10 places to go in January

Get off the tourist trail and discover the true culture of Ethiopia on our Blue Nile and Lalibela tour.  Ethiopia celebrates Christmas and the Timkat Festival (the Ethiopian Epiphany) in January, so you’ll get a deeper insight into the beliefs of the local people during this time. Explore medieval churches carved into the red rock of Lalibela, come face-to-face with gelada monkey along the remote walking tracks of the Simien Mountains, and delve into Harar’s labyrinth of narrow alleyways to barter with market traders.

Make the most of longer days and milder temperatures (up to 0 degrees!) with a trip to Antarctica in January. Take a voyage into the frozen south and sail across the Drake Passage in search of penguin and seal. Expect the unexpected as you navigate through snow-capped mountain scenery and drift past vast icebergs jolting through the cobalt blue icy waters. Feel the hairs on your neck stand on end when you spot a pod of humpback whales stirring up the water as they feed.

January is one of the best times to explore Cuba on two wheels. In the middle of the dry season, the skies are typically clear and temperatures a bit cooler, making it a perfect time to explore by bike. Cycle along quiet roads, navigating the Caribbean coast and pedalling past tobacco plantations in the limestone hills of the Viñales Valley, before descending through tropical forests and stopping at a coffee farmer’s home for a local Cuban brew.

If climbing Kilimanjaro is on your bucket list, January sits in the dry season, providing fine, sunny days and typically good conditions for taking on this epic challenge. Trek across the vast savannah plains of Tanzania before tramping through dense forest on the lower slopes, and navigating the icy landscapes of the caldera. Reach the summit of Africa's highest mountain on a clear day, and you may even be able to see the curvature of Earth on the horizon!