Wondering where’s hot in October? You’re not alone. As the summer months draw to a close, there’s no better time to jet off to where the sun still shines. Luckily, there are myriad destinations across the globe you can visit in a last-ditch attempt to extend your summer. A post-summer getaway can take you everywhere from the savannahs of South Africa and the medinas of Morocco to the secluded Seychelles and far-flung Greek islands. Eager to learn more? Let your mind escape to sunnier pastures as we take you on an October adventure…
1. Dodecanese Islands, Greece (20°C)
2. Oman (30°C)
3. South Africa (19°C)
4. Morocco (21°C)
5. Seychelles (26°C)
6. Argentina (19°C)
7. Andalucia, Spain (20°C)
Dodecanese Islands, Greece
Average October temperature: 20°C
Average daily sunshine hours: six to eight hours
Flight time from the UK: four hours and five minutes (to Rhodes)
The shoulder season is the perfect time to visit Greece’s Dodecanese Archipelago. Scattered in the southeastern Aegean Sea, the delightful Dodecanese boast the country’s best weather in October, with daily highs hovering around 24°C in Rhodes (the largest of the lot). It’s the ideal temperature for exploring Rhodes’ UNESCO-recognised Medieval city, Symi’s pastel-coloured houses and spiritual Patmos’ ancient monastery. Thanks to the preceding summer months, the glistening azure waters surrounding the Greek isles are about as warm as they’ll get (averaging between 22-24°C). Luckily, there’s no shortage of beautiful beaches in the Dodecanese – Rhodes alone has over 330 miles of coastline. In between dips in the sea and sightseeing, fuel your sunny October holiday with fresh seafood, local honey and creamy cheeses.
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to the Dodecanese Islands, Greece.
Image by Lajos Greenen/Gallery Stock
Oman
Average October temperature: 30°C
Average daily sunshine hours: ten hours
Flight time from the UK: seven hours and ten minutes (to Muscat)
With much of northern Europe beginning to cool down come autumn, it’s only natural that our hunt for October hot holidays takes us further afield. In the Arabian Gulf, October sees locals climb out of their summertime hibernation to enjoy life outdoors once again. Oman shakes off the intense heat and basks in (still very balmy) averages of 30°C. Its Jebel Akhdar mountains are ripe for exploring – it’s harvest season, so meals make the most of an abundance of fresh produce. Divers can enjoy fantastic visibility and toasty water temperatures this month, and the sandy surroundings of Muscat are primed for peaceful walks under shady date palms and dips in natural springs.
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to Oman.
Image by Paola Murray/Gallery Stock
South Africa
Average October temperature: 19°C
Average daily sunshine hours: nine hours
Flight time from the UK: 11 hours and 35 minutes (to Cape Town)
As the autumn chill arrives at home, head on holiday to South Africa for a spectacular spring break. With pleasant temperatures hovering around 19°C, this is a great spot (and time of year) for big game safaris, bespoke wine tastings in the Western Cape and beach-hopping along the idyllic Garden Route – a 165-mile coastal road between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. The slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain are blanketed with wildflowers and it’s one of the best times for whale watching on the Cape Peninsula (look out for migrating humpback and southern right whales, as well as resident Bryde’s).
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to South Africa.
Image by Paloma Saint
Morocco
Average October temperature: 21°C
Average daily sunshine hours: eight hours
Flight time from the UK: three hours and 40 minutes (to Marrakech)
Carved out of the desert like a hot knife through butter, Morocco’s scintillating cities offer a symphony for the senses at any time of year. That said, to best enjoy the maze-like medinas and sumptuous souqs, it’s best to avoid the scorching summer. Enter October, a dreamy month in Morocco where temperatures rarely climb above 30°C. Whether trotting through the Atlas Mountains atop a camel, discovering the treasures of imperial cities Fez and Tangier, or enjoying the sea breeze on the Atlantic coast, October’s weather is optimal. It’s even cool enough – by desert standards – for the Sahara Desert to open up to visitors again, where sweeping sand dunes and star-studded sleep-outs await.
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to Morocco.
Image by luengo ua/stock.adobe.com
Seychelles
Average October temperature: 26°C
Average daily sunshine hours: seven hours
Flight time from the UK: 12 hours and 25 minutes (to Mahe)
Another answer to ‘where’s hot in October?’ takes us to the tranquil shores of one of our favourite islands in the turquoise-tinged Indian Ocean: the Seychelles. Enjoying some of its finest weather in October, with average temperatures of 26°C, limited rainfall and winds – it’s the perfect time for beach frolicking and outdoorsy adventures. The Seychelles are made up of around 150 small islands, so life here is, understandably, focused around the sea. Think tracking turtles with a local conservation team, paddle boarding around tiny private isles and plenty of time spent lounging on some of the archipelago’s most paradisiacal beaches.
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to the Seychelles.
Image by Vanessa Martin
Argentina
Average October temperature: 19°C
Average daily sunshine hours: seven hours
Flight time from the UK: 16 hours and 40 minutes (to Buenos Aires)
October signals springtime in the Southern Hemisphere, and there’s no better way to enjoy it than on a holiday to Argentina. The lovely Lake District blooms with wildflowers; the Ibera wetlands are at their most colourful (and animals at their most active); Mendoza’s vineyards are lush, with wineries offering tastings of world-famous malbecs. Buenos Aires enjoys balmy temperatures hovering around 22°C – perfect for sightseeing, café hopping and marvelling at its Belle Epoque buildings. Come evening, feast on melt-in-the-mouth steaks in the beef capital of the world before hitting a late-night milonga for a touch of Argentine tango.
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to Argentina.
Image by Gunnar Knetchel/LAIF REA
Andalucia, Spain
Average October temperature: 20°C
Average daily sunshine hours: seven to nine hours
Flight time from the UK: two hours and 45 minutes (to Seville)
Last but by no means least on our list of where’s hot in October is Andalucia in southern Spain. Come October, this sun-drenched region boasts delightful daytime highs of around 26°C (it clearly didn’t get the autumn memo). Whether touring Granada’s iconic Moorish palace, the Alhambra, or Cordoba’s monumental mosque-cathedral, the Mezquita, there’s no shortage of architectural wonders in Andalucia. Soak up the sun on the biscuit-hued sands of the Costa del Sol coastline, get lost in pueblos blancos (whitewashed towns) like Ronda and Olvera, catch a flamenco show in its birthplace, Seville, or sample tasty tapas on a local foodie tour – the choice is yours.
Find out more about our tailor-made tours to Spain.
Image by joserpizarro/Fotolia.com
Written by Hannah Whitehall | Header image by Yianni Mathioudakis/Unsplash
