http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/detail?articleId=10367&pageNumber=1Somewhere in the world, at any time of year, there are islands in their prime just waiting for you. But how to find them? Brook Wilkinson introduces 72 outstanding spots chosen by a team of seasoned travelers. Best of all, with the help of your map, you can dip into these treasures both by month and by location. You will also find the features that help shape the choice and information on where to stay, what to do, and how to get there. So take your pick—you can't go wrong
When it comes to islands, timing is everything. Less than ideal conditions can easily tip the scales toward disaster: We all know what it's like to scramble for beach space at a fully booked resort, or to be trapped inside a steamy bungalow during day-and-night downpours. But arriving just a week after the monsoons can mean lush landscapes, lean crowds, and low prices. With that in mind, we scoured every corner of the globe to find great islands to visit for each month of the year. We have chosen them for everything from ideal underwater conditions and authentic local festivals to wildlife sightings and shoulder-season steals. Some of our picks are quite surprising—the chilly Pacific Northwest in January? Use this planner to search by month, by region, or by the kind of island experience that until now has existed only in your dreams. Since arriving at these remote paradises isn't always easy, we also offer tips on how to get there. So here we go: around the world—and across the calendar—on seventy-two islands.
JANUARYCebu, PhilippinesWhile somnolence reigns in towns like Carcar and Argao—where the sixteenth-century churches date back to the Spanish occupation—the third Sunday of the month marks the end of the Sinulog Festival, when drummers and wildly costumed dancers parade through Cebu City and fireworks cap nine days of cultural performances, shopping bazaars, and general revelry. January is the coolest and one of the driest months of the year on tropical Cebu, making it an ideal time to check in to the Alegre Beach Resort, which has 40 thatched-roof cabanas amid landscaped grounds adjacent to one of the island's most beautiful beaches (63-31-2311-1198; alegrebeachresort.com; doubles, $270–$355). The Shangri-La, on Mactan Island, a diving destination off Cebu's southeast coast, is a much larger resort that added a 100,000-square-foot spa last year (63-32-231-0288; shangri-la.com; doubles, $240–$280).
GETTING THERE: Cebu Pacific, one of Asia's new budget carriers, has eight flights daily from Manila starting at $18.
Crete, GreeceOther Greek islands are desolate in the winter, but southernmost Crete is alive year-round. January, with temperatures approaching 60 degrees, is perfect for exploring ancient archaeological sites such as Samaria Gorge, or wandering through the harbor of Chania with its Venetian-influenced monasteries and Byzantine Museum. At Konaki, join the locals dining on sea urchin accompanied by Nobeli—a local wine not exported off the island—and traditional live music (40 Kondilaki St.; 30-2821-97130; entrées, $9–$20). The sixth of the month is Epiphany, when a cross is tossed into the Chania Harbor and the townsfolk dive in to retrieve it—the victor receives a special blessing. Observe this from the balcony of one of 11 rooms at Casa Delfino, where rates are at the year's lowest (30-28210-87400; casadelfino.com; doubles, $165).
GETTING THERE: Contact Ronnie Liadis, of Liadis Travel Ltd., who can recommend great driving routes, as well as which stores on Leather Street make the best gloves (800-542-3471; liadis.com).
Djenné, MaliThe Festival of the Desert is the best reason to visit Djenné in January, right after the rainy season. The oldest city in sub-Saharan Africa, Djenné spends part of each year (including January, after the rainy season) floating in the Bani River. Its history as a trading center continues in a vibrant Monday market that attracts merchants from as far away as Bamako, 355 miles southwest, and it's a great place to buy mud cloth—brick-red cotton stamped with geometric designs. Anchoring the market square, Djenné's Great Mosque is the largest adobe structure in the world. A January trip means relief from spring's brutal temperatures and the summer rains, and coincides with the Festival in the Desert. Scheduled for January 11–13, 2007, in Essakane, this Tuareg cultural celebration includes swordplay exhibitions and camel races by day and performances by the best of West Africa's musicians by night.
GETTING THERE: Cherri Briggs, of Explore, Inc., can help you get close to the action in Djenné and Essakane (888-596-6377; exploreafrica.net).
Puerto RicoForget San Juan, Fajardo, and El Yunque. For surfers, Rincón, on Puerto Rico's meandering west coast, is the star of wave riding in the Caribbean. Starting this month and through February, expect the most consistent swells plus sunny days in the 70s. Waves range from 2-foot ripples to 18-foot walls, drawing amateurs and seasoned water hounds alike. After a day of pounding the waves, watching the sunset—and maybe the occasional humpback whale—at Calypso's Tropical Bar is a local ritual (Maria's Beach; 787-823-3762). Villa Cofres' is a family-friendly beachfront hotel with island flavor and kitchenettes (787-823-2450; villacofresi.com; doubles, $115–$155). On the main surfing strip, Casa Isle–a has rooms with Mexican tiles and a terrace overlooking the best breaks (787-823-1525; casa-islena.com; doubles, $115–$185).
GETTING THERE: Since San Juan is American Airlines' Caribbean hub, no island in the region is more accessible from the continental United States.
South Georgia and the FalklandsAn unusual sort of visitor inundates the British-owned islands of South Georgia and the Falkland Islands this time of year. Not the tourist variety, but seals and penguins—macaroni, king, chinstrap, and others which thrive on this windswept, frozen terrain. In comparison to South Georgia (uninhabited except for several conservationists), the Falklands are positively bustling; the single town of Port Stanley, its streets lined with tin-roofed buildings, has just under 2,000 residents. Abercrombie & Kent's cruise, with 15 nights at sea, leaves from Ushuaia, on the tip of Argentina, and visits the Falklands, South Georgia, and—conditions permitting—Antarctica (800-554-7016; abercrombieandkent.com; $20,560–$36,670).
GETTING THERE: Most tour operators' itineraries start in Santiago; LAN Airlines posts deals on its Web site every Monday.
Vancouver Island, CanadaEvery winter, 30-foot waves hammer rugged Vancouver Island—scary stuff but compulsive viewing from safe inside the Wickanninish Inn, on a headland backed by temperate rain forest in Tofino, a wee settlement on the south coast. All 75 rooms have ocean views, but the best seats are in the Pointe Restaurant, where 240-degree panoramic windows frame waves that appear unstoppable as they roll toward shore, bands of spray spattering the glass. The January rates are also the year's lowest, starting at $220 instead of $380 (250-725-3100; wickinn.com). Once the storm passes, take a beach stroll—Tofino has the mildest climate in Canada, with January highs in the mid 40s. The lucky few chance upon unique debris washed ashore, the ultimate find being a Japanese hand-blown-glass net float.
GETTING THERE: Orca Airways and Craig Air fly to Tofino from mainland Vancouver.
FEBRUARYCanary Islands, SpainOn the Canaries—where European package tourists come for the year-round mild climate—the world's second-largest Carnival celebration takes place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with costumed dancers and revelers (February 17–20, 2007). Steer clear of the megaresorts by heading to the northern coasts; most of the largest developments are on the south sides of all seven islands. The contemporary Hotel San Roque sits near the quiet port of Garachico, on Tenerife, a reprieve from the festivities (34-922-13-34-35; hotelsanroque.com; doubles, $270). On the least developed island of Gomera, Parador de la Gomera feels like an elegant private home, with views of nearby Tenerife (34-922-87-11-00; parador.es; doubles, $131–$192).
GETTING THERE: Book through a discount Web site such as flightline.co.uk for flights from the United Kingdom, or a bargain carrier like Spanair for those from the mainland.
Langkawi, MalaysiaThe most splendid weather sweeps through this 99-island archipelago from December through April; in the first half of February, however, you avoid the Christmas, Easter, and British school holiday crowds. With gentle winds and buffered by Sumatra from high waves, Langkawi is famous for sailing. Charter your own vessel in Kuah's marina through Sunsail (60-4-966-5869; sunsailmalaysia.com; six-person yacht, $5,169–$7,415 per week), or be a spectator: The BMW–Royal Langkawi International Regatta, held this month, has become one of the region's most important (langkawiregatta.com). The Lunar New Year, which falls on February 18 next year, brings a weeklong celebration. There's also duty-free shopping, multi-ethnic markets, and pristine beaches and rain forests. Check in to Bon Ton, a complex of seven 100-year-old Malaysian houses nestled in a former coconut plantation (60-4-955-3643; bontonresort.com.my; doubles, $123–$186).
GETTING THERE: Discount carrier AirAsia flies between Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi.
