A travel adventure always feels better when it’s balmy. Yet during the winter months, when travelers are most in need of sunshine, it can be difficult to find guaranteed warm places to visit.
So where is it warm all year round? We’ve compiled a list of 10 warm places to travel, from adventurous locations ideal for solo and group tour travel to relaxing destinations perfect for beach lovers.
Koh Lanta, Thailand
Choose your own adventure on Koh Lanta. This tropical paradise offers a diversity of activities—and average highs of 87F (31C) all year round.
Bike along the luscious coast for unforgettable views, scuba in the breathtaking marine national park, and explore the stilted restaurants of Ban Si Raya, the island’s original port. If you love to party, head to Hat Khlong Khong—the island’s hippie beach—when the sun goes down. Koh Lanta can also be enjoyed as part of a Thai island-hopping tour.
Koh Lanta’s climate is warm throughout the year, but the rainy season hits hard from July to October. Visit from December to March for a vacation that is both warm and dry.
Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Discover sun, sea and black sand beaches set against the extraordinary volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. This Canary Island is breathtaking to behold, with its luminous Montañas del Fuego (Mountains of Fire) and lava fields drawing comparisons to martian terrain.
Against this dramatic backdrop, revelers sip cocktails and nod along to live music at the island’s many bars. Away from the party scene, wander amidst the spiky plants of the spectacular Jardin de Cactus, explore ancient lava tubes, and learn about the life of influential local artist César Manrique.
Sunseekers can stretch out on the island’s startling black sand beaches, with average highs never dropping below 68F (20C), and the mercury spiking in summer and fall.
Marrakesh, Morocco
Prepare to be dazzled by the heady sights, sounds and scents of the balmy Ochre City. Once-in-a-lifetime adventures await, from the perfumed souks to the Jardin Majorelle, world-famous for its brilliant blues.
There are plenty of opportunities to delve into the city’s rich history and culture, with major attractions including the Saadian Tombs, Le Jardin Secret, Badia Palace and the ultra-chic Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Marrakesh is also the perfect base from which to explore more of Morocco.
In July and August, Marrakech sizzles under average highs of 98F (37C), while the coolest month is January, with the mercury rising to a comfortable 66F (19C).
Bali, Indonesia
Discover a slice of paradise under the swaying coconut palms of Bali, which is a perennial favorite on any warm places to visit list. This vacation hotspot boasts undeniably chilled out vibes, and serves adventure travelers and sunseekers in equal measure.
Surfing, scuba and rafting are some of the most popular activities on Bali, thanks to its pristine coastline. Keen hikers find their path among the thickly-tangled tropical vegetation and waterfalls in-land, while wellness enthusiasts indulge in yoga and spas. Bali is hard to beat when it comes to beaches. There’s the famous Kuta beach, surrounded by party spots, luxurious Nusa Dua, and Padang Padang beach, favored by bohemian types.
The temperature on Bali remains balmy year-round, hovering between 68F (20C) and 89F (32C). However, the island does have a distinct wet and dry season, with May to October generally the best time to visit.
Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Mirissa is perfect for adventurers seeking a laid-back beach holiday off the beaten track.
Modest guesthouses, bars and restaurants line a powdery crescent beach, with the warm tide lapping the feet of diners. At low tide, a sandbar emerges from the water, laying the trail to a small island. Surfing, snorkeling and whale watching are also on offer.
Mirissa is best enjoyed as part of a larger Sri Lankan adventure, with the historic fort of Galle an hour’s drive away, and surfer’s paradise Matara just 30 minutes along the coast road. Leave the south coast behind to visit the world-famous city of Kandy and take an iconic train ride through tea country to the wellness haven of Ella.
Temperatures in Mirissa fluctuate just a couple of degrees throughout the year, with highs between 84F (29C) and 89F (32C). Frequent rainfall is to be expected from May to November, but these showers typically pass quickly.
Goa, India
Tourists have flocked to the former Portuguese enclave of Goa for decades to enjoy its vast golden beaches, famous party scene, and mesmerizing sunsets.
Lounge on one of the island’s luxurious beaches or head to more secluded sands, where refreshments are available from palm leaf shacks. Shopping is a true cultural experience in Goa—there’s the famous tourist bazaar Anjuna Flea market, as well as the newer Saturday Night Market at Arpora, which becomes a hopping nightlife spot as the sun sets. Don’t miss Aswem, a painfully cool spot on the north Goan coast that regularly attracts A-listers to its upscale resorts and clubs among the sand dunes.
Hot weather is guaranteed in Goa, with average temperatures fluctuating from 77F (25C) in January to 86F (30C) in May. Monsoon season typically lasts from June to September, however, which can thwart beach days.
Sal, Cape Verde
The golden sands of the well-developed Santa Maria Beach are a favored tourist hotspot in Sal, while Ponta Preta Beach offers more rugged scenery, and windsurfers flock to Kite Beach. As the sun sets over Santa Maria, live music, traditional dancing and cocktail bars are to be expected.
There’s a unique experience to be had at Pedra de Lume—the site of a former salt mine in the crater of an extinct volcano—where the saltwater is believed to have therapeutic properties. Meanwhile, divers flock to Buracona, or ‘The Blue Eye’, where they plunge into a cave filled with blue water brilliantly lit by the sun. It’s also possible to use Sal as a jumping off point to explore Cape Verde’s other islands.
Sal is one of those rare destinations that is great to visit at any time of year thanks to its dry tropical climate. The mercury rises to an average daily high of 87F (31C) in August, while in February—the coldest month—temperatures peak at an average 77F (25C).
Aruba, Caribbean
Year-round sunshine is just one of the benefits of spending a vacation in this Caribbean haven. Miles of white sand beaches are complemented by incredible wildlife-spotting opportunities and outstanding hikes. The adventure is topped off by Oranjestad—the quaint, colorful capital.
Nature lovers should not miss the island’s donkey sanctuary, butterfly farm and ostrich farm. Meanwhile, the island’s second highest peak, Hooiberg, is a 587-stair challenge for hikers. Popular beaches include Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Baby Beach—and Andicuri Beach is a true surfer’s paradise, with limestone cliffs and crashing waves.
Average highs remain above 86F (30C) throughout the year, and Caribbean hurricanes rarely make landfall on the island.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is a sprawling, magical city containing a multitude of adventures.
Take a cable car up to the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain for panoramic views over the city, and pay a visit to the giant Christ the Redeemer statue. Embrace nature at the Parque Nacional da Tijuca to see what’s left of the Atlantic rainforest that once surrounded Rio.
Elsewhere, the central neighborhood of Lapa is famed for its nightlife. Its plethora of bars vibrate with samba music, and there’s a huge, loud street party every weekend.
Rio’s hottest months occur from December to March, with average highs hovering around 86F (30C). June to August bring cooler weather, but it’s certainly not chilly—average highs for this time of year sit at around 77F (25C).
Dubai, UAE
Welcome to the gleaming desert-metropolis of Dubai. This ambitious city draws in a wide range of tourists, from luxury lovers in search of seven-star service and sparkling malls, to sporty types looking for their next adrenaline rush on Kite Beach.
Take in the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab—two of Dubai’s most stunning architectural structures. Soak up the culture at the dazzling gold souk and at Madinat Jumeirah, a modern interpretation of a traditional Arab village.
From June to September, Dubai is scorching, with average highs around 105F (41C), while January is the coolest month, with average highs of 75F (24C).
