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The best countries to go backpacking in December, 2026

Discover the best countries to go backpacking in December, based on weather, festivals, wildlife, and seasonal highlights. Drawing on firsthand travel experiences, this guide helps you find destinations that match your interests—whether it’s scenic landscapes, cultural events, or unique adventures. Refine your search to plan the perfect December journey.”

Best countries in December in

Africa | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | Oceania
December is an intriguing time to explore Africa, as the continent boasts a wide array of climates and conditions. While some regions are basking in warm, sunny weather, others might be experiencing rain or unpredictable temperatures. For budget travelers, understanding these variations can help you choose the best spots to visit during this month.

In the North Africa region, countries like Egypt see a delightful drop in temperature, making it much more pleasant for exploring ancient sites without the scorching heat. This is peak tourist season, so budget travelers should book accommodations in advance to avoid inflated prices.

Moving south to West Africa, countries such as Ghana and Senegal experience dry, cooler weather in December, making it a great time for backpackers to enjoy local festivals and vibrant cultures. Just keep in mind that some places may be crowded during the holidays, so plan accordingly. Meanwhile, nations like Burkina Faso and Mali offer unique cultural experiences, though be cautious of security concerns in certain areas.

In the East Africa region, places like Rwanda and Uganda are pleasant in December, perfect for trekking and wildlife spotting, especially since it’s a dry season for many areas. However, be prepared for higher prices and more tourists, particularly around popular national parks.

Lastly, in the Southern Africa region, countries like Lesotho and Mauritania can be quite chilly in December, particularly at night, while others like Mauritius offer beautiful beach weather. Just be mindful of varying costs and availability, as some areas may see a surge in visitors during the holiday season.

Overall, December is a fantastic month to explore Africa, but the key is to choose regions that match your travel style and budget.

⚠️ At 'Which continent' below, select Africa and use the filters on the right to find your perfect match for December.
December in Asia offers a diverse range of climates and experiences, making it a fantastic time for backpackers to explore the continent. While some regions bask in pleasant weather, others can be less inviting due to cooler temperatures or monsoon rains. Understanding the varying conditions across Asia can help you choose the best destinations for your December travels.

Starting with South Asia, countries like India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives are great picks. December marks the dry season for much of the region, offering comfortable temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The beaches in the Maldives are idyllic, while the cultural experiences in India and Sri Lanka are vibrant and captivating. It's a popular time, so be prepared for some crowds, especially in tourist hotspots.

Moving to Southeast Asia, places like Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos are also fantastic in December. You’ll find warm weather and little rain, perfect for exploring ancient temples or chilling on tropical beaches. This region is backpacker-friendly, with plenty of affordable accommodation and food options. Just keep in mind that it’s peak tourist season, so booking ahead for popular spots is wise.

In the Middle East, countries such as Oman, Qatar, and the UAE experience mild and pleasant weather in December. This is a great time to explore the deserts, indulge in local cuisine, or enjoy the modern attractions of cities like Dubai and Muscat. Prices can be a bit higher during this time due to the influx of tourists, but the unique experiences make it worthwhile.

On the flip side, the Far East with places like Hong Kong and Macau can be a bit chilly in December, with temperatures dropping. While it's still manageable for city exploration and enjoying the local culture, it’s not ideal for beach activities. If you don’t mind the cooler weather, these cities can be vibrant and festive during the holiday season.

Overall, December can be a great month for backpacking in Asia, with many regions offering favorable conditions. Just choose wisely based on your preferences for weather and activities, and you’ll have an unforgettable trip!

⚠️ At 'Which continent' below, select Asia and use the filters on the right to find your perfect match for December.
December in Europe brings a mix of winter wonderland vibes and festive cheer, but the experience can vary widely depending on where you are. While some regions are perfect for holiday markets, cozy cafés, and snow-covered landscapes, others might be a bit dreary with less appeal for budget travelers.

Starting with Northern Europe, countries like Sweden and Finland can be magical with their snowy landscapes and Christmas spirit. Expect winter activities like skiing and ice skating, plus stunning views of the Northern Lights in more remote areas. However, prepare for frigid temperatures and shorter daylight hours, which can limit your exploration time. Budget travelers should keep an eye on accommodation prices, as they can spike during the holiday season.

Moving to Western Europe, cities like Germany and Austria are renowned for their Christmas markets, where you can snag affordable gifts, warm drinks, and tasty treats. The festive atmosphere is unbeatable, and many cities are accessible by train, making it easy to bounce from one market to another. Just be mindful of the crowds — especially in popular tourist spots. The weather can be chilly and rainy, so pack your layers!

In Southern Europe, countries like Spain and Italy offer milder weather, which can be a refreshing change from the cold up north. While you won't find snow in most places, you can enjoy festive decorations and local celebrations without the harsh winter chill. Prices may be more budget-friendly, but do check local holidays as some attractions might close or have limited hours.

Lastly, Eastern Europe is an interesting mix. While places like Poland and the Czech Republic have stunning architecture, cozy vibes, and affordable prices, the weather can be quite cold and unpredictable. Snowfall can add charm, but be prepared for icy conditions and plan your activities accordingly to avoid the chill.

Overall, December in Europe is about finding the right balance between festive cheer, weather conditions, and budget-friendly options. Whether you're after winter sports or vibrant markets, there's something for every backpacker if you choose the right region!

⚠️ At 'Which continent' below, select Europe and use the filters on the right to find your perfect match for December.
December in North America offers a mixed bag of climates and experiences, making it an interesting time to travel. While some regions are basking in warm sunshine, others are braving the chill of winter. For budget travelers, understanding these regional differences can help you choose the best destinations to explore.

Starting with the Caribbean, this is prime time to visit. The weather is warm and dry, perfect for those looking to escape the cold. Islands like Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Saint Lucia offer stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and plenty of outdoor activities. Plus, the festive spirit in December, with various local celebrations, adds an extra layer of enjoyment. Just be mindful that this is peak season, so budget accommodations might be snatched up quickly.

In Central America, the Central American countries such as Belize, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua also enjoy a dry season around December. These countries are great for backpackers seeking adventure—from surfing and hiking to exploring lush rainforests. December is a popular time, so consider booking your stays ahead of time to avoid the holiday rush.

On the other hand, the United States can be hit or miss in December. If you're after winter sports, regions like the Rockies are ideal for skiing. However, if you're looking for warmth, southern states like Florida or Southern California are much more appealing. Just be prepared for holiday crowds in popular spots.

Lastly, the Mexican coastline, particularly places like Cancun and Tulum, is still a great destination in December. The weather is warm, and the beaches are beautiful, but again, you’ll likely encounter more tourists during this time.

In summary, the Caribbean and Central America are your best bets for warm, enjoyable travel experiences in December, while specific parts of the U.S. and Mexico can offer both winter and summer vibes, depending on where you go. Just plan ahead, especially if you’re on a budget, to make the most of your trip!

⚠️ At 'Which continent' below, select North America and use the filters on the right to find your perfect match for December.
December is a fantastic month to explore South America, as the continent showcases a diverse range of climates and landscapes. While the southern parts are warming up for summer, the northern regions are experiencing their own unique weather patterns. Understanding these variations is key for budget travelers looking to make the most of their trip.

Starting with the Andes Region, which includes parts of Chile and Colombia, December is a prime time to visit. The weather is generally warm and dry, especially in places like Santiago and Medellín, making it perfect for outdoor activities and exploring urban settings. The mountains are also accessible for trekking, so if you’re into hiking, this is a no-brainer.

Moving to the Caribbean Coast, particularly in northern Colombia, this region is also quite favorable in December. The temperatures are warm, and the rain is minimal, allowing for beach time and vibrant local festivals. It’s a great chance to dive into the culture without worrying about getting drenched.

On the other hand, the Southern Cone, which includes the Falkland Islands and parts of Chile, can be a mixed bag in December. While it’s summer down there, the weather can still be unpredictable, especially in areas like Patagonia. If you’re looking for stunning landscapes and hiking, be prepared for some rain and wind, but also know that it can be breathtakingly beautiful.

Lastly, the Guyana and Venezuela Region might not be the top choice in December due to potential rain and humidity, particularly in the interior areas. However, if you plan carefully and target the right spots, you can still enjoy the natural wonders and rich cultures these countries offer. Just be aware that some areas may be less accessible due to weather conditions.

In summary, December is a great time for backpackers in South America, especially if you stick to the Andean and Caribbean regions. Just keep an eye on the weather and plan your itinerary accordingly!

⚠️ At 'Which continent' below, select South America and use the filters on the right to find your perfect match for December.
Oceania in December offers a diverse range of climates and travel experiences, making it a unique destination for backpackers. As summer kicks into gear in the Southern Hemisphere, countries like New Zealand are basking in warm weather, perfect for outdoor adventures. Meanwhile, areas in the north, such as Guam and Palau, are experiencing tropical conditions, which can be both a blessing and a challenge due to the potential for rain.

Starting with the South Pacific Islands, places like Guam and Palau are ideal for those seeking a warm getaway. December typically sees pleasant weather, with temperatures averaging in the 80s°F (around 27°C). However, it's also the start of the wet season in some areas, so pack a light rain jacket just in case. The stunning beaches and vibrant marine life make these islands a paradise for snorkelers and divers.

Moving south to New Zealand, December is prime time for backpackers. The weather is generally warm and sunny, which is perfect for hiking, camping, and exploring the breathtaking landscapes. Just be aware that it can get crowded, especially in popular spots like Queenstown and the Abel Tasman National Park, so booking accommodations in advance is wise.

On the other hand, the Marshall Islands might be less favorable in December. While the temperatures are warm, this region also experiences a high chance of rainfall and humidity, which could dampen your travel plans. It's still a beautiful place to visit, but you might want to be flexible with your itinerary and have some indoor activities in mind.

In summary, December is a varied month across Oceania. If you’re looking for guaranteed sunshine and beach time, stick to the northern islands. For stunning landscapes and outdoor activities, New Zealand is your best bet. Just keep an eye on the weather, and you’ll have a blast exploring this diverse region!

⚠️ At 'Which continent' below, select Oceania and use the filters on the right to find your perfect match for December.
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Colombia
1

Colombia

Jungle ruins, tall wax palms and a walled Caribbean city.


Trek four or five days to Ciudad Perdida, hike the Cocora Valley, climb Guatapé’s rock and wander Cartagena’s old streets at sunset.
The best months for backpacking Colombia are December to March, when the Andes and the Caribbean coast are both at their driest, though this is also when Colombian holidaymakers fill the beaches and coastal prices climb. The country sits close to the equator, so seasons follow rain rather than temperature. The Andean cities get two wet spells a year, the Caribbean has one long one from roughly May to November, and the Pacific coast is wet in every month.
  • Peak dry season (December to March): Sunny days in Medellín, Bogotá and the Coffee Region, with calm seas around Cartagena and Santa Marta. Christmas to mid-January is the most crowded and expensive stretch of the year, with coastal rooms often 30 to 50 percent above normal rates. February and March keep the weather and lose most of the domestic crowds.
  • First rains (April to May): Afternoon downpours return to the Andes, and hiking trails in the Coffee Region turn to mud. Outside Semana Santa, prices drop and hostels have space. The Caribbean stays mostly dry through April.
  • Mid-year dry spell (June to August): The Andes dry out again, the coast gets a short lull in its rains, and humpback whales arrive off the Pacific coast from July. Colombian school holidays from mid-June to mid-July push beach prices back up.
  • Main rainy season (September to November): The wettest months for most of the country, with heavy storms on the Caribbean coast peaking in October. The Ciudad Perdida trek usually closes in September, and landslides can slow mountain roads. Rooms are at their cheapest.
I would book coastal beds for late December several weeks ahead and leave the rest of the trip flexible. In any month, pack a light rain shell and a fleece: Bogotá sits above 2,600 meters and drops to around 7 to 9°C at night.
Best known for:Known for: backpackers | scenery | people
Best time to visit: July - August, December - March
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [colombia.travel]
Panama
2

Panama

Canal ships, old-town Panama City and San Blas islands.


Watch freighters pass the Miraflores Locks, stroll Casco Viejo, sleep on Guna Yala islands, visit Bocas del Toro’s beaches and climb Volcán Barú.
The best time for backpacking Panama is mid-December to April, when the Pacific side is dry and sunny, though that is also when hostels fill and beach prices climb roughly 20 to 30 percent. The Caribbean coast runs on its own schedule: Bocas del Toro and Guna Yala can get rain in any month, and their calmer, drier spells often fall in February to March and again in September to October.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to April): Panama City, the Azuero Peninsula and the Pacific islands see almost no rain and highs of 31 to 34°C, while Boquete gets gusty winds and fine mist. Prime time for highland hiking, Carnival and island hopping, but beach towns book out around Christmas, Carnival and Semana Santa.
  • Early rainy season (May to July): Mornings usually stay clear, with afternoon downpours lasting an hour or two. Rates soften, crowds thin and the hills turn green. Pacific swells build for surfers at Santa Catalina.
  • Deep rainy season (August to November): Longer, heavier rain on the Pacific side, peaking in October and November, with muddy trails and the odd road washout. In return you get humpback whales off the Pearl Islands and Coiba, plus the lowest prices of the year.
In the dry season, I’d lock in beds for any Carnival or Easter weekend before anything else; in the rainy months, a light rain jacket and a dry bag for your phone matter more than any reservation.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | backpackers | architecture
Best time to visit: November - August
Daily cost: US$40 to 60 [visitpanama.com]
Cambodia
3

Cambodia

Angkor’s temples, Phnom Penh history and island beaches with glowing plankton.


Explore Angkor Wat and the Bayon, visit Tuol Sleng in Phnom Penh, swim glowing waters off Koh Rong Sanloem and boat through Kampong Phluk.
November to February is the best time for backpacking Cambodia: dry skies, daytime highs of roughly 28 to 32°C, every road open and the lowest humidity of the year, though this is also when Angkor is busiest and rooms cost the most. The whole country follows one monsoon calendar, but the south coast around Kampot and Koh Rong takes the hardest rain from June to September, while Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri in the northeast get noticeably chilly nights in December and January.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Blue skies, light breezes and peak crowds. Guesthouses charge 10 to 30 percent above low-season rates, and sunrise at Angkor Wat means sharing the reflecting pools with hundreds of people. Everything is open, including dirt-road trips to remote temples and the northeast.
  • Hot season (March to May): Highs of 35 to 40°C, dust and haze from field burning, and thinning crowds. Khmer New Year in mid-April closes many businesses for several days.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Afternoon downpours, green paddies and room discounts of 20 to 50 percent. The Tonle Sap swells and floating villages look their best, but island boats run reduced schedules and rural roads turn to mud.
November and late February are the shoulder months to aim for: dry-season weather with prices that have not fully peaked. Book Siem Reap beds two to four weeks ahead for late December, and from June onward pack a light rain shell and quick-dry sandals.
Best known for:Known for: backpackers | architecture | low cost
Best time to visit: October - March
Daily cost: US$25 to 35 [tourismcambodia.com]
Belize
4

Belize

Reef diving, Maya caves and jungle ruins in an English-speaking country.


Snorkel with sharks and rays at Hol Chan, wade into Maya burial caves, dive the Great Blue Hole and climb the Caracol pyramid.
The best time for backpacking Belize is late November to April, when the dry season brings sunny days around 27 to 30°C, calm seas for the barrier reef and dirt roads that stay passable, though mid-December to Easter is also when beds and tours cost the most. Rainfall rises sharply as you head south: the north and the cayes get roughly 1,300 to 1,500 mm a year, while Toledo can top 4,000 mm, so the far south stays muddier for longer.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to Easter): Dry, breezy and warm, with clear water for snorkeling and diving. Caye Caulker and San Pedro fill up, and Christmas and Holy Week sell out weeks ahead. Expect top prices for dorms, private rooms and reef trips.
  • Hot shoulder (late April to May): The hottest stretch, 32 to 35°C inland, with smoky haze from field burning. Crowds thin fast after Easter and room rates start to slide.
  • Green season (June to August): Mostly short, heavy afternoon downpours rather than all-day rain, lush jungle and noticeably cheaper lodges. Mosquitoes and sandflies get busy.
  • Hurricane peak (September to October): The wettest months with the highest storm risk. Some caye and Placencia businesses close for weeks, and floods can cancel cave tours and cut southern roads.
Pack a light rain shell in any month, and if your dates touch Christmas or Holy Week, reserve island beds at least a month ahead.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | scenery | wildlife
Best time to visit: November - August
Daily cost: US$50 to 80
Bangladesh
5

Bangladesh

Mangroves, rickshaw lanes and brick monasteries across a river-laced delta.


Take a boat into the Sundarbans, get lost in Old Dhaka, visit Bagerhat’s mosques, Paharpur’s monastery and the flooded swamp forest at Ratargul.
November to February is the best time for backpacking Bangladesh: days are dry and sunny at 24 to 29°C, rivers are calm for boat trips, and the only crowds are domestic holidaymakers at a handful of hotspots. The same calendar applies across the country, but the northeast around Sylhet takes the heaviest monsoon rain, the southern coast faces cyclone risk in spring and autumn, and the northwest around Rajshahi gets both the hottest summers and the coldest winter nights, sometimes close to 5°C.
  • Cool season (November to February): Clear skies, very little rain, and morning fog that can delay ferries and flights. This is peak time for Cox’s Bazar, the Sundarbans, Bandarban and the Sreemangal tea country, and the only window when ships sail to Saint Martin’s Island. Hotel rates in beach and hill towns climb, and weekends sell out with Bangladeshi families.
  • Hot season (March to May): Temperatures rise from about 30°C in March to 35 to 40°C by late April, with violent afternoon thunderstorms (kalbaishakhi) and cyclone risk on the coast. March works as a shoulder month with falling prices. By May you are trading comfort for mangoes and empty guesthouses.
  • Monsoon (June to September): Heavy daily downpours, 80 to 90 percent humidity, and floods in the low-lying north and northeast. The Sundarbans close to visitors from June to August, and hill roads suffer landslides. In return you get wetland boat trips, flooded forests and the lowest room rates of the year.
  • Autumn shoulder (October): Rain tapers off, rivers run full, the countryside stays green, and prices remain low ahead of the winter rush.
For December and January, book Cox’s Bazar rooms and intercity train seats as soon as sales open on the Bangladesh Railway e-ticketing site (usually 10 days ahead), and pack a fleece, because unheated buses and guesthouses get properly cold at night.
Best known for:Known for: people | low cost | uniqueness
Best time to visit: October - March
Daily cost: US$15 to 30
Gambia
6

Gambia

Birdlife, river trips and fishing beaches along a narrow river nation.


Watch pirogues land at Tanji, meet crocodiles at Kachikally, visit Kunta Kinteh Island and boat past chimpanzee islands on the Gambia River.
November to March is the best time to visit Gambia: the rains are over, coastal highs sit around 30 to 32°C, and birding is at its peak, though prices climb from mid-December. The coast stays breeze-cooled, while inland towns like Janjanbureh and Basse run several degrees hotter and pass 40°C by April.
  • Peak season (November to February): Steady sunshine, low humidity and dusty harmattan haze from December. European charter flights fill the coastal hotels, and Christmas rates are the year’s highest. Wintering birds and river trips are at their best.
  • Shoulder season (March to May): Still dry, with fewer crowds and room rates open to negotiation. Upriver heat turns brutal, so favor the coast after mid-April.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Heavy storms peaking in August, high humidity and malaria risk. Rates drop 20 to 40 percent, but many lodges close and upcountry dirt roads turn to mud.
Pack a light scarf for harmattan dust, and book Christmas rooms by September.
Best known for:Known for: people | low cost | scenery
Best time to visit: November - April
Daily cost: US$25 to 40 [visitthegambia.gm]
Jamaica
7

Jamaica

Predawn mountain hikes, jerk pork and reggae roots.