Mallorca, SpainDuring Las Calmas, Mallorca's brief midwinter mild stretch, the almond and citrus orchards, remarkably, are flush with blossoms and snow. The west coast makes for a gorgeous drive, from Porto Andratx to the vertiginous tip at Cap Formentor. Explore more closely by bike: European teams train on Mallorca's hills in February, but ten flat, picturesque routes are mapped at balearnet.com, which also suggests 20 hikes all over the island. Six restaurants share seven Michelin stars—more than in all of Madrid. L'Hermitage is a peaceful enclave near the village of Orient; its restaurant's menu ranges from saddle of deer to local seafood (34-971-180-303; hermitage-hotel.com; doubles, $215–$280; entrées, $20–$27). Spend a night in Palma at the elegant eight-room Dalt Murada, a Renaissance hotel with antiques and more recent art (34-971-425-300; daltmurada.com; doubles, $178–$250).
GETTING THERE: Direct flights arrive in Palma from many European capitals, but those connecting in Barcelona or Valencia are often better deals.
Ngamba Island, UgandaFebruary is an ideal month for sighting the chimpanzees on Ngamba Island, a 100-acre sanctuary that takes in animals orphaned by the bush meat trade and made homeless by deforestation. Uganda's rainy season ends in January, leaving the countryside lush and the skies clear and cool. Though day visits to view feedings are possible, a better option is to stay overnight and take an early-morning walk through the forest to a sliver of beach with the juveniles, which eagerly climb the trees—and your limbs. You can also track Uganda's other famous primates, the gorillas, in Bwindi National Park.
GETTING THERE: Nina Wennersten, of Hippo Creek Safaris, can combine as many East African destinations as you have time for (866-930-9124; hippocreeksafaris.com).
Palau, South PacificSpectacular underwater visibility makes February a great time to visit this South Pacific archipelago. This 400-mile-long strand, located 300 miles east of the Philippines, is one of the world's top dive destinations, and February, when underwater visibility is up to 150 feet, is the time to visit. Manta rays cruise among giant clams in the German Channel, sharks surf currents in the Blue Corner, and stingless jellies float in the freshwater Jellyfish Lake. There are sunken World War II Japanese tankers at Bisho Maru and Iro Maru, and the mushroom-shaped Rock Islands are a favorite of paddlers and picnickers. On Koror, the main island, the Palau Pacific Resort has a private lagoon for snorkeling, sailing, and kayaking (680-488-2600; palau.panpacific.com; doubles, $305–$350). Or stay on a live-aboard such as the Palau Aggressor II, which has sizable cabins with en suite bathrooms and a hydraulic skiff (800-348-2628; aggressor.com; $2,495–$2,695 per person per week).
GETTING THERE: Far Eastern Air's new service to Palau from Taipei and Manila is your best bet. Ayse Boykin, of the TravelStore, feels more comfortable in the sea than on land and will customize your trip (310-689-5410; travelstoreusa.com).
TrinidadCarnival in the capital, Port of Spain, is the Caribbean's biggest street party. Fetes in private houses and clubs, calypso performances, and steel band competitions are held during the week before Carnival. On the two official days of the celebration (February 19 and 20, 2007), calypso and soca blare from trucks, while stilt dancers lope alongside and masquerade, or mas, bands dance in skimpy, colorful costumes. The procession culminates at the Queen's Park Savannah, where everybody "playing mas" dances. Visittnt.com lists fetes and mas bands you can join. The Hilton Trinidad, on a hill above the Savannah, is the most convenient base (868-624-3211; hilton.com; doubles, $130–$350). Removed from the fray, Coblentz Inn has 16 Asian-inspired digs and a popular restaurant (868-621-0541; coblentzinn.com; doubles, $175–$380; prix fixe, $48). Book six months ahead, and beware of pickpockets and thieves.
GETTING THERE: BWIA has direct flights from New York, Miami, and Washington, D.C.
MARCHBenguerra, MozambiqueThe hawksbill turtles hatch on the beaches in March. In March, loggerhead and hawkbill turtles hatch on Benguerra's beaches, and under a conservationist's supervision, you can watch as they wobble toward the sea. The warm, settled weather and low rainfall promise high visibility for snorkeling and diving off Africa's southeastern coast. Two-Mile Reef is one of the last habitats of the endgangered dugong (similar to a manatee), as well as staghorn coral, clown fish, moray eels, and blacktip reef sharks. Take a sunset dhow sail, visit a village, or explore the island's evergreen forest and freshwater lakes. At the Benguerra Lodge, which works with local citizens to protect the environment, each thatched-roof bungalow has sea views (27-11-452-0641; benguerra.co.za; doubles, $790, including meals).
GETTING THERE: Cherri Briggs, of Explore Inc., will pair your beach getaway with a Botswana or South Africa safari (888-596-6377; exploreafrica.net).
BermudaBeach weather doesn't arrive for a couple of months, but highs around 70 and sunny days make March perfect for tee times on Bermuda's eight world-class golf courses. Several are officially open only to members but sometimes honor outside requests made in advance; one that's worth a try is the Robert Trent Jones–designed course at the Mid Ocean Golf Club, which has welcomed Winston Churchill and three U.S. presidents. March is still low season for many resorts; at the Fairmont Southampton, home to an 18-hole par-54 course, doubles start at $259—as opposed to $419 in May (44-1-238-8000; fairmont.com/southampton; greens fee, $70).
GETTING THERE: Last May, getting to Bermuda from the East Coast became cheaper when JetBlue added daily flights from New York's JFK for $129 each way (800-538-2583; jetblue.com).
DominicaThe largest of the Caribbean's Windward isles lives up to its nickname, the Nature Island: Sixty percent is protected, and forests blanket most of the interior. Hikers appreciate Dominica's topography and March's climate—dry days in the 80s and cooler evenings. Although cruise season is in full swing, most shore excursions skip the better (and more rigorous) tramps. The daylong trip to Boiling Lake has steep ascents and traverses precipitous ridges and slippery scree slopes to reach a bubbling, fuming cauldron. Contact Ken's Hinterland Tours for a reliable local guide for this and less-punishing trails (866-880-0508; kenshinterlandtours.com; Boiling Lake hike, $50). Roxy's Mountain Lodge—near Morne Trois Pitons National Park—is a rustic hillside hideaway (767-448-4845; doubles, $50–$117).
GETTING THERE: American Airlines, Caribbean Star, and Liat fly from nearby islands, or take one of the high-speed catamarans from Guadeloupe, Martinique, or St. Lucia (express-des-iles.com).
MaldivesThe seas are calm this month, making it easy to sight dolphins, turtles, and baby blacktip sharks in the waters around these Indian Ocean islands. The weather is magnificent—with an average high of 85 degrees and only one wet day. While divers feast on superb drop-offs and rainbow corals, landlubbers can explore coral-built villages where boat-building techniques borrowed from the Phoenicians are still in use. At the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa Rangali Island, you don't even need a mask and snorkel: One of the seven restaurants is 16 feet underwater (960-668-0629; hilton.com; doubles, $570–$670). The Four Seasons catamaran, the Explorer, makes three-, four-, and seven-day circuits of the archipelago's remote reefs and unexplored atolls (960-66-44-888; fourseasons.com; from $1,174 per person per night).
GETTING THERE: Lindsey Wallace, of Linara Travel, visits regularly to stay on top of the Maldives' expanding resort scene (818-996-7513; linaratravel.com).
Tasmania, AustraliaWith agreeable weather, few tourists, and shoulder season rates, early March is prime time for exploring Tasmania's wildlife. Narawntapu National Park has an abundance of the unusual suspects: wombats, wallabies, kangaroos. Orphaned or injured Tasmanian devils recover at the Something Wild sanctuary in Mount Field National Park. Fairy penguins hang out on Bruny Island, and rare orange-bellied parrots flock to Birch's Creek. Freycinet Sea Cruises traverses Great Oyster Bay, spotting sea eagles, dolphins, and humpback and southern right whales (61-3-6257-0355; freycinetseacharters.com; three-and-a-half-hour cruise, $99). Three-day nature cruises on World Heritage's well-appointed Discovery sail around Macquarie Harbour and the Gordon River (61-3-6471-7940; worldheritagecruises.com.au; $1,450 per person). The Islington Hotel, a nineteenth-century Regency home in Hobart, has a glassed-in conservatory with views of Mount Wellington (61-3-6220-2123; islingtonhotel.com; doubles, $385–$425).
