Dwindling crowds and prices: Top places for a holiday in November

November is an overlooked time in the traveller timetable, but many destinations are perfectly suited to this in-between month during which crowds dwindle, rainy seasons end, and low-season prices kick in.

COUNTRIES

Namibia

Namibia’s rugged Skeleton Coast.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: The tail end of the dry season extends into November, making wildlife easy to see around waterholes in destinations such as Etosha National Park. Then the transition into the wet season brings spectacular storms and an explosion of wildflowers. It’s a great combination that showcases Namibia’s outstanding landscapes and wildlife.

Don’t miss: National parks apart, be sure to see the rugged, desolate Skeleton Coast, the Kalahari Desert, and the colossal orange dunes of Sossusvlei, which are home to oryx and zebra. Then soak up the unusual German-colonial ambience of capital Windhoek, which has many ethnic communities and a laid-back beach life. See visitnamibia.com.na

Egypt

A Nile cruise on a bare-bones felucca is one of the world’s greatest travel experiences.Credit: Alamy

Why you should go: It’s the start of winter in Egypt, which is good thing. Fierce heat is replaced by milder weather: the average day-time temperature in Cairo is 25 degrees, and nights cool. Meanwhile the tourist high season hasn’t quite hit yet. As a bonus, the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo is slated to open this November.

Don’t miss: A Nile cruise, even if you have to rob a bank to do one, or rough it on a bare-bones felucca. It’s hands-down one of the world’s great travel experiences, marvellous both for its Nile and desert scenery, and for the stunning temples and tombs you’ll see along the way in destinations such as Luxor, Edfu and Kom Ombo. See experienceegypt.eg

New Zealand

Book ahead if you want to hike New Zealand’s busy Milford track in November.Credit: Alamy

Why you should go: Late springtime in New Zealand is warmish, rainfall low and days getting much longer, making this the right time to enjoy what our favourite neighbour does best: the great outdoors. Meanwhile you can avoid the December-January season of higher flight prices and visitor numbers.

Don’t miss: A hike along any one of New Zealand’s great multi-day hiking tracks. The likes of Milford and Abel Tasman tracks can get busy, so book ahead, but there are splendid lesser-known alternatives too, such as the Heaphy Track through Kahurangi National Park on South Island, and Rakiura Track on Stewart Island. See newzealand.com

India

Explore the Kerala backwaters by houseboat.

Why you should go: The start of the cooler, drier season makes India a good place to visit over its winter, so get in early before the rush. With falling humidity and the ending of the monsoon season, Kerala is especially wonderful for its emerald-green landscapes, lakes and blue skies. Its backwaters are lovely to explore by houseboat.

Don’t miss: Kochi (formerly Cochin), a major west-coast port built across a series of islands surrounded by lagoons and linked by bridges. Colonial bungalows, the oldest European church in India, various mosques, a synagogue, medieval Portuguese palace and pagoda-style houses attest to a long trading history. See incredibleindia.org

Botswana

Zebra herds begin their migration in Botswana in November.Credit: Alamy

Why you should go: Botswana has outstanding safari opportunities. The beginning of the rains in November means you might be dodging rain showers but, on the other hand, prices start dropping, zebra herds begin their migration, and the birth of animals such as impala bring cuteness – plus big predators looking for an easy meal.

Don’t miss: Chobe National Park, the place to be as waterways start to fill, the Chobe River flows clear blue, and the landscape turns lush. The density of animals such as elephants, giraffes, lions and hyenas means you’ll spot wildlife at every turn. If you’re a bird lover, bird numbers become spectacular in springtime. See botswanatourism.co.bw

CITIES

Dubai, UAE

Dubai cools off in November.Credit: Carmian

Why you should go: As scorching heat gives way to milder temperatures, you can venture outside in November to explore beyond Dubai’s shopping malls and indoor attractions. Stroll beach-side promenades, enjoy water sports, and get beyond the city and into the surrounding desert to see a different side to this glittering city of skyscrapers.

Don’t miss: Dubai is divided in two by The Creek. Hire an abra or water taxi and scoot around on the water to get a great feel for the traditional trading city, and to watch dhows being loaded with cargo. Spice, perfume, gold and antiques markets aren’t far away. See visitdubai.com

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of Europe’s most budget-friendly cities.

Why you should go: November is grim in much of Europe, but not in Lisbon, whose average temperature is a pleasant 18 degrees under sunny skies. Better still, not many realise it, so you won’t have to compete for space in its trendy neighbourhoods, bars and cafés, and hilly, cobbled streets. Lisbon is also one of Europe’s most budget-friendly cities.

Don’t miss: Although beyond the city centre, Belem district is associated with Portugal’s golden age of world discoveries and has fantastic monuments such as Belem Tower (a surprisingly pretty sixteenth-century defensive tower) and Jerónimos Monastery, with its ornate Gothic and Moorish architecture and tomb of the great explorer Vasco da Gama. See visitlisboa.com

Oaxaca, Mexico

Dancing in the streets of Oaxaca as part of Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations.Credit: Alamy

Why you should go: Oaxaca has a laid-back, lovely old town, markets full of handicrafts, a spicy cuisine and a high proportion of minority groups with distinctive clothing, traditions and a fascinating religious life that blends Mayan and Catholic beliefs. And okay, although its famous Festival of the Dead begins on October 31, it extends across the first two days of November for one of the liveliest, most colourful, most unusual festivals you’ll ever experience.

Don’t miss: The Spanish-colonial architecture, plazas and baroque churches of the old town are superb, but so are the Olmec and Zapotec ruins in the countryside nearby. The most impressive is Monte Alban, with its great plaza, ball court, platforms and other structures covering a hilltop with splendid mountain views. See oaxaca.travel

Chiang Mai, Thailand

At the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, thousands of candlelit lanterns are sent floating into the night sky.Credit: AP

Why you should go: As the rainy season splutters to an end, Chiang Mai comes to life and the surrounding hills are dry and visibility clear – perfect trekking weather. An added bonus is the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, when streets erupt in decorations and street-food stalls and thousands of candlelit lanterns are sent floating into the night sky.

Don’t miss: This is a great cool-climate month to get adventurous in Chiang Mai’s surrounding highlands or national parks, whether you’ll want to trek, cycle, horse ride, hot-air balloon or white-water raft. You can stay overnight in the villages of ethnic groups such as the Karen and Lisu, where lodges have upped luxury and attract more than the traditional backpackers. See tourismthailand.org

Seville, Spain

Bask in bar terraces during November in Seville.Credit: iStock

Why you should go: Winters are mild in Andalusia and, with the winter barely started in November, chances are you’ll be basking on bar terraces in your shirt sleeves, even if you do have to wrap up in the evenings. The crushing summer hordes have gone, and a spate of hip new boutique hotels make for a stylish stay at off-season prices.

Don’t miss: Loot from the newly discovered Americas made this city wealthy in the sixteenth century, and it bursts with monuments, palaces and a staggering cathedral. The Moorish palace is amazing, with magnificent decoration and vast walled gardens sumptuous with roses in summer but still verdant in November. If you hear foot stomping, castanet clicking and soulful singing wafting from a flamenco bar, don’t hesitate to enter. See visitasevilla.es