Even in the peak summer travel month of July, there are still plenty of places in the world where you can escape the heat, crowds, and beach-bound traffic jams. Here are ideas for you, culled from our Insider’s Guides to destinations worldwide.
(Don’t miss the rest of our “Where to Go” series on the best destinations for every month of the year. If you’re wondering when’s the best time to book your destination to get the best value for your dollar, see our “Where to Book Now” series.)
Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons
Grand Teton National Park is full of outdoor activities in the summer, including kayaking on Jackson Lake. Photo: Billie Cohen
You’ll find warm days and cool nights, wildflowers in bloom, and hiking trails mostly free of snow. In the Tetons, rivers should be clear of spring runoff, making for perfect fly-fishing conditions. And it’s prime time for a huge variety of activities—biking, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding. Summer can be busy, but there are creative ways to beat the crowds in national parks.
Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Yellowstone National Park, and contact Wendy to find the right local expert to design your trip and ensure you get VIP treatment.
Alaska
Guests spot calving ice while exploring on Zodiac in Southeast Alaska. Photo: Lindblad Expeditions/Michael S. Nolan
Until mid-July the mountains are still covered in snow, the flowers are emerging, and the animals have just given birth, so you might see moose out with their calves, as well as just-born fur-seal pups. Plus, the locals are happy that winter is over and that visitors have returned. Temperatures are typically in the mid-60s during the days (which are the longest days of the year) and you’re likely to see active, calving glaciers.
Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Alaska, our Insider’s Guide to small-ship Alaska expedition eruises, and our Insider’s Guide to Alaska Cruises on larger, more affordable ships, and contact Wendy to pinpoint the right expert to plan your trip
British Columbia
Summer is a great time for bear viewing in British Columbia: grizzlies, black bears, and more. Photo: Phil Timpany
The days are usually clear and sunny (ideal for seaplane and helicopter flights) and the seasonal wilderness lodges, which typically open in mid-May, have been operating long enough to work out any kinks. The summer months are also prime time for kayaking, hiking, fishing, and river rafting, not to mention bear- and whale-watching.
Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to British Columbia, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip. .
Newfoundland
July and August are prime time for spotting humpback whales in Newfoundland. Photo: Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
July and August are prime whale-watching time in Newfoundland: During these months, the world’s largest population of feeding humpback whales (an estimated 5,000 to 10,000) make their way into the area’s fish-rich waters from the Caribbean. In addition to humpbacks, 21 other species of whales and dolphins that join them, as well as an astonishing 35 million seabirds.
Read our Insider’s Guide to Newfoundland and Labrador, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
The Arctic
Summer in the Arctic means great photo opportunities. Photo: Ashton Palmer
The early summer months not only bring reasonably warm weather but also have the advantage of the midnight sun, when the near 24-hour daylight conditions make for superb photo opportunities.
Read our Insider’s Guide to The Arctic, By Land & Sea, and contact Wendy to find the right expert to arrange your trip and ensure you’re marked as a VIP.
Trancoso, Brazil
Depending on when you go, Trancoso, Brazil, can be either a party scene or a peaceful getaway with private villas like this. Photo: Paul Irvine.
If you are after a taste of the international party scene that put Trancoso on the map, you need to go from January through March, but if you are after peace and quiet, July is pure bliss: Temperatures are still in the high 70s to 80s, and you will often have mile upon mile of palm-tree-backed beaches all to yourself. Cases of Zika from January to April 2017 are down 95 percent compared to the same period in 2016, and Brazil has declared the end of its Zika emergency—though the virus is still a concern for women who are pregnant or hope to soon be (here’s how to protect yourself).
Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Trancoso, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best trip possible.
Austria
Summer in Austria is all about beautiful weather, long days, and festivals. Photo: Austria Tourism Board
Sure, it’s crowded in July, but the days are long and the weather is great, and there are music festivals—especially opera—all over Austria. And you can usually find good hotel deals, except in Salzburg from mid-July on, when the city hosts its six-week classical music festival (one of the biggest in Europe).
Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Austria, Including Vienna and the Danube, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
Rhodes, Greece
Even at the peak of summer, you can find quiet uncrowded spots on Rhodes, Greece. Photo: Melenos Lindos Exclusive Suites
Summer is busy on the Greek isles, but Rhodes is large enough to absorb more visitors than the smaller islands can, while still not feeling crowded. In July—before the season truly peaks in August—the vibe is energized and Rhodes Town is buzzing, but a longer coastline means that you can still find a quiet spot in the sand.
Read our Insider’s Guides to Mykonos, Athens, and Santorini, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
Norway
Norway is even more scenic in the summer, when nature is at its peak. Photo: Visit Norway
July has the best weather. The days are endless, with almost no night, the nature is at its peak, the waterfalls are still large, and you still have some snowcapped mountains in the fjord area.
Read our Insider’s Guide to Norway, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
Yunnan Province, China
The ingredients at a local lunch spot in the Yunnan Province were so fresh because they were farmed nearby. Photo: Billie Cohen
If you’re traveling in China in July, this is the best place for escaping the heat. There can be rain, but there’s a silver lining: The rain brings wild mushrooms of every variety, but most notably the prized matsutake. Served stir-fried, deep-fried, or au naturel, they’re delicious!
Read our Insider’s Guide to Yunnan Province, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
Bora Bora, Tahiti, and French Polynesia
Picture yourself in an overwater bungalow in French Polynesia. Photo: Conrad Hilton Bora Bora
The “Heiva” festival falls during July, with local contests on outer islands early in the month and a culmination of ceremonies in Papeete, Tahiti around the 20th. July also falls during the “Trade Wind” season, when the breezes keep temperatures in the low 80s and the humidity is down as well. It still rains, but in 30- to 40-minute bursts, and then the sun comes out again (a cycle that can repeat a few times through each afternoon and evening). The lagoons can be a bit choppy, but are still great for kite surfing, catamarans, or outrigger canoes with a sail rigged and, of course, sailing.
Read our Insider’s Guide to Bora Bora, Tahiti, and French Polynesia, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
Queenstown, New Zealand
See Fiordland Lake by helicopter. Photo: Jean-Michel Jefferson
In the southern-hemisphere winter, Queenstown is a snow-capped beauty, and there are not many people around; it is cold but heavenly, and a great time for snowshoeing and touring Fiordland by helicopter.
Read our Insider’s Guide to Queenstown, and plan your trip through our site to be marked as a VIP and get the best possible trip.
Kenya and Tanzania
The Great Migration on the Mara River. Photo: James Friedman
The best time to see the Great Migration—one of the grandest wildlife spectacles on Earth, with more than 2 million wildebeest and zebra on the move and predators lurking nearby—is the dry season, since the animals come out looking for water sources. The best place to be is in the Masai Mara National Reserve: There are more than 15 different river crossings—bottlenecks along the migration route where the animals must avoid hungry crocodiles and lions.