GETTING THERE: Lynette Wilson, of Destination World, will help you plan the best Tassie experience (888-345-4669;
world@silcom.com).
Zakynthos, GreeceThe wildflowers bloom this month. Never overrun with tourists, the third-largest of the Ionian Islands is stunning in March, when the wildflowers are in bloom and temperatures are mild. Rent a private boat for the trip to Navagio Beach—accessible only by sea—on the northwest shore, near the village of Anafonitria. Explore the nearby Blue Caves, named for the extraordinary shade they reflect onto the water. Hellenic Tours, in Athens, has itineraries (30-10-94-77-000; hellenictours.gr). The Hotel Nobelos, a family-owned villa in the northeastern port of Agios Nikolaos, has only four suites, with handmade furnishings and sprawling views to the island of Cephalonia (30-26950-27632; nobelos.gr; doubles, $305-$485).
GETTING THERE: Zakynthos is easily accessible via a 45-minute flight from Athens or ferries from Kylini on the tip of the Peloponnesus.
APRILBorneoApril, the driest month, is the best time to visit the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Sepilok, in the Malaysian region of this rugged island (shared also by Indonesia and Brunei). Plan to visit the center when the orphans are fed, at 10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., and hunt the world's largest flower—the three-foot-wide Rafflesia arnoldii—on Mount Kinabalu or in Sarawak's Gunung Gading National Park. On Kota Kinabalu, the northeast coast, the former British port of Jesselton is a great place to chill out and feast on fresh seafood; just minutes from town is Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort, set amid 25 acres with pools, golf, and myriad water sports (60-88-225-800; shangri-la.com; doubles, $145). Or sail out to Gayana Island, which has 22 overwater bungalows (60-88-301-131; gayana-resort.com; doubles, $168–$184).
GETTING THERE: Borneo Adventure leads cultural and wildlife tours (60-82-245-175; borneoadventure.com).
Corfu, GreeceCorfu's Easter merges a panoply of traditions, from Greek Orthodox to pagan. Until late at night on Good Friday—the day of Corfu's patron saint, Spyridon—services in Corfu Town reenact Christ's funeral procession, as each congregation parades a bier illuminated by candlelight and accompanied by choirs. The next day, locals dressed in folk costumes dance and sing to mandolin music, followed by evening fireworks heralding the Resurrection. The Lenten fast is broken with chilihourda (Easter soup), red eggs, columbines (Venetian dove-shaped breads), plenty of wine, and kumquat liqueur, produced nowhere else. Take refuge in the olive, lemon, and palm groves surrounding Isabella Country House (30-26610-91000; isabella-apartments.gr; doubles, $70–$120). Or, to be in the heart of the revelry, stay at the Siorra Vittoria Boutique Hotel (30-26610-36300; siorravittoria.com; doubles, $200–$226).
GETTING THERE: Leftheris Papageorgiou, of Hellenic Adventures, will arrange your Corfiot experience (800-851-6349; hellenicadventures.com).
Exumas, BahamasKayak around the Exumas in April, where still waters are often just a few feet deep. The 365 mostly uninhabited islands and cays are dotted with inlets, harbors, bays, and coves that make a secure splashing ground for novices. Winter winds are long gone, and the days are in the 70s. The outfitter Starfish does daylong kayak circumnavigations of Great Exuma, the main island (242-336-3033; kayakbahamas.com; $95 per person). Ibis Tours offers eight-day excursions around the protected Exuma Land and Sea Park, including the chance to snorkel with parrot fish, trumpet fish, and the occasional manta ray (914-409-5961; ibistours.com; $1,795 per person). At the Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma, on Emerald Bay, rates for a garden-view room drop nearly 25 percent in late April, from $495 to $375 (242-336-6800; fourseasons.com).
GETTING THERE: From Miami or Fort Lauderdale, fly direct to Georgetown on Great Exuma.
FijiJust after hurricane season, when the rates are still low, is a lovely time to dive this island group's waters. Hundreds of species, from bull, whitetip, and hammerhead sharks to schools of barracuda, sunfish, and manta rays, inhabit the seas. The best soft coral is in the Somosomo Strait, between Vanua Levu and Taveuni; on a clear day, under-water visibility approaches 150 feet. For a romantic splurge, book Turtle Island, on the unspoiled private isle on which The Blue Lagoon was filmed; rates include meals and activities such as diving, horseback riding, and deep-sea fishing (800-255-4347; turtlefiji.com; doubles, $1,630–$2,390). The Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort, on Vanua Levu, has a fantastic—and free—kids' program (800-246-3454; fijiresort.com; doubles, $575–$725).
GETTING THERE: Air New Zealand and Air Pacific have ten-hour nonstops from Los Angeles.
Likoma, MalawiCome to tiny Likoma, on Lake Malawi in southeastern Africa, for traditional Easter church services with African singing and informality. The island has only 6,000 residents, five cars, and three policemen, but its St. Peter's Cathedral (built by Anglican missionaries in 1905) is as large as England's Winchester. Families wander in and out of the service, while mothers feed their babies. April ends the rainy season, which has cleared the air of dust and smoke and left the land green. Lake Malawi is one of the world's top freshwater dive sites, and Mozambique is a short boat ride away, a destination for lunch or an overnight wildlife safari. Stay at the Kaya Mawa Lodge, ten stone and teak cottages built in partnership with the local community (871-761-684-670; kayamawa.com; doubles, $500, all-inclusive).
GETTING THERE: Mark Nolting, of the Africa Adventure Company, recommends Likoma as a final stop on a southern Africa safari (800-882-9453; africa-adventure.com).
Sanibel and Captiva Islands, FloridaApril days on Sanibel and Captiva are balmy and not marked by the humidity and oppressive temperatures that you'll find later in the year, and by the end of the month low-season rates are in effect at some hotels. April is also the end of Sanibel's "shelling season," when winter storms deposit sand dollars, conchs, whelks, and the most coveted shell, the spotted junonia, on the beaches. Captiva's South Seas Island Resort reopened in January following a $140 million renovation, and room rates fall significantly around April 15 (877-205-1293; southseas.com; doubles, $289). At the 'Tween Waters Inn, the oldest cottages date from 1931—and a double room drops from $265 to $195 in mid-April (239-472-5161; tween-waters.com).
GETTING THERE: While Fort Myers is the most convenient gateway to Sanibel and Captiva, it's worth pricing flights to Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Tampa.
MAYAzores, PortugalMay in the Azores is dry and you won't find the European tourists who fill these nine islands in summer. During the Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo, on the largest island, São Miguel, it is as if the entire town of Ponta Delgada is blanketed in flowers, with six days of dancing, music, and fireworks starting on the fifth Sunday after Easter (May 13, 2007). The three-year-old Marina Atlantico, a four-star property in the heart of Ponta Delgada, is ideal for the festival (351-296-307-900; doubles, $186). On Faial, a volcanic island whose mile-wide caldera has views of the neighboring Pico and São Jorge islands, the Pousada da Horta is in a sixteenth-century fortress overlooking a popular yacht harbor (351-292-202-200; pousadas.pt; doubles, $151–$183).
GETTING THERE: Stacy Cosme, of Travel Destinations, knows the Azores and every other corner of Portugal (814-833-7484; alltraveldestinations.com).
Java, IndonesiaCelebrate Buddhism's founder with a festival at Borobudur. Any visit to Borobudur, the vast Buddhist shrine in central Java, is a spiritual event, but during the Waisak Festival, when the temple becomes the focus of an international pilgrimage, it can be unforgettable. Waisak—held during May's full moon (May 2 in 2007)—celebrates Buddhism's founder, Siddhartha Gautama. Pilgrims gather at Candi Mendut, the first in a five-mile-long chain of ninth-century temples that ends at Borobudur. As moonlight throws the exquisite stone carvings into high relief, the saffron-robed monks light candles, meditate, and begin to chant. Amanjiwo, one of Asia's most extravagant resorts, sits on a knoll overlooking the monument (62-293-788-333; amanresorts.com; doubles, $650–$1,000). The Manohara is a budget hotel inside the park (62-293-788-131; doubles, $50, including entrance fee). Both organize elephant rides around the temple and guided sunrise ascents.
GETTING THERE: Bargain hunters should shop for flights to both Solo, two hours from Borobudur, and Yogyakarta, one hour away.
