Where to go in November
Where to go in November? It's packed full of festivities and wild encounters, not least India's Pushkar Camel Fair in the deserts of Rajasthan
Inbetweeny November is a time of almosts – it’s nearly ski season in Europe, it’s nearly the end of the hurricane period in the Caribbean, it’s nearly high summer in the southern hemisphere. As such, good-value shoulder-season deals can be found, while a cooler Middle East (Oman, Jordan…) and much of southern Asia – India, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam – are just about spot on: dry, not too hot and dotted with festival fun.
Events & festivals
NATIONAL KNEES-UPS – Americans go mad for Thanksgiving: catch New York’s Macy’s Parade for the kitschiest culture, though celebrations occur countrywide. In Mexico the deceased are communed with on the ghoulish Day of the Dead, while in Argentina it’s the cowboy (and the start of Argentine summertime) that is revered at the pampas’ Gaucho Festival.
NATURE – Camp out with a million camels at the Pushkar Camel Fair in the desert of Rajasthan, India. Or head to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the colourful Surin Elephant Festival, and the mountains of Bhutan for the Black-necked Crane Festival. For an alternative natural spectacle, witness the reversing of the current of the Tonle Sap River at Cambodia’s Bonn Om Touk (Water Festival), complete with boisterous boat races and fireworks.
MUSIC – Dance to pop, rock, indie and more at Woodstock, Johannesburg – South Africa’s biggest music shindig. For something more traditional try Jerusalem’s hypnotic Oud Festival, which celebrates the singular sounds of this Mediterranean stringed instrument.
Wildlife
TURTLES – Watch these graceful-in-water, lumbering-on-land creatures across the beaches of Latin America: they haul ashore in French Guiana, Suriname and on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
TIGERS – The reserves of India open up post-monsoon, and as the vegetation dies off the big cats are easier to spot. Try Corbett NP, Bandhavgarh NP or Chitwan in Nepal.
PENGUINS – The southern hemisphere awakens as summer approaches. Thousands of gentoo and rockhopper penguins lay their eggs on the Falkland Islands, king penguins congregate on South Georgia and a recently discovered emperor penguin rookery comes to life on Antarctica’s Snow Hill Island.
WHALES – Catch the end of the whale-watching season off Brazil and Queensland, Australia, and the start of the season off Kaikoura, New Zealand. Don't miss the Orca-filled Tysfjord Norway for a sight of the killers.
WILDEBEEST – For Africa’s alternative migration, head to Zambia’s Liuwa Plains, where wildebeest numbers peak in November.
Activities
TREKKING – November is perfect in the Himalaya: plan a trek in Nepal or Bhutan. It’s a good time to strap on your boots in Patagonia (better spring/summer weather) or the little-visited mountains of Taiwan, too.
CYCLING – As Asia is mostly dry, hop on a bike and traverse China, Vietnam and Laos, where the bike is still king.
WATER FUN – The Maldives offers great diving, as does Egypt’s Red Sea (especially now ferocious summer temperatures have dropped). New Zealand’s rivers beckon rafters while boats begin to leave Ushuaia Argentina, for the start of the Antarctic summer tourist season.
Natural phenomena
FLORA – The Kalahari, Botswana, explodes with wildflowers, as does the vastness of Western Australia. Autumn colours still linger – try parts of the UK as well as Kyoto Japan, for later falling leaves.
WINTER SUN – OK, not a phenomena as such, but certain destinations come into their element in November: the cloudless deserts of Oman are pleasantly balmy, Gambia’s beaches provide reliable sun (plus there’s great birding) and far-south Europe (the Canaries, Madeira) still offers warm temperatures.
NORTHERN LIGHTS – The aurora borealis sparkles in the far north, and is more visible now that 24-hour darkness looms; indeed October/November are some of the best months for aurora spotting (and not as chilly as deep winter). Head to Arctic Sweden, Tromsø Norway and Alaska for good displays.
The weather is nice in...
HANOI, Vietnam 25-30°C
NASSAU, Bahamas 22-28°C
AITUTAKI, Cook Islands 20-27°C
HARARE, Zimbabwe 17-28°C
NAXOS, Greece 16-21°C
It is the start of winter in the northern hemisphere and you can either hide indoors or embrace the weather. We suggest you opt for the latter and head to the French Alps where some ski resorts have already opened their doors. For some heat visit Ghana during its dry season – the best time to visit this hot and humid country, or to Vietnam with November being one of its coolest months.
This month is equally an ideal time to embark on a journey to Tasmania, where the island enjoys mild spring days with an average temperature of 20°C, or Tokyo, Japan at a pleasant 16°C.
Conventional wisdom says:
It is dangerous to explore after the sun goes down.
Wanderlust says:
Night time offers a completely different kind of wildlife to explore, so wrap-up warm and book a guided night safari at Kruger National Park in South Africa.