Where to Travel in Early Autumn

As the UK settles into autumn, some places elsewhere are entering their most rewarding weeks. Temperatures ease, light softens and visitor numbers drop. This is not about escaping the season at home, but choosing alternative ways to spend the UK autumn in destinations that shine before peak season returns.

Crowds thin and conditions settle. Seas stay warm for gentle beach days, mornings are cooler for temple visits, and night skies are clearer in desert and high-plain regions. Wildlife and festivals line up too, from southern right whales off Argentina and turtle nesting in Tortuguero to jacaranda bloom in Buenos Aires and wildflowers across South Africa’s Western Cape. Availability improves and the pace is easier all round.

01. For the Temple Seeker: Cambodia. Quiet October dawns at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm with fewer crowds.

02. For the Culture Collector: Laos. Cooler post-monsoon days in Luang Prabang, lush green and low visitor numbers.

03. For the Island Adventurer: Indonesia. Sunshine and warm seas across Bali, Java, Sumba and Komodo just before the rains.

04. For the Atoll Explorer: The Maldives. Warm lagoons and manta congregation season in Baa Atoll toward early autumn.

05. For the Migration Witness: Valdés Peninsula, Argentina. Southern right whales in sheltered bays; best viewing August to October.

06. For the Sky Chaser: Atacama Desert and Bolivia’s Salt Flats. Dry air, clear nights and flamingos at Laguna Colorada.

07. For the City Stroller: Buenos Aires. Spring light and jacaranda bloom from late October.

08. For the Wildlife Wonderer: Costa Rica. Turtle nesting on the Caribbean coast; quieter trails inland.

09. For the Celebration Seeker: Mexico. Day of the Dead in early November across Oaxaca, Mexico City and Chiapas.

10. For the Horseback Traveller: Córdoba, Argentina. Half-term friendly estancia riding paired with city culture.

11. For the Bloom Hunter: South Africa’s Western Cape. September wildflowers on the West Coast and in the Cederberg.

Rainfall decreases as the dry season approaches in November. October is a great time to explore Angkor with fewer crowds and cooler mornings, before visitor numbers climb.

Ultimate Highlight: Pre-dawn temple tour of Angkor Wat or Ta Prohm at first light, before the crowds.

Where to Stay: Jaya House River Park | Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang | Amansara

At a glance: Best weeks October • Flight time 14 hours • For families or couples

Featured itinerary: Classic Laos & Cambodia

Like Cambodia, Laos sees less rain and lower visitor numbers in October. Post-monsoon air is cooler, the countryside is at its most beautiful, and Luang Prabang is ideal for gentle exploring.

Ultimate Highlight: Food tour in Luang Prabang.

Where to Stay: Satri House | La Folie Lodge | Namkat Yorla Pa Resort

At a glance: Best weeks October • Flight time 14 hours • For families or couples

Featured itinerary: Simply Laos

October is an ideal time for Bali, Java and neighbouring islands just before the rains. Expect slightly higher temperatures and humidity, plenty of sunshine and fewer crowds, with warm seas for island-hopping.

Ultimate Highlight: Sunrise breakfast with a view of Borobudur Temple; horse riding on the beach at Nihi Sumba; snorkelling in Komodo National Park.

Where to Stay: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan | Amanjiwo | NIHI Sumba | Aqua Blu

At a glance: Best weeks October • Flight time 18 hours • For families or couples

Featured itinerary: Ultimate Indonesia

Early autumn sits toward the end of the southwest monsoon. Expect warm seas, a mix of sunshine and passing showers in September and October, and more settled days as November approaches. Marine life is a draw at this time of year, including well-known manta congregation periods in Baa Atoll, while lagoon snorkelling remains gentle across many resorts.

Ultimate Highlight: A guided outing to drift with reef mantas in Baa Atoll when conditions align, or an easy house-reef snorkel in a calm lagoon.

Where to Stay: COMO Maalifushi (Thaa Atoll) | Baros | The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands | Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

At a glance: Best weeks late September to November • Flight time 10–11 hours direct from London, or 13–15 hours via one stop • For couples, honeymooners and families

Austral spring brings southern right whales to the calm, nutrient-rich waters of Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José. August, September and October are prime for sightings from the beaches at Puerto Madryn and Playa Doradillo, or by boat from Puerto Pirámides. Orcas are also seen around Caleta Valdés from October to December.