Long Island, New YorkWhile heavy weekend traffic appears on the Long Island Expressway after Memorial Day, the climate doesn't follow the calendar, making May an ideal time to visit the seashore. The best beaches line the southern coast, but the North Fork has an unexpected draw: the many new vineyards planted next to centuries-old potato fields. Most of the wineries can be found along Routes 25 and 48, and standouts (all with tasting rooms) include Bedell Cellars, in Cutchogue (631-734-7537; bedellcellars.com), the nearby Galluccio Family Wineries (631-734-7089; gallucciowineries.com), and the Lenz Winery, in Peconic (631-734-6010; lenzwine.com). At day's end, hop the ferry to Shelter Island, between the two forks, and check into the Chequit, a Victorian country inn (631-749-0018; shelterislandinns.com/chequit; doubles, $80–$250).
GETTING THERE: The long-favored Jitney has a new rival, the Hampton Luxury Liner, which has more legroom, entertainment systems, and beverage service (631-537-5800; hamptonluxuryliner.com; round-trip from Manhattan, $56–$66).
MauritiusMauritius has the world's highest density of five-star hotels, and prices are low this time of year. May, which brings relief from summer's sizzle and precedes the cyclone season that revs up in late June, also sees a dearth of European beachgoers, who usually flock to this Indian Ocean isle off the southeast coast of Africa. Visitors come mainly to be pampered, but the more adventurous can try just about any water sport, tour inland colonial plantations and nature reserves, or peruse designer outlets. For ultimate seclusion, book a Luxury Villa with a private pool and garden at the Oberoi, which in May costs $1,600—60 percent less than the high season price (230-204-3600; oberoi-mauritius.com). If that still blows your budget, try Paradise Cove, designed by a Mauritian architect and situated on the island's only private beach (230-204-4000; doubles, $324–$350, including dinner).
GETTING THERE: You'll find the best hotel deals through a European tour operator like Kuoni (kuoni.co.uk) or Somak Holidays (somak.co.uk).
OahuStudents perform ancient and modern hulas this month. On Oahu, May 1 is Lei Day, a state holiday on which friends and families drape one another with fragrant garlands. There are few more unexpected (or poignant) sights than a middle-aged businessman strolling Honolulu with ropes of maile and plumeria slung around his neck. Check local listings for high school celebrations, when students perform ancient and modern hulas—a thrilling treat. The entire month is neither too rainy nor too hot, with breezy days and clear nights. Big-wave surfers will be disappointed, but snorkelers, swimmers, and bodysurfers—especially those who paddle out from the beach at the Halekulani resort—will be in heaven (800-367-2343; halekulani.com; doubles, $365–$670). The W, on the edge of Waikiki, is nestled between Kapiolani Park and Sans Souci Beach (808-922-1700; starwoodhotels.com; doubles, $295–$410).
GETTING THERE: Continental's direct flight from Newark shaves up to three hours off the flying time. Hawaiian and American airlines go direct from the West Coast.
St. BartsOn the French outpost of St. Barts, Hollywood stars and New York moguls rub elbows each winter. But in May, before the Europeans descend, locals enjoy a moment of peace and quiet. The seas are calm and the more humid weather has yet to arrive. Best of all, the infamously expensive island becomes, if not a bargain, at least less exorbitant. At the Hôtel Guanahani, a double room that costs $725 in April can be had for $435 (590-5-90-27-66-60; leguanahani.com). On the Baie des Flamands, the Hôtel St-Barth Isle de France's rates are slashed by more than 25 percent in May (590-5-90-27-61-81; isle-de-france.com; doubles, $630–$960).
GETTING THERE: While most visitors fly from nearby St. Martin, the ferry ride is pleasant in May, when the waters are calmest (590-5-90-87-10-68; voyager-st-barths.com; round-trip, $79).
JUNEBritish Virgin IslandsSince their most sublime beaches are accessible only by boat, the low-key, hilly BVIs are best explored by water. Sail this jumble of 50-plus islets and cays in June, when you'll see fewer tourists on land and sea and you can jump ship into calm waters for the best diving and snorkeling of the year. The islands' compact layout—an outer ring protects the inner ones—ensures that voyages are always smooth and short. Forgo bareboat vessels for private crewed yachts that sometimes drop their prices early in the month. The knowledge of a local crew is priceless; you'll realize why when you reach remote spots off-limits to bareboaters, leaving you at a beach with nary a person in sight.
GETTING THERE: Ed Hamilton, at Ed Hamilton & Co., matches clients to a specific ship and staff—a crew on a 60-foot catamaran who dress up like pirates and conduct treasure hunts for a family party, or one on a 79-foot monohull that deposits honeymooners in a secluded bay (800-621-7855; ed-hamilton.com; seven-night crewed charters from $5,000 per couple).
CapriIn early June, when blooming lemon trees release their scent, Capri has the feel of summer without the crowds. Wander Capri Town's cobblestoned streets and find Gigino, the greatest tailor in this "land of pants." Bring your favorite pair and he'll make an exact replica in your choice of fabrics (Via Ignazio Cerio; 39-081-837-6296; custom pants, $230–$365). The Grand Hotel Quisisana is just around the corner (39-081-837-0788; quisi.it; doubles, $395–$750); farther afield, the Villa Brunella sits on terraces with views to the famous Faraglioni rocks (39-081-837-0122; villabrunella.it; doubles, $360). Dinner at the mountaintop Le Grotelle is enchanting during a full moon—of which there are two next June, on the first and the thirtieth—when the light reflects on the sea and the stone arch below (Via Arco Naturale; 39-081-837-5719; entrées, $15–$22).
GETTING THERE: Ferries and hydrofoils connect Capri to Naples and Sorrento. Janine Whitney at Altour has the inside scoop (212-497-7661; altour.com).
Galápagos, EcuadorThere's little temperature variation during the year this close to the equator, but June is the start of the Galápagos's dry season as well as the garúa season, when a mist shelters visitors from the sun's harshest rays. It's also when the giant tortoises on Santa Cruz descend from the highlands looking for nesting grounds, humpback whales can be seen off all the islands, and many species of migratory birds drop by on the journey north. Early in the month, outdoor specialist Austin-Lehman's eight-day trip to all nine major islands costs $3,900 per couple, a $690 savings over its late-June departures, and includes snorkeling with sea lions off San Cristóbal, kayaking Darwin Bay, and hiking to an extinct volcano (800-575-1540; austinlehman.com).
GETTING THERE: New to the lineup of U.S. cities with direct flights to Quito is Atlanta; Delta inaugurates service on the route this month.
Martha's Vineyard, MassachusettsGiven the northern latitude of Martha's Vineyard, it's not until July that the crowds arrive, so this month you'll find both shoulder-season rates and elbow room. The humpback, finback, and North Atlantic right whales that were the mainstay of the island's economy in the nineteenth century—and whose oil made possible the Victorian captains' and traders' mansions that line the streets of Edgartown—arrive for the summer in June and can sometimes be spotted from the beaches. Both Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster stayed at the 12-room Edgartown Inn (508-627-4796; edgartowninn.com; doubles, $110–$275). At the island's largest resort, the Harbor View Hotel, doubles start at $235 through the third week in June and $345 after that (508-627-7000; harbor-view.com).
GETTING THERE: Ferries depart from Cape Cod, but travelers from points farther south should board at New Bedford to avoid the Cape traffic (866-683-3779; nefastferry.com; round-trip, $58).
Mfangano, KenyaJune is ideal for a Kenya safari, and Mfangano is only a 40-minute flight from the Masai Mara. Amateur anglers might spend a morning trying their luck fishing for Nile perch (some specimens have weighed more than 200 pounds), followed by an afternoon in the traditional Luo villages accessible solely by boat—there's just one road on the entire island. Venture inland to see prehistoric rock drawings that date back 1,000 to 5,000 years. Six traditional mud-and-thatch bandas share a secluded bay at the Mfangano Island Camp, which reopens each June after the two-month rainy season and is the island's only option for an overnight; the chef will prepare your catch for dinner (254-20-2734000; governorscamp.com; doubles, $620, all-inclusive).
GETTING THERE: Linda Friedman, at Custom Safaris, mixes culture and wildlife on her safaris (866-530-1982; customsafaris.com).
Naoshima, JapanFew Asian islands are pleasant in June, when typhoons swirl and monsoons blow. The islands that make up Japan are an exception—at least early in the month, before the rainy season kicks in. Head to the Inland Sea, where more than 3,000 islands dot what has been called Japan's Aegean. The appeal lies mostly in the ancient shrines and traditional fishing villages, but Naoshima has become a mecca for contemporary-art connoisseurs, thanks to one of the world's most unusual open-air museums. Works from artists including James Turrell and Walter De Maria share the three-square-mile island with Benesse House, a hotel designed by Pritzker Prize winner Tadao Ando. This May, two new buildings were added to the original house and its annex, upping the number of rooms by 49 (81-87-892-2030; naoshima-is.co.jp; doubles, $312–$344).
