15 Best Places to Travel in January

1. Maldives for Calm Lagoons and Overwater Villas

The Maldives is our first pick for January because the dry northeast monsoon settles in, bringing calm lagoons, clear skies and the most reliable sea conditions of the year.

Best for: Overwater villas, sandbank dinners and a proposal at the water's edge.

The dry northeast monsoon runs from January to March, and air temperatures hold between 25 and 32°C through the year. Still water suits snorkelling the house reef straight from the villa deck, and the evening rhythm is set by sunset over the lagoon.

January is a favourite month for the Maldives proposals we plan, often on a private sandbank with a table set for two and the resort's boat waiting offshore. Divers drawn to whale sharks and manta reefs will find that angle in our guide to the best places to travel in February, which picks up where this one ends.

Where to stay: Soneva Jani in the Noonu Atoll, Cheval Blanc Randheli and Six Senses Laamu, each with long-running reef and marine conservation programmes.

Plan it: Overwater villas for January are among the first rooms reserved each year, so we suggest securing them 9 to 12 months ahead. Our Maldives honeymoon packages, shaped around the dry season show how a stay can come together.

2. Phuket and Krabi for Andaman Island-Hopping

Phuket and Krabi rank among the best places to travel in January for warm weather, because the Andaman coast is in its dry season, with hot, sunny days and settled seas for island-hopping.

Best for: Private yacht days, limestone lagoons and beachside dinners.

November to April is the best window for Phuket, Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands, and the south is at its least humid from December to February. Phang Nga Bay's karsts, the hongs (sea-cut lagoons reached by canoe) and the quieter shores of Koh Yao Noi all sit within a morning's sail.

We like to base couples on two shores, a few nights on Phuket's western bays before a crossing to Railay and Phra Nang beach in Krabi. Koh Samui and the Gulf coast come into their own a month later, which is why February takes that side of the country.

Where to stay: Six Senses Yao Noi above Phang Nga Bay, Rosewood Phuket and Rayavadee on the Railay peninsula.

Plan it: Charter a private yacht or long-tail and set out early to reach Phang Nga Bay before the day boats. Our guide to Asia's best honeymoon destinations and when to visit them pairs Thailand with neighbouring escapes.

3. Dubai for Beach Days and Desert Evenings

Dubai suits January because winter brings the mildest weather of its year, warm enough for the beach by day and cool enough for desert dinners after dark.

Best for: Beach days, desert evenings and a short city stay built around a celebration.

Daytime temperatures usually settle in the low to mid-20s °C, and evenings in the dunes call for a light layer. The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve protects Arabian oryx and gazelle, and a private dinner among its dunes is one of the quietest experiences the emirate offers.

Outdoor terraces and beach clubs are at their best this month, and many couples add a few nights in neighbouring Ras Al Khaimah for the mountain air of Jebel Jais. For a wedding in the city, our guide to getting wedded in Dubai covers venues and planning.

Where to stay: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, inside the conservation reserve, and Jumeirah Al Naseem, home to the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project.

Plan it: Reserve dune dinners and private desert drives for the cooler evenings. If the journey continues, our Middle East honeymoon destinations, from desert to Red Sea suggest where to go next.

4. Kerala for Backwater Stays and Spice Country

Kerala is one of January's most rewarding picks because the rains have passed and its cool, dry winter brings comfortable days for houseboat stays, tea hills and Ayurvedic retreats.

Best for: Backwater houseboats, spice and tea country, and restorative wellness stays.

Kerala's winter runs from December to February, after the lighter northeast rains of October and November, and the high ranges around Munnar can turn crisp at night. On Vembanad Lake, a private kettuvallam (a converted rice barge) drifts past paddy fields and village jetties while karimeen, the local pearl spot fish, is prepared on board for lunch.

From the backwaters the road climbs to the cardamom and pepper gardens around Thekkady, then on to the tea estates of Munnar. Fort Kochi, with its spice warehouses and cantilevered fishing nets, makes a gentle first or last night.

Where to stay: Coconut Lagoon at Kumarakom, Spice Village in Thekkady and Brunton Boatyard in Fort Kochi, all run by CGH Earth with long-standing sustainability practices.

Plan it: Book a private houseboat for a single night and allow at least seven nights overall, so the backwaters, spice hills and coast each keep their own pace.

5. Anguilla for a Low-Key Caribbean Escape

Anguilla belongs on any January list because the Caribbean dry season is under way and this small, low-rise island offers long, quiet beaches at an unhurried pace.

Best for: Private beach days, sailing and an understated celebration for two.