Climb Blue Mountain Peak by headlamp, tour Marley’s Kingston home, swim at quiet waterfalls and eat fried fish on a Treasure Beach sandbar.
The best time for backpacking Jamaica is mid-December to mid-April, when the dry season brings sunny 27 to 30°C days, low humidity and calm seas, though rooms cost the most then; late April and May give you nearly the same weather for roughly 20 to 40% less. Region matters. Portland in the northeast gets rain in every month, the south coast around Treasure Beach stays driest, and the Blue Mountains run 10 to 15°C cooler than the beaches.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to mid-April): Little rain, clear views from Blue Mountain Peak, good snorkeling visibility. Negril and Montego Bay fill up, prices peak, and the Christmas to New Year stretch books out early.
  • Shoulder season (late April to June): Heat builds, May brings the first heavy afternoon showers, and rates fall. Mango season gets going.
  • Summer (July and August): Hot and humid at 31 to 33°C. July breaks the low-season lull: Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay and diaspora families home for school holidays push up flights and guesthouse rates.
  • Hurricane and rain peak (September to November): Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with September and October the stormiest and wettest. Expect the lowest prices and empty beaches, plus washed-out mountain roads after big downpours.
I’d pack a light rain shell and a fleece in any month, since a pre-dawn start on Blue Mountain Peak can drop into single digits Celsius while Negril swelters.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | scenery | people
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$50 to 80
Ghana
8

Ghana

Slave castles, canopy bridges and walking safaris, all moved by tro-tro.


Walk through Cape Coast Castle’s dungeons, cross rope bridges at Kakum, track elephants on foot at Mole and hike to Wli Falls.
November to February is the best window for backpacking Ghana, with dry roads, sunny coastal days and easy wildlife viewing, though late December brings the year’s biggest crowds and highest prices. The south gets two rainy seasons (roughly April to mid-July, then September to October), while the north around Tamale and Mole National Park has one long wet season from May to October.
  • Dry season and Harmattan (November to February): Coastal highs of 30 to 33°C, cooler nights up north, and from December a dusty Saharan wind that turns skies hazy. Peak time for Mole safaris, beach towns and festivals. December is the busiest and priciest month.
  • Hot pre-rains (March to April): The north climbs to 38 to 40°C while the south gets its first storms. Crowds thin, prices settle, and Easter brings paragliding to Kwahu.
  • Major rainy season (May to mid-July): The south’s heaviest downpours, peaking in June, with flash floods in Accra. Lowest prices, rough seas, waterfalls in the Volta Region at full flow.
  • Little dry season and minor rains (mid-July to October): The coast turns cool and overcast in August before showers return. The north is at its wettest.
The risk most travelers ignore is road access in the north during August and September, when dirt tracks to villages and lodges turn to mud and bus journeys run hours late. Book Accra beds for mid-December to early January two to three months ahead, and pack a cotton scarf for Harmattan dust.
Best known for:Known for: people | uniqueness | low cost
Best time to visit: November - April
Daily cost: US$30 to 50
Dominican Republic
9

Dominican Republic

Colonial streets, whale bays and waterfalls you can jump into.


Walk Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial, boat through Los Haitises caves, slide the Damajagua pools and reach the empty sands of Bahía de las Águilas.
The best time for backpacking the Dominican Republic is December to April, when rain is lowest, humidity is easiest to bear and humpback whales arrive in Samaná Bay, though that stretch also brings the year’s highest prices and fullest beaches. The regions don’t follow one script. The north coast around Puerto Plata, Cabarete and Samaná gets its heaviest showers from November to January, the southwest around Barahona stays dry most of the year, and the mountains around Jarabacoa and Constanza turn chilly at night in winter, with frost possible near the summit of Pico Duarte.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to April): Coastal highs of 28 to 30°C, little rain on the south and east coasts, and full hostels from Christmas through Semana Santa. Rooms cost the most now, and whales fill Samaná Bay from mid-January to March.
  • Shoulder season (May to July): Hotter (31 to 33°C), with short, heavy afternoon downpours and easing prices. Summer trade winds power Cabarete’s kitesurfing, while sargassum seaweed can foul east-coast beaches.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): The wettest, most storm-prone stretch. Rates drop hard and crowds vanish, but one tropical storm can wipe out several days of plans.
  • Early dry season (November to mid-December): Rain tapers in the south and east, and rates stay at low-season levels until the holiday price jump.
Book beds for Christmas, Carnival Sundays and Semana Santa four to six weeks ahead, and pack a fleece if the Cordillera Central is on your route.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | uniqueness | low cost
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$35 to 55
São Tomé and Príncipe
10

São Tomé and Príncipe

Volcanic spires, cocoa plantations and empty beaches on two small islands.


Hike to Pico Cão Grande’s rock needle, wander crumbling cocoa estates, straddle the equator on Ilhéu das Rolas and find empty sand on Príncipe.
The best time for backpacking São Tomé and Príncipe is the “gravana” dry season from June to September, when rain mostly stops, temperatures settle around 22 to 27°C and mountain trails firm up, though July and August also bring the year’s highest flight and room demand. Location matters as much as the calendar. The north of São Tomé island around the capital gets roughly 1,000 mm of rain a year, while the southwest slopes and much of Príncipe get several times that, even in drier months.
  • Gravana (June to September): Overcast skies, cool breezes, dry trails for Pico de São Tomé and humpback whales offshore from July. European holiday traffic peaks in July and August, so book ahead.
  • Gravanito (December to February): A shorter, hotter dry spell with sunnier beaches, turtle nesting and hatching, and a Christmas rush.
  • Rainy months (March to May, October to November): Heavy afternoon storms and muddy southern roads, but emptier lodges and more room to negotiate rates.
Pack a light rain jacket in any month, because the forest makes its own weather.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | safety | people
Best time to visit: May - September, December - March
Daily cost: €40 to €60
Cameroon
11

Cameroon

Volcano treks, rainforest and a sultan’s palace in one hot country.


Climb Mount Cameroon from Buea, hear brass casters in Foumban, watch Lobé Falls hit the sea at Kribi and visit rescued apes at Limbe.
December to February is the best time for backpacking Cameroon: the main dry season brings firm trails on Mount Cameroon, passable dirt roads into the eastern rainforest and open northern parks, and only flights around Christmas cost noticeably more. The country runs from an equatorial coast to the Sahel, so timing shifts by region. The south has two rainy seasons, the coast around Douala and Limbe is soaked from June to October, and the north has one wet season (June to September) preceded by fierce heat.
  • Peak dry season (December to February): Sunny days around 28 to 32°C on the coast, cool nights in the western highlands near Dschang and Bamenda, and Harmattan dust hazing the north. This is climbing season on Mount Cameroon and the easiest window for forest trips to Dja and Lobéké. The diaspora flies home for the holidays, so fares climb and Kribi beach hotels fill over Christmas and New Year.
  • Shoulder months (November and March): November sees southern and highland rains tapering while the north turns dry and green; March brings the first storms to the south and rising heat up north. Fewer visitors means more room to bargain on rooms and car hire.
  • Hot season and early rains (April to June): Maroua and Garoua regularly pass 40°C, while the south and highlands get heavy afternoon downpours that turn the red laterite roads east into mud. Waza National Park normally runs mid-November to mid-June.
  • Heavy rains (July to October): Debundscha, at the foot of Mount Cameroon, averages around 10 meters of rain a year, among the highest totals on Earth, and July to September is its wettest stretch. Yaoundé gets a short drier break in July and August. Hotel rates bottom out, but transport delays are routine.
Whatever the month, pack a light rain shell and a fleece: the highlands and Mount Cameroon get cold at night even in the dry season.
Best known for:Known for: uniqueness | low cost | scenery
Best time to visit: November - March
Daily cost: €25 to €40 [mintoul.gov.cm]
Guinea-Bissau
12

Guinea-Bissau

Tidal islands, nesting turtles and chimps in an unpolished corner of West Africa.


Charter a pirogue to the Bijagós, watch turtles nest at Poilão, trace colonial history in Bissau and Cacheu and find chimps in Cantanhez.
The best time to visit Guinea-Bissau is December to February, when the rains are long gone, the dry Harmattan wind cools the nights, and boats to the Bijagós cross calmer water. The northeast around Gabú and Bafatá runs drier and hotter than the coast, while the south and the islands take the heaviest rain.
  • Cool dry season (December to February): Days around 28 to 32°C, dusty haze, cool nights. Peak time for Bijagós lodges, so island rooms fill and cost most; the mainland stays quiet.
  • Hot dry season (March to May): Inland highs near 38 to 40°C. The cashew harvest fills roads with trucks and villages with fresh cashew wine.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Downpours peak in July and August, dirt roads to Varela and Cantanhez turn to mud, and some island lodges close.
  • Green transition (November): Rain fades, rice fields glow, roads slowly dry out.
The bigger risk is the sea: once storms arrive, open pirogue crossings to the islands get rough and departures are canceled without notice. Pack a buff against Harmattan dust and confirm a Bijagós lodge is open before you pay.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | low cost | scenery
Best time to visit: October - May
Daily cost: €30 to €45 [en.wikivoyage.org]
Laos
13

Laos

Mekong river towns, waterfalls and a cave you cross by boat.


Climb Phousi in Luang Prabang, swim at Kuang Si Falls, ride through Kong Lor Cave, see the Plain of Jars and bike the 4,000 Islands.
November to January is the best time for backpacking Laos, with dry skies, daytime highs around 25 to 30°C, green hills left over from the rains, and every road and boat route open. The northern mountains run much colder than the Mekong lowlands, so Phonsavan can feel wintry while Si Phan Don in the far south stays warm enough for a hammock and a swim.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Sunny, low humidity, and chilly highland nights. This is peak season. Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng fill up, and room rates run roughly 20 to 40 percent above rainy-season levels. It is the best window for trekking around Luang Namtha, the Plain of Jars and the Thakhek Loop.
  • Hot season (March to May): Highs of 35 to 40°C in Vientiane and the south, low rivers and dusty roads. Crowds thin out except around Lao New Year in mid-April.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Rain usually comes in heavy afternoon bursts. Paddies turn bright green, Bolaven Plateau waterfalls run at full force, and prices drop. Dirt roads turn to mud, and landslides can close mountain routes for hours or days.
The risk most travelers underrate is the burning season, from roughly late February to April. Farmers clear fields with fire, smoke settles over Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw, air quality often reaches hazardous levels, and the karst views vanish. Anyone with asthma should head south in those weeks.
For late December, book Luang Prabang beds two to three weeks ahead, and pack a warm layer for overnight buses.
Best known for:Known for: backpackers | low cost | food
Best time to visit: July - February
Daily cost: US$20 to 30
Senegal
14

Senegal

Gorée’s slave house, Sine-Saloum mangroves and thieboudienne around a shared bowl.


Take the ferry to Gorée, wander Saint-Louis’s colonial streets, glide through Sine-Saloum mangroves and hike to Dindéfélo Falls near chimp country.
The best time for backpacking Senegal is November to April, when the rains are gone, the Atlantic coast sits at a breezy 20 to 28°C, and every park and dirt road is open, with December the strongest month overall. The coast from Saint-Louis to Dakar stays mild most of the year, while the interior around Tambacounda and Kédougou climbs above 40°C from March to May, and Casamance in the south gets earlier, heavier rain than the north.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Sunny days, cool nights and Saharan harmattan dust from December. This is peak season for European visitors, so Saly and Cap Skirring charge top rates over Christmas. Djoudj bird sanctuary is at its best.
  • Hot dry season (March to June): Fewer tourists and softer coastal prices, but fierce heat inland. Wildlife in Niokolo-Koba gathers at water before the rains cut off the park tracks. Casamance turns wet from June.
  • Rainy season (July to October): Short, violent storms, high humidity, flooded roads in the south and east, and peak malaria risk. Many Cap Skirring hotels close.
Check the date of the Grand Magal of Touba, a pilgrimage drawing millions that shifts about 11 days earlier each year. Buses and shared taxis across the center of the country fill for days around it.
Pack a light scarf for harmattan dust and chilly evenings.
Best known for:Known for: people | low cost | safety
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: €25 to €40
Djibouti
15

Djibouti

Salt lake, steaming chimneys and whale sharks on a baking Red Sea coast.


Float in Lake Assal, walk the limestone chimneys of Lac Abbé, snorkel with whale sharks in winter and shop the spice stalls of Djibouti City.
The best time for backpacking Djibouti is November to February, when coastal highs sit around 25 to 30°C, the sea is calm and whale sharks gather in the Gulf of Tadjoura. The coast and the salt flats around Lake Assal follow the same calendar, while the Goda Mountains near Day stay several degrees cooler all year.
  • Cool season (November to February): Clear skies, the odd brief shower, and peak demand for whale shark boats, dive trips and desert camps. Book early, since Djibouti City room rates barely drop at any time of year.
  • Shoulder months (March to April, October): Highs of 30 to 35°C and rising humidity, but fewer group tours and easier last-minute camp bookings at Lac Abbé.
  • Hot season (May to September): 40°C and up on the coast, 45°C or more at Lake Assal, and dusty khamsin winds from June to August. Dive operators slow down and many expats leave.
Pack a light long-sleeved shirt and a scarf, because the sun and the grit at Lac Abbé call for both even in January.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | uniqueness | safety
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: US$55 to 90
Guinea
16

Guinea

Fern-lined canyon hikes, village huts and wild chimps in the highlands.


Trek the Fouta Djallon canyons from Doucki, see chimps use stone tools at Bossou, then cool off beneath the Voile de la Mariée falls.
The best time for backpacking Guinea is November to February, when the rains have stopped, dirt roads are drivable again and the country’s tiny tourist numbers mean room rates barely move even in high season. Region matters: the coast around Conakry takes roughly 4,000 mm of rain a year, the Fouta Djallon highlands stay cooler, Upper Guinea bakes in March and April, and the forest zone around Nzérékoré sees storms return as early as March.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Clear skies, 28 to 32°C on the coast and nights near 10°C in Dalaba or Mali-ville. Harmattan dust hazes the views from December. Diaspora visitors pack Conakry flights around Christmas. Best for trekking the Fouta Djallon and the beaches of the Îles de Los.
  • Hot dry season (March to May): Kankan and Siguiri hit 38 to 40°C, the coast turns sticky and the first storms roll in. Quiet, cheap, roads still open.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Conakry gets over 1,000 mm in each of July and August. Laterite roads to Boké, Koundara and the forest region turn to mud and bush-taxi journeys can double in length.
November is the narrow window when waterfalls like Kambadaga near Pita and Ditinn near Dalaba still run full while trails have dried out.
Pack a fleece for highland nights and a buff against harmattan dust.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | scenery | safety
Best time to visit: November - March
Daily cost: US$25 to 40 [numbeo.com]
Nicaragua
17

Nicaragua

Board down a volcano, then rest in colonial courtyards.


Slide down Cerro Negro on a plywood board, climb Ometepe’s twin volcanoes, tour Granada’s ochre streets and swim through Somoto Canyon.
The best time for backpacking Nicaragua is late November through February, when the Pacific side is dry, the landscape is still partly green and daytime highs sit around 29 to 32°C instead of the brutal heat of spring. The Caribbean coast runs on its own clock: the Corn Islands see showers most of the year, with the steadiest sunshine from about February to April.
  • Dry season (November to April): Clear skies, dusty roads and strong offshore winds on the southern Pacific beaches from December to March. Prices peak over Christmas and New Year. Prime time for climbing Concepción on Ometepe and sandboarding Cerro Negro, though March and April push León toward 36 to 38°C.
  • Early wet season (May to June): Afternoon storms turn the hills green within weeks while mornings stay mostly clear. Crowds thin and many guesthouses cut rates by 10 to 30 percent.
  • Late wet season (July to October): A drier spell, the “canícula”, often arrives mid-July to mid-August. September and October then bring the heaviest rain, washed-out dirt roads and hurricane risk in the Caribbean. Big south swells draw experienced surfers, and olive ridley turtles nest at La Flor.
The odd one out is Semana Santa, the week before Easter: Nicaraguans flood every beach, buses overflow and coastal rooms sell out, so book that week well ahead. For the wet months I’d pack a light rain shell and quick-dry clothes over an umbrella, since the storms blow in sideways.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | wildlife
Best time to visit: June - August, November - April
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [visitanicaragua.com]
Bahamas
18

Bahamas

Swimming pigs, blue holes and conch salad across far-flung islands.


Swim with pigs in the Exumas, snorkel Thunderball Grotto, float over Dean’s Blue Hole and eat fresh conch salad at Nassau’s Arawak Cay.
The best time for backpacking the Bahamas is late April to May, plus mid-November to mid-December, when the weather stays mostly dry, crowds thin out and room rates sit roughly 20 to 40 percent below winter highs. The northern islands (Grand Bahama, the Abacos, Bimini) run cooler and windier in winter than drier southern islands such as Great Inagua.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): highs around 25°C, little rain, top prices, and spring break crowds in Nassau during March.
  • Shoulder season (late April to May, mid-November to mid-December): warm sea, fewer people and the best value.
  • Hurricane season (June to November): highs of 31 to 32°C, afternoon storms and the cheapest rates. Storm risk peaks August to October, when some Out Island guesthouses and restaurants close.
Winter cold fronts are the overlooked risk: they bring two or three days of strong north wind that cancel fast ferries, mail boats and snorkel trips. Leave a buffer day before any flight home, and pack a light fleece for January boat rides.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety
Best time to visit: November - May
Daily cost: US$80 to 130
British Virgin Islands
19

British Virgin Islands

Sailing islands with boulder grottoes and barefoot beach bars.


Squeeze through the granite boulders of The Baths, snorkel the Rhone wreck, swim ashore at Jost Van Dyke and hike Tortola’s misty forest.
The best time for backpacking the British Virgin Islands is December to April, when steady trade winds keep highs near 28°C, rain is light and you are outside hurricane season, though rooms cost the most then. Weather barely differs between Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. What changes is that the smaller islands shut down far more in the off-season.
  • Peak season (mid-December to April): Expect dry, breezy days of 24 to 29°C and top prices. Christmas and Easter sell out. Every beach bar and ferry route runs.
  • Shoulder season (May to July): It gets hotter, with calmer seas. Rooms run 20 to 40% cheaper and crowds thin out.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): This brings the heaviest rain and the highest storm risk. Many businesses on Jost Van Dyke and Anegada close in September and October.
  • Early season (November to mid-December): Showers ease and prices stay low. Thanksgiving week is the exception, filling up with US visitors.
Book Christmas and Easter rooms four to six months ahead, and pack a light rain shell for any trip between June and November.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$130 to 250
Aruba
20

Aruba

A dry, cactus-studded island with calm beaches and a mural town.


Explore Arikok’s desert trails and caves, ride a 4x4 to Conchi’s natural pool, view murals in San Nicolas and relax on Eagle Beach.
The best time to go backpacking in Aruba is January to April, when trade winds keep the heat in check, rain is close to zero and Carnival fills the streets, though bed prices run highest. The island sits south of the main hurricane belt, so seasons shift less than elsewhere in the Caribbean. The windward north and east coasts stay rough all year, while the Eagle Beach and Palm Beach side stays calm.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): Highs around 29°C (84°F), a steady breeze, the busiest beaches and top rates. Carnival parades in Oranjestad and San Nicolas peak in the weeks before Ash Wednesday.
  • Windy summer (May to August): Strong trade winds, highs near 31°C (88°F) and low-season rates. June and July are prime windsurfing months at Fisherman’s Huts.
  • Hot, short wet season (September to November): The weakest wind, highs up to 32°C (90°F), brief showers mostly in October and November, the calmest water for diving and the fewest visitors.
Book Carnival and Christmas-week beds two to three months ahead, since the cheaper guesthouses fill first.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: December - August
Daily cost: US$90 to 150
Hong Kong
21

Hong Kong

Harbor ferries, ridge hikes and night markets in a dense, green city.