GETTING THERE: The Inland Sea—and the rest of Japan—can be difficult to navigate without expert guidance, such as that given by Nancy Craft, of Esprit Travel and Tours (866-276-6611; esprittravel.com).
JULYBornholm, DenmarkCopenhagen holds many summer music events, but the two most notable are in July: the Roskilde Rock and the Copenhagen Jazz festivals, where legends perform alongside up-and-comers. After the party, escape to Bornholm, an island dotted with provincial towns, hiking paths, and medieval fortresses and churches. It also has a pristine beach at Dueodde and is a haven for sailors and for fishermen who haul in Baltic salmon, the world's finest. The Melsted Badehotel is a seaside retreat with no phones or TVs (melstedbadehotel.dk; 45-56-48-5100; doubles, $177–$228). The Hotel Siemsens Gaard, in quaint Svaneke, has modern fixtures within a seventeenth-century merchants' store (45-56-49-6149; siemsens.dk; doubles, $168–$205).
GETTING THERE: Direct 30-minute flights depart from Copenhagen, but the scenic route is a flight to Malmø in Sweden, followed by a three-hour ferry ride from Ystad; Tor D. Jensen, of Jensen World Travel, can help with the arrangements (800-853-6736; jensenworldtravel.com).
Dominican RepublicCaberete's winds and waves make for the Caribbean's best windsurfing, as well as a lively après-surf scene that keeps the wave riders coming back. Beginners do best in July, when the Atlantic waters are warm and the winds are dependable but have retreated from their winter ferocity. (You can also practice your language skills since most visitors then are Europeans and locals.) Iguana Mama, the country's leading adventure operator, organizes canyoning, hiking, and mountain biking (800-849-4720; iguanamama.com; full-day hiking tour, $65). After a hard workout, retire to the Velero Beach Resort, which is swathed in gardens (809-571-9727; velerobeach.com; doubles, $110–$115). Just outside Caberete, Natura Cabañas comprises eclectic bungalows with thatched roofs and bright interiors (809-571-1507; naturacabana.com; doubles, $160).
GETTING THERE: Fly into Puerto Plata, 20 minutes from Cabarete and served by both American and Continental, instead of the larger but less convenient airport in Santo Domingo.
Mount Desert Island, MaineSummer temperatures in the 70s are ideal to explore Acadia National Park. Although this is high season, July is less busy than August, and the western half of the island is quieter. Avoid Bar Harbor, flooded by as many as 2,500 cruise ship visitors each day. Instead, stay at the Kingsleigh Inn, in Southwest Harbor, a town of yacht builders and commercial fishermen. Innkeepers Dana and Greg Moos can suggest nearby hikes and bike rides off the well-beaten path—just make sure you're back in time to enjoy Dana's homemade afternoon sweets (207-244-5302; kingsleighinn.com; doubles, $135–$170). Stop by Seafood Ketch for a lunchtime lobster roll and dine on the pier in Bass Harbor, inches from the source of your meal (207-244-7463; entrées, $17–$29).
GETTING THERE: M.D.I. has its own airport, but you'll find more frequent and cheaper flights into Bangor, an hour's drive away.
Olkhon Island, RussiaIn July, the days are long and clear on Olkhon Island in the middle of Siberia's Baikal, the deepest and largest freshwater lake in the world. That's also when the vegetation is at its greenest on this, Baikal's only inhabited island, with no telephones (no cell phone service either) or power lines. Much of Olkhon's wildlife, from grass snakes to freshwater seals, is unique to the region. Olkhon also attracts amateur anthropologists: The local Buryat people are more closely related to their Mongolian neighbors than to their Russian compatriots and combine both Buddhist and shamanistic practices. Nikita Bencharov's Usad'ba is not only the nicest guesthouse but also the home of the island's single satellite phone (
nikitaolkhon@waytorussia.net; doubles, $30).
GETTING THERE: Put yourself in the hands of a travel expert like Greg Tepper, of Exeter International, who specializes in custom trips to Russia and Eastern Europe (800-633-1008; exeterinternational.com).
Southern Gulf Islands, CanadaHigh season is the right season to visit these 14 hilly, forested islands. Tucked between Vancouver and Vancouver Island and accessible only by ferry or floatplane, they have retained a low-key, neo-hippie ambience, with lodging predominantly in B&Bs off winding country roads. In Ganges—on Salt Spring Island, the largest and most developed of the isles—you'll find the usual small-town shops, numerous art galleries, several good restaurants, and a lively Saturday crafts and food market (saltspringmarket.com). Outside town, urban life rapidly gives way to dense woods, orchards, artists' studios, and unassuming homes. Stay at the Madrona Valley Farm B&B, where the organic eggs and produce—salad greens, asparagus, raspberries—make it onto the breakfast table (250-537-1989; madronavalleyfarm.com; doubles, $150–$175).
GETTING THERE: Salt Spring Air's floatplanes leave from downtown Vancouver and Vancouver Airport. The direct ferry from Tsawwassen, north of Vancouver, to Salt Spring Island takes 90 minutes (888-223-3779; bcferries.com; round-trip, $20).
Zanzibar, TanzaniaLate June is prime safari time for southern Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, and come July, Zanzibar's spice plantations are in full bloom. Clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and vanilla orchids scent the air, and shade is provided by blossoming jackfruit and mango trees. July is also the coolest and driest month. Along with a tour of the plantations, visit the capital of Stone Town, an amalgam of African, Arabian, Indian, and European influences famous for its elaborate carved-wood doors. Stay at the Emerson & Green Hotel, a restored nineteenth-century customs house and residence with a rooftop restaurant higher than all but one other building in town (255-77-7423266; zanzibar.org/emegre; doubles, $110–$165; prix fixe, $30). About an hour away, the Breezes Beach Club & Spa has a dive center and resort amenities (255-741-326595; breezes-zanzibar.com; doubles, $280–$350, including meals).
GETTING THERE: Linda Friedman, of Custom Safaris, is adept at weaving mainland and offshore itineraries (866-530-1982; customsafaris.com).
AUGUSTBay Islands, HondurasThe Bay Islands—Roatán, Guanaja, Utila, and a handful of smaller specks—are at their best in August, when they have yet to be hit by hurricanes or by winter crowds. Instead, travelers find reasonable rates, dry days for hiking, and clear and calm waters for snorkeling and scuba diving (the latter in an unusual mix of shallow and deep habitats). Dive certification, always inexpensive here, becomes even more so at this time of year. Roatán is the most popular island; the quiet Palmetto Bay Plantation, an eco-friendly resort, has a private beach and an excellent restaurant, yet it's still close to the action (504-991-0811; palmettobayplantation.com; villas, $135–$165; entrées, $5–$18). On the more isolated Guanaja, Robinson Crusoe types will prefer the West Peak Inn's simple but comfy bungalows (831-786-0406, in California; westpeakinn.com; bungalows, $190, including meals).
GETTING THERE: Continental and American fly to San Pedro Sula, where there are connecting flights to Roatán.
Great Barrier ReefComing after the Southern Hemisphere's summer cyclone season and fall trade winds, the dry, cooler August weather is ideal for exploring the Great Barrier Reef— at more than 130,000 square miles, the largest World Heritage Area. Two private-island resorts position you right above the coral: In the north, the ultraluxe Lizard Island is one of a few spots with direct access to both the inner and outer reefs; with luck, snorkelers can even spot passing dwarf minke whales this month (61-2-8296-8010; lizardisland.com.au; doubles, $1,100, all-inclusive). Farther south, the more affordable Heron Island Resort has a laid-back atmosphere and shallow waters ideal for snorkeling (61-2-8296-8010; heronisland.com; doubles, $183–$350).
GETTING THERE: Lynette Wilson, at Destination World, knows every corner Down Under (888-345-4669; destinationworld.com).
Île Sainte Marie, MadagascarFive miles off the coast of Madagascar, skinny Île Sainte Marie was the haunt of pirate ships in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. These days, the largest things in these waters are humpback whales. August is the peak of their migration through the channel between the island and mainland Madagascar. On boat trips with tour operator Il Balenottero, get close to—and, if you're lucky, even snorkel alongside—40-foot mothers who guide pale calves through their first migration (261-20-57-400-36; ilbalenottero.com; tours, $50). Île Sainte Marie has a verdant interior, rudimentary roads, and one village—Ambodifotatra. Bungalows at the Princesse Bora Lodge, just north of the airport, have hardwood floors, beds suspended from the ceiling, and sunset views (261-20-570-4003; princess-bora.com; doubles, $200).