Shoal Bay East, Meads Bay and Rendezvous Bay are the island's best-loved stretches, and the calm western coves suit a morning swim. Boat racing is woven into island life, and the food ranges from beach grills serving local crayfish to some of the most considered dining rooms in the Caribbean.

We plan Anguilla stays around stillness, with a day aboard a private catamaran to Prickly Pear Cays and dinners timed to the sunset over Saint Martin. Barbados and St Lucia carry more energy, and they take their turn a month later.

Where to stay: Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel, on Maundays Bay, Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection, above Meads Bay, and Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla.

Plan it: January is peak season and the best beachfront suites are booked a year ahead. Our honeymoon packages shaped around the season can pair Anguilla with a second island.

6. Patagonia for Peak Summer Trekking

Patagonia is at its best in January because peak summer brings the longest days of the year and the most settled window for trekking Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares.

Best for: Active couples, glacier days and remote lodges.

Daylight stretches well past 9pm, leaving time for the full walk to the base of the towers and an unhurried return. Across the border in Argentina, Perito Moreno Glacier and the trails around El Chaltén and Mount Fitz Roy pair neatly with the Chilean side.

Summer winds can be brisk, so we build in flexible days and private guides who read the weather and adjust each route. Wildflowers and quieter trails return in spring, covered in our guide to Patagonia in November.

Where to stay: Awasi Patagonia with its private villas, Tierra Patagonia on Lake Sarmiento and EOLO near El Calafate.

Plan it: Lodges are few and January fills first, so we suggest planning 9 to 12 months out. Our private travel planning can combine Chile and Argentina in a single journey.

7. New Zealand's South Island for Long Summer Days

New Zealand's South Island is a leading January choice because summer brings daytime temperatures of 20 to 25°C and light until around 9.30pm, ideal for lakes, fiords and alpine walks.

Best for: Road trips, vineyard lunches, scenic flights and heli-picnics.

Wānaka, Milford Sound and the Central Otago vineyards around Gibbston and Bannockburn all sit within a few hours of one another. A helicopter flight to a remote alpine ridge for lunch is one of the most private ways to see the Southern Alps.

We often plan South Island proposals at sunrise, when the lakes are still and the light is soft. Autumn colour arrives later in the year, and Queenstown in April has its own feature for couples drawn to that season.

Where to stay: Minaret Station Alpine Lodge, reached by helicopter, Blanket Bay at the head of Lake Wakatipu and Aro Ha, a wellness retreat near Glenorchy built on sustainable design.

Plan it: Keep the first clear morning free for a scenic flight or a Milford Sound cruise. Our Oceania destination guide shows how New Zealand pairs with the Pacific.

8. Chūbu and Kanazawa for Snow Villages and Onsen

With thatched villages under deep snow and temple towns hushed after the New Year, Chūbu is one of the best places to travel in January for a quieter, snow-softened Japan.

Best for: Ryokan stays, winter villages and wild snow monkeys.

In Shirakawa-go, the gassho-zukuri farmhouses (steep thatched roofs built to shed snow) are lit on select evenings in January and early February, by advance reservation only. In Kanazawa, Kenroku-en garden ties its pine branches with yukitsuri, rope supports that protect them from the weight of the snow.

In Nagano, the wild macaques of Jigokudani Yaen-koen soak in their hot spring near Yudanaka, a short drive from the old onsen lanes of Shibu. Hokkaido's snow festival belongs to February and blossom to March, so January keeps the villages and onsen calm.

Where to stay: Beniya Mukayu in Yamashiro Onsen near Kanazawa and Kanaguya in Shibu Onsen.

Plan it: Overnight stays during the Shirakawa-go light-up are allocated by lottery in October, so apply early or visit by day and stay at a ryokan nearby. Our guide to Asia's honeymoon destinations by season charts Japan through the year.

9. Tromsø and Svalbard for the Northern Lights

For the strongest Northern Lights odds of the year, Tromsø and Svalbard lead in January, as polar night delivers long hours of darkness whenever the skies clear.

Best for: Aurora evenings, Arctic wildlife and private lodge stays.

In Tromsø the polar night lasts from about late November to mid-January, and the sun's return later in the month brings hours of soft, deep-toned light around midday. Further north in Longyearbyen, polar night holds until about the end of January, and the aurora can occasionally appear in the middle of the day.

We plan evenings with private local guides who drive beyond the city lights toward clearer skies, then dog sledding or a snowmobile trip across frozen valleys in Svalbard. Iceland's winter and Lapland's festive snow are covered in other months, which leaves January to the Norwegian Arctic.

Where to stay: Malangen Resort on a fjord outside Tromsø and Funken Lodge in Longyearbyen.