Cross Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry, hike Dragon’s Back, climb to Lantau’s Tian Tan Buddha, browse Temple Street and visit Tai O’s stilt houses.
October to December is the best time for backpacking Hong Kong, with the clearest skies of the year, low humidity and normal hostel prices outside Christmas week and the early October Golden Week holiday. The territory is small, so timing barely changes by area, though the New Territories hills run a few degrees cooler than Kowloon, and the Lantau and Sai Kung beaches only make sense from May to October.
  • Autumn (October to December): Highs of 20 to 27°C, low humidity and long views from the peaks. This is prime hiking weather on the MacLehose and Hong Kong trails. It is also the busiest season for events, so book ahead.
  • Winter (January to February): Cool and dry at 14 to 19°C, with occasional cold snaps below 10°C. Chinese New Year brings fireworks and flower markets, but room rates jump and many small family shops close for two or three days.
  • Spring (March to April): Warming to 18 to 25°C, with humidity above 80 percent, drizzle and fog that can hide the skyline. Crowds and prices are moderate.
  • Summer (May to September): Hot and wet, with highs of 28 to 32°C. June to August is the rainiest stretch, and typhoons are most likely from July to September. A Typhoon Signal No. 8 shuts ferries, offices and most attractions.
The narrowest window is the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, held over a few days around Buddha’s Birthday in late April or May. Children ride stilted floats through the island’s lanes, and climbers race up a tower of buns at midnight. Whatever the month, pack a light layer, because malls and MTR trains run their air conditioning cold enough to chill you after the humid streets.
Best known for:Known for: architecture | safety
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: US$50 to 80
Western Sahara
22

Western Sahara

Kitesurfing lagoon, empty Atlantic cliffs and desert towns along one long road.


Kitesurf the Dakhla lagoon, climb the white dune, soak at Asma hot springs and drive the empty coast road past Smara and Laayoune.
The best time for backpacking Western Sahara is November to March, when the interior is warm by day instead of scorching, the Atlantic coast sits around 20 to 26°C, and guesthouse prices stay flat outside the Dakhla kite spots. The coast (Laayoune, Boujdour, Dakhla) is cooled by the Atlantic year-round, while inland Smara and the hammada swing from chilly nights in winter to 45°C in summer.
  • Cool season (November to February): Dry, sunny days, cold desert nights near 8°C, and European camper vans filling Dakhla’s campsites. Best for road trips and desert stops.
  • Shoulder (March to April, October): Warmer inland and windier on the coast, with good kite conditions and fewer campers.
  • Hot season (May to September): Brutal inland heat, dust and strong trade winds. August is unexpectedly busy in Dakhla as Moroccan families arrive for summer holidays and rooms jump 30 to 50%.
Pack a down layer even in a hot-looking destination: desert nights bite.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | safety
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [visitmorocco.com]
Barbados
23

Barbados

Fish fries, rum, surf breaks and shipwrecks to snorkel.


Eat grilled flying fish at Oistins, descend into Harrison’s Cave, surf Bathsheba’s Atlantic waves and snorkel Carlisle Bay’s wrecks and turtles.
The best months for backpacking Barbados are May and mid-November to mid-December, when the weather is mostly dry, beaches are quieter and room rates run well below the Christmas-to-Easter peak. The sheltered west coast has calm water almost year-round, while the Atlantic-facing east coast around Bathsheba gets heavy surf, stronger wind and more passing showers in every season.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to mid-April): Sunny, breezy, highs around 28 to 30°C and the lowest humidity. Cruise passengers, full hotels and the year’s highest prices.
  • Shoulder (May, and mid-November to mid-December): Mostly dry, thinner crowds and noticeably cheaper rooms.
  • Wet season (June to mid-November): Hot and humid with short, heavy downpours and hurricane risk peaking August to October. Lowest prices, though some west coast restaurants close in September. Crop Over climaxes with Grand Kadooment on the first Monday of August.
If you’re coming for Crop Over, book your room by spring, because south coast guesthouses fill first.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: August, November - May
Daily cost: US$75 to 120
Saint Martin
24

Saint Martin

Two nations on one island, with jets, lolos and calm beaches.


Watch planes land over Maho Beach, eat ribs at Grand Case’s lolos, climb Pic Paradis and swim around Pinel Island, crossing between French and Dutch sides freely.
The best time to visit Saint Martin is December to April, when trade winds keep days around 28 to 30°C, rain is scarce and every beach bar and boat trip runs, though you pay peak prices for it. The whole island shares one climate, but crowds differ: cruise passengers pack Philipsburg on the Dutch side, while Grand Case and Orient Bay on the French side stay calmer.
  • Dry season (December to April): Sunny, breezy, busiest and priciest, with Carnival, the Heineken Regatta and Easter crowds.
  • Shoulder (May to June): Hotter, calmer, rates 20 to 40% lower, nearly everything open.
  • Wet and hurricane season (July to November): Humid, showery, cheapest. Storm risk peaks August to October, and many French-side restaurants and hotels close in September and October.
Sargassum seaweed can blanket east-facing beaches like Orient Bay from spring to autumn. Book December to March beds two to three months ahead and pack a light rain shell year-round.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - June
Daily cost: US$90 to 150 [st-martin.org]
Anguilla
25

Anguilla

Flat, quiet beaches, clear water and grilled crayfish, at Caribbean prices.


Swim and snorkel off squeaky white sand at Shoal Bay East, boat out to the Prickly Pear Cays and eat grilled crayfish at Island Harbour.
The best time for backpacking Anguilla is mid-April to June, when the dry-season sunshine holds, the winter crowds have flown home and room rates fall by roughly 30 to 50 percent. The island is small and flat, so the weather barely changes from one end to the other, though north-facing beaches such as Shoal Bay East can catch big swells in winter while the south coast stays calmer.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): Dry, breezy and about 75 to 85°F (24 to 29°C). Every hotel and beach bar is open, but this is when prices peak, and Christmas to New Year often comes with minimum stays. March brings Moonsplash, the reggae festival at Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve.
  • Shoulder season (mid-April to July): Hotter, with glassy seas that suit snorkeling at Little Bay and Shoal Bay. Easter brings Festival del Mar in Island Harbour.
  • Summer Festival (late July to mid-August): Anguilla’s carnival and the boat races, the national sport, pack the beaches. If you want to see racing sloops tearing around Sandy Ground, this is the window.
  • Hurricane season (September to November): Humid, with the highest storm risk in September and October. Many hotels and restaurants close for those weeks, and the island goes very quiet.
Book festival-week rooms three to four months ahead, because the island’s small supply of budget rooms sells out first.
Best known for:Known for: safety
Best time to visit: December - August
Daily cost: US$150 to 230
Christmas Island
26

Christmas Island

Watch red crabs cross the roads, then snorkel off the jetty.


Walk boardwalks to a tufa waterfall, snorkel straight off the jetty at Flying Fish Cove and time your visit to the red crab migration.
The best time for backpacking Christmas Island is October to December, when the first wet season rains trigger the red crab migration, the sea is still mostly calm, and flights from Perth carry wildlife lovers instead of holidaymakers. Weather barely varies across the island, but the coast does: Flying Fish Cove on the north shore is sheltered for most of the year, then takes the brunt of northwesterly swells in the wet season.
  • Dry season (May to September): Southeast trade winds, fewer showers and temperatures around 24 to 28°C. Visibility for diving and snorkeling at the Cove and along the drop-offs is at its clearest, and seabird watching is easy. Visitor numbers stay low and rooms are easy to find.
  • Crab migration (October to December): Millions of red crabs march to the sea after the first heavy rains, with spawning tied to the moon’s last quarter. November is the anomaly: an otherwise quiet island where the few guesthouses, rental cars and seats on the twice-weekly flights sell out, and some roads close to protect the crabs.
  • Wet season (January to April): Hot, humid and punctuated by heavy tropical downpours. Northwest swells can shut down boat dives and swimming at the Cove for days, but waterfalls run full and whale sharks are sometimes sighted offshore. Rates and flights are easiest to get now.
Book flights and a vehicle three to six months ahead for migration season, and pack a light rain shell plus closed shoes for walking roads crawling with crabs.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | uniqueness
Best time to visit: May - December
Daily cost: US$160 to 250 [christmas.net.au]
Cocos Islands
27

Cocos Islands

Snorkel reef channels and kite shallow flats on a quiet coral atoll.


Drift over coral and reef sharks at The Rip, fly a kite across the West Island flats and visit the Cocos Malay village on Home Island.
September to December is the best window for backpacking Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands, with the lowest rainfall of the year, calm lagoon water for snorkeling and paddling, and steady trade winds for kitesurfers. The atoll is too small for real regional differences. West Island and Home Island share the same weather, though Home Island’s Cocos Malay calendar, especially Hari Raya, shifts with the Islamic year.
  • Dry season (September to December): Rain is at its lowest and air temperatures stay around 25 to 30°C. Lagoon visibility is usually at its best. Kitesurfers and Australian school-holiday families fill the handful of beds, so book early.
  • Trade wind season (June to August): Southeast trades blow hard and steady, which suits kitesurfing and makes the heat easy to bear. Showers are frequent, choppy days can cancel boat trips to Direction Island, and July holidays push up demand.
  • Wet season (January to May): This is the wettest stretch, with humid heavy downpours peaking around April. Flights and lodging are easiest to get, and the islands feel almost empty.
Most people overlook cyclone season, which runs roughly November to April. Direct hits are rare, but storms can cancel the limited flights from Perth and delay the supply ship, leaving shop shelves thin. Book flights and accommodation together, ideally months ahead, and leave a spare day before any onward connection.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | uniqueness
Best time to visit: June - December
Daily cost: US$140 to 220
Saint Helena
28

Saint Helena

Walk 699 steps, meet Napoleon’s ghost and swim with whale sharks.


Climb Jacob’s Ladder, tour Napoleon’s last home at Longwood House, hike Diana’s Peak cloud forest and snorkel with whale sharks from Jamestown.
The best time for backpacking Saint Helena is December to April, when Jamestown sits at a warm 24 to 28°C, the seas are calm enough for diving, and whale sharks gather off the coast. Altitude matters more than region here: the interior around Longwood and Diana’s Peak (818 meters) runs roughly 5°C cooler than the harbor and often disappears into mist and drizzle when Jamestown is dry.
  • Summer (December to April): This is peak season, with the warmest, steadiest weather and whale sharks from roughly December to May. Few visitors arrive in absolute terms, but the island has very few beds, so guesthouses and rental cars fill weeks ahead. Seasonal Cape Town flights tend to run in this period.
  • Autumn (May): Temperatures ease and the last whale sharks linger. Saint Helena Day on 21 May brings local events to Jamestown.
  • Winter (June to September): Expect 18 to 23°C on the coast and noticeably chillier, damp hikes in the hills. Humpback whales pass through, crowds thin out, and some boat trips depend on swell.
  • Spring (October to November): Humpbacks stay into spring and the weather steadily improves. This shoulder season is the easiest time to book accommodation on short notice, since rates barely change through the year.
Book your bed before your flight, and pack a proper rain shell for the interior even in February.
Best known for:Known for: uniqueness | scenery
Best time to visit: October - May
Daily cost: US$110 to 170
Kenya
29

Kenya

Mara migration, Swahili lanes on Lamu and bike safaris at Hell’s Gate.


Watch wildebeest cross the Mara River, cycle past zebras at Hell’s Gate, see Kilimanjaro from Amboseli and walk Lamu’s donkey-filled Old Town.
The best months for backpacking Kenya are late June to October, when the long dry season thins the bush so animals gather at water, park roads stay passable and the wildebeest migration fills the Maasai Mara, though July to September also brings the highest lodge rates of the year, and Mara reserve fees double from July. The regions run on different clocks. The highlands around Nairobi and Mount Kenya turn chilly from June to August, the coast stays hot and humid all year with its heaviest rain in May, and the arid north around Lake Turkana sees little rain in any month.
  • Long dry season (June to October): Sunny days of 22 to 28°C in the parks, cold nights in the highlands, and the biggest crowds of the year. Mara camps and minivan safaris fill up, and reserve fees jump in July. Best for game viewing everywhere, Mount Kenya treks and humpback whales passing Watamu and Kisite.
  • Short rains (November to mid-December): Afternoon showers that rarely wipe out a whole day, green hills and quiet parks. Prices dip until mid-December, then the coast books solid for Christmas and New Year.
  • Short dry season (January to February): Hot, dusty and clear, with the coast around 30 to 32°C. Good game viewing, good climbing on Mount Kenya, moderate crowds and mid-range prices.
  • Long rains (March to May): Heavy afternoon downpours, muddy park tracks and the cheapest rates of the year. Many lodges on the coast and in Lamu close from April to June, and some Mara camps shut too.
Mara River crossings, where herds plunge past crocodiles, mostly happen between late July and September and depend on rainfall in Tanzania, so plan at least two or three days in the Mara rather than one. For August, book Mara camps and the Madaraka Express train from Nairobi to Mombasa three to four months ahead, and pack a fleece: Nairobi sits at 1,795 meters and nights drop to around 10°C.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | scenery | low cost
Best time to visit: June - February
Daily cost: US$30 to 45
Chile
30

Chile

A thin country of desert, glacier and Pacific port hills.


Hike to the Torres del Paine towers, walk the salt ridges near San Pedro, climb Valparaíso’s murals and fly out to Easter Island’s moai.
The best time to go backpacking in Chile is October to November or March to April, when central Chile sits around 20 to 27°C, Patagonia’s trails are open and you dodge the January and February domestic holiday rush that fills buses and pushes up hostel rates. The country stretches about 4,300 kilometers north to south, so timing shifts with latitude. Patagonia and the Carretera Austral work best from December to March, the Atacama is good almost all year, and the Andes ski resorts run in winter.
  • Summer peak (December to February): Patagonia gets its warmest weather (roughly 10 to 18°C) and longest days, but also its fiercest winds. Chilean school holidays fill campsites, refugios and the central coast, and prices hit their yearly high. In the Atacama highlands, the “invierno altiplánico” brings afternoon storms that can close high roads.
  • Autumn shoulder (March to May): Crowds drop once schools restart in early March. Wine valleys hold harvest festivals, southern forests turn red and gold in April, and by May rain returns to the south while many Patagonian services start closing.
  • Winter (June to August): Santiago is cold and often smoggy, the Lake District and Chiloé are wet, and southern Patagonia is snowy with limited trekking. Ski resorts near Santiago are at their best, and the Atacama’s dry, clear air makes for top stargazing. Prices are lowest outside ski areas.
  • Spring shoulder (September to November): Fiestas Patrias fills September with fondas, then Patagonia reopens in October and November with thinner crowds and shoulder prices.
The narrowest window is the “desierto florido”, when wildflowers carpet the desert around Copiapó and Vallenar from roughly September to October, and only in years after unusual rain.
I’d reserve Torres del Paine campsites or refugios the moment your dates are fixed, since December to February spots go months ahead, and I’d pack a real windproof shell whatever the month.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | scenery | wildlife
Best time to visit: September - May
Daily cost: US$40 to 60 [chile.travel]
Costa Rica
31

Costa Rica

Cloud forest, jungle trails and turtle beaches packed into a small country.


Hike misty Monteverde, wade through Corcovado’s rainforest, watch green turtles nest at Tortuguero and swim in the sky-blue Río Celeste.
The best months for backpacking Costa Rica are May, June and November, when mornings are usually dry, forests are deep green, hostel rates sit 10 to 25 percent below the December to April peak, and you share trails with far fewer people. Region matters as much as the calendar. The Pacific side and Central Valley follow the classic dry and rainy split, while the Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Tortuguero) stays damp most of the year and gets its sunniest weeks in September and October, exactly when the Pacific is soaked.
  • Dry season (December to April): Clear skies, brown and dusty Guanacaste, gusty winds in the north. Beaches, buses and dorms fill up, especially over Christmas and Semana Santa, and prices hit their yearly high.
  • Early green season (May to August): Sunny mornings, afternoon downpours, lower prices. A drier spell called the “veranillo” often arrives in July, along with North American and European holiday crowds.
  • Peak rains (September and October): The Pacific coast, Osa Peninsula and mountains get their heaviest rain, and some Osa lodges shut. The Caribbean side is at its best.
  • Transition (November): Rain fades from north to south, waterfalls run full and the peak crowds have not arrived yet.
The risk people underestimate is landslides: in the wettest months, Route 32 to the Caribbean and the mountain roads to Monteverde can close for hours or days, so leave a buffer day before any flight. I’d pack a light rain shell in every season and book December to April beds two to three weeks ahead.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | wildlife | backpackers
Best time to visit: November - August
Daily cost: US$45 to 65 [visitcostarica.com]
Guatemala
32

Guatemala

Volcano hikes, Maya temples and lake villages in the highlands.


Climb Tikal’s temples at sunrise, hike above Lake Atitlán, shop the Chichicastenango market and boat down the Río Dulce to a Garífuna town.
The best time for backpacking Guatemala is November to April, the dry season, when trails stay firm, volcano summits are clear most mornings and only the Christmas and Holy Week holidays push prices up sharply. Altitude matters more than geography here: the highlands around Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Quetzaltenango (Xela) turn cold at night in the dry months, while Petén and the Pacific coast stay hot and humid all year.
  • Dry season (November to April): Sunny days of roughly 22 to 27°C in the highlands, with nights in Xela dropping to 5°C or lower from December to February. This is peak season, so Antigua hostels fill on weekends. Overnight Acatenango hikes have their best odds of watching Fuego erupt under a clear sky.
  • Early rains (May to June): Mornings stay bright and afternoons bring a hard downpour of an hour or two. Crowds thin and many rooms drop 10 to 25% in price.
  • Wet season (July to October): Rain grows heavier and longer, broken by a short drier spell, the canícula, in late July or August. September and October bring the worst landslides, road closures and storm risk, and the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey can turn brown. Prices hit their lowest.
On November 1, Sumpango near Antigua flies giant kites, some around 20 meters across, in its cemetery for All Saints’ Day, a single-day window worth planning a route around.
I’d pack a light down jacket even in the dry season, because a 4 a.m. start on a volcano or at a Lake Atitlán viewpoint is properly cold.
Best known for:Known for: backpackers | architecture | scenery
Best time to visit: November - June
Daily cost: US$30 to 45
Cuba
33

Cuba

Cobbled colonial towns, tobacco valleys and live son music.


Wander Old Havana’s plazas, ride through Viñales tobacco country, dance in Trinidad and head east to Santiago and Baracoa, where buses are slow.
The best time for backpacking Cuba is December to April, when the dry season brings sunny days around 25 to 28°C, low humidity and very little hurricane risk, though Christmas, New Year and Easter push casa particular prices up by roughly 20 to 40%. Regionally, Havana and the west catch winter cold fronts that can drop nights to 15°C, Santiago and the east stay several degrees hotter all year, and Baracoa on the northeast coast gets rain in every month.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to March): Clear skies, calm seas for diving off María la Gorda, and comfortable hiking in Viñales and the Escambray. Casas in Havana and Trinidad fill early and run US$30 to 50 a night instead of US$20 to 35.
  • Shoulder months (April, May and November): Heat builds in April and the first heavy showers arrive in May, while November dries out. Crowds thin and room rates soften.
  • Wet summer (June to August): Highs of 31 to 33°C, sticky humidity and short afternoon downpours. Cuban school holidays fill beaches like Varadero and Guardalavaca, and Santiago’s carnival runs in July.
  • Hurricane peak (September and October): The highest storm risk, the lowest prices and some hotels and tours shut for maintenance.
For one night only, December 24, the Parrandas in Remedios turn the town into a fireworks battle between rival neighborhoods. I’d book Christmas and New Year beds weeks ahead and pack a fleece, because the Viazul bus air conditioning runs arctic.
Best known for:Known for: people | uniqueness | low cost
Best time to visit: November - August
Daily cost: US$35 to 55
Rwanda
34

Rwanda

Gorilla treks, canopy walks and lake days along smooth, winding roads.


Trek to mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, walk Nyungwe’s canopy bridge, rest on Lake Kivu and drive safari in Akagera.
The best time for backpacking Rwanda is June to September and again December to February, when the two dry seasons firm up muddy gorilla trails and Akagera’s animals gather at the remaining water. Altitude shapes the rest. Volcanoes and Nyungwe stay cooler and catch showers year-round, while Akagera in the east runs hotter and drier.
  • Long dry season (June to September): sunny and dusty, around 24 to 27°C in Kigali, with peak permit demand and top lodge rates. Best for Akagera game drives.
  • Short rains (October to November): afternoon downpours, greener hills, thinner crowds and good birding.
  • Short dry season (December to February): warm and mostly clear. The last two weeks of December spike with holiday visitors, then January calms down.
  • Long rains (March to May): the heaviest rain, slick trails, lodge discounts and empty hiking paths.
Gorilla permits cost US$1,500 whatever the month. Book them three to six months ahead for July and August, and pack gaiters and a rain shell in any season.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | scenery | low cost
Best time to visit: June - October, December - February
Daily cost: US$30 to 45
Brunei
35

Brunei

Stilt villages, rainforest canopy walks and night-market grills in a quiet sultanate.


