If you’ve been looking out of your window and checking the weather forecast and pining for a dose of Vitamin D, you’re not alone. We’ve been busy looking forward to early next year, when the need to escape the long dark days intensifies with the post-Christmas comedown. This is a great time to recharge your batteries, and we’ve shared some of our favourite destinations with opportunities for both relaxation and outdoor activities in the sunshine.
Dubai
Beaches, theme parks, desert adventures, and shopping malls… The best known of the Emirates really does have something for all ages and tastes, and being so fast changing, it always has new thrills to offer however many times you come back. And winter is the perfect season to explore it in all its glory, with the typical daily high in January 24ºC, making it great for winter sunshine but mild enough to enjoy all the outdoor attractions in comfort.
Our favourite things to do in Dubai include water sports, days out at some of the world’s biggest and best water parks, shopping in traditional souks, including the aromatic spice market and glittering gold market, and crossing the Creek by traditional wooden abra. Venturing into the desert is also a must, for falconry, Bedouin music, and dancing.
Tenerife
The most visited of the Canaries is increasingly popular outside high season, but with fewer people around in winter, you have more of it to yourselves. Milder temperatures make this the ideal time to hike Teide –Spain’s highest peak, located in its own UNESCO-listed National Park and home to the world’s biggest solar observatory – while both hikers and cyclists love winter for making most of the island’s lunar-like landscapes, ancient forests, and dramatic coastlines.
The south is always the sunniest part, and attractions such as Siam Park are open year-round, complementing fabulous natural attractions such as the Monumento Natural de Montaña Amarilla with its volcanic rock formations. It’s also a great place for whale and dolphin watching – November to February is particularly good for seeing migratory humpback, fin, and even blue whales.
Maldives
It’s easier to get to the Maldives in winter, with direct flights in this season meaning you don’t have to change in the Middle East. This paradise of tropical islands is no longer the preserve of honeymooners, although there are still plenty of wonderful resorts for couples’ getaways.
With 26 Indian Ocean atolls all with their own character, this gem of an archipelagic state now has something to tempt everyone, from families seeking to reconnect away from domestic demands in resorts with amazing facilities such as floating water parks and horse riding stables, to divers and other water sports lovers.
Barbados
With its sprawling white-sand beaches, Barbados has long been a favourite winter escape destination in the Caribbean. The opportunity to swim alongside turtles, surf on the rugged east coast, and explore captivating caves, adds to the allure of active pursuits one can enjoy.
But it’s also a very welcoming place to visit, renowned for the deep warmth of its people and for its party spirit. No holiday here should miss a night out at the legendary Oistins Fish Fry, where you can feast on seafood cooked at stalls in front of you and join in with locals dancing to calypso, Bob Marley, Jamaican ska, and old country music.
To book your winter sun holiday or for more inspiration, call your Travel Counsellor today.
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