Plan it: Allow at least three nights in each place to give the weather a chance. Our Arctic and long-haul travel planning can link Tromsø and Svalbard in one journey.

10. Banff for a Snow-Covered Alpine Retreat

Banff is a top January pick for an alpine retreat, with deep snow across three ski resorts, frozen canyons to walk and far fewer visitors than in summer.

Best for: Skiing, ice walks, skating and a cosy mountain lodge.

Winter runs from November to March, and January brings dependable cover to Mount Norquay, Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise. The ice walk through Johnston Canyon passes frozen waterfalls, and skating on Lake Louise beneath Victoria Glacier is a classic Rockies evening.

We like to split a Banff stay between the town and Lake Louise, with a sleigh ride and a private dinner by the fire to close each day. Summer lakes and the Icefields Parkway are a different trip, covered in our guide to Banff in August.

Where to stay: Post Hotel and Spa at Lake Louise, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Sunshine Mountain Lodge, the park's ski-in, ski-out stay.

Plan it: Book private ski instruction and the canyon ice walk before you arrive. Our North America honeymoon destinations for every season help pair Banff with a warmer stop.

11. The Canary Islands for European Winter Sun

The Canary Islands are among the best holiday destinations in January for sun within easy reach of Europe, with mild, steady temperatures and long hours of sunshine through the winter.

Best for: Winter sun, volcanic landscapes and stargazing.

Lanzarote is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve shaped by César Manrique's architecture and the sunken vines of La Geria, where malvasía grapes grow in volcanic ash. On Tenerife, Teide National Park rises above the clouds, and its clear skies make for some of the finest stargazing in Europe.

Among the places to visit in January in Europe, the islands draw the most winter-sun travellers, so the best villas and suites fill early. Seven nights divide well between the two islands, and our European destination guides show how they sit beside the mainland.

Where to stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Abama on Tenerife, Royal Hideaway Corales Beach in Costa Adeje and Finca de Arrieta, an eco-retreat on Lanzarote.

Plan it: Reserve a private astronomy evening on Teide for a night near the new moon, when the skies are darkest.

12. Southwest Sri Lanka for Whales and Tea Country

Sri Lanka's south-west makes a strong January pick because the coast is dry and sunny, blue and humpback whales pass offshore and the hill country stays cool.

Best for: Whale watching, Galle Fort and tea estate stays.

Boats leave Mirissa in the early morning for the deep water where whales feed, and the coast between Galle and Tangalle offers quiet bays for the afternoons. Within Galle Fort, ramparts and lanes of old merchant houses make the most atmospheric base for an evening stroll.

A private transfer inland reaches the tea estates around Hatton, where planters' bungalows look over misty valleys. The cultural triangle and its rail journeys suit March, and the east coast comes into season in August.

Where to stay: Amangalla inside Galle Fort, Cape Weligama on the south coast and Ceylon Tea Trails in the Hatton hills.

Plan it: Choose a smaller private boat for whale watching and allow two nights in tea country. Our Asia destination guides suggest where Sri Lanka pairs best.

13. Tasmania for a Southern Summer Road Trip

Tasmania is one of the best places to travel in January from Australia, with mild summer days, long evenings and none of the heat of the mainland.

Best for: Road trips, coastal walks, and food and wine.

Hobart's January mean maximum sits near 22°C, ideal for the Three Capes Track or the climb to the Wineglass Bay lookout on the Freycinet Peninsula. Cradle Mountain, the Tamar Valley vineyards and Bruny Island's oysters and cheese round out a loop of the island.

Hobart's dining and arts scene makes a strong opening or closing chapter, with the Museum of Old and New Art a short ferry ride up the Derwent. The city's festive season is covered in our guide to the best places to travel in December, which leaves January free for the wilder corners of the island.

Where to stay: Saffire Freycinet, Pumphouse Point on Lake St Clair and The Islington in Hobart.

Plan it: Allow seven to ten nights and drive the loop from Hobart. Our guide to getting wedded in Australia helps if a celebration here is on the horizon.

14. Melbourne and Victoria for Summer Culture

Melbourne is a lively January choice because summer, the Australian Open and the Great Ocean Road all peak at once, with the city's January mean maximum near 27°C.

Best for: Tennis, laneway dining and coastal drives.

In 2027 the Australian Open runs from 11 to 31 January at Melbourne Park, with opening week from 11 January and the main draw from 17 January. Between sessions, rooftop bars, laneway restaurants and galleries keep the evenings full.