Ride a water taxi through Kampong Ayer, see the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, climb Ulu Temburong’s canopy and spot proboscis monkeys at dusk.
February and March are the best months for backpacking Brunei, with the year’s driest skies, 32°C afternoons and hotel rates that barely move outside major holidays. Bandar Seri Begawan and the coast dry out faster than Temburong, where the rainforest catches more rain and rivers rise quickly.
  • Drier season (February to April): Fewer downpours and clearer mornings for the Ulu Temburong canopy towers. Ramadan currently overlaps these months, so daytime eateries close.
  • Southwest monsoon (May to September): Hot and humid with short afternoon storms. July brings the Sultan’s birthday on 15 July and a spike in domestic crowds.
  • Northeast monsoon (October to January): The wettest stretch, with hard bursts of rain, muddy trails and occasional flash flooding.
The surprise crowd is Hari Raya Aidilfitri, when the Istana Nurul Iman opens to the public and capital hotels fill. Book that week early, and pack a light rain shell plus long sleeves for mosques.
Best known for:Known for: safety | scenery | people
Best time to visit: February - September, December
Daily cost: US$30 to 55 [bruneitourism.com]
Benin
36

Benin

Vodun temples, stilt villages and mud tower houses in West Africa.


Paddle to the stilt houses of Ganvié, meet pythons in Ouidah, tour the Abomey palaces and climb into Tata Somba mud homes.
Backpacking Benin is best from November to February, when the rains have stopped, dirt roads are passable, wildlife in Pendjari gathers around shrinking waterholes and rooms cost their normal rates outside the Vodun Days festival week in early January. The country splits in two climatically: the south (Cotonou, Ouidah, Ganvié, Abomey) gets two rainy seasons, while the north (Natitingou, the Atacora hills, Pendjari) has one long wet season and a much fiercer hot spell.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Dry, sunny, 30 to 33°C by day, with cool northern nights once the dusty Harmattan wind arrives in December. This is peak season, so book ahead around Christmas and early January, though tourist numbers stay modest by West African standards.
  • Hot season (March to April): The north bakes at 38 to 40°C, the south turns sticky and the first storms roll in. Few travelers, easy bargaining, and still the best game viewing in Pendjari.
  • Long rains (May to July): The south takes its heaviest rain, peaking in June, and northern rains build. Laterite roads turn to mud, Pendjari winds down and guesthouses run quiet.
  • Little dry spell and short rains (August to October): The coast dries out and cools in August, then the short rains return mid-September. The north is at its wettest, with park tracks largely impassable.
Pack a light scarf for Harmattan dust on northern bush-taxi rides, and reserve Ouidah beds weeks ahead for Vodun Days.
Best known for:Known for: uniqueness | wildlife | low cost
Best time to visit: November - February
Daily cost: €25 to €40
Honduras
37

Honduras

Maya carvings, Bay Island diving and cheap baleadas.


Study the glyph-covered stairway at Copán, dive off Utila, raft the Río Cangrejal and sail out to Garifuna fishing huts on Cayos Cochinos.
The best months for backpacking Honduras are February and March: the mainland is dry, the Bay Islands have shaken off their winter rains, and prices only spike during Semana Santa. The country splits in two. Copán, Tegucigalpa and the Pacific side follow a standard dry and wet pattern, while Utila, Roatán and the Caribbean coast get their heaviest rain from October to January, when “nortes” blow in from the north.
  • Early dry season (November to December): The interior dries out and stays green, with cool highland nights. The islands and La Ceiba remain wet and choppy. Prices are low until Christmas week, when domestic travel fills buses and beach towns.
  • Peak dry season (January to April): Sunny almost everywhere, hot by April, with smoke haze from field burning late in the season. Island dorms and Roatán rooms cost the most, and Holy Week brings sold-out buses and price jumps of 20 to 50 percent.
  • Green season (May to August): Afternoon storms on the mainland, broken by a short dry spell (the “canícula”) around July and August. The Bay Islands enjoy their driest, calmest water. Expect discounts and empty trails.
  • Storm season (September to October): Peak hurricane risk, flooding and landslides. Travel is slow and the islands turn rainy.
I’d book island beds and Copán buses two to three weeks ahead if your dates touch Semana Santa, and pack a light rain shell for La Ceiba or the Moskitia in any month.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | wildlife | backpackers
Best time to visit: November - April
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [honduras.travel]
El Salvador
38

El Salvador

Volcano rims, Pacific surf and pupusas in a small country.


Hike Santa Ana volcano, eat at Juayúa’s weekend food fair, walk Suchitoto’s cobbles, surf at El Tunco and visit the ash-buried Joya de Cerén.
The best time to go backpacking in El Salvador is November to February, when the dry season brings clear skies, cooler highland nights and normal prices outside the Christmas rush. The coast and eastern lowlands stay hot all year (roughly 30 to 35°C), while the Ruta de las Flores and peaks like Cerro El Pital run 10°C or more cooler, so altitude shapes your comfort more than the calendar does.
  • Dry season (November to April): Sunny days, dusty roads and the busiest beaches. November to February is the most comfortable stretch. March and April turn scorching and hazy from field burning. The coffee harvest and flower blooms fill the Ruta de las Flores early in the season.
  • Semana Santa (March or April): The whole country heads to the coast for Holy Week. Rooms in El Tunco and El Zonte sell out weeks ahead, rates jump, and public transport thins out on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
  • Rainy season (May to October): Mornings are usually clear, with heavy storms in the afternoon or overnight. Rooms get cheaper and the Pacific swell peaks, which is why surfers pick these months. September and October are the wettest.
The risk people underrate is the temporal, a multi-day soaking from a Pacific weather system that triggers landslides and can cut highland and coastal roads for days, so leave buffer days in your plan. Pack a light rain shell and a fleece whatever the month: the shell from May onward, the fleece for highland nights in December and January.
Best known for:Known for: people | low cost | safety
Best time to visit: May - June, November - March
Daily cost: US$30 to 50
Puerto Rico
39

Puerto Rico

Forts, rainforest and glowing bays with easy logistics.


Walk Old San Juan’s forts, hike El Yunque to a waterfall, paddle Vieques’ glowing bay and relax on Culebra’s Flamenco Beach.
The best time for backpacking Puerto Rico is April to June and November, when you get mostly sunny days around 29 to 31°C (84 to 88°F), thinner crowds than in winter and room rates well below the December to March peak. Region matters: the north coast and El Yunque catch rain year-round, while the south coast around Ponce and Guánica sits in a rain shadow and stays dry even in the wetter months.
  • Winter peak (mid-December to March): The driest, breeziest stretch, with highs near 28°C (83°F). Cruise passengers and US mainland visitors arrive along with the year’s top room prices, so book weeks ahead. Big north swells make this Rincón’s surf season.
  • Spring shoulder (April to June): Prices drop after Easter week, the sea flattens into clear snorkeling water around Culebra and Vieques, and the showers that return in May tend to come in short afternoon bursts.
  • Hurricane peak (July to October): Hot, humid and wet, with storm risk highest in August and September. Rates hit their lowest, though July still fills beaches with island and mainland families on summer break.
  • November: Hurricane risk fades, rain thins out as the month goes on, and shoulder prices hold until Thanksgiving week.
If you travel between July and October, book refundable rooms and flights, and pack a light rain shell plus a headlamp for power cuts.
Best known for:Known for: safety | scenery | people
Best time to visit: November - June
Daily cost: US$75 to 130
Togo
40

Togo

Mud tower houses, fetish markets and forested hills along a thin country.


Visit the clay tower homes of Koutammakou, browse Lomé’s fetish market, hike near Kpalimé and swim at Akloa Falls.
The best time for backpacking Togo is November to February, when rain stops nationwide, northern dirt roads are passable and prices hold steady. Region matters: the coast around Lomé gets two rainy seasons, while the savanna north of Kara gets one long one, May to October.
  • Dry season (November to February): Highs of 30 to 33°C, harmattan dust from December, cool northern nights. Prime time for Koutammakou and Fazao-Malfakassa.
  • Hot season (March to April): The north bakes near 38 to 40°C; the coast turns sticky.
  • Main rains (May to July): Heaviest on the coast in June, tracks turn to mud, few visitors, Kpalimé’s hills at their greenest.
  • Coastal lull and second rains (August to October): The coast dries briefly in August, then showers return. August is oddly busy, as diaspora families fly home.
Pack a buff for harmattan dust and a light rain shell for anything after April.
Best known for:Known for: uniqueness | low cost | scenery
Best time to visit: July - August, November - April
Daily cost: €20 to €35
Equatorial Guinea
41

Equatorial Guinea

Turtle beaches, volcano summit and Spanish-speaking rainforest at high prices.


Watch leatherback turtles nest at Ureca, climb Pico Basilé, walk the cool Moka crater lakes and trek rainforest at Monte Alén.
December to February is the best time for backpacking Equatorial Guinea: it is the main dry season on both Bioko and the mainland, dirt roads in Río Muni are passable and leatherback turtles nest on Bioko’s southern beaches. The seasons split by region, because Bioko has one long wet season while mainland Río Muni gets two rainy spells with a short dry break in July and August.
  • Main dry season (December to February): sunny 30°C (86°F) days, harmattan haze that can hide Pico Basilé, turtles at Ureca. December is the oddly busy month, with diaspora flying home from Spain and Madrid flights pricing up.
  • Long rains (March to May): thunderstorms build on the mainland; Bioko stays workable until May.
  • Bioko wet, mainland dry (June to August): Malabo is grey and soaked, southern Bioko barely reachable, Río Muni briefly drier.
  • Short rains (September to November): the mainland’s muddiest months, rough going around Monte Alén.
Book December flights at least two months ahead and pack a real rain shell year-round.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | uniqueness | low cost
Best time to visit: December - May
Daily cost: €60 to €90
Curaçao
42

Curaçao

Dutch-colored harbor town and snorkeling coves on a dry island.


Cross Willemstad’s floating bridge, watch waves crash at Shete Boka, snorkel turtle-filled coves and climb the island’s highest hill before the heat arrives.
May and June are the best months for backpacking Curaçao, with dry, breezy weather, thin crowds after the North American winter rush and room rates well below peak levels. The island is small, so the weather barely changes by region, though the windward north coast and Christoffel National Park in the west catch more wind and passing showers than the sheltered southern beaches.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): Highs of 28 to 31°C, a steady breeze and cruise ships lining up in Willemstad. Rooms cost the most, and beaches like Grote Knip fill by late morning.
  • Shoulder season (mid-April to June): Dry, windy and quiet, with rates often 20 to 30 percent lower than in winter.
  • Summer (July to September): Dutch school holidays pack the beaches in July and August. September turns hot and still, which gives divers the calmest water.
  • Rainy season (October to early December): Short, heavy showers and the lowest prices of the year. Curaçao sits south of the main hurricane track.
Book beds for Carnival weeks two to three months ahead.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety | people
Best time to visit: November - August
Daily cost: US$70 to 110 [curacao.com]
Dominica
43

Dominica

Steaming volcanic hikes, bubbling reefs and river canoe trips.


Trek to the Boiling Lake, snorkel fizzing Champagne Reef, soak below Trafalgar Falls and visit the Kalinago Territory on a steep, rainforest island.
The best time to visit Dominica is February to June, when rain eases, mountain trails firm up, and you dodge the worst of the hurricane months. The leeward west coast around Roseau and Portsmouth stays far drier than the windward east and the rainforest interior, where showers fall in every month.
  • Dry season (February to May): Sunniest stretch, around 27 to 31°C on the coast. The Boiling Lake hike is at its least muddy. Carnival and cruise-ship days push up demand in Roseau.
  • Early wet season (June to July): Short, heavy showers, full waterfalls, fewer visitors and softer rates.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): Highest storm risk. Rivers flood after downpours, and some lodges and dive shops close for weeks.
  • Cool-down (November to January): Rain tapers off and sperm whale sightings off the west coast become more reliable.
Leatherback turtles nest on east-coast beaches like Rosalie only from March to August. Whatever the month, pack a light rain shell and quick-dry clothes.
Best known for:Known for: safety | scenery | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$65 to 100
Antigua and Barbuda
44

Antigua and Barbuda

Sailing harbors, old naval docks and Barbuda’s frigatebirds.


Tour Nelson’s Dockyard, watch sunset at Shirley Heights, boat to Barbuda’s frigatebird colony and eat fungee and pepperpot from roadside pots.
The best time for backpacking Antigua and Barbuda is May and June, when the dry-season sunshine mostly holds, the winter crowds have gone and room rates fall by roughly a third. Both islands share one climate, though flat Barbuda runs slightly drier and stays quiet all year, while English Harbour on Antigua fills up around the big regattas.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to mid-April): highs of 27 to 29°C, low humidity, steady trade winds and the highest prices of the year, with cruise ships crowding St. John’s on most weekdays.
  • Shoulder season (mid-April to June): warmer at 29 to 31°C, brief showers, calmer seas for snorkeling and noticeably cheaper guesthouses.
  • Hurricane season (July to October): hot, humid and stormier, with the deepest discounts, Carnival in late July and early August, and some resorts and restaurants closed in September and October.
  • November: showers stay frequent, businesses reopen and prices stay low until mid-December.
Buy travel insurance that covers storm-related flight changes if you book anything between July and November.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - June
Daily cost: US$90 to 140
Grenada
45

Grenada

Spice estates, rainforest falls and public beaches on a small island.


Hike to Seven Sisters Falls, snorkel the underwater sculpture park, tour a water-wheel rum distillery, visit a cocoa estate and walk St. George’s harbor.
The best time for backpacking Grenada is April to June, when the dry season’s last weeks and the first light rains come with post-Easter room rates and quieter beaches. Location matters: the mountain interior around Grand Etang gets several times the rain of the southwest coast near Grand Anse, and Carriacou is drier than both.
  • Dry season (January to May): Sunny, around 30°C with steady trade winds. January to March brings top rates and cruise ships in St. George’s. Prices ease after Easter.
  • Early wet season (June to July): Short afternoon downpours, green hills, low rates, leatherbacks nesting at Levera.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): Humid, heaviest rain. Some guesthouses and dive shops close in September. Spicemas runs in August.
  • Transition (November to December): Rains ease and prices stay low until mid-December.
Hurricanes are the risk people shrug off. Ivan in 2004 and Beryl in 2024 both hit hard, and storms cancel Carriacou ferries. Pack a light rain shell for rainforest trails in any month.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$60 to 95
Macau
46

Macau

Portuguese lanes, temple incense and egg tarts in a tiny walkable city.


Climb to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, cross Senado Square, visit A-Ma Temple, tour Guia Fortress and eat egg tarts in Coloane village.
The best time for backpacking Macau is October to December, when humidity drops, skies clear and highs sit around 20 to 27°C, though holiday weeks push room rates sharply up. The peninsula, Taipa and Coloane share one climate, but Coloane’s hill trails are only comfortable in the cool months, while Cotai’s casino-resorts work in any weather.
  • Autumn (October to December): dry, sunny and the busiest stretch, with Golden Week (October 1 to 7) and the Grand Prix in November filling every bed.
  • Winter (January to February): cool and grey at 11 to 18°C; Chinese New Year brings fireworks, crowds and doubled prices.
  • Spring (March to May): fog, drizzle and climbing humidity, moderate prices, temple festivals.
  • Summer (June to September): 28 to 33°C, heavy downpours and typhoon signals that can halt ferries; cheapest weekday rooms.
The International Fireworks Display Contest runs only on select nights in September and early October, launched over the water by Macau Tower. Book Sunday to Thursday nights, when rates often fall by a third or more.
Best known for:Known for: architecture
Best time to visit: October - May
Daily cost: US$50 to 80 [macaotourism.gov.mo]
Sint Maarten
47

Sint Maarten

Low-flying jets, guavaberry liqueur and a Dutch-side fort.


Watch planes skim Maho Beach, taste guavaberry liqueur on Front Street, explore the Fort Amsterdam ruins and dive the Man of War Shoal reef.
March to May is the best time to visit Sint Maarten: dry trade-wind weather, the year’s lowest rainfall and, after Easter, hotel rates well below winter peaks. The whole island shares one climate, but the sea differs. East-facing Dawn Beach gets choppy in the winter trades, while west-coast Mullet Bay usually stays calm.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): dry, breezy, 27 to 29°C, cruise crowds in Philipsburg and the year’s top room rates.
  • Shoulder season (mid-April to July): hotter and stiller, fewer cruise calls, rates often 20 to 40 percent lower.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): humid and stormy, with the lowest prices and thinnest crowds.
  • Early season (November to mid-December): showers ease and prices stay moderate.
The Heineken Regatta in early March is the week for big-boat racing off Simpson Bay. Book anything from June to November with insurance that covers hurricane delays.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$110 to 170 [vacationstmaarten.com]
Guadeloupe
48

Guadeloupe

A French Caribbean island with a volcano, reefs and Creole food.


Climb steaming La Soufrière, snorkel the Cousteau reserve, stand on Pointe des Châteaux’s cliffs and ferry to the pastel village on Les Saintes.
The best time for backpacking Guadeloupe is late April to June. The dry season’s sunshine mostly holds, the winter crowds have flown home and rates start to soften. Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante and Les Saintes stay sunnier and drier all year, while Basse-Terre’s rainforest and La Soufrière catch rain in every season.
  • Dry season, or carême (December to April): 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F) with steady trade winds. Hiking weather is at its most reliable and prices are at their highest, and Carnival fills the weekends from January to Ash Wednesday.
  • Shoulder (May and June): still mostly dry, with quieter beaches and better deals on gîtes and rental cars.
  • Wet season, or hivernage (July to November): humid with heavy showers. Hurricane risk peaks from August to October, and some restaurants and guesthouses close in September.
Sargassum seaweed often piles up on Atlantic-facing beaches from spring through summer, so check the daily reports before you pick a beach. Book cars early for Christmas and February, and pack a rain shell for Basse-Terre in any month.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: €60 to €100 [lesilesdeguadeloupe.com]
Martinique
49

Martinique

A French island with a volcano, Creole cooking and rhum agricole.


Walk Saint-Pierre’s ruins, hike Mont Pelée, wander Balata’s canopy walkways and browse Fort-de-France’s spice market, paying in euros the whole way.
The best months for backpacking Martinique are February to May, when the Carême dry season brings sunny days and steady trade winds, and from late April room rates drop well below the Christmas and Carnival peak. The north around Mount Pelée and the Route de la Trace gets rain in every month, while the south near Sainte-Anne stays far drier.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to April): 25 to 30°C, brief showers, calm Caribbean-side seas; the highest prices, with sellouts at Christmas, Carnival and Easter.
  • Shoulder season (May to June): mostly dry, fewer visitors, lower rates, distilleries still crushing cane.
  • French summer holidays (July to August): humid and showery, yet flights and gîtes stay in demand.
  • Wet and hurricane season (September to November): heavy downpours, muddy trails, the lowest prices.
Travelers often overlook sargassum seaweed, which piles up on Atlantic beaches like Tartane and Le Vauclin in spring and summer and smells of sulfur. Book rental cars early for peak dates, and pack a light rain jacket for the north.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: €60 to €95 [martinique.org]
Saint Barthélemy
50

Saint Barthélemy

Small, polished French island with free beaches and costly beds.


