India, another great choice for January and February, is similarly long on opportunity. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, however, unless you have plenty of time to spare. Rajasthan tends to be the first-timers port of call but if Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer have been ticked off your list, consider heading south to Kerala, where the landscape, the cuisine and the pace of life are entirely different to the north. Explore the inland waterways on a rice barge, walk in the tea plantations of the Western Ghats, hang out on a beach on the Malabar coast, or retreat to a specialist yoga and ayurveda hideaway. Try greavesindia.co.uk for advice.
Cambodia
Bucket lists vary from person to person but most, I would hazard a guess, have Angkor Wat somewhere on theirs. If they don’t, they should. This iconic Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Siem Reap is the world’s largest religious monument and one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. The first two months of the year, during the dry season, are a great time to visit Cambodia when a trip to Angkor Wat can be neatly combined with other Cambodian sites or dovetailed as part of a wider trip taking in Thailand or Vietnam. Audley Travel are experts in the area.
Africa
On the African continent, South Africa and Kenya are winter staples for British visitors, drawn there by the winning combination of safari and beach and the promise of minimal jetlag. Should you want to think outside the box, take a look at Sao Tomé and Principe, the tiny equatorial African nation in the Gulf of Guinea consisting of two main islands and an archipelago of rocky islets. Some call it the Galapagos of Africa as there are said to be more endemic species per square kilometre on these islands than anywhere else in the world. Principe in particular is a paradise of pristine, tropical rainforest encircled by a coastline of golden sand. It’s more of a bother trying to get there – generally via Lisbon – but Cazenove+Loyd can help get you out.
The Caribbean
Beach life to many of course means Caribbean, which tops many people’s list of the best places to travel in January and February. These months are peak times to go but for good reason as these are the dry, less humid months. Barbados, Antigua, St Lucia and Grenada are long established favourites for ease of access from the UK, but it is worth considering some of the lesser-known islands which require an onward flight. St Kitts and Nevis are, in my book, under sung heroes for winter sunshine. Both islands offer a less commercial, more authentic side to Caribbean life with good sporting opportunities for hiking, diving, snorkelling and golf. The islands are just 10 minutes apart by boat, so it is easy to flit between the two either as a twin-centre stay or for day trips. There are a couple of big brand hotels on the two islands but the handful of historic, pastel-coloured plantation houses, converted into hotels, are the more characterful places to stay. expressionsholidays.co.uk
City breaks in North Africa and Europe
We all know the adage ‘Paris in the spring’ but one should never overlook a city break in January or February. This is often the best time to avoid queues for major tourist sites, get better deals on accommodation and, quite possibly, have surprisingly good weather. Marrakech and Istanbul are two great choices for clear warm days with chilly nights. Cairo, likewise, which some might hesitate to have on a wish list right now, but the long-awaited new Grand Egyptian Museum has opened at last.