Beyond the city, the Great Ocean Road passes surf beaches and rainforest on the way to the Twelve Apostles, best seen at sunrise or sunset. The Mornington Peninsula and Daylesford offer wine and spa stays within easy reach, and our directory of Melbourne wedding vendors is a useful start for a celebration in the city.

Where to stay: Park Hyatt Melbourne, Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula and Lake House in Daylesford.

Plan it: Reserve Australian Open seats as soon as they are released, and book a private driver for the Great Ocean Road so you can stop where you please.

15. The Dolomites and Cortina for Alpine Ski Days

The Dolomites close our list of the best places to travel in January because the weeks after the festive season bring quieter slopes, settled snow and long mountain lunches.

Best for: Skiing, mountain dining and alpine spa stays.

Dolomiti Superski links twelve ski areas and about 1,200 kilometres of groomed slopes, and the Sella Ronda circuit loops around a single massif in a day. Cortina d'Ampezzo, co-host of the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan, pairs its runs with mountain huts serving casunziei, the local filled pasta.

We like to base couples in South Tyrol for a few nights before moving to Cortina, so each valley keeps its own character. Summer hiking is another season altogether, covered in our guide to the Dolomites in June.

Where to stay: Forestis above Brixen, Hotel de len and Rosapetra Spa Resort in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Plan it: Our Italy destination guide and the Cortina, Bolzano and Treviso journey show how ski days can pair with a few slower days in the Veneto.

How to Choose Where to Travel in January

Which country is best to visit in January depends on the weather you want, with the Maldives and Thailand leading for sun, Japan and Norway for snow, and Australia and New Zealand for summer. We start with the purpose of the trip, whether a proposal, an engagement journey or a honeymoon, and work back to the dates.

Match the Place to the Weather You Want

When deciding where to go in January for sun, the Maldives, the Andaman coast, Anguilla and Sri Lanka's south-west are all in their dry seasons, while Dubai and the Canary Islands offer gentler warmth. For snow, Banff, the Dolomites and Chūbu are the most dependable, and Tromsø and Svalbard hold the darkest skies for the aurora.

Tasmania, Victoria, the South Island and Patagonia are all enjoying their longest days. Our guide to choosing the right season for a honeymoon explains how timing shapes each destination.

Book Peak-Season Stays Early

January is peak season in the Maldives, the Caribbean, Patagonia and the Alps, and the most sought-after villas and lodges at the best places to travel in January are reserved 9 to 12 months ahead. For shoulder destinations, around six months is usually enough.

Trip length matters as much as timing, since long-haul journeys to Patagonia or the Maldives deserve at least ten nights. Our guide to how long a honeymoon should be, by destination helps set the right pace.

Check Winter Closures Before You Commit

Many of Europe's lake and coastal hotels close from late autumn until spring, including much of Lake Como, the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre. We confirm opening dates before any plan is set, which is why our European picks this month favour the Alps and the Canary Islands.

Some experiences run on limited dates, such as the Shirakawa-go light-up or the Australian Open. We suggest securing these before flights so the rest of the journey can be built around them.

Best Places to Travel in January: Coming From Australia

The best places to travel in January from Australia are Tasmania and Victoria for summer at home, Phuket and the Maldives for short-haul sun, and Japan or the Dolomites for long-haul snow. Each suits a different length of trip, from a long weekend to a fortnight or more.

Southern summer makes staying close to home an easy choice, with Tasmania's mild days and Melbourne's fortnight of tennis within a short flight of every capital. Our guide to celebrating and getting wedded in Australia shows how a summer trip can become a celebration.

Phuket is a direct flight from several Australian cities, and the Maldives connects through hubs such as Singapore, Colombo and Dubai. Japan's snow villages and onsen sit within a day's travel, while the Dolomites suit a longer journey of two weeks or more.

Australian summer school holidays fill flights and resorts through much of January, especially in the first weeks of the year. We suggest travelling in the second half of the month where possible, or reserving well ahead for the holiday period.

Planning Where to Travel in January With Wedded Wonderland

The best places to travel in January share one quality, each rewards a clear decision made early, whether that means a lagoon villa, an Arctic lodge or a summer road trip. We plan proposals, engagements, weddings and honeymoons across every destination in this guide, and help couples make the trip happen, from securing peak-season stays to arranging private guides and transfers.

For newlyweds, our destination honeymoon packages bring these January holiday destinations together with considered stays. Our guide to where to go on honeymoon in January, with private stays chosen for the season goes deeper into the romance of the month.

For the full calendar, our guide to the best places to travel each month of the year sets January beside the eleven months that follow. When you are ready to begin, our Wedded Concierge can shape a private January escape around your dates.

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