Hike to Colombier’s turtle cove, crunch across Shell Beach, explore Gustavia’s Swedish past and learn to kitesurf in Grand Cul-de-Sac’s shallow lagoon.
April to June is the best time for backpacking Saint Barthélemy: the dry season mostly holds, the sea is calm and warm, and room rates fall roughly 30 to 50 percent once the Easter crowd leaves. The island covers only about 25 square kilometers, so timing barely shifts by region, though the east coast around Grand Cul-de-Sac and Toiny stays windier than leeward Gustavia and Shell Beach all year.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): Dry and breezy, highs around 28°C. Even modest rooms run €300 to 600 a night and sell out months ahead. Oddly, the first two weeks of December are quiet and cheaper, right before the year’s most expensive fortnight.
  • Shoulder season (mid-April to July): Hotter, mostly dry, sea near 28°C, lower prices, nearly everything open.
  • Hurricane peak (August to November): Humid, heavy showers, storm risk highest in September; many hotels and restaurants close from late August through October.
Book your connecting flight from St Maarten early, since the small planes seat under 20 people.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: €200 to 380 [saintbarth-tourisme.com]
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
51

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Sailing reefs, a volcano crater and boat-hopping through the Grenadines.


Snorkel with turtles in the Tobago Cays, hike La Soufrière’s crater rim, visit Kingstown’s old gardens and ferry to Mayreau and Bequia.
May and June are the best months for backpacking Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, because the sunshine mostly holds while the winter crowds and peak room rates fade. St. Vincent’s volcanic interior catches far more rain than the low, scrubby Grenadines, so a wet day on the main island can be a dry one on Bequia or Union.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to April): Sunny and breezy at 25 to 30°C. Yachts fill the anchorages and rates hit their highest. This is the best window for sailing and the La Soufrière hike.
  • Shoulder (May to June): Hot, mostly dry, quieter and cheaper, with Vincy Mas building toward its parades in early July.
  • Hurricane season (July to October): Humid, with heavy showers and storm risk peaking August to October. Some small Grenadines hotels close in September.
  • Early winter (November to mid-December): Rains taper off and prices stay low.
Book Bequia rooms months ahead for the Easter Regatta, and pack a rain shell for the volcano in any month.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: October - July
Daily cost: US$70 to 110
Suriname
52

Suriname

Wooden Dutch streets in town, canoe-only villages upriver.


Stroll Paramaribo’s wooden inner city, push upriver to Saamaka villages, scramble up the Voltzberg and watch turtles come ashore at Galibi.
The best time for backpacking Suriname is mid-August to November, the long dry season, when monthly rain drops to roughly 70 to 100 mm, forest trails firm up and airfares from Amsterdam ease once Dutch school holidays end. Paramaribo and the interior rainforest follow the same calendar, but the interior gets more rain and runs on river levels, so timing matters more upriver.
  • Long dry season (mid-August to November): Hot, sunny days of 31 to 33°C (88 to 91°F), the year’s lightest rain and the best conditions for Brownsberg, Raleighvallen and Upper Suriname River lodges. Crowds thin out after August.
  • Short rainy season (December to January): Heavy showers return. Dutch-Surinamese families fly home for the holidays, pushing up fares and filling Paramaribo guesthouses.
  • Short dry season (February to mid-April): Drier spells, few visitors and the start of sea turtle nesting at Galibi and Matapica.
  • Long rainy season (mid-April to mid-August): The wettest stretch, with 250 to 300 mm or more in May and June, muddy dirt roads and full rivers, though leatherback nesting peaks.
The risk most people overlook is low water at the end of the dry season: by October and November exposed rocks on Upper Suriname River rapids make boat trips slower and sometimes force detours. Book flights for July, August and December two to three months ahead, and pack a light rain shell in any month.
Best known for:Known for: safety | low cost
Best time to visit: August - March
Daily cost: US$40 to 65
Uruguay
53

Uruguay

Colonial riverside streets, sea lions and long grill lunches on a quiet coast.


Wander Colonia’s old quarter, ride a dune truck into Cabo Polonio, eat at Montevideo’s port market and surf the beaches of Punta del Diablo.
March and early April are the best months for backpacking Uruguay, with the sea still warm enough to swim, highs of roughly 22 to 27°C, and coastal prices falling once the Argentine and Brazilian summer crowds head home. The country is small and low-lying, so the weather barely shifts by region, but the north around Salto and Tacuarembó runs several degrees hotter in summer, and the Atlantic coast of Rocha depends on the season far more than Montevideo does.
  • Summer peak (mid-December to February): Highs of 27 to 30°C, hotter inland. Punta del Este, José Ignacio and Punta del Diablo fill up, and beach rooms often cost two to three times their winter rate.
  • Autumn shoulder (March to April): Settled, warm days, quiet beaches and the grape harvest in the wineries of Canelones and Carmelo. Many beach hostels close after Easter.
  • Winter (May to August): Highs of 14 to 17°C, lows near 6°C, damp and windy. Cheap and calm in the cities, with the thermal springs around Salto as the busiest spot.
  • Spring (September to November): Changeable and breezy, with southern right whales off the coast. The sea stays cold until December.
The risk travelers overlook is the off-season shutdown: from late April to November, Cabo Polonio and Punta del Diablo run on a handful of open guesthouses and thinner bus timetables. Whatever the month, pack a windproof layer, because the wind off the Río de la Plata turns a mild day raw fast.
Best known for:Known for: safety | low cost
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: US$50 to 75
Micronesia
54

Micronesia

Dive Chuuk wrecks and explore basalt ruins, one family trail at a time.


Wade through the basalt canals of Nan Madol, dive Japanese wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon and kneel beneath manta rays in Yap’s channels.
The best time to visit Micronesia is January to April, when steady trade winds bring drier days, calmer seas and the clearest dive visibility, and prices barely move because big crowds never arrive. The west is drier than the east. Yap gets a real dry season, while Pohnpei and Kosrae stay wet year-round, and Pohnpei’s interior is one of the rainiest places on earth.
  • Dry season (January to April): Flatter seas, manta mating season in Yap and Yap Day on March 1. Small dive resorts fill first, so book early.
  • Shoulder months (May to June, December): Showers return, but most days still work for snorkeling, Nan Madol and Sokehs Ridge.
  • Wet season (July to November): Heavy downpours, muddy trails and choppier boat rides out to Chuuk’s wrecks, with the fewest visitors.
Backpacking Micronesia from August to November means typhoon risk, mainly around Yap and Chuuk. The United Island Hopper flies only a few times a week, so a single canceled flight can strand you for days. Leave a buffer day before your exit flight and pack a light rain shell and a dry bag.
Best known for:Known for: safety | uniqueness | wildlife
Best time to visit: December - June
Daily cost: US$90 to 140 [visit-fsm.org]
Montserrat
55

Montserrat

A volcano-buried capital, forest walks and a lone pale-sand beach.


Look down on buried Plymouth from Garibaldi Hill, tour the volcano observatory, hike the Centre Hills and earn Rendezvous Bay with a steep walk.
The best time for backpacking Montserrat is February to April, when trade winds keep days dry and warm (about 80 to 86°F), Centre Hills trails are firm underfoot, and the island’s St. Patrick’s Festival fills March with music and goat water stalls.
The island is only about 16 km long, so the weather barely changes from place to place. The forested Centre Hills do catch more showers than the coast, and when the wind shifts, ash from the Soufrière Hills volcano can drift over the inhabited north.
  • Dry season (January to April): This is peak season, with the most sunshine and the clearest views of the volcano from the observatory. The St. Patrick’s Festival week in mid-March is the busiest stretch, and rooms get scarce and pricier.
  • Shoulder season (May to June): It gets hotter and more humid, with occasional showers, but the trails and beaches are close to empty. Guesthouse rates are easier to negotiate, which makes this the best value window.
  • Hurricane season (July to November): Heavy downpours and storm risk peak from August to October. The Calabash Festival brings some life in July, but plan for muddy trails and possible ferry disruptions.
  • Festival season (mid-December to January 1): The island’s Christmas carnival brings calypso shows, parades and returning locals living abroad. The atmosphere is fantastic, but beds and car rentals book out early.
Montserrat has only a small stock of guesthouses and villas, so book at least two to three months ahead for March or late December.
Best known for:Known for: safety | uniqueness | scenery
Best time to visit: December - June
Daily cost: US$100 to 170
Northern Mariana Islands
56

Northern Mariana Islands

Snorkel Managaha, dive the Grotto and stand on Tinian’s bomb runways.


Combine easy snorkeling off Managaha, the cobalt Grotto dive site and WWII airfields on Tinian, with a quieter side trip to Rota.
The best time for backpacking the Northern Mariana Islands is January to April, when trade winds keep humidity tolerable, rain is scarce, and Saipan’s hotels sit between the big Asian holiday rushes. The weather barely changes from island to island, though Tinian and Rota stay quiet all year while Saipan feels every surge of Korean and Japanese tour groups.
  • Dry season (December to April): Highs around 29 to 30°C (84 to 86°F), steady northeast trades, and calm water on the western lagoon side of Saipan. This is the best stretch for Managaha snorkeling and Forbidden Island hikes. Lunar New Year in January or February briefly pushes Saipan room rates up.
  • Shoulder (May to June): Hotter and stickier as the winds drop, but flame trees blaze red across Saipan. Japan’s Golden Week (late April into early May) fills resorts and raises flight prices for about ten days.
  • Rainy season (July to November): Short, heavy afternoon downpours, high humidity and real typhoon risk, peaking August to November (Super Typhoon Yutu flattened parts of Tinian and Saipan in October 2018). August breaks the rainy-season lull: Korean and Japanese summer holidays make it one of Saipan’s busiest, priciest months. September to November is the quietest time, apart from Korea’s Chuseok holiday.
Before booking flights or rooms on Saipan, check the Korean and Japanese holiday calendars, then aim for the weeks just after them.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: December - June
Daily cost: US$90 to 140
Qatar
57

Qatar

Doha’s souq, striking museums and sand dunes meeting a tidal inlet.


Eat in Souq Waqif, visit the Museum of Islamic Art and National Museum, drive to Khor Al Adaid’s dunes and see Al Zubarah’s ruined pearling fort.
The best time for backpacking Qatar is November to March, when Doha’s daytime highs sit around 22 to 29°C, the desert is comfortable for camping and the big events cluster together. Regional differences are small. The inland desert and the northwest around Al Zubarah run a few degrees hotter by day and colder at night than the humid Doha waterfront.
  • Cool season (November to March): Dry and sunny, with the odd winter shower. This is peak demand, with peak hotel rates, especially around National Day and race weekends. It is the best time for desert camping at Khor Al Adaid and long walks on the Corniche.
  • Shoulder months (April and October): Highs of 32 to 36°C bring cheaper rooms and fewer visitors. Mornings and evenings still work for outdoor plans.
  • Summer (May to September): Temperatures reach 40 to 46°C, with sticky coastal humidity. Hotel rates can fall by a third or more, but desert trips and outdoor sightseeing mostly shut down.
Book Doha rooms early for December. Pack a light layer for over-chilled malls and Metro cars.
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: US$50 to 80 [visitqatar.com]
Saint Kitts and Nevis
58

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Fortress walls, a rainforest crater climb and roadside stews across two islands.


Climb to the rim of Mount Liamuiga, explore Brimstone Hill Fortress, eat goat water at roadside stalls and ferry over to quiet Nevis.
The best months for backpacking Saint Kitts and Nevis are late April to June, when the dry-season sunshine mostly holds, cruise crowds thin out and guesthouse rates drop by roughly 20 to 40 percent from winter highs. Both islands share the same calendar, but the rainforest slopes of Mount Liamuiga on St Kitts and Nevis Peak catch far more rain than the coasts, so summit hikes turn muddy much sooner than beach days do.
  • Peak dry season (mid-December to mid-April): Highs around 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F), steady trade winds and little rain. Cruise ships fill Basseterre and Frigate Bay, and rooms cost the most of the year. Sugar Mas, the national carnival, runs from late December into early January.
  • Shoulder season (mid-April to June): Warmer and still fairly dry, with easier bookings. The St Kitts Music Festival takes over Basseterre in late June.
  • Early wet season (July to August): Hot, humid and showery, with hurricane risk rising. Culturama, the Nevis festival of music and pageants, fills Charlestown from late July into early August.
  • Hurricane peak (September to November): The wettest, stormiest stretch. Prices hit their lowest, and some small inns and beach bars close for weeks in September and October.
Leatherback turtles nest on St Kitts beaches from roughly March to July, and guided night patrols run only in that window. For a July to November trip, book refundable rooms and pack a light rain shell plus sturdy shoes for slick trails.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: December - June
Daily cost: US$100 to 150
Indonesia
59

Indonesia

Volcano sunrises, Komodo dragons and funeral ceremonies across a vast island chain.


Hop from Borobudur’s stone terraces to Bromo’s crater rim, Komodo’s dragons, Toraja funeral villages and the crater lake of Toba.
The best months for backpacking Indonesia are May, June and September, when Bali, Java and the Nusa Tenggara islands are dry and sunny but the July and August crowds, and room rates that climb roughly 30 to 50 percent, are absent. That pattern covers most of the country. Maluku and parts of central Sulawesi flip it, getting their heaviest rain from May to August, while northern Sumatra’s wettest stretch runs roughly September to December.
  • Rainy season (November to March): Expect hot, sticky mornings and heavy afternoon or overnight downpours, with January and February the wettest months in Java and Bali. Guesthouses discount 20 to 40 percent outside the Christmas to New Year spike, and rice terraces are at their greenest. Some volcano treks close, ferry crossings get rough and rural roads in Flores and Sumatra turn to mud, so this is a season for slower, culture-focused trips.
  • Early dry shoulder (April to June): Rain tapers off, starting in Lombok and Flores, and skies are mostly clear by May while the landscape stays lush. Prices hold close to low-season levels until late June, when Indonesian school holidays begin and domestic travel picks up. Trekking, surfing and island hopping all come into their own.
  • Peak season (July and August): The driest, sunniest weeks across the southern islands, with cool nights in the highlands. European summer holidays push Bali, the Gili Islands and Labuan Bajo to capacity, budget rooms fill days ahead and Komodo boat tours can sell out. The weather is at its most reliable, but you pay more for it and share every viewpoint.
  • Late dry shoulder (September and October): Still dry through most of September, hotter and more humid in October, with the first storms arriving late in the month. Crowds thin fast once European schools restart and rates fall back, so you get peak-season weather at shoulder prices, the best value of the year.
Pack a fleece or light down jacket even for a beach-heavy trip: dawn at Bromo’s viewpoints or on Rinjani’s crater rim can drop close to 5°C in the dry season, and a sarong will not cut it at 4 a.m.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | people | wildlife
Best time to visit: April - October, December
Daily cost: US$20 to 35 [indonesia.travel]
India
60

India

Ganges ghats, Rajasthan forts and a different cuisine every few hundred kilometers.


Book trains early to reach Varanasi’s dawn ghats, Amritsar’s Golden Temple kitchen, the Taj Mahal, boulder-strewn Hampi and Jaisalmer’s living desert fort.
February and March are the best months for backpacking India: dry, sunny weather still covers most of the country, the holiday crowds have gone home, and room rates in Goa and Rajasthan slide back from their winter highs. The country runs on several climates at once, so the Himalaya flips the calendar (Ladakh and Spiti open roughly June to September), and Tamil Nadu takes its heaviest rain in October and November while the rest of the south dries out.
  • Cool season (October to January): Clear skies and 25 to 30°C days across Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala, while Delhi and Varanasi drop to 5 to 8°C at night by January. This is peak season. Goa’s beach shacks reopen through October and November, Diwali and the Pushkar Camel Fair land here, and prices climb steadily toward a late-December peak.
  • Late dry season (February to March): Warm and settled almost everywhere, with the north thawed out and the south not yet sticky. Crowds thin after mid-February and many guesthouses cut rates by 10 to 25 percent. Holi falls in this window, and heat starts building in central India by late March.
  • Hot season (April to mid-June): The plains bake at 40 to 45°C, and places like Hampi or Khajuraho become dawn-only sightseeing. Lowland prices bottom out. The Manali to Leh road usually opens around late May or June.
  • Southwest monsoon (June to September): Rain reaches Kerala around the start of June and covers most of the country by July, with Mumbai and the Western Ghats taking the heaviest downpours. Goa’s beach scene largely shuts and landslides cut Himalayan roads, but Ladakh sits in a rain shadow and hits its best stretch.
One quirk flips the usual logic: May and June, the most punishing months on the plains, are among the busiest of the year in Shimla, Manali, Darjeeling and Ooty, because Indian school holidays send millions of families uphill to escape the heat. Hotel rates there rival December, and mountain roads clog with weekend traffic. For anything between mid-December and early January, I’d book long-distance trains the moment reservations open (about two months ahead), since sleeper and 3AC berths on popular routes sell out within days.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | architecture | food
Best time to visit: July - March
Daily cost: US$20 to 35 [incredibleindia.gov.in]
Thailand
61

Thailand

Temples, limestone beaches and street food, from Bangkok to the northeast.


Visit Wat Pho’s reclining Buddha, climb to Doi Suthep, cycle Sukhothai’s ruins, climb at Railay and sleep on Khao Sok’s floating rafts.
The best time for backpacking Thailand is November to February, when the cool, dry season brings highs of roughly 28 to 32°C, calm Andaman seas and clear skies, though it is also when beds cost the most and sell out first. Region changes the picture: the Gulf islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao get their heaviest rain from October to December, so their best stretch runs roughly January to August, while the north and the Andaman coast follow the main calendar.
  • Cool season (November to February): Dry and sunny, with nights in Chiang Mai and the northern hills dropping to 10 to 15°C. Crowds and prices peak from mid-December to mid-January, when beach bungalows can cost double their low-season rate. Every island ferry and national park is running.
  • Hot season (March to May): Highs of 35 to 40°C in Bangkok and the central plains, with smoke from crop burning across the north. Crowds thin and prices ease after mid-April. The Gulf islands are at their calmest for diving.
  • Rainy season (June to October): Usually a heavy afternoon downpour rather than all-day rain, green rice fields and low-season discounts of 30 to 50 percent. The Andaman side gets big swells, some Koh Lanta resorts close, and the Similan Islands shut from mid-May to mid-October.
  • Gulf monsoon (October to December): Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao take the northeast monsoon, with November usually the wettest month and ferries occasionally cancelled in rough seas.
The risk travelers most often ignore is the northern burning season: from roughly late February to April, air quality in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai can rank among the worst of any city on earth, which wipes out mountain views and is hard on anyone with asthma.
For mid-December to mid-January, I would book island rooms and overnight sleeper trains four to six weeks ahead; the rest of the year, I book only my first night and keep the plan loose.
Best known for:Known for: people | backpackers | beach life
Best time to visit: November - March
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [tourismthailand.org]
Nepal
62

Nepal

Himalayan trails, Kathmandu temples and dal bhat at every lodge.


Circle Boudhanath and Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, wander car-free Bhaktapur, trek to Annapurna Base Camp and paddle past gharials in Chitwan.
October and November are the best months for backpacking Nepal, with dry, stable weather after the monsoon and the clearest Himalayan views of the year, though trails are at their busiest and room prices at their annual high. Region matters: the lowland Terai around Chitwan is pleasant in winter and brutal in May, while rain-shadow areas such as Upper Mustang stay largely dry through the monsoon that soaks the rest of the country.
  • Autumn peak (October to November): Clear skies, warm days around 25°C in Kathmandu, cold nights above 4,000 meters. Everest and Annapurna teahouses fill by mid-afternoon, and the Dashain and Tihar festivals fall in this window.
  • Winter (December to February): Dry and mostly clear but freezing at altitude. Snow can shut Thorong La and other high passes, and some upper teahouses close. Low treks and the Terai are at their best. Quiet, except late December, when Indian and domestic holidaymakers pack Pokhara and Chitwan over Christmas and New Year.
  • Spring (March to May): Warming, with haze building and rhododendrons flowering in the hills. The second busy season peaks in April; pre-monsoon storms start in May.
  • Monsoon (June to September): Heavy rain, leeches, landslides on roads, hidden peaks and canceled Lukla flights. Prices drop and trails empty.
For autumn, I’d book the first Kathmandu night and any Lukla flight weeks ahead, then leave the rest open; I’d also pack a down jacket whatever the month.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | low cost | people
Best time to visit: February - April, September - December
Daily cost: US$20 to 30 [welcomenepal.com]
Philippines
63

Philippines

Island hopping by boat to limestone bays, rice terraces and underground rivers.


