As the autumnal hues give way to frosty mornings and Halloween decorations are swapped for twinkling Christmas lights, November marks the start of the winter season and there are plenty of atmospheric destinations to spend the cooler months. Whether you’re looking to celebrate Thanksgiving in style, join in the Diwali festivities in India, or escape to sunnier climes in the southern hemisphere, here are some ideas for where to go in November.
1. Jordan
Petra in Jordan
Skipping the high season crowds and blistering summer heat makes November a strategic time for budget travelers to head to Jordan, with plenty of cheap travel deals available. The nights will be getting chilly as the end of the month nears, but the mild days will be ideal for hiking the dramatic landscape of Wadi Rum, where David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia, or exploring the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, one of the undisputed gems of the Middle East. If the weather stays warm you could even enjoy snorkeling along the Red Sea coast or challenge gravity with a buoyant dip in the salty Dead Sea.
2. Morocco
With the peak season crowds dispersing and the midsummer temperatures dialing back down, autumn is an ideal time to visit Morocco. Make the most of the temperate weather by camel trekking in the Sahara or hiking in the High Atlas mountains (although make sure to wrap up warm after sunset); tour the grand palaces and vibrant souks of Marrakesh; or explore the famous dyer’s quarters of Fez. As winter sets in along the coast, November is also the start of Morocco’s best surf season, so those looking to catch some waves should head to Atlantic resorts like Taghazout or Essaouira.
3. United Arab Emirates
Camels in Dubai
The lavish hotels and dazzling architecture of the United Arab Emirates has made it a hotspot for western travelers in recent years, and November marks the start of peak season, with temperatures dropping to more bearable levels. Escape the urban sprawl of Dubai with a sandboarding, camel trekking or camping trip into the desert; check out the awe-inspiring Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan Mosque, then hit the beach in Abu Dhabi; or hop over the border to neighboring Oman, where you can marvel at the all-white neo-Islamic architecture and pay a visit to the magnificent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the largest in the gulf.
4. Thai Islands
Ko Phi Phi Island
Peak season might mean higher prices and more crowds, but the dry season is still the best time to travel in Thailand, with endlessly sunny days and balmy nights offering the perfect antidote to the winter season back home. Head to the gulf coast, where you can lounge on the white sand beaches of Ko Samui, learn to scuba dive in the warm coral-filled waters off Ko Tao or party the night away at the legendary Full Moon raves on Ko Pha-Ngan. Alternatively, enjoy adventure activities on Phuket, hike through the rainforest on Ko Chang, discover the film setting for the 2000 movie ‘The Beach’ on Ko Phi Phi, or escape the crowds with a cruise to lesser-known islands like Ko Lipe, Ko Tarutao or Ko Lanta.
5. Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam
Angkor Wat
Emerging from its water-logged monsoon season, South East Asia’s high season kicks off in November and this is the time to explore the verdant rainforests, ornate temples and lively market towns of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Float down the Mekong Delta on a longboat, cycle around the UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat or sample the best of Vietnamese cuisine at Hanoi’s street markets. Laos is another burgeoning hotspot for travelers, where you can munch croissants in the French colonial capital of Vientiane, then get off-the-beaten-track hiking in the northern jungle.
6. Bali
Few destinations are as unabashedly spiritual as Bali and the Indonesian island makes a tranquil retreat for sun-seekers wanting a dose of enlightenment with their suntan. Cast off your winter woollies and hit the beach for a surfing lesson in Bali, cycle around the idyllic rice paddies, climb a volcano or simply enjoy the legendary Balinese hospitality.
7. Queensland, Australia
The Gold Coast
Summer is on its way in Australia, so head north to the sunniest state before the temperatures sky-rocket and the tropical rains begin to fall. This is an idyllic time for sightseeing in Brisbane or Cairns, visiting the famous Queensland theme parks or cruising along the northern shores. Make the most of the warm waters by learning to surf on the picture-perfect beaches of the Gold Coast or tick the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef off your bucket list with a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion through the breathtaking 2000km of colorful coral reefs.
8. New Zealand North Island
Visit Hobbiton
Australia’s smaller neighbor will also be celebrating the arrival of summer this month and November offers the ideal weather for getting active on New Zealand’s North Island. Rappel beneath a canopy of glowworms in the famous Waitomo Caves, brave an Auckland Harbour bridge climb, work your way through your bucket list in the adventure sports Mecca of Rotorua, or escape to a fantasy world with a LOTR tour of Hobbiton. Or why not time your visit for the Waiheke Olive Festival, held on Waiheke island off the coast of Auckland, check out the Toast Martinborough food and wine festival, or get glammed up for the races as the highly anticipated NZ Cup and Show week hits the South Island.
9. Rajathsan, India
It’s an atmospheric time to explore India’s largest state, with two of the year’s biggest events taking place this month. First up is the world-famous Diwali Festival of Lights (this year held on November 3rd), with visitors coming from all around the world to view the dazzling illuminated markets of Jaipur, watch fireworks raining over the Pink City and join in the local festivities in celebration of the Hindu New Year. Equally unique is the Pushkar Camel Fair, held over 5-days to mark the Kartik Purnima full moon (this year from November 9th-17th) and bringing crowds of up to 300,000 people to buy, sell and trade over 20,000 camels, horses and livestock. The traditional trade fair is a spectacle in itself, but the annual event is also marked by festivities, with camel races, cricket matches, prize-givings and live music held around the sacred Pushkar Lake.