GETTING THERE: Air Madagascar has direct one-hour flights to the island from Antananarivo.
Penang, MalaysiaWatch Chinese communities appease the demons. During August's Hungry Ghost Festival, a kind of Asian Halloween, Penang's Chinese communities appease marauding demons with operas staged on the streets of George Town, as well as puppet shows and offerings of food. The living, meanwhile, visit vendors' stalls for a blend of Chinese and Malay flavors like char kway teow and Hokkien mee-fun. Hire a trishaw to visit the newly reopened State Museum and learn how Chinese clans built the city's mercantile reputation. The E&O Hotel would fit in a Somerset Maugham novel; take afternoon tea on the veranda overlooking the seafront to get a taste of old Penang (60-4-222-2000; e-o-hotel.com; doubles, $236–$555). The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion epitomizes the grandeur of a wealthy nineteenth-century Chinese merchant's home (60-4-262-0006; cheongfatttzemansion.com; doubles, $66–$190).
GETTING THERE: More than 20 flights daily connect Kuala Lumpur and Penang; there is also regular service from Bangkok and Singapore.
Prince Edward Island, CanadaCome to this province off Canada's east coast in early August for the Tyne Valley Oyster Festival, which carries on such longtime traditions as shucking contests, fried oyster firehouse suppers, and the crowning of Miss Oyster Pearl. After P.E.I.'s brief high season in July and August, temperatures plummet and many hotels and restaurants close. The 185-mile North Cape Coastal Drive rolls through some of the island's most stunning scenery as well as the Région Évangéline, where Acadian culture still thrives. Start in Summerside at the waterfront Loyalist Lakeview Resort (902-436-3333; lakeviewhotels.com/summerside; doubles, $110–$125). On the southwestern tip of the island, the West Point Lighthouse has nine rooms, one in the original 1875 tower (902-859-3605; westpointlighthouse.com; doubles, $90–$130).
GETTING THERE: The capital, Charlottetown, is served by Air Canada, with daily flights from Montreal and Toronto, and by Northwest Airlines, with daily flights from Detroit in summer.
Svalbard Archipelago, NorwayGo polar cruising 24/7. August, with the year's mildest temperatures (in the 40s) and around-the-clock sunlight, is ideal for polar cruising in the Svalbard Archipelago, bordering the Arctic Ocean. Expedition ships sail around Spitsbergen, the largest island, stopping so passengers can hike glaciers and mountain peaks as well as spot polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, reindeer, and more than 160 species of birds. Trips depart from Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost permanent settlement. Arrive a few days early to explore, and check in to the Radisson SAS Polar Hotel (47-79-02-34-50; radissonsas.com; doubles, $160–$185). Take note—the cruising season is short and voyages sell out fast, so book your trip at least six months in advance.
GETTING THERE: Chuck Cross, at Polar Cruises, can arrange your nautical adventures (541-330-2454; polarcruises.com; ten-day Spitsbergen cruise, $3,720 per person).
SEPTEMBERCook IslandsThe Cook Islands are French Polynesia's lesser-known, less-hyped neighbor in the South Pacific, and because New Zealand dollars are the main currency, accommodations and dining can be had for 15 to 20 percent less than on Bora Bora—even during September's dry season. Swim among the friendly, numerous fish in Rarotonga's protected lagoon, steps away from the Rarotonga Beach Bungalows (682-27030; rarobeachbungalows.com; doubles, $95–$325). Try the local fare at Paw Paw Patch, in nearby Titikaveka (682-27189; entrées, $15–$18). On quieter Aitutaki, known for its colorful giant clams, the Pacific Resort Aitutaki has the best beach access and a variety of lodgings, from suites to beachfront villas (682-31720; pacificresort.com; doubles, $480–$660). Serious black-pearl shoppers fly to the Mahini Atoll, where the jewels are cultured, extracted, and graded.
GETTING THERE: Kleon Howe, from The Art of Travel, can arrange every aspect of your trip (888-294-3598; theartoftravelonline.com).
Corsica, FranceWith mild weather, few tourists, and clear, warm seas, September is the most beguiling time to visit Corsica. It's also a gourmet's paradise for seafood (especially spiny lobster), game stews, cheeses, olive oil, and figs so plentiful this month that they fall off the trees unharvested. Try the fruits de mer at La Rascasse, on St-Florent's waterfront (Promenade des Quais; 33-4-95-37-06-99; prix fixes, $50–$60). In mountaintop San-Martino-di-Lota, chef Jean-Pierre Renaud creates sophisticated versions of Corsican and classic French dishes at the Hôtel Corniche (33-4-95-31-40-98; doubles, $88–$126; prix fixe, $33). Fans of authentic Corsican soul food revere the Auberge du Col St-Georges, a café-tabac with the island's best charcuterie (Col St-Georges; 33-4-95-25-70-06; prix fixes, $25–$38).
GETTING THERE: Low-fare carrier GB Airways flies from London Gatwick to Corsica in summer.
Toward the end of September, when the heat abates and the summer visitors are gone, Cumberland Island is at its best. An undeveloped pocket of maritime forests, tidal creeks, salt marshes, and sand dunes, this island is best known for its 17-mile stretch of beach—one of the most beautiful in North America, and one of the emptiest. Wild horses roam the dunes, and you can either camp or reserve at the island's only hotel, the Greyfield Inn, a mansion belonging to a branch of Andrew Carnegie's family, which owned virtually the entire island by 1928 —and determined to keep it pristine (904-261-6408; greyfieldinn.com; doubles, $350–$575, including meals). Cumberland was declared a National Seashore in 1971, and much has been done to reestablish the ecosystem of this barrier island; for details, see cimuseum.org.
GETTING THERE: The National Park Service runs a ferry from St. Mary's, Georgia (912-882-4335; round-trip, $15).
Los Roques, VenezuelaIn the Caribbean, the closer you are to the northern coast of South America, the better your odds of avoiding the storms that sweep through in September, and few spots are closer than Los Roques. Although more than 50 islands and nearly 300 smaller keys comprise the archipelago, just one, Gran Roque, is inhabited. The rest are part of Los Roques National Park and can be visited only on day-trips. The coral reefs are home to hundreds of species of tropical fish, and the islands are an important resting ground for migrating birds. The five-room Posada Piano y Papaya is yards from the beach (58-414-281-0104; losroques.com; doubles, $168). The six-room, contemporary Posada Movida has a welcoming staff (58-414-237-1480; posadamovida.com; doubles, $230, including dinner).
GETTING THERE: Avoid Caracas, Venezuela's capital, by landing early in the morning and connecting to Los Roques that same day.
Siankaba and Sindabezi, ZambiaSeptember's hot, dry weather brings great herds of elephants that come to cool off along the banks of the Zambezi. It's also the peak time to catch tigerfish and spot Zambia's last rhinos in nearby Chobe National Park. The solitude of tiny Siankaba and Sindabezi, 25 miles from central Africa's Victoria Falls, is the perfect antidote to the Zambezi's other high-octane offerings (bungee jumping, jet boating, white-water rafting). The Islands of Siankaba's six chalets stretch over two islets connected by suspension bridges (260-3-324490; siankaba.net; doubles, $750, all-inclusive). The more rustic Sindabezi Island Camp has four open-fronted tents that spill right onto the sand (260-3-324490; tongabezi.com/sindabeziisland; doubles, $710, all-inclusive). From either, you can explore the area in a dugout canoe, visit local villages, or head to Livingstone, a city of more than 100,000.
GETTING THERE: Contact Cherri Briggs, at Explore, Inc., for a full Zambia itinerary (888-596-6377; exploreafrica.net).
Sri LankaDespite renewed political unrest in Sri Lanka's north, the southern tip of the island that astrologer Ptolemy named "Serendip" and colonizers called Ceylon continues to attract visitors looking for colonial architecture and beautiful beaches. September provides a quiet spell between the monsoon seasons. From Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and strategic port since the 1400s, explore an archaic melting pot of indigenous and colonial cultures, as well as the enormous stone Buddhist ruins that date back to the third century b.c. Today, Galle Fort's walls surround ethno-chic boutiques and courtyard houses cum hotels, including the Galle Fort Hotel (94-91-223-2870; galleforthotel.com; doubles, $200). The Sun House is in an 1860s hilltop mansion above town (94-91-438-0275; thesunhouse.com; doubles, $150–$300).