Trek down to Batad’s terraces, kayak El Nido’s lagoons, climb above Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, canyoneer Kawasan Falls and paddle the Puerto Princesa river cave.
The best time for backpacking the Philippines is January to March, when the northeast monsoon keeps temperatures around 25 to 31°C, seas are mostly calm for island-hopping, and you miss the Christmas and Holy Week price spikes. The country splits by coastline: the western side (Palawan, Manila, Boracay, western Luzon) has a clear dry season from roughly December to May, while the Pacific-facing east (Siargao, Samar, Catanduanes, eastern Mindanao) gets its heaviest rain from November to February. Most of Mindanao sits south of the main typhoon track.
  • Cool dry season (December to February): Warm days, cooler nights and the lowest humidity of the year. This is peak season, so El Nido, Coron and Boracay fill up, and room rates climb hardest over Christmas and New Year. Festival season runs strong through January.
  • Hot dry season (March to May): Manila and inland Luzon regularly pass 34°C, but the seas are at their flattest. Diving is at its best, Tubbataha Reefs opens to liveaboards from mid-March to mid-June, and Holy Week sends half the country to the beach.
  • Southwest monsoon (June to September): The “habagat” brings heavy afternoon downpours and grey spells to the west, with typhoons building from July. Expect rooms 20 to 40 percent cheaper and some island tours suspended on rough days.
  • Shoulder months (October to November): Rain eases in the west, Siargao’s surf peaks, and prices stay low, though late typhoons still hit the Visayas.
The risk travelers underrate is the ferry system: when a storm signal is raised, the coast guard cancels sailings, sometimes for two or three days, stranding you on an island while your flight leaves without you. I’d keep one free day between the last boat and any international departure, and pack a cheap dry bag for every bangka ride.
Best known for:Known for: people | backpackers | beach life
Best time to visit: November - May
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [philippines.travel]
Peru
64

Peru

Inca stone, glacier lakes and canyon condors, linked by long bus rides.


Climb to Machu Picchu and Laguna 69, watch condors over Colca Canyon, sleep on Taquile and eat late in Lima’s Barranco.
The best months for backpacking Peru are May and September: the Andes are dry and clear, the trails are firm, and you avoid the June to August crush and its higher room rates. Region changes the picture a lot. The Andean highlands and the Amazon follow a dry winter and a wet summer, while the desert coast flips the script, sunny from December to March and under a low gray sea fog (the garúa) from June to September.
  • Peak dry season (June to August): Sunny highland days around 18 to 21°C in Cusco, with nights near or below freezing. Machu Picchu tickets and Inca Trail permits go fast, and Cusco dorms climb to roughly S/40 to 70 (US$11 to 19). Best for high treks around Huaraz and the Colca Canyon, and for low-water wildlife trips in the Amazon. Lima sits under flat gray skies.
  • Shoulder season (April to May, September to October): The same trails with far fewer people. April carries leftover showers and green hillsides; October brings the first afternoon storms. Hostels and tour agencies discount more readily, and Machu Picchu can usually be booked days or weeks out instead of months.
  • Rainy season (November to March): Daily afternoon downpours in the highlands, heaviest in January and February, with landslides cutting mountain roads. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. Amazon rivers rise and flood the forest. Highland prices hit their lowest point of the year.
  • Coastal summer (December to March): Lima, Paracas and the north coast around Máncora turn hot and sunny. This is beach season for Peruvians, so coastal weekends and holidays fill up and cost more.
For a dry-season trip, I’d buy Machu Picchu tickets or Inca Trail permits the day your dates are fixed, then pack a proper down jacket, because highland nights are colder than most people plan for.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | backpackers | architecture
Best time to visit: April - October, December
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [peru.travel]
Sri Lanka
65

Sri Lanka

Rock fortress, hill-country tea trains and rice and curry across a small island.


Climb Sigiriya, watch drummers at Kandy’s tooth temple, walk Galle Fort’s ramparts, hike Adam’s Peak at night and ride the train to Ella.
The best time for backpacking Sri Lanka is February and March, when the south coast, Colombo and the hill country are dry and sunny, the east is drying out, and the late-December price spike has faded. The catch is geography: two monsoons hit opposite sides of the island at different times, so while the southwest is wet, the east coast around Arugam Bay and Trincomalee is usually at its driest, and the reverse.
  • Southwest dry season (December to March): Sunny beaches from Hikkaduwa to Tangalle, clear mornings in Ella and Nuwara Eliya, and calm seas for whale trips off Mirissa. This is peak season, with the year’s highest room rates on the south coast (often 20 to 40 percent above low season) and the most crowded trains. The northeast monsoon keeps the east and north damp until about February.
  • Hot shoulder (April): Humid days and afternoon thunderstorms as the first inter-monsoon builds. Crowds thin, prices begin to slide, and the east coast season gets going.
  • Southwest monsoon (May to September): Heavy rain and rough seas on the west and south coasts, cloud over the hills, and discounts there. The east coast, Jaffna and the Cultural Triangle stay mostly dry and enjoy their own high season, with east coast prices rising to match.
  • Inter-monsoon (October to November): Storms almost island-wide, flooding risk, very few travelers and bargain rates.
I’d pack a light rain shell and a fleece in any month: somewhere on the island it will be raining, and Nuwara Eliya drops to around 10°C at night.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | backpackers | low cost
Best time to visit: July - September, December - April
Daily cost: US$25 to 40 [srilanka.travel]
Japan
66

Japan

Orderly trains, shrine trails and island art in a compact country.


Climb through Fushimi Inari’s torii gates, hike the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage, visit Miyajima’s floating torii, enter Yakushima’s cedar forest and cross to Naoshima’s museums.
The best months for backpacking Japan are mid-to-late May and October, when highs sit around 18 to 25°C, rain is light and hostel beds cost their normal ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 (US$20 to 35) instead of holiday rates. The country stretches roughly 3,000 km from subtropical Okinawa to snowy Hokkaido, so Hokkaido runs several weeks behind Tokyo on blossoms and ahead on autumn color, while Okinawa gets its rainy season about a month earlier than Honshu.
  • Spring (March to May): Mild days of 10 to 22°C. Cherry blossom weeks in late March and early April are the most expensive and crowded of the year, with Kyoto rooms often doubling in price. Golden Week (April 29 to May 5) fills every train, but the weeks after it are calm, green and priced normally.
  • Rainy season and summer (June to August): The tsuyu rains soak Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu from early June to mid-July, then heat of 30 to 35°C with heavy humidity takes over. June is cheap and quiet; late July and August bring school holidays, festivals and peak domestic prices. Hokkaido largely escapes both the rain and the worst heat, and Mount Fuji’s climbing season runs July to early September.
  • Autumn (September to November): September stays hot and is the peak typhoon month. October turns dry and clear, and maple color moves south through November, when Kyoto becomes as crowded as in blossom season while most of the country stays reasonably priced.
  • Winter (December to February): The Pacific side is cold, sunny and dry; the Japan Sea coast, the Alps and Hokkaido get some of the deepest snow on the planet. Cities are at their cheapest, ski resorts at their priciest, and the New Year week shuts many restaurants and sights.
I’d book Kyoto beds two to three months ahead for blossom or maple season, and pack a light rain shell between June and September.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | mountains | architecture
Best time to visit: October - June
Daily cost: US$55 to 90 [japan.travel]
Vietnam
67

Vietnam

Motorbike passes, river caves and curbside noodles along a very long country.


Cycle Hoi An’s lantern lanes, enter Paradise Cave, kayak Lan Ha Bay, ride Ma Pi Leng Pass and sip egg coffee in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
March and April are the best months for backpacking Vietnam, because they’re the only stretch when the north, center and south are all dry and warm at once, after the Tet travel rush and before the summer domestic holidays push prices up.
The country runs about 1,650 kilometers from top to bottom, so each region keeps its own calendar. Hanoi and Sapa get a real winter, Hue and Hoi An take their heaviest rain from September to December, and Saigon and the Mekong Delta split cleanly into a dry half and a wet half.
  • Cool dry season (December to February): The south is sunny and around 26 to 32°C, with calm water off Phu Quoc. Hanoi sits at roughly 14 to 20°C under gray skies, and Ha Long Bay views are often hazy. Central Vietnam is still drying out from its monsoon until about late January. Tet (late January or February) is the year’s biggest domestic travel rush: trains and buses sell out, many family-run shops close for three to seven days, and rooms can cost 20 to 50 percent more.
  • Spring shoulder (March to April): Dry and warm almost everywhere, with the beaches at Da Nang and Nha Trang settling into clear water. Foreign visitor numbers are high, but domestic travel stays quiet until the 30 April and 1 May holidays, when beach towns fill and room rates jump.
  • Hot wet season (May to August): Afternoon downpours hit the north and south, and Hanoi pushes 35°C with heavy humidity. Central Vietnam is the exception: dry, very hot and good for swimming, though Vietnamese families pack its resorts in June and July. Elsewhere, guesthouses discount.
  • Storm season (September to November): Typhoons and floods target the central coast, with Hoi An’s old town going underwater most years. The north turns dry and clear, the best trekking weather of the year, and coastal rooms are at their cheapest.
I’d build any route around the weather of the region you care about most, then fly over the one that’s getting rained on; a domestic flight usually costs less than two wasted days.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | backpackers | food
Best time to visit: December - May
Daily cost: US$25 to 35
Jordan
68

Jordan

Rose-red Petra, desert camps and Roman ruins within a few hours’ drive.


Walk the Siq into Petra, sleep in a Wadi Rum Bedouin camp, explore Roman Jerash, float in the Dead Sea and hike Dana.
March and November are the best months for backpacking Jordan. Petra sees daytime highs of roughly 18 to 25°C, crowds are far thinner than in April or October, and room rates haven’t yet hit peak. Altitude changes everything here. The highlands around Amman, Petra and Dana can get snow in winter, while the Dead Sea and Aqaba sit hundreds of meters lower and stay warm enough to swim.
  • Spring (March to May): Wildflowers cover the hills and highland highs run 18 to 30°C. April brings the year’s heaviest crowds, when Petra’s Siq jams by 9 a.m. and Wadi Musa prices climb. Dusty khamsin winds can blow in from the desert.
  • Summer (June to August): Petra hits 32 to 36°C, and the Dead Sea and Aqaba push past 40°C. Western visitors thin out, but Gulf and Jordanian families fill Aqaba. Exposed hikes become risky after mid-morning.
  • Autumn (September to November): The heat eases through September and October brings a second peak of tour groups. November settles into cool, clear days.
  • Winter (December to February): Expect cold rain and occasional snow in Amman and Petra, and near-freezing nights in Wadi Rum. Prices are low and trails are empty.
The Wadi Mujib Siq Trail, a wade up a river gorge near the Dead Sea, only opens from April to October, when the flash-flood risk drops. In any month I’d pack a real warm layer for Wadi Rum, because the desert can lose 15 degrees after sunset.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | people | architecture
Best time to visit: November - March
Daily cost: US$45 to 65 [jordanpass.jo]
Madagascar
69

Madagascar

Lemurs, baobabs and limestone spires, reached by slow taxi-brousse rides.


Ride crowded taxi-brousses between rainforest lemurs, a baobab-lined dirt road, razor-sharp limestone canyons, sandstone trekking in Isalo and snorkeling off the Nosy Be coast.
The best time for backpacking Madagascar is September and October, when the dry season brings warm, clear days, lemurs carry newborns, and the July and August crowds and prices have eased. Regional splits matter here: the east coast and Masoala catch rain in any month, the southwest around Toliara stays dry for most of the year, and the cyclones of January to March mostly strike the east and north.
  • Rainy season (December to March): Hot and humid, often above 30°C on the coasts, with heavy afternoon downpours and a real cyclone risk from January. Dirt roads turn to mud, Tsingy de Bemaraha closes, and many west-coast lodges shut. Visitors are few and rates are at their lowest. Rainforest frogs and chameleons are at their most active.
  • Shoulder season (April to May, and November): Rains taper off in April and return in November. Landscapes are green, rooms are easy to find, and prices sit below peak. Tsingy usually reopens between mid-April and May, once the access roads dry, and closes again around mid-November.
  • Cool dry season (June to August): Sunny and dry across most of the island, but highland nights drop to around 5 to 10°C, and Andringitra can freeze. July and August bring European holidaymakers, so flights and lodges fill and prices peak. Humpback whales gather off Île Sainte-Marie from July to September, the one narrow window for that trip.
  • Warm dry season (September to October): Rising temperatures, little rain, thinning crowds and baby lemurs in most parks. The west and south get very hot by late October.
I’d book Sainte-Marie and Tsingy lodging two to three months ahead for July to September, and I’d pack a real fleece even for a beach-heavy trip, because the highland nights catch almost everyone out.
Best known for:Known for: uniqueness | scenery | people
Best time to visit: April - December
Daily cost: US$25 to 45
Pakistan
70

Pakistan

Karakoram peaks, Hunza forts and Lahore’s tiled mosques and nihari breakfasts.


Drive north to Baltit Fort and Fairy Meadows below Nanga Parbat, cross the high Deosai plateau, then head south to Lahore and Mohenjo-daro.
The best time to backpack Pakistan is April to May or September to October, when the plains are still bearable, the northern passes are open, and you dodge both the domestic summer rush and the monsoon. The country splits sharply by altitude: Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are most comfortable from October to March, while Gilgit-Baltistan and the Karakoram Highway work best from May to October.
  • Spring (March to May): Hunza and Skardu erupt in apricot and cherry blossom from late March to mid-April, with cool days and almost no crowds. By May, Punjab and Sindh push past 40°C. Guesthouse rates up north are at their lowest, and the Khunjerab Pass to China reopens on 1 April.
  • Summer and monsoon (June to August): High season in the mountains. Babusar Pass, Naran, Fairy Meadows and the Deosai Plateau are all reachable, and the Shandur Polo Festival runs in early July. Pakistani families flood the north during school holidays and Eid, so room prices in Hunza and Naran can double. The plains hit 45 to 50°C, and monsoon rain arrives from July.
  • Autumn (September to November): Clear skies, crisp nights and Hunza’s poplars turning gold from late October into early November. Domestic crowds thin out after August. Treks wind down by mid-October, and Khunjerab closes around late November.
  • Winter (December to February): Lahore and Karachi are pleasant at 15 to 25°C. Up north, many guesthouses shut, Naran and Kaghan are snowed in, and nights in Gilgit drop well below freezing.
The risk people underestimate is the monsoon’s effect on the Karakoram Highway: from July to September, landslides can block sections for a day or more, and weather-dependent flights from Islamabad to Gilgit and Skardu get canceled often. Build two or three buffer days into any northern itinerary, and pack a down jacket even in summer, because nights above 3,000 meters stay cold year-round.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | people | uniqueness
Best time to visit: September - May
Daily cost: US$15 to 25
Tanzania
71

Tanzania

Serengeti camping, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar spice-scented lanes in one route.


Join a shared Serengeti and Ngorongoro camping safari, climb Kilimanjaro, eat octopus skewers in Stone Town and snorkel with whale sharks at Mafia.
The best months for backpacking Tanzania are June and November: June brings dry trails and thinning bush before peak-season rates and jeep queues arrive, while November’s short rains turn the plains green, cut lodge prices and leave the parks quiet. The coast and Zanzibar stay hotter and more humid than the northern highlands year-round, and the far south and west (Ruaha, Katavi, Nyerere) get one long rainy season instead of two, so they largely shut from about March to May.
  • Long dry season (June to October): Clear skies, cool nights in Arusha and on the Ngorongoro rim, and animals clustered around rivers. July to September is peak. The Mara River crossings in the northern Serengeti draw convoys of vehicles, lodges charge top rates, and Kilimanjaro sees its best climbing conditions.
  • Short rains (November to mid-December): Showers that usually blow through in an hour or two, fresh grass, migrant birds, and the herds drifting back south through the Serengeti. Prices stay low until the Christmas surge.
  • Short dry season (mid-December to February): Hot and mostly dry, with wildebeest calving around Ndutu in the southern Serengeti. It’s a second Kilimanjaro window and prime beach weather on Zanzibar.
  • Long rains (March to May): Heavy, often all-day rain peaking in April, the year’s cheapest rates, and many southern camps and some Zanzibar hotels closed until June.
The risk people underestimate is road access. In the long rains, the black-cotton soil of the Serengeti and the dirt tracks into Ruaha and Katavi turn to deep mud, budget operators reroute or cancel at short notice, and flights to bush airstrips get dropped. Whatever month you pick, pack a fleece and a warm hat, because dawn game drives on the Ngorongoro rim at around 2,300 meters run cold in any season.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | scenery | mountains
Best time to visit: June - February
Daily cost: US$30 to 45 [tanzaniaparks.go.tz]
Argentina
72

Argentina

Glacier walls, granite spires and late steak dinners, spread over huge distances.


Hike to Fitz Roy and watch Perito Moreno calve, then cross to Iguazú, the striped Quebrada de Humahuaca valley and San Telmo’s Sunday market.
The best months for backpacking Argentina are October to November and March to April, when most of the country sits between 15 and 25°C, hostels have empty beds and prices drop below the December to February peak. Timing shifts with latitude: Patagonia works best from November to March and largely shuts down in winter, while the northwest (Salta, Jujuy) is at its best in the dry months from April to November, when summer rains are over.
  • Summer peak (December to February): Prime trekking season in Patagonia, with daylight stretching past 17 hours around Ushuaia and the wind still howling hard enough to knock you sideways on the trail to Laguna de los Tres. It is also when Argentines take their own holidays, so buses to El Chaltén and Bariloche, plus hostels on the coast, fill weeks ahead and prices climb. Buenos Aires turns sticky at 30 to 35°C, and half of it empties to the beach in January. The northwest gets its rainy season, with afternoon storms and occasional washed-out roads around Quebrada de Humahuaca, though February’s Carnival there is a riot of flour, basil and folk music.
  • Autumn shoulder (March to May): Mendoza celebrates the grape harvest with the Vendimia festival in early March, and in April the lenga forests around El Chaltén and Bariloche turn red and gold. Crowds thin and dorm rates ease. Many Patagonian lodges and boat services wind down after Easter, so check opening dates before heading deep south in May.
  • Winter (June to August): Ski season at Cerro Catedral near Bariloche and Las Leñas in Mendoza, with prices spiking during the July school holidays. Much of El Chaltén hibernates and southern trails are snowbound. This is a fine time for the northwest: clear blue skies, warm days and nights well below freezing at altitude. Iguazú is comfortable rather than steamy, and southern right whales start arriving at Península Valdés in June.
  • Spring shoulder (September to November): Whale watching at Península Valdés peaks around September and October, and Magellanic penguins return to Punta Tombo from September. Patagonia reopens in October and November with quieter trails, lingering snow on the peaks and sharp winds. Buenos Aires is at its prettiest in November, when the jacarandas paint the avenues purple.
If you travel between mid-December and the end of January, book long-distance buses and Patagonian hostels at least two to three weeks in advance, and pack a windproof shell and warm layers even in summer, since a single day in El Calafate can swing from 5 to 20°C.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | mountains | safety
Best time to visit: March - May, September - December
Daily cost: US$45 to 70
Egypt
73

Egypt

Pyramids, Nile temples and Red Sea reefs, with constant haggling.