10. Spanish Islands
Temperatures might be plummeting in Western Europe, but there are still some pockets of sunshine to be found without leaving the continent. Head to the Balearic Islands on Spain’s Mediterranean coast where you can walk or horseback ride along the famous beaches of Menorca or discover a different side of Ibiza, as the party capital winds down over the winter months. Alternatively, head south to the Canary Islands where the sun is shining year-round and summer hotspots like Tenerife and Lanzarote offer some remarkable low-season bargains.
11. Southern Italy and Sicily
Naples Pizza
While the northern Alps will be prepping for the winter ski season, the Mediterranean islands and coastal resorts of Southern Italy will still be bathing in the last of the autumn sun and with the summer crowds long gone it’s an ideal time to get the beach to yourself. Explore the scenic Amalfi Coast and visit the nearby ruins of Pompeii; tuck into Italian cuisine in Naples, the birthplace of the pizza; or tour the many UNESCO World heritage sites of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean.
12. America’s Historic Cities
Visit New York for Thanksgiving
Its time to gorge on turkey, indulge in a second helping of pumpkin pie and celebrate the good things in life, as Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, and where better to spend the big day than in one of America’s historic cities? Join the three million spectators on the streets of New York for the legendary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the biggest and boldest celebration in the US, or head to Philadelphia for the country’s oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade, dating back to 1920. Boston and DC are also good options with lights parades, Thanksgiving feasts and plenty of festive entertainment going off around the cities.
13. Phoenix and Santa Fe
The Grand Canyon
Nicknamed the ‘Valley of the Sun’, it’s no surprise that the sun is always shining in Phoenix, but the surrounding desert is at its best in late fall, when the blazing summer heat gives way to pleasantly warm days. This is the time to discover the wilderness on a multi-day tour of the southwest, taking a scenic drive through the Sonoran Desert, swooping over the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon in a helicopter, rafting on the Colorado River, or traveling further afield to the New Mexican capital of Santa Fe.
14. Ecuador
Day of the Dead costume in Ecuador
With its startling variety of scenery and largely unchanging equatorial climate, any time is a good time to visit Ecuador, but the cool days of Spring are perfect for hiking in the Amazon, horseback riding through the Andes, or zip lining through the cloud forests. Time your visit for the Día de Muertos or the Day of the Dead on November 2nd, when Quito will be bursting with colorful festivities, or the Fiestas de Cuenca, on November 3rd, when the Azuay capital will be celebrating its independence with a lively street party.
15. Colombia
Ecuador’s northern neighbor will be moving into winter this month, but while the increase of rainy days might not be ideal, the low season in Colombia is a paradise for budget travelers and those looking to escape the crowds and get off-the-beaten-track. Go sightseeing in Bogotá, take a tour of a traditional Colombian coffee plantation, brave the rapids on a Rio Negro rafting excursion, or head to Cartagena where the city’s Independence Day is celebrated with a National beauty pageant, the crowning of Miss Colombia, and several days of parades, street parties and entertainment.
16. Grand Cayman
If you’re planning a trip to the Caribbean this fall, make sure to add the Cayman Islands to your diary. From November 7th-17th the three small islands will be teeming with swashbuckling Jack Sparrow lookalikes and canon-firing pirate ships, as the annual Cayman Pirates Week celebrates the real-life pirates of the Caribbean. They’ll be dramatic mock pirate invasions, dazzling beach fireworks displays, a street dance and food festival and a pirate parade, culminating in the crowning of the Festival Queen. It’s the only event of its kind in the Caribbean, so don’t miss the chance to board a real pirate ship, explore the Trail of the Pirates, take part in the Underwater Treasure Hunt or dance the night away by the seashore.
17. Riviera Maya, Mexico
Riviera Maya
Mexico’s colorful Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) festivities are renowned around the world and watching the November 2nd celebrations is a unique way to experience Mexican culture. If you don’t fancy joining the crowds in Mexico City or Oaxaca, the Riviera Maya also hosts the vibrant Festival of Life and Death in its Xcaret Theme Park with daily music and dance performances, masked parades and themed tours held from the end of October. Be sure to set aside some time for sightseeing too, and make the most of the shoulder season’s fewer crowds with a horse ride along the beach, a cycling tour of the region’s Mayan ruins, or a day snorkeling, zip lining or scuba diving from Cancun.
18. Nepal
Mt. Everest
Few countries lay claim to as many world-class trekking routes as Nepal and whether you’re tackling the Annapurna Circuit, camping in the Kathmandu Valley or scaling the summit of Everest, there’s something to please everyone. November is the dry season and the best time for budding climbers and hikers to attempt Nepal’s famous walking routes, with cool temperatures and safe climbing conditions, but this is also peak season, so don’t expect to have the views to yourself.
19. Miami
With the hurricane season over, the crowds will soon be descending on Miami’s beaches, so book quick and take a budget break while you still can. There’s a packed schedule of events hitting the city in November, so time your trip to catch the South Miami Art Festival, the Miami Book Fair International or the legendary White Party HIV/AIDS benefit, one of the biggest LGBT social events of the year. Or why not celebrate Thanksgiving in Miami, then spend Black Friday shopping at the famous holiday season sales?
20. Hawaii
Go Whale Watching in Hawaii
The holiday season kicks off Hawaii’s peak tourism months, so snag a bargain before prices sky-rocket. Traveling in November means fewer crowds, cheaper prices and plenty of sunny days, so you can cruise and snorkel around the islands, learn to surf or take a helicopter ride over the famous ‘Ring of Fire’ without blowing your budget. Late fall is also the start of the whale watching season, so take a boat trip from Oahu, Maui or Big Island to watch as thousands of Humpback Whales (Kohola) migrate from the Gulf of Alaska to the warm Hawaiian waters to breed and calve.
-Zoe Smith
Where to Go in November by Zoe Smith from Viator Travel Blog