, warm on the coast and the height of the monarch season in the highlands.
• AsiaThailandStill superb on the beaches, and one of Koh Samui's driest months.
• AfricaSouth AfricaAnother warm, settled month in the Cape, with highs near 26°C and the local holiday crowds gone.
• AfricaThe Great MigrationPeak calving around Ndutu, with predators close behind.
• Middle EastDubaiSimilar to January, with highs around 25°C and the odd shower.

9 good choices for March

• Indian OceanThe MaldivesHot, dry and clear, with superb visibility under water.
• CaribbeanBarbadosStill squarely in the dry season, with long sunny days and steady Atlantic swell on the east coast.
• AsiaSri LankaHot, humid and still dry in the south-west, and one of the busiest months.
• AmericasMexicoWarming up, with Tulum near 26°C.
• AfricaSouth AfricaArguably the sweet spot for the Cape: highs around 25°C, harvest still running and the long days of summer winding down gently.
• AsiaJapanWinter loosens its grip.
• AfricaMoroccoSpring arrives, with Sahara days around 24°C and showers still possible in the mountains.
• Middle EastDubaiHighs climb to about 30°C and the sea warms past 22°C.
• EuropeThe Orient ExpressThe season opens.

9 good choices for April

• Indian OceanThe MaldivesThe last dry month and the warmest sea of the year.
• CaribbeanBarbadosThe tail of peak season and the sweet spot for many: dry weather holds, crowds thin after Easter and hawksbill turtles start nesting on the west and south coasts.
• AmericasMexicoThe end of the dry season and the last month of the grey whale permits.
• AsiaJapanKyoto reaches full bloom around 4 April on average, and the first week is the most sought after of the year.
• AfricaMoroccoOne of the best months of the year for sightseeing, with warm days, cool evenings and only occasional rain.
• EuropeThe Amalfi CoastThe season begins.
• EuropeCroatiaThe season opens.
• EuropePortugalSpring in full bloom and one of the best months for walking and cycling.
• EuropeThe Orient ExpressDepartures pick up and Venice warms into spring.

4 good choices for May

• AfricaMoroccoMarrakech reaches about 29°C by the end of the month and rain is rare.
• EuropeThe Amalfi CoastOne of the best months of the year.
• EuropeCroatiaOne of the best months.
• EuropePortugalOne of the best months.

6 good choices for June

• AfricaZanzibarThe long rains end, beach lodges reopen and the Kusi wind arrives.
• AsiaBaliDry and slightly cooler, with nine hours of sun a day.
• EuropeThe Amalfi CoastSummer arrives without the August crush.
• EuropeCroatiaEarly summer at its finest.
• EuropePortugalSummer without the peak.
• EuropeIcelandThe midnight sun month: around 21 hours of direct sunlight in Reykjavík and a sky that never truly darkens.

5 good choices for July

• AfricaZanzibarThe dry season in full swing, with about 48mm of rain and steady breezes.
• AsiaBaliClassic dry-season weather and the busiest month, with Australian and European holidays overlapping.
• AfricaThe Great MigrationRiver crossings begin on the Mara River.
• EuropeIcelandThe warmest, busiest month and the most reliable for the highlands, with most F-roads open and Landmannalaugar at its best.
• EuropeThe Orient ExpressStill a fine month on the train, which is the cool and calm part of the trip.

5 good choices for August

• AfricaZanzibarDry, sunny and pleasantly cool, from about 20°C at night to 30°C by day.
• AsiaBaliThe driest month, averaging one rainy day, with a cooler sea at around 26°C.
• AfricaThe Great MigrationPeak Mara River crossings in Kenya and Tanzania.
• EuropeIcelandStill high summer, but darkness returns late in the month and the first aurora becomes possible.
• EuropeThe Orient ExpressFewer departures than early summer and the hottest, most crowded Venice of the year.

7 good choices for September

• AfricaZanzibarOne of the best months for weather, with few rainy days and around 50mm of rain.
• AfricaMoroccoThe heat starts to ease, with the Sahara around 33°C and the High Atlas still warm.
• AsiaBaliArguably the sweet spot: still dry, sea visibility is good and visitor numbers fall after the August peak.
• AfricaThe Great MigrationCrossings continue in the northern Serengeti and the Mara.
• EuropeThe Amalfi CoastArguably the finest month.
• EuropeCroatiaArguably the best month.
• EuropePortugalArguably the best month.

7 good choices for October

• AfricaZanzibarThe first half is excellent for beaches and diving.
• AsiaJapanSettled, comfortable weather returns.
• AfricaMoroccoA near perfect month: warm days around 27 to 28°C in Marrakech and the desert, chilly desert nights and the first rain in the mountains late on.
• AfricaThe Great MigrationThe last crossings before the herds turn south.
• EuropeThe Amalfi CoastWarm days around 19°C and a sea near 22°C, but rain increases.
• EuropeCroatiaWarm days around 21°C and a sea near 21°C, but more rain.
• EuropePortugalExcellent weather for hiking, cycling and city breaks.

7 good choices for November

• AmericasMexicoThe dry season begins and the month opens with Día de Muertos.
• AsiaThailandThe cool season returns to Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast.
• AfricaSouth AfricaSummer begins in the Cape, with highs around 23°C and long, bright evenings.
• AsiaJapanThe great autumn month.
• AfricaMoroccoPleasant days around 20 to 22°C but cooler evenings, and the wettest month of the year around Marrakech.
• Middle EastDubaiOne of the best months: highs around 31°C, nights near 20°C and the sea at about 27°C, still warm enough for long swims.
• EuropeThe Orient ExpressThe late season: shorter days, the first snow on the high passes and a misty, atmospheric Venice.

7 good choices for December

• Indian OceanThe MaldivesThe dry season returns, with peak festive prices.
• CaribbeanBarbadosThe dry season returns and so do the crowds.
• AsiaSri LankaGalle and Bentota dry out by late December as the west coast season begins.
• AmericasMexicoDry, sunny and around 24°C in Tulum, with the clearest Caribbean water of the year.
• AsiaThailandExcellent nationwide except the Gulf, where the rains tail off.
• AfricaSouth AfricaCape Town is warm and dry with highs near 25°C, and the whole country goes on holiday.
• Middle EastDubaiHighs of about 26°C, with occasional rain and a sea around 23°C.