Walk the pyramid fields of Giza and Saqqara, spend days in Luxor’s tombs, reach Abu Simbel at sunrise, wander Islamic Cairo and camp in the White Desert.
The best time for backpacking Egypt is October and November, when Luxor and Aswan have cooled to the low 30s °C (around 90°F), the Red Sea is still warm enough for long snorkels and the winter price jump has not fully kicked in. Region matters a lot here: Upper Egypt runs about 5 to 8°C hotter than Cairo, Alexandria and the Mediterranean coast stay mild in summer but get rain and gray skies in winter, and the Western Desert swings from scorching afternoons to near-freezing nights.
  • Peak winter (December to February): Sunny days of 19 to 24°C in Cairo and Luxor, but nights drop to 5 to 10°C, and desert camps in the White Desert or Siwa can dip close to zero. Tombs, temples and Nile feluccas are at their most crowded, and guesthouses and cruises charge top rates, especially over Christmas and New Year.
  • Spring shoulder (March to May): Temperatures climb fast, passing 35°C in Luxor by late April. The khamsin, a hot, sand-laden wind, can blow for days and blur the views at Giza. Prices ease after Easter, though Egyptian holidays fill trains and beach towns.
  • Summer (June to August): Upper Egypt sits at 40 to 45°C, so sightseeing happens before 10am or not at all. Foreign crowds vanish and hotel and cruise prices can fall by a third or more, while Egyptian families pack Alexandria and the North Coast, which become the pricier spots.
  • Autumn shoulder (September to November): Heat breaks gradually, Red Sea water stays around 27°C, and rates are moderate until mid-November. This is the window where weather and value line up best.
Pack a warm fleece even for a winter trip to Aswan, and if you travel from late December to early January, book overnight sleeper trains and Abu Simbel transfers at least two weeks ahead.
Best known for:Known for: architecture | beach life | scenery
Best time to visit: April, October - February
Daily cost: US$25 to 40 [egymonuments.gov.eg]
Malaysia
74

Malaysia

Penang street food, rainforest and Borneo’s mountain, split by two monsoons.


Eat through George Town’s old streets, walk Taman Negara’s canopy, snorkel the Perhentians, climb Mount Kinabalu and cruise the Kinabatangan River for monkeys.
May to September is the best window for backpacking Malaysia, with the east coast islands open and Borneo at its driest, and May and June are the best of it, before school-holiday crowds and the haze risk of late summer. The country runs on two opposite calendars. The northeast monsoon soaks the east coast and Borneo from November to February, while Penang and Langkawi on the west coast are at their driest then.
  • Northeast monsoon (November to February): Heavy rain and rough seas on the east coast, where most Perhentian and Redang resorts and ferries shut down. Sarawak has its wettest weeks. The west coast turns sunny, so Langkawi and Penang fill up and charge peak rates around Christmas and Chinese New Year.
  • Inter-monsoon (March to April): Hot and sticky, with afternoon thunderstorms across the country. East coast islands reopen through March, crowds stay light and room deals are easy to find.
  • Southwest monsoon (May to September): The driest stretch for the east coast, Sabah and Sarawak, with calm, clear water for diving. Expect busy islands during school holidays and July to August, plus occasional smoke haze from Indonesian fires from August.
  • Inter-monsoon (October): Thunderstorms peak on the west coast, the east coast winds down and prices dip.
Surfing at Cherating only works with the northeast monsoon swell, roughly November to February. I’d pack a light rain shell and quick-dry clothes in any month, and book Mount Kinabalu permits months ahead for May to August.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | safety | wildlife
Best time to visit: March - September, December
Daily cost: US$25 to 40
Taiwan
75

Taiwan

Marble gorges, mountain tea towns and night markets, all within easy reach.


Walk Taroko Gorge, climb Jiufen’s lantern stairs, eat beef soup in Tainan, watch the Alishan sunrise and snack through Taipei’s Raohe Night Market.
The best time for backpacking Taiwan is October and November, with March and April close behind, when days sit around 20 to 28°C, typhoons are mostly done or not yet started, and hostel rates stay at normal levels outside public holidays. Region matters a lot here. In winter the north and northeast (Taipei, Keelung, Yilan) sit under drizzly monsoon skies while Kaohsiung and Kenting stay dry and sunny, and the central mountains above 2,500 meters get properly cold.
  • Autumn (October to November): Dry, clear and warm, with typhoon risk fading after mid-October. This is prime time for high-mountain hiking, east-coast cycling and island hopping, and prices stay flat except over the National Day long weekend.
  • Winter (December to February): Around 12 to 19°C and damp in Taipei, mild and sunny in the south. Lunar New Year sells out trains and pushes room rates up for about a week, and many family-run shops close.
  • Spring (March to April): Mountain blossoms, 20 to 27°C and occasional fog, at shoulder prices. Tomb Sweeping Day in early April brings a busy long weekend.
  • Plum rain and typhoon season (May to September): Heavy May and June rains give way to 32 to 35°C humidity and typhoons that can cancel ferries and close mountain roads for days. July and August school holidays raise beach prices, while cities stay good value.
Buy train tickets for holiday weekends the moment sales open, roughly four weeks ahead, and carry a light rain shell in every month.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | safety | backpackers
Best time to visit: July - April
Daily cost: US$35 to 60 [eng.taiwan.net.tw]
Fiji
76

Fiji

Island-hopping lodges, village visits and clear reefs, with boats dictating the plan.


Swim into the Sawa-i-Lau caves, stay in Navala’s thatched village and dive with bull sharks off Pacific Harbour while watching the cost of each boat hop.
May to October is the best time to go backpacking in Fiji: it’s the dry season, with highs around 26 to 29°C, lower humidity and the lowest cyclone risk, and May, September and October avoid school-holiday crowds and prices. The west (Nadi, the Mamanucas, the Yasawas) sits in a rain shadow and stays drier all year, while Suva, Taveuni and Kadavu get far more rain every month.
  • Wet season (November to April): Hot and humid at 30 to 32°C, with heavy downpours and cyclone risk peaking January to March. Islands are quiet and rooms are discounted, but storms can cancel boat transfers.
  • Christmas holidays (mid-December to mid-January): Australian and New Zealand families fill resorts, and rates climb despite the rain.
  • Dry peak (June to August): Cooler nights, steady trade winds, booked-out dorms and the year’s highest prices.
  • Dry shoulder (May, September and October): Calm seas and fewer people. Manta rays feed in the channel near Drawaqa Island in the Yasawas roughly May to October.
Book Yasawa island hops a few weeks ahead for July, and pack a light fleece for breezy dry-season evenings.
Best known for:Known for: people | beach life | safety
Best time to visit: May - October, December
Daily cost: US$55 to 90
New Zealand
77

New Zealand

Volcano crossings, fiords and glacier walks, planned by driving time.


Hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, boat into Milford Sound and soak in Rotorua’s geothermal valleys, allowing for slow two-lane roads and Western European prices.
The best time for backpacking New Zealand is February to April, when summer weather holds, the Christmas school-holiday crowds have gone home and hostel and campervan prices start sliding down. Region changes the picture: subtropical Northland stays mild all year, the West Coast and Fiordland get heavy rain in every month, and the Southern Alps switch from hiking terrain to ski terrain from roughly mid-June.
  • Summer peak (December to February): Highs of 20 to 25°C, long light evenings and every Great Walk running with full hut services. Kiwi families hit the road from mid-December to late January, so dorm beds climb to NZ$40 to 60 (US$24 to 36) and campervan rates can double compared with winter. Popular beaches and campsites fill completely.
  • Autumn shoulder (March to May): The most settled weather of the year in March and April, cooler nights, grape harvests in Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay, and gold poplars around Arrowtown. Prices ease noticeably after Easter, and Great Walk huts drop to basic winter service after April.
  • Winter (June to August): Frosty, often clear days inland with Queenstown highs of 5 to 10°C, and wetter, windier weather further north. Ski fields around Queenstown, Wanaka and Mt Hutt open from mid-June, so Queenstown stays busy and pricey while the rest of the country gets cheap. Several alpine tracks become avalanche terrain.
  • Spring shoulder (September to November): Changeable conditions, with sun, hail and wind possible in one afternoon and snow lingering on high passes into October. Waterfalls run full, lambs fill the paddocks and prices stay low until the Great Walks season opens in late October.
I’d pack a real waterproof shell and a merino base layer whatever the month. If a Great Walk is on your list, I’d book the huts the day reservations open and build the rest of the trip around those dates.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | mountains | safety
Best time to visit: September - May
Daily cost: US$65 to 110
Cabo Verde
78

Cabo Verde

Volcano climbs, terraced valleys and morna music across Atlantic islands.


Climb Pico do Fogo, hike Santo Antão’s green valleys, hear live music in Mindelo and float in the salt crater of Sal.
April to June is the best time for backpacking Cabo Verde: the islands are dry, the trade winds ease off, and shoulder-season rates follow the winter crowds out. The flat eastern islands (Sal, Boa Vista, Maio) barely see rain all year, while mountainous Santo Antão, Santiago and Fogo catch most of the summer storms and turn green afterward.
  • Winter peak (December to February): 24 to 26°C, strong winds, Saharan dust haze and a cooler sea. Package tourists fill Sal and Boa Vista and rooms cost the most, though kitesurfing is at its peak.
  • Dry shoulder (March to June): clear, calm and warm, with lower prices and quieter beaches. Prime hiking on Santo Antão.
  • Rainy season (July to October): hot and humid, with short heavy downpours peaking in September. Turtles nest on Boa Vista, and muddy trails can close.
  • November shoulder: rains gone, hillsides still green, sea near its warmest.
Book interisland flights early for spring, and pack a windbreaker, because even in May the ridgelines get gusty.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | mountains | safety
Best time to visit: March - July, November - December
Daily cost: €35 to €55
Liberia
79

Liberia

Surf breaks, rainforest and a free-slave history on a rough coast.


Surf Robertsport’s long waves, track pygmy hippos in Sapo’s rainforest, visit Providence Island in Monrovia and follow the coast road to Harper.
The best time for backpacking Liberia is March and April, when the dry season is still holding, the dirt highways to the southeast are passable and the Christmas spike in flight prices has faded. The coast around Monrovia and Robertsport gets far more rain than the drier north, while the southeast (Sinoe, Grand Kru, Maryland) suffers most in the wet months because its laterite roads turn to deep red mud first.
  • Harmattan dry season (November to February): Little rain, daytime highs around 30 to 32°C, and from December a dusty Saharan haze that softens views and cools nights inland in Lofa and Nimba. December fills with diaspora Liberians home for the holidays, so flights and Monrovia rooms book up. Good for road trips and Sapo National Park.
  • Late dry season (March to April): The hottest, stickiest stretch, but the haze clears, crowds are thin and the roads stay open. Prime time for the long overland run to Harper.
  • Rainy season (May to October): Monrovia ranks among the wettest capitals on Earth, with over 4,500 mm a year and the heaviest falls in June and July. Downpours can last for hours and southeastern routes become impassable. Robertsport’s point breaks get their most consistent swell roughly May to September, the window for surfing. The southeast coast often gets a drier lull in late July and August.
Pack a light rain shell and dry bags even in April, since the first storms often arrive early.
Best known for:Known for: people | uniqueness | low cost
Best time to visit: October - May
Daily cost: US$45 to 75
Algeria
80

Algeria

Roman ruins, Saharan rock art and the steep Algiers Casbah.


Walk the Casbah of Algiers, see Roman Djemila, cross the gorges of Constantine and trek the painted sandstone of Tassili n’Ajjer with a licensed agency.
The best time for backpacking Algeria is March to May and October to November, when the coast sits at 20 to 27°C, the Sahara has dropped out of its worst heat, and hotels charge normal rates rather than summer-holiday prices. The country runs on two clocks. The Mediterranean north is at its best in spring and autumn, while the deep south (Djanet, Tamanrasset, Timimoun) has its season from October to April and largely shuts down to tourism in summer.
  • Winter (December to February): Algiers and Oran get 15 to 17°C days with regular rain, Constantine is colder, and snow covers the Djurdjura and Aurès ranges. This is high season in the Sahara: clear 20 to 25°C days, nights below freezing on the Tassili plateau and around Assekrem, and Djanet tours booked solid over Christmas and New Year.
  • Spring (March to May): The strongest all-round season. Wildflowers grow over the ruins at Djemila and Tipaza, Kabylie turns green, and the desert stays workable until late April. Sirocco winds can push sandstorms and sudden 35°C days north.
  • Summer (June to September): The coast runs 28 to 33°C and humid. In July and August half the country and its diaspora head for the beaches, so seaside rooms and ferries from France fill and prices climb. The Sahara hits 40 to 48°C and most desert circuits stop.
  • Autumn (October and November): The sea stays warm into October, the date harvest fills markets, and southern agencies restart their trips.
The risk most visitors overlook is Ramadan, which moves about 11 days earlier each year and falls in February and March in the mid-2020s. Daytime cafés close, intercity transport thins out, and buses and flights sell out around Eid. If the Sahara is in your plans, contact a Djanet or Tamanrasset agency four to six weeks ahead, because they arrange the invitation your visa and permits depend on.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | scenery | mountains
Best time to visit: September - June
Daily cost: US$25 to 45 [mta.gov.dz]
Bhutan
81

Bhutan

Cliff monasteries, dzongs and mountain passes, all on a guided route.


Hike to Tiger’s Nest, cross Punakha Dzong’s bridge, stop at Dochula’s chortens, walk Phobjikha Valley and visit Bumthang’s old temples.
The best time to visit Bhutan is March to May and October to November, when the western valleys are dry and clear, trekking routes are open and the big tshechu festivals fill the calendar, though these months also bring peak hotel rates and the fastest-selling flights into Paro. Region changes the picture. The southern foothills around Gelephu and Phuentsholing are steamy and drenched in summer but pleasant in winter, while Bumthang and the high trekking country freeze hard from December to February.
  • Spring (March to May): Daytime highs of roughly 15 to 25°C in Paro and Thimphu, rhododendrons flowering on the passes, and the Paro Tshechu crowds. Hotels charge peak rates. Good for the Druk Path and Jomolhari treks.
  • Monsoon (June to September): Frequent heavy rain, leeches on trails, landslides on the east-west highway and cloud hiding the peaks. Fewest visitors, some hotel discounts, and rice terraces at their greenest.
  • Autumn (October to November): Crisp, dry air, the clearest Himalayan views of the year and the busiest weeks overall. The Snowman Trek, among the hardest in the Himalaya, is realistically only attempted in a narrow late-September to mid-October window.
  • Winter (December to February): Sunny days, freezing nights, snow on the high passes, black-necked cranes in Phobjikha, and easy bookings.
If your dates touch a tshechu, book flights into Paro three to six months ahead, because the few daily seats go first.
Best known for:Known for: mountains | uniqueness | safety
Best time to visit: September - May
Daily cost: US$140 to 190
Sierra Leone
82

Sierra Leone

Beach-backed forest, chimp sanctuaries and a slave fort, reached by boat.


Cross the estuary by boat, meet chimps at Tacugama, swim at River No. 2, walk Bunce Island’s ruins and climb Mount Bintumani.
The best time for backpacking Sierra Leone is November to March, when the rains have stopped, dirt roads to the parks are passable and beach guesthouses are fully open without the December holiday rush pushing up prices. The Freetown Peninsula and the coast get far more rain than the interior, while the north (Kabala, Outamba-Kilimi) dries out first and gets the heaviest Harmattan dust.
  • Cool dry season (November to February): Days of 28 to 31°C, a dry Saharan Harmattan wind from December, hazy skies and cooler nights upcountry. Prime time for Mount Bintumani, Tiwai Island and Outamba-Kilimi, with steady but modest visitor numbers.
  • Hot dry season (March to April): The haze lifts, humidity climbs and coastal highs reach 32 to 34°C. Calm seas make this the top window for the Banana Islands and the Peninsula beaches.
  • Shoulder rains (May to June, October): Afternoon storms, green hills, very few travelers and easy room discounts, though provincial dirt roads start turning to mud.
  • Peak rains (July to September): Freetown can take more than 700 mm of rain a month, island boats get rough and many beach lodges cut staff or close.
December is the oddball: Sierra Leoneans living abroad fly home for Christmas and New Year, so flights into Lungi fill and Freetown hotels raise rates. Book December flights three or more months ahead, and pack a buff for the dust.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | scenery | wildlife
Best time to visit: October - April
Daily cost: US$35 to 55
Czechia
83

Czechia

Drink cheap lager between castle towns, sandstone arches and bone chapels.


Cross Prague’s Charles Bridge at dawn, then reach Český Krumlov, Kutná Hora’s ossuary, the Bohemian Switzerland arch and Moravian wine cellars.
May, June and September are the best months for backpacking Czechia, with daytime highs of roughly 18 to 24°C, long evenings, every castle open and hostel prices still below the July and August peak. Prague and Český Krumlov fill up first and stay busy longest, while South Moravia’s wine country and the Krkonoše and Šumava mountains follow their own calendar of harvests and ski seasons.
  • Spring (April to June): Unsettled in April, warm and green by late May. Castles reopen and prices sit in the middle range. Easter week breaks the quiet pattern: Prague dorms can sell out as European school holidays land while the rest of April stays calm.
  • Summer peak (July to August): Highs of 23 to 27°C, the odd heatwave above 30°C and afternoon thunderstorms. Prague dorm beds run about CZK 600 to 1,000 (US$26 to 43), and the Old Town is packed. Best for hiking, paddling and festivals.
  • Autumn (September to October): Crisp mornings, wine harvests and fall color. Crowds thin fast after the first week of September, and prices drop 20 to 30 percent from peak.
  • Winter (November to March): Highs around 0 to 5°C, short gray days and the lowest rates, from CZK 350 (US$15) for a dorm. Many castle interiors close, Christmas markets run from late November, and skiing in the Krkonoše runs roughly January to March.
I’d book Prague beds about two months ahead for any summer weekend and pack a light rain shell whatever the season, because showers here arrive in every month.
Best known for:Known for: backpackers | safety | architecture
Best time to visit: April - October, December
Daily cost: €40 to €60 [visitczechia.com]
Falkland Islands
84

Falkland Islands

Penguin colonies and shipwrecks on windy, treeless islands.


Walk to king penguins at Volunteer Point, watch albatrosses on Saunders Island, meet fearless birds on Carcass and see the Lady Elizabeth hulk.
November to March is the best time for backpacking the Falkland Islands: daytime highs reach 12 to 15°C (54 to 59°F), daylight stretches past 16 hours and every penguin colony is active. Region matters less than wind. Stanley and East Falkland catch more rain and nearly all the cruise traffic, while West Falkland and outer islands such as Carcass and Saunders are drier and quieter.
  • Peak summer (December to February): This brings the mildest weather and chicks in every colony. Cruise ships can land thousands of passengers in Stanley on busy days. Outer-island beds book out months ahead.
  • Shoulder (October to November, March to April): Expect cooler, windier days and elephant seal pups in spring. Lodge rates barely change, but availability improves. March is oddly quiet as ships thin out while albatross chicks are still on nests.
  • Winter (May to September): Highs sit at 4 to 5°C and daylight drops below eight hours. Most outer-island lodges and many tours are closed.
Book FIGAS inter-island flights at the same time as your lodges, and pack a windproof shell even for January.
Best known for:Known for: safety | wildlife | uniqueness
Best time to visit: October - March
Daily cost: US$140 to 220
Maldives
85

Maldives

Local-island guesthouses, manta rays and reef snorkeling, with Friday ferry gaps.


Visit Malé’s coral-stone mosque and fish market, snorkel with mantas at Hanifaru Bay, see whale sharks off Dhigurah and dive with tiger sharks at Fuvahmulah.
January to April is the best time for backpacking the Maldives, with the northeast monsoon bringing dry, sunny days and flat, clear water, though guesthouse rates and crowds peak too. The northern atolls run driest in these months, while the far south around Addu gets rain spread more evenly through the year.
  • Dry season (January to April): Sunshine, light winds and reef visibility often beyond 30 meters. Prices sit at their annual high.
  • Southwest monsoon (May to September): Squalls, choppy crossings and discounts of roughly 20 to 40 percent. Surf season runs strongest now. Mantas mass in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, mostly from July to September.
  • Shoulder (October to November): Unsettled weather that gradually clears, quiet islands, fair rates.
  • Holiday peak (December): Drier, but Christmas and New Year send prices soaring.
Pack a light rain shell any month, and keep a buffer day before your flight, since ferries and speedboats bend to the weather.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | wildlife | safety
Best time to visit: August, October - April
Daily cost: US$70 to 110
Trinidad and Tobago
86

Trinidad and Tobago

Carnival, birdlife and doubles for breakfast on two contrasting islands.


