Where to go in January
While winter bites in the northern hemisphere, the Gulf, the Red Sea and Southeast Asia are in their mildest months. January is when warm weather comes with the least rain.
Countries in high season in January
United Arab Emirates
The most comfortable month of the year: city days sit around 24C with almost no rainy days.
What to expect: Beach and desert fit into the same day. The post-New-Year shopping season keeps events busy and hotels full, so booking early pays off.
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Egypt
The classic season for the Nile and the Red Sea: 21C by day and about three rainy days a month.
What to expect: Temple days are walkable without the heat. Evenings are cool, so the desert and a night on the Nile need a jacket.
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Thailand
The middle of the dry season: 30C, five rainy days a month and the lowest humidity of the year.
What to expect: Island and bay routes are open and the sea is calm. It is the busiest month, so domestic flights and boat seats fill early.
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Vietnam
The southern dry season is at its peak, with 25C and seven rainy days.
What to expect: The Mekong and Ho Chi Minh side are at their best while Hanoi in the north can be cool and hazy. A full-country itinerary needs layers up north.
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Cambodia
The driest month on the Angkor route: about two rainy days a month.
What to expect: Sunrise visits stay dry. Middays reach 32C, so temple days are built around the morning and late afternoon.
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Cuba
The Caribbean dry season: 28C and completely outside the hurricane window.
What to expect: Havana and Varadero fit in one itinerary. This is peak season, so rooms and internal transport are at their most expensive.
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Temperature and rainfall figures are multi-year averages for the cities in our catalogue. This is an editorial suggestion, not a weather or availability guarantee.
Cruises this month
Winter schedule: part of the Mediterranean fleet has moved to Red Sea and Gulf routes, and the western Mediterranean programme is limited.
50 published cruise departures fall in this month.
All cruises