GETTING THERE: Sanjay Saxena, at Destination Himalaya, knows the island's ins and outs (415-460-6934; destinationhimalaya.net).
OCTOBERBaliThe Ubud Writers and Readers Festival is under way this month, when warm breezes accompany flawless cobalt skies and the crowds of Europeans thin out. Founded after 2002's Kuta bombing, it's already among the world's top book festivals. Speakers this year will include Su Tong, author of Raise the Red Lantern, and Suketu Mehta, whose best-selling Maximum City is a gritty portrait of his native Bombay. But for many, what makes this festival memorable is the chance to mingle with other intellectually curious folk during Asian dance and drama performances, cooking demonstrations, walking tours, and writing workshops (ubudwritersfestival.com; Sept. 30–Oct. 3, 2006). The best nearby hotel is the smart new Uma Bali (62-361-972-448; uma.como.bz; doubles, $220–$245). The Maya Ubud hosts lunches with featured authors (62-361-977-888; mayaubud.com; doubles, $220–$240).
GETTING THERE: Singapore Airline's Newark–Singapore route—the world's longest—means you only have to stop once on your way to Bali.
Cristalino Island, BrazilThe Amazon, the second-longest river in the world and the greatest in terms of volume, is dotted with small islands, one of which will get you close to both manatees and monkeys: Cristalino, on a tributary of the same name. Home to the Cristalino Ecological Foundation, the island is a base for ecotourism programs on topics including bird-watching, natural history, and plant life. While temperatures are warm year-round, October falls during the rain forest's drier season, when storms are occasional and shorter in duration. Guests at the Cristalino Jungle Lodge can visit the island as well as Cigana Lake, where it's possible to spot tapirs and—on rare occasions—jaguars (55-66-3512-7100; cristalinolodge.com.br; bungalows, $320).
GETTING THERE: This October, Mountain Travel Sobek is debuting a nine-day Brazil itinerary that takes in both the Amazon (including the Cristalino Jungle Lodge) and the vast Pantanal marshland (888-687-6235; mtsobek.com; $3,595 per person).
Hvar, CroatiaHvar is the sunniest island in the Adriatic, with up to 2,700 hours of daylight per year. The light, along with mild air and sea temperatures, has fostered Hvar's history as a health destination. (Bring back a vial of age-defying Queen's Water, a distillation of rosemary oil.) The rejuvenating climate is most enjoyable during October, with low-season crowds and prices. Hvar Town's Venetian square includes the Renaissance Municipal Theater, Europe's oldest communal playhouse, and hosts Town Day celebrations on October 2. Book a seaview room at the Hotel Adriana, on a pebble beach close to town (385-21-741-202; suncanihvar.hr; doubles, $80–$120). On the neighboring island of Brac, see the shifting sands on Zlatni Rat beach and stay at the restored fifteenth-century Deskovic Palace Hotel, in Pucisca (385-21-778-240; palaca-deskovic.com; doubles, $150–$200).
GETTING THERE: Greg Tepper, at Exeter International, can help you sort out complicated ferry schedules (800-633-1008; exeterinternational.com).
Nantucket, MassachusettsThe population of this island off Cape Cod explodes five-fold each summer, but by October life is back to normal, and the Gulf Stream keeps temperatures five degrees warmer than on the mainland. Many of the T-shirt and souvenir shops are shuttered, but most restaurants and hotels remain open through December, with deals to boot. The Nantucket Conservation Foundation owns one of the world's largest cranberry bogs, which they flood each October in preparation for the harvest, forcing the berries off their vines and creating a scarlet sea. At the landmark White Elephant, October rates are nearly half those in August (800-445-6574; whiteelephanthotel.com; doubles, $235–$635). Even if you don't stay at the Jared Coffin House, a mansion in the center of town, you may want to drop by for the cranberry pancakes (800-248-2405; jaredcoffinhouse.com; doubles, $135–$355).
GETTING THERE: While many travelers arrive by ferry, Nantucket's is actually the second busiest airport in New England, with flights from Boston; Hyannis, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; LaGuardia; and Newark.
SeychellesThe Creole Festival (Oct. 26–29) draws participants from as far away as New Orleans to these Indian Ocean islands off Africa's east coast. Spend a few days on Mahé, the festival's epicenter, for food fairs (be sure to try the octopus-coconut curry) and sega and moutia dance parties. Schedule a revitalizing massage at the Banyan Tree, 30 minutes from the capital, Victoria (248-383-500; banyantree.com/seychelles; villas, $985–$1,700; hourlong massage, $110). Then head to the Lemuria Resort on quieter Praslin, where endangered hawksbill turtles nest during the day and the fishing and diving are top-notch this month. Inland highlights include the world's largest nut, the 40-pound coco de mer, and the rare fruit pigeon and black parrot (248-281-281; lemuriaresort.com; suites, $1,022–$2,040).
GETTING THERE: Astrid Breuer, of Michael's Travel Centre Inc., is a Seychelles native (818-889-2246; islandsplendor.com).
Society Islands, French PolynesiaThe Hawaiki Nui Va'a, the world's largest and longest open-ocean outrigger canoe race, takes place among the Society Islands every October (Oct. 10–14 this year). More than 100 teams attempt the grueling 72 miles from Huahine to Bora Bora, passing celebrations at villages and major hotels along the way.
NOVEMBERAndaman and Nicobar Islands, IndiaSea creatures are most numerous this month. November, despite occasional rains, brings the highest concentration of fish and the most turtle sightings at this little-visited chain located between India and Thailand. These islands have remained relatively untouched (only Indian researchers are allowed on Nicobar) and are home to some of Asia's last hunter-gatherer tribes as well as to pristine dive sites where whale and hammerhead sharks are regularly spotted. Dive India operates daily trips from Havelock—considered one of the more developed islands, with phone service, electricity, a handful of vehicles, and numbers instead of names for each beach and village—and can arrange exploratory dives of a World War II wreck (diveindia.com; single dive, $45). The operator is based at the Wild Orchid Resort, which also runs jungle treks and day-trips to uninhabited islands (91-3192-28-2472; wildorchidandaman.com; cottages, $45–$58).
GETTING THERE: Jet Airways has daily flights from Chennai to the Andaman Islands' capital, Port Blair.
Big IslandIn November, the Big Island of Hawaii is without beach gridlock or volcano groupies. Most visitors gravitate to the Kona Coast; instead, head north past Hawi (stop at Mother's Antique & Fine Cigars—you can't miss it) to the dead-end of Route 270. Hike down the Pololu Valley and linger on the beach below forested palis (cliffs) that recede in majestic folds in both directions. The only palis that are more beautiful lie on the other side of the island—in the Waipi'o Valley—and are one reason you'll want a four-wheel drive. For access to the northern coast, stay at the Jacaranda Inn, Waimea's B&B&B—the third B is for the extravagant baths (808-885-8813; jacarandainn.com; doubles, $159–$225). Have dinner in Kailua at tiny O's Bistro (Crossroads Shopping Center; 808-327-6565; entrées, $21–$34).
GETTING THERE: Unlike most of Hawaii, the Big Island can be reached without stopping in Honolulu; American Airlines flies to Kona from L.A., while United has flights from Chicago, Denver, L.A., and San Francisco.
Fernando de Noronha, BrazilNovember on Fernando de Noronha, off the country's northeast coast, has temperatures in the 70s and the best underwater visibility of the year—key for diving with sea turtles and dolphins. It is also the start of the island's surfing season, which runs through March. The ten-square-mile island, with empty beaches and low-key resorts, remains relatively undeveloped, thanks to a limit of 420 visitors at a time, who come to hike, kayak along the coast, and surf Cacimba do Padre. Solar dos Ventos is a small pousada on Sueste Beach (55-81-3619-1347; solardosventos.com.br; doubles, $203). The larger Pousada Zé Maria runs on solar energy; its bungalows have been built around the existing cashew trees (55-81-3619-1258; pousadazemaria.com.br; doubles, $386).
GETTING THERE: There's no simple way. Fly to Rio or São Paulo, then Recife, and finally Fernando de Noronha. Varig and others are considering adding direct flights to Recife from the United States.