Ultimate Highlight: Take a private boat or kayak into the bay to see whales up close, or follow an estancia trail to watch from shore, then pause for a Patagonian picnic with Argentine wines.

Where to Stay: Estancia Rincón Chico | Bahía Bustamante | Dazzler Puerto Madryn

At a glance: Best weeks September to October (and even August) • Flight time 16–18 hours via Buenos Aires • For families, couples and solo travellers

Availability and value: Small lodges fill early. Plan eight to ten months ahead.

September to November is dry and clear across this high-altitude region. Crowds thin, daytime temperatures rise and nights are ideal for stargazing. Avoid full-moon dates if night skies are a priority. Hiking, horse riding and other outdoor pursuits work well, and flamingos gather at Laguna Colorada in the Eduardo Avaroa National Park.

Ultimate Highlight: Private picnic overlooking the ruby-red waters of Laguna Colorada, with views of Andean flamingos.

Where to Stay: Awasi Atacama | Explora Travesía | Casa Molle

At a glance: Best weeks September to November; avoid full-moon nights for stargazing • Flight time 18 hours via Santiago • For families, couples and solo travellers

Spring brings warmer days and clear skies. Streets are calmer than in high season and, from late October, jacaranda trees bloom purple across the city. It is the time for architecture, cafés and neighbourhood wanderings without the summer rush.

Ultimate Highlight: Guided stroll past architectural highlights in Palermo and La Boca, with stops at art-deco cafés and street-food spots.

Where to Stay: Hub Porteño | Be Jardín Escondido | Palacio Duhau, Park Hyatt

At a glance: Best weeks late September to late November • Flight time 13–15 hours, direct or connecting • For couples and food lovers

Travel to the Caribbean coast between September and early November means thinner crowds and peak turtle activity. Green sea turtles, loggerheads, hawksbills and leatherbacks nest along Tortuguero’s beaches, best seen at night with ranger supervision and limited permits. Inland, rafting, zip-lining and jungle hikes are quieter.

Ultimate Highlight: Night visit to turtle nests in Tortuguero under park-ranger guidance. Earlier in the season, you may see hatchlings emerge from the sand and reach the ocean.

Where to Stay: Tortuga Lodge | Manatus | Aguas Claras

At a glance: Best weeks early September to late October • Flight time 14–16 hours with one stop • For families, honeymooners and nature lovers

The start of November marks Day of the Dead. Families create ofrendas with marigolds, photographs and favourite foods to honour those who have passed. Celebrations vary by place, from Oaxaca’s elaborate streets and processions to Mexico City’s parades and Chiapas’s more intimate traditions.

Ultimate Highlight: Celebrate Mexico’s Day of the Dead, a two-day holiday that brings the living and the departed together in remembrance and celebration.

Where to Stay: Casa Oaxaca | Hotel Bo, San Cristóbal de las Casas | The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City

At a glance: Best weeks early November • Flight time 12 hours direct to Mexico City, plus about 1.5 hours domestic to Oaxaca or Tuxtla Gutiérrez • For couples

Availability and value: Book well in advance. Oaxaca fills months ahead and rates rise around the festival.

The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn bring warm temperatures and low humidity to Córdoba. Spring from September to November is especially good for riding and rural life in the sierras, combined with time in Argentina’s second city. Flights via Madrid help make it a neat half-term option.

Ultimate Highlight: Experience gaucho life on a working cattle ranch, with riding, polo and picnic asados in the hills.

Where to Stay: Azur Real Hotel | Estancia Los Potreros

At a glance: Best weeks October for half-term, strong throughout September to November • Flight time around 17 hours via Madrid • For families or couples, riders of any level

Availability and value: Very popular in school holidays. Book early for half-term.

September transforms the Western Cape with wildflowers after winter rains. The West Coast, Namaqualand and the Cederberg display carpets of daisies and vygies, while Paternoster combines beaches with nature reserves. Add expert-led outings for rock art in the Cederberg and penguin viewing on the coast.

Ultimate Highlight: Specialist-guided wildflower day with time for Cederberg rock art and West Coast reserves.

Where to Stay: Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve | Simbavati Cederberg Ridge | Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel, Paternoster

At a glance: Best weeks September • Flight time 11 hours direct to Cape Town • For families, couples and nature lovers

Availability and value: Best booked at least eight months ahead, although last-minute space can appear.

Start planning your perfect autumn trip, tailored to your needs and designed around the season’s best experiences.

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