6 minute read
2024 - A Year of Travel
Enjoy an odyssey through 2024’s travel tapestry. From the ethereal landscapes of Vietnam in January to the mesmerizing allure of Victoria Falls in June, delve into a year of travel with insights on when to go, where and why. The perfect armchair escapade to get a new year of travel planning started. Let the 2024 adventures begin!
By Lucy Jackson Walsh, Founder and COO of Lightfoot Travel
JANUARY: Northern Vietnam (Halong Bay, Hanoi and Sapa)
WHY: This marks the winter season in northern Vietnam so the temperatures are cooler with little rain making it ideal for hiking and exploring.
HIGHLIGHTS: The morning mist rising off the water as you sail around the stalactites of Halong Bay.
TOP TIP: Do the Bill Bensley trail, and stay in Capella Hanoi, Hotel de la Coupole Sapa, and Intercontinental Da Nang.
FEBRUARY: Kenya
WHY: Less crowds and beautiful weather. The grass in the Masai Mara is long and ethereal making the landscape breathtakingly beautiful, there is greater movement of elephants and whilst the longer grass can make some game spotting a little more challenging – the reward is 10-fold.
HIGHLIGHTS: The enormous skylines made even bigger by the clear weather.
TOP TIP: Combine beach with bush as it is also one of the best times for the Kenyan coast with tides pulling any seaweed away from the shoreline making way for tropical white sand.
MARCH: India
WHY: The National Parks are starting to become more arid, making for great sightings of the Benghal tiger.
HIGHLIGHTS: Staying in a luxury tented camp.
TOP TIP: Combine the tigers in Ranthambore National Park with the leopards in the Jawai district for the ultimate Rajasthani desert safari experience.
APRIL: Sri Lanka
WHY: It is approaching the end of dry season with great wildlife and hiking opportunities in the south.
HIGHLIGHTS: Climb the Knuckles Mountain Range to get the best views over the valleys. The mountain range is achievable for most fit hikers and is five equal mountains shaped like a clenched fist.
TOP TIP: Take the train ride from Hatton to Ella passing through tea plantations, spice fields and local villages along the way.
MAY: Turkey
WHY: Beat the summer crowds and explore Turkey before it gets too hot.
HIGHLIGHTS: Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia at sunrise.
TOP TIP: Combine culture in Istanbul, coastal beauty in Izmir, and surreal landscapes in Cappadocia for a uniquely enriching Turkish adventure.
JUNE: Zimbabwe
WHY: The start of the dry season with lush landscapes, great game viewing and less people.
HIGHLIGHTS: The boom and drama of Victoria Falls with water levels at their highest.
TOP TIP: Pack lots of layers as the change in season brings lovely cold evenings.
JULY: Mongolia
WHY: Mongolia has an incredibly short travel season due to its harsh northern climate and July is one of the best months to visit. Days are long and temperatures are warm.
HIGHLIGHTS: Hiking up the Khongoren Els sand dunes in the Gobi Desert for sunset; spending time with our nomadic friends learning to cook, herding the animals, and integrating yourself in their daily life; witnessing smaller, local Naadams (Mongolia’s national festival that takes place every July).
TOP TIP: Stay in a Nomadic Mandala ger, a bespoke luxury yurt located next to a nomadic family in the middle of the wilderness.
AUGUST: Malaysian Borneo
WHY: It is peak season for a reason – weather is warm and dry with occasional showers, making it ideal for jungle trekking, wildlife safaris, and relaxing at the beach.
HIGHLIGHTS: Witness the majestic orangutans in Sepilok, enjoy a wildlife cruise down the Kinabatangan River to spot pygmy elephants, summit Mount Kinabalu.
TOP TIP: Book early as a lot of the wildlife lodges are small and can book up a year in advance.
SEPTEMBER: Maldives
WHY: A lot more for your money accommodation-wise compared to somewhere like Europe at this time of the year.
HIGHLIGHTS: Keen divers can experience Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with the best chance of seeing Manta Rays in this area between May and November.
TOP TIP: This is lower season in the Maldives due to the rain, so can be a good time to get better rates particularly for those that plan to spend most of the time under water.
OCTOBER: Oman
WHY: The weather is perfect at this time of year –beach weather on the coast and pleasantly cool in the mountains.
HIGHLIGHTS: Desert camping in the Wahiba Sands; witnessing turtle releases in Ras Al Jinz; exploring the hauntingly beautiful Jabal Akhdar Mountains.
TOP TIP: If you can, add some beach time at Six Senses Zighy Bay in the far northern Musandam Peninsula.
NOVEMBER: Chilean Patagonia
WHY: It brings warmer, spring-like weather perfect to hike the trails of Patagonia’s Torres del Paine, explore the dunes and salt flats of the Atacama as it warms up and see the unique moai of Easter Island before the busier peak summer months.
HIGHLIGHTS: Take advantage of the vibrant landscapes as the country blooms with spring moving into summer.
TOP TIP: Take the time to visit the Atacama’s beautiful high Altiplanic lagoons, Miscanti & Menique, some 4000m high in the Andes, surrounded by a volcanic-desert landscape and home to flamingoes and other bird species.
DECEMBER: New Zealand
WHY: Beautiful weather just at the start of summer.
HIGHLIGHTS: The ultimate South Island road trip starts in Nelson, continues along the coastal route to the marine sanctuary of Kaikoura, heads inland from Christchurch to the mighty mountains and glaciers around Mount Cook, and ends in the adventure capital of Queenstown.
TOP TIP: Visit in early December when the weather is ideal, but before the festive crowds (and prices!) arrive.
About the Company
Established in 2009 in Singapore by a British founding team, Lightfoot Travel is the original Asian high-end luxury operator. Now the company has footholds in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, London, and New York. Lightfoot is a boutique operator with a truly global presence. It prides itself on the individual nature of every itinerary, its service and amazing industry contacts. Authenticity is a value embodied in each trip and in the way the team works. Not only are they experts in their destinations, but also in the practicality of delivering exceptional travel experiences. Visit www.lightfoottravel.com for more information.