Gozo, MaltaFall is ideal for exploring the Ggantija temples, which predate Stonehenge by 1,000 years. Farther south than Tunis, the Maltese islands—Malta, Gozo, Comino—became waypoints for the earliest migrations between Africa and Europe and were the site of the world's first stone buildings. Malta is a budget tour magnet for Europeans, but the smaller island of Gozo is a different story: Dive among twentieth-century shipwrecks and rich marine life, and explore hiking trails scented with wild thyme and villages dotted with domed churches. The Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is a five-star resort with a sumptuous spa (356-22-11-5252; kempinski-gozo.com; doubles, $222–$385); the family-run Cornucopia, at the edge of a hilltop village, brings Cotswold-style country house comforts to Gozo (356-21-55-6486; doubles, $90).
GETTING THERE: Frequent nonstop flights depart from London for Malta, which is a short ferry crossing or a more expensive helicopter hop from Gozo.
MadagascarLemurs are Madagascar's perennial crowd-pleasers—especially in November, when the babies are born and the hungry primates can be seen perched in the lower branches of trees heavy with guava. At the same time, the baobab trees' short-lived white flowers are also in bloom on this, the world's fourth-largest island, off Africa's southeast coast. With lychees, pineapples, and other fruits in peak season, the local markets are a multisensory experience. Start at the Vakona Forest Lodge, where you're likely to spot Indri, the largest lemurs (261-20-22-624-80; hotel-vakona.com; bungalows, $65–$85). The Relais du Masoala, near Maroantsetra—a town perfumed by the vanilla and cloves cured on its sidewalks—is right outside the country's best wildlife park (261-20-22-640-63; doubles, $70). Or reward yourself with a stay at the Anjajavy Resort, accessible only by air; Sunday is market day in the same-named fishing village (33-1-44-69-15-03, in Paris; anjajavy.com; doubles, $645, three-night minimum).
GETTING THERE: Contact Monique Rodriguez, of Cortez Travel/Madagascar Expeditions (800-854-1029; cortez-usa.com).
San Blas Islands, PanamaAt the end of November, Panama's rainy season has just ended, and the 365 San Blas Islands, along its Caribbean coast (but safely south of the hurricane path), are at their most vibrant. Most visitors see only Cartí Suitupo (Crab Island), a popular cruise-ship port and perhaps the least appealing in the archipelago, but the smaller islands and their matriarchal Indian Kuna villages are cultural time capsules worth visiting. On Mamitupu, men in dugout canoes trade fish and women sell molas, elaborate reverse-appliqué blouses. Isla de Los Perros has clear waters and an impressive reef. The Dolphin Island Lodge on Achutupu uses solar power and donates a portion of its revenue to local charities (507-26-8-03-01433-9; dolphinlodge.com; doubles, $240).
GETTING THERE: Country Walkers offers a three-day San Blas extension to its Panama tours (800-464-9255; countrywalkers.com; $2,798 per person; San Blas extension, $500 per person).
DECEMBERBay of Islands, New ZealandThe longest days on this compact group of 144 mostly unpopulated islets are in December, with little rain and few tourists (especially in the second half of the month—when the Kiwis are among the first to celebrate the New Year). New Zealand Sea Kayak Adventures runs multiday trips exploring the bay's unspoiled peninsulas and rugged coves, overnighting in tents or cottages (64-9-4028596; nzkayaktours.com; $96 per day, including meals and equipment). Back on the coast, the fly-fishing is top-notch, especially for freshwater trout. Cliff Edge by the Sea, in Port Opua, arranges outings to numerous rivers; the chef can prepare your catch (64-9-402-6074; cliffedge.co.nz; doubles, $240–$305; prix fixe, $60, including drinks).
GETTING THERE: Call Donna Thomas, at New Zealand Travel, to plan your Kiwi adventure (800-367-5494; newzealandtravel.org).
CyprusMild temperatures—and a lull in the deluge of package tourists—make December a great time to discover Cyprus's historical palimpsest. Begin with a survey of the volatile past at the Leventis Municipal Museum in Nicosia, Europe's last divided capital (only day-trips are possible between the Turkish north and Greek south). Exhibits delineate Cyprus's influences, from the Chalcolithic period (3000 b.c.) to those of the Syrians, Byzantines, Crusaders, and Ottomans. Roman villages at Salamis, in the north, and outside Paphos, in the south, are among the oldest ruins in situ. In the north, visit the eleventh-century Kantara Castle and the Sea Gate, a section of the 1496 city wall in Famagusta. In Greek Nicosia, the Hilton Cyprus is a good, central choice (357-22-37-7777; hilton.com; doubles, $157–$315). The Anassa is a gated resort on the Akamas Peninsula (357-26-88-8000; thanoshotels.com; doubles, $318–$466).
GETTING THERE: While the island's northern half is served only by flights from Turkey, planes arrive daily in the south from throughout Europe.
Florida KeysStretching from the tip of Florida into the Caribbean, the Keys have something for every taste, from Key West's nightlife to a single-resort island's solitude. December has the best weather (half the rainfall of October) and, until just before Christmas, shoulder-season rates. Fish for huge tarpon that populate the waters here, or head to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the country's first underwater park, off Key Largo. The private-island Sunset Key Guest Cottages have access to the Key West Hilton's facilities, a ten-minute boat ride away; cottages start at $525 through December 23, after which the rate jumps to $625 (305-292-5300; sunsetkeycottages.hilton.com). Bungalows at the private, 30-room Little Palm Island are $1,000 to $1,400 through Christmas (305-872-2524; littlepalmisland.com).
GETTING THERE: There's an airport on Key West, but the Overseas Highway, with 42 bridges spanning 113 miles, is worth the drive from Miami.
JamaicaSome say Jamaica has it all—scenery, waterfalls, beaches, and culture. Go before December 15: The storm season is officially over, but hurricane-season prices remain. On Montego Bay, Half Moon's rates—which include many resort activities—start at $275, jumping to $410 mid-month (876-953-2211; halfmoon.com). West of Montego Bay, Round Hill, with a spa in an eighteenth-century great house, has rooms from $350, an almost 40 percent drop from the high of $590 (876-956-7050; roundhilljamaica.com). Golfers will enjoy the rain-nourished courses; book a round on the island's best, the White Witch. If that's not enough exertion, the Reggae Marathon is run over a flat course in and around Negril, with live music marking every mile (reggaemarathon.com; Dec. 2, 2006).
GETTING THERE: Martha Gaughen, at Sterling Travel, is a Jamaica whiz (800-447-2799; sterlingtvl.com).
Mafia, TanzaniaBy December, changing wind patterns allow divers access to untouched walls and reefs outside Mafia's Chole Bay. If Africa's underwater life interests you as much as its mammals, end your safari on this quiet archipelago that has a well-populated reef and some of the world's best big-game fishing. Trade your binoculars for a snorkel mask—or dive tank—and swim with whale sharks and more than 400 other species in the surrounding marine park. Alternatively, you can cast for marlin and tuna or take an early-morning game drive. The rates at two properties are 15 percent lower before December 20: the family-friendly Kinasi, with a pool and plenty of activities (mafiaisland.com; doubles, $120–$180, including meals), and the Pole Pole Bungalow Resort, which is true to its name—"take it easy" in Swahili (no phone; polepole.com; doubles, $400, including meals).
GETTING THERE: Book your Tanzania trip through Nina Wennersten, at Hippo Creek Safaris (866-930-9124; hippocreeksafaris.com).
Phuket, ThailandEnjoy the yacht races and parties this month. Early December on Phuket combines flawless weather, low-season rates, and the King's Cup Regatta, a week of yacht races and parties (Dec. 2–9, 2006). At the JW Marriott Resort & Spa, a one-bedroom suite costs $530 until December 22, and $1,500 after. Green, hawksbill, and rare Olive Ridley turtles start to nest on the hotel's beach this month, and guests can help monitor the nests and visit a research center on nearby Phra Thong Island, where rehabilitated turtles are released back to the sea at sunset (66-76-338-000; marriotthotels.com). Farther south, the Evason Phuket Resort & Six Senses Spa will suit sybarites (66-076-288-112; sixsenses.com; doubles, $173–$485). John Gray's SeaCanoe leads nighttime kayaking expeditions from the fishing village of Ao Po to limestone caves and hongs, or crags (66-76-254-505; johngray-seacanoe.com; $90 per person).
GETTING THERE: Dozens of flights arrive from Bangkok daily, including two on budget carrier Nok Air.
–Ondine Cohane, Clive Irving, Jamie James, Beata Loyfman, John Newton, Irene Schneider, Charlotte Shalgosky, Sanjay Surana, Brook Wilkinson, and Hanya Yanagihara