Take a boat through Caroni Swamp for scarlet ibis, watch hummingbirds at Asa Wright, see Pitch Lake and eat bake and shark at Maracas Bay.
April and May are the best months for backpacking Trinidad and Tobago: the dry season still holds, Carnival crowds are gone and guesthouse rates have dropped back from their February highs. Tobago is usually drier and breezier than Trinidad, where the forested Northern Range catches the most rain.
  • Carnival peak (January to early March): Dry, sunny, 24 to 31°C. Port of Spain fills up and rooms cost two to three times normal rates.
  • Late dry season (mid-March to May): Hot, dusty, quieter beaches, fair prices. Leatherback turtles begin nesting on the northeast coast.
  • Rainy season (June to November): Heavy afternoon downpours, high humidity, lowest prices. A short dry spell, Petit Carême, often arrives in September or October.
  • Festive season (December): Rain easing, Christmas fetes, pricier flights.
The country sits south of the main hurricane track, but tropical storms still flood central Trinidad and trigger landslides on the North Coast Road.
For Carnival, book your bed four to six months out; otherwise pack a light rain shell.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | people | uniqueness
Best time to visit: December - May
Daily cost: US$50 to 75
American Samoa
87

American Samoa

Steep green islands run by village chiefs, with almost no tourists.


Snorkel the lagoon at Ofu Beach, climb the ladders of Mount Alava above Pago Pago and fit your days around village customs.
The best time to visit American Samoa is June to September, when southeast trade winds cut the humidity, rain eases and cyclone risk is close to zero, while prices barely move because the territory never draws real tourist crowds. Regional differences come down to two things: Pago Pago Harbor on Tutuila stays wet year-round under Rainmaker Mountain, and the Manu’a Islands depend on sea and sky, since boats and small planes cancel in rough weather.
  • Dry season (June to September): Highs of 28 to 30°C, fewer downpours and the best hiking in the National Park. Humpback whales arrive from about July. Honolulu flights fill with diaspora families.
  • Shoulder (May and October): Warm, occasional showers, easier fares and empty trails.
  • Wet and cyclone season (November to April): Hot, sticky, heavy afternoon rain, cyclone risk peaking January to March. Christmas fares spike.
Seats on the twice-weekly Honolulu flight sell out first, so lock that in before booking a room.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety | scenery
Best time to visit: April - December
Daily cost: US$90 to 140
Guyana
88

Guyana

One huge waterfall, rainforest canopy and Makushi villages far inland.


Fly to Kaieteur Falls, cross the Iwokrama canopy walkway, stay in Surama village and walk Shell Beach at night for nesting turtles.
The best time for backpacking Guyana is mid-August to mid-November, when the coast and the interior are both at their driest, savannah roads hold up and you travel ahead of the Christmas surge in airfares. Region matters here: the coast around Georgetown gets two wet seasons a year, while the Rupununi savannahs in the south get one long one, from roughly May to August.
  • Long dry season (mid-August to mid-November): Sunny, hot days around 31 to 33°C and the lowest rainfall nationwide. The unpaved stretches of the Linden to Lethem road are firmest, and wildlife concentrates around shrinking pools. Kaieteur Falls runs thinner, but flights cancel less.
  • Short wet season (December to January): Heavy afternoon downpours on the coast, while the Rupununi stays mostly dry. Flights from New York and Toronto spike as the diaspora flies home.
  • Short dry season (February to April): Breezy coast, dry savannah and the busiest festival calendar. Prices stay steady except in Lethem over Easter, when rooms fill fast.
  • Long wet season (May to mid-August): The heaviest rain, with Georgetown often topping 300 mm in June. The savannah floods, overland routes can shut for days and mosquitoes thrive, but Kaieteur roars at full volume and lodges are quiet.
Whatever the month, pack a light rain shell and quick-dry clothes, and keep one spare day after any Kaieteur or interior flight, since weather delays are routine.
Best known for:Known for: wildlife | low cost
Best time to visit: September - April
Daily cost: US$55 to 90
Lesotho
89

Lesotho

Pony treks, waterfalls and mountain passes in a kingdom above the clouds.


Ride ponies between villages, see Maletsunyane Falls, climb Thaba Bosiu, stand atop Sani Pass and find San paintings in Sehlabathebe.
The best time for backpacking Lesotho is April to May and September to October, when days are dry and clear, trails are passable and lodges are quiet at standard rates. The lowlands around Maseru (about 1,500 meters) stay mild most of the year, while highlands above 2,500 meters around Mokhotlong and Sani Pass get winter snow and fierce summer storms.
  • Autumn (April to May): Sunny days, cold nights and pink cosmos along the roads. Few visitors and the best pony-trekking weather.
  • Winter (June to August): Dry but freezing, with snow closing high passes. Afriski’s ski season is the only busy, pricier corner.
  • Spring (September to October): Warming days, peach blossom in villages, rains not yet set in. Shoulder rates and empty trails.
  • Rainy summer (November to March): Green hills and full waterfalls, but afternoon thunderstorms, swollen rivers and muddy gravel roads. South African holidaymakers fill lodges over Christmas.
Pack a warm layer and a rain shell in any month, because highland temperatures can swing 20°C (36°F) in a single day.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | mountains | safety
Best time to visit: April - May, September - February
Daily cost: US$30 to 45
Marshall Islands
90

Marshall Islands

Narrow atolls, sunken warships and supply-boat schedules.


Swim at Laura Beach on Majuro, visit the Alele Museum for its stick charts and dive the Bikini Atoll wrecks, with outer-island plans bending around flights.
March and April are the best months for backpacking the Marshall Islands, with the lowest rainfall of the year, steady trade winds taking the edge off 27 to 30°C heat, and no holiday rush on the few flights in. Latitude matters more than season here: Majuro and the southern atolls get roughly 3,000 to 4,000 mm of rain a year, while northern atolls such as Utirik and Enewetak are far drier.
  • Dry season (January to April): Strong northeast trades, short passing showers and choppy boat crossings. Prices barely change through the year, so you pay no premium.
  • Transition (May and June): Winds ease, rain builds and the lagoons flatten out for snorkeling.
  • Wet season (July to November): Heavy downpours, sticky still days and a small late-year storm risk, but glassy seas for divers.
  • Holidays (December): Unexpectedly busy, as Marshallese families fly home from Arkansas and Hawaii, filling United’s Island Hopper and Majuro guesthouses.
Book December flights months ahead, and pack a light rain shell whatever the month.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life | people
Best time to visit: December - June
Daily cost: US$110 to 180 [un.int]
Cook Islands
91

Cook Islands

A small island ring road, a volcanic spine hike and a turquoise lagoon.


Cross Rarotonga to Te Rua Manga, browse the Saturday market in Avarua and snorkel Aitutaki’s lagoon, using hostels and the island bus.
The best time for backpacking the Cook Islands is May, June, September and October, when the dry season brings highs of 25 to 26°C, low humidity and cheaper flights than the New Zealand school holidays. Rarotonga and Aitutaki follow the same pattern. The remote Northern Group atolls stay hot and sticky all year.
  • Wet season (November to April): Highs near 29°C, heavy afternoon downpours and cyclone risk, worst January to March. Quiet and cheaper outside Christmas.
  • Dry shoulder (May to June, September to October): Sunny, breezy days, calm lagoons and the best value. Prime time for Rarotonga’s Cross-Island Track.
  • Peak dry (July to August): Coolest nights (around 18°C) and the busiest weeks, as New Zealand and Australian families arrive. Te Maeva Nui festival fills Avarua in late July and early August, and humpback whales pass the reef from July to October.
Pack a light fleece for dry-season evenings, and book July flights from Auckland months ahead.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety
Best time to visit: May - October, December
Daily cost: US$55 to 85
Turks and Caicos Islands
92

Turks and Caicos Islands

Clear water, a deep drop-off reef and quiet cave coastline.


Walk Grace Bay’s powder sand, kayak Chalk Sound, explore Conch Bar Caves on Middle Caicos and dive Grand Turk’s wall just offshore.
The best time for backpacking Turks and Caicos is May and June, when the sea is warm and calm, winter crowds have gone and room rates fall well below peak levels. The islands share one climate, but Grand Turk and Salt Cay add a winter whale season, while Providenciales sees the sharpest price swings.
  • Peak season (mid-December to April): Dry, breezy days around 27 to 29°C (81 to 84°F), busy beaches and the highest rates. Christmas and spring break are the priciest weeks.
  • Shoulder season (May to July): Hotter at 30 to 32°C, flat water, few people and lower prices. Storms are still rare.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): Humid, the highest storm risk, the cheapest rooms, and some businesses close for a few weeks.
  • Early winter (November to mid-December): Rain eases and prices stay moderate.
From August to October, book refundable rooms and buy insurance that covers hurricane disruption.
Best known for:Known for: beach life | safety
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$150 to 280 [turksandcaicostourism.com]
Cayman Islands
93

Cayman Islands

Diving walls, stingray sandbars and rare blue iguanas.


Stand among stingrays on a North Sound sandbar, dive Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Wall and spot blue iguanas in Grand Cayman’s botanic park.
The best months for backpacking the Cayman Islands are May and November, when rain is light, seas are calm, room rates sit well below winter levels and Seven Mile Beach has space again. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman share the same climate. The Sister Islands differ only in access: fewer flights mean seats sell out fast in peak weeks.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): Dry and breezy, highs of 80 to 85°F (27 to 29°C). Expect the highest prices of the year and cruise crowds in George Town, but also reliable sunshine and clear water.
  • Shoulder season (late April to May, November to mid-December): Warm and mostly dry, with noticeably lower rates. The sea is the same and the crowds are thinner.
  • Wet and hurricane season (June to October): Hot and humid, with short heavy downpours. Storm risk peaks from August to October. Rates are at their lowest, and dive boats are quiet.
Book Cayman Airways seats to the Brac or Little Cayman as soon as your dates are fixed, and pack a light rain shell from June onward.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$170 to 250
Côte d’Ivoire
94

Côte d’Ivoire

Colonial beach towns, a giant basilica and chimps cracking nuts.


Walk the faded streets of Grand-Bassam, tour the Yamoussoukro basilica, track nut-cracking chimps in Taï and climb the granite peak above Man.
The best time for backpacking Côte d’Ivoire is December to February, when the south is dry, park roads are passable and the humidity eases just enough to make Abidjan walkable. The country splits in two: the coast and forest south get two rainy seasons, while the savanna north around Korhogo and Comoé has one long wet season from roughly June to October.
  • Long dry season (December to March): Sunny on the coast at 30 to 32°C, with dusty harmattan haze in the north. This is the busiest stretch, and prices peak over Christmas when the diaspora flies home. Comoé National Park tracks are open and animals gather at shrinking water holes.
  • Long rains (April to mid-July): Abidjan’s wettest months, with June often topping 500 mm of rain, flooded streets and slow, muddy travel west to Man and Taï. Visitors thin out and hotel rates become easy to bargain down.
  • Short dry season (mid-July to September): Overcast and cooler on the coast at 24 to 28°C, with little rain in August. Assinie and Grand-Bassam are pleasant and calm, but the north is soaked and many Comoé tracks are impassable.
  • Short rains (October to November): Showers return to the south while the north dries out from late October, and the festival calendar picks up.
Book Christmas rooms in Assinie several weeks ahead, and pack a light rain jacket for any month outside December to February.
Best known for:Known for: low cost | safety
Best time to visit: July - September, November - April
Daily cost: €30 to €45
Palau
95

Palau

Jellyfish Lake, shark-filled currents and Rock Islands reached only by boat.


Snorkel among golden jellyfish, dive Blue Corner, visit Peleliu’s war relics and plan a few expensive boat days around a simple budget.
The best time to visit Palau for backpacking is February to April, when the trade winds keep skies drier and seas calmer for Rock Islands kayaking and diving, or October and November if you want lower rates and emptier dive boats as the rains ease. The islands are small, so timing barely changes between Koror, the Rock Islands and Babeldaob, though exposed spots like Kayangel and Peleliu feel rough seas first.
  • Dry season (December to April): Air sits around 27 to 31°C, rain falls in short bursts and underwater visibility is at its best. Christmas and Lunar New Year fill Koror hotels and dive boats, so this is when prices peak.
  • Wet season (June to September): Expect heavier, longer downpours and southwest winds that can cancel boats to Kayangel or Peleliu. Rates soften, except in August, when Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese summer holidays pack the Rock Islands tours.
  • Shoulder months (May, October and November): Showers are hit and miss, boats run most days and room rates dip.
Book Koror rooms and dive packages two to three months ahead for December to March, and pack a light rain shell whatever the month.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: October - June
Daily cost: US$100 to 220
Guam
96

Guam

Reef snorkeling, Chamorro barbecue and a rental car at US prices.


Snorkel off Ritidian Point, eat at the Wednesday night market in Hagåtña and drive south to Spanish-era Umatac, at US prices with no hostels.
February to April is the best time for backpacking Guam, with the driest air, steady trade winds and room rates that sit below the New Year and Golden Week spikes. The west coast around Tumon and Hagåtña stays calmer all year, while the windward east coast gets rough surf in the dry months and southern trails turn to mud once the rains arrive.
  • Dry season (January to May): Highs around 29 to 31°C, breezy, little rain. Rates jump at New Year and Golden Week (late April to early May). Best for hiking Mount Lamlam and the southern villages.
  • Wet season (June to November): Muggier air, heavy showers, lower prices outside Japanese and Korean holidays. Typhoon risk peaks August to November.
  • Holiday season (December): Rains taper off, while Christmas and New Year crowds push prices up.
Typhoons ignore the calendar: Mawar hit in May 2023, so watch forecasts in any month. Buy travel insurance that covers weather delays.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: December - August
Daily cost: US$110 to 170
Saint Lucia
97

Saint Lucia

Twin Pitons, fishing-village grills and reef snorkeling.


Scramble up Gros Piton, explore Pigeon Island’s fort, browse Castries Market and snorkel the reef beside Anse Chastanet’s volcanic sand.
The best months for backpacking Saint Lucia are May, June and November, when rain is light or passing, winter crowds have thinned and guesthouse rates sit 20 to 40 percent below peak levels. The north around Rodney Bay and Gros Islet stays drier year-round. Soufrière and the rainforest interior get far more rain, so trails around the Pitons turn muddy first.
  • Peak dry season (December to April): Sunny, breezy days of 27 to 30°C with brief showers. Cruise ships crowd Castries and room rates hit their highest, so book Soufrière stays and Gros Piton guides early.
  • Shoulder (May, June and November): Warm and mostly dry, or with short afternoon downpours. Beaches are quieter and prices lower.
  • Wet and hurricane season (July to October): Humid, often above 30°C, with heavy rain and the cheapest rooms. Some small guesthouses and restaurants close in September and October.
Storms between June and November can trigger landslides on the west coast road between Castries and Soufrière and halt buses for a day or more. Pack a light rain shell and quick-dry shoes in any month, because the rainforest makes its own weather.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - June
Daily cost: US$70 to 110 [stlucia.org]
United States Virgin Islands
98

United States Virgin Islands

National park hikes, Danish forts and easy snorkeling on three islands.


Snorkel Trunk Bay’s marked trail, boat to Buck Island’s coral, explore Annaberg’s sugar ruins and tour Christiansted’s ochre Danish fort and harbor.
May and June are the best months to visit the US Virgin Islands: winter’s dry weather mostly holds, hurricane risk is still low, and room rates fall sharply once the winter crowds leave. St. Croix stays drier and quieter year-round, while St. Thomas and St. John feel the cruise ships and holiday spikes far more.
  • Peak season (mid-December to mid-April): 24 to 29°C (75 to 84°F), little rain and steady trade winds. Expect top prices and several cruise ships some days in Charlotte Amalie. St. John campsites and villas book out months ahead.
  • Shoulder season (late April to July): hotter, calmer seas, lower rates and thinner crowds. July breaks the lull on St. John, where the St. John Festival fills Cruz Bay around July 4.
  • Hurricane peak (August to October): humid and stormy, with the lowest prices. Many St. John and St. Croix businesses close for weeks in September.
  • Early winter (November to mid-December): drier, breezy, fully open and still reasonably priced.
Between August and October, book refundable rooms and buy insurance that covers hurricane cancellations.
Best known for:Known for: safety | beach life
Best time to visit: November - July
Daily cost: US$120 to 200
French Guiana
99

French Guiana

Rocket launches, convict ruins and nesting turtles in a euro-priced rainforest.


Visit the Îles du Salut penal islands, tour the space center in Kourou, sleep in the Kaw marshes and watch leatherbacks nest.
September and October are the best months for backpacking French Guiana: the long dry season brings the most sunshine, the calmest seas and low post-holiday fares. The coast from Cayenne to Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni dries out first, while the interior around Saül stays damper, and by November low rivers can slow pirogue trips on the upper Maroni.
  • Long dry season (August to November): highs of 31 to 33°C, brief showers, firm forest trails and few visitors once mid-August passes.
  • Short rainy season (December to February): regular downpours, Carnival weekends in Cayenne and Christmas fare spikes from Paris.
  • Little March summer (March): an unreliable dry spell of a week or two.
  • Main rainy season (April to July): the wettest stretch, worst in May and June, with muddy tracks and choppy crossings. Leatherback turtles nest at night on Awala-Yalimapo beach, mostly April to July.
Pack a light rain shell in every month, and book July and August flights early.
Best known for:Known for: safety
Best time to visit: April, August - January
Daily cost: €60 to €100
Mayotte
100

Mayotte

A huge coral lagoon with turtles, whales and volcanic hikes.


Snorkel with green turtles at N’Gouja, climb Mont Choungui, walk the crater lake on Petite-Terre and boat to the Îlot de Sable Blanc.
The best time for backpacking Mayotte is May to early October, the dry “kusini” season, when southeast trade winds keep days around 26 to 29°C, trails firm up and crowds stay thin outside July and August. Rain hits the northern hills and the interior around Mount Bénara harder than Petite-Terre and the southeast, so coastal stays in the drier east are the safer bet in shoulder months.
  • Wet season (December to March): hot (30 to 32°C), humid, with heavy thunderstorms and the island’s cyclone window. Very few visitors and softer guesthouse rates, but muddy trails and murky water after big storms.
  • Shoulder (April and November): shorter showers, warm sea, low prices and empty beaches.
  • Dry season (May to October): clear skies, nights near 20°C, humpback whales from July to October. July and August school holidays push airfares to their yearly high and fill villages with wedding guests.
Book July and August flights and rental cars three to four months ahead, and pack a light rain shell whatever the month.
Best known for:Known for: safety
Best time to visit: April - December
Daily cost: €65 to €100 [mayotte-tourisme.com]
Norfolk Island
101

Norfolk Island

Walk a convict settlement, swim Emily Bay and drive a rental car.


Explore the UNESCO convict ruins at Kingston, snorkel the sheltered lagoon of Emily Bay and climb Mount Pitt for views over the pines.
October to December and March to April are the best months for backpacking Norfolk Island, the small Australian external territory in the Pacific, with daytime highs around 21 to 24°C, lower rainfall than winter, calmer seas for snorkeling Emily Bay, and airfares and rooms priced below the Christmas and Easter peaks.
The island measures roughly 8 by 5 kilometers, so the weather is essentially the same everywhere, though the trails around Mount Pitt and the Norfolk Island National Park feel windier and cooler than sheltered Kingston on the south coast.
  • Spring (September to November): Mild, mostly settled weather and green pastures. Crowds stay moderate and prices are fair. Thanksgiving, celebrated here on the last Wednesday of November thanks to visiting American whalers, is a fun community day.
  • Summer (December to February): Warmest and most humid, with highs near 25°C and the best water for swimming. Australian school holidays bring the year’s top fares and the tightest room supply.
  • Autumn (March to May): Warm seas linger while crowds thin after Easter. This is the best-value window, and the country music festival usually lands in May.
  • Winter (June to August): Coolest and wettest, with highs around 18°C and blustery rain. Bounty Day on 8 June, marking the 1856 arrival of the Pitcairners, fills the island despite the weather.
Beds are limited and there are no backpacker hostels, so book accommodation and flights together, months ahead for summer or Bounty Day, and pack a windproof rain shell for any season.
Best known for:Known for: scenery
Best time to visit: September - May
Daily cost: US$165 to 300

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