January’s short days and long, dark nights bring an abrupt end to the excitement and social activity of Christmas and New Year. That is why we recommend you plan ahead and ensure you’re out of the country, preferably somewhere warmer and sunnier, for at least some of it.
For a long haul adventure, check out our Australian Golden Triangle itinerary to combine diving and sailing the Great Barrier Reef with a visit to iconic Ayers Rock and exploring the world’s old rainforest in Daintree National Park. Add on Kangaroo Island for picnics on deserted beaches, fishing for your supper and watching magnificent bull seals at Seal Bay.
South Africa comes into its own at this time of year, when a tour of Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route will provide a generous dollop of vitamin D. Go as a couple to enjoy the food and wine or take the children to let off steam in Plettenburg Bay where riding, biking and zip-lining are available on tap.
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If all you want is sun, sand and sea, the Maldives will deliver with a multifarious choice of private islands boasting everything from outdoor cinemas and underwater spas to overwater villas with their own private waterslides.
If a holiday in India is on your wish list then January’s moderate temperatures make it the perfect time to tour Rajasthan’s palaces, forts and cities, not forgetting Agra and possibly some tiger-spotting in Ranthambore National Park.
South of the equator, Argentina offers the chance to ride with gauchos, sample mouth-watering steaks and explore the pristine lakes and mountains of Patagonia.
Closer to home, Egypt is suitably cool for a Nile cruise and the lower daytime temperatures mean you won’t have to make a dawn assault on the Valley of the Kings as at other times of year (when it’s over 30 degrees by 9am).
If you don’t want the party season to end then perhaps Mustique, favoured hangout of rock stars and royalty, is for you. Hire a private villa for friends and family to enjoy the island’s laid-back yet glamourous house party atmosphere and, in the evening, head down the beach to join the ‘locals’ at Basil’s Bar.
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