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Where to go in October
Cast yourself to sunnier climes
Weather? What weather. October is the month to seek out sunloungers in the Indian Ocean, go hiking in Bhutan or peep at Massachusetts’ kaleidoscopic canopies. Swerve crowds in Marrakech, too, or take on Cambodia at its lushest.
Morocco
Avg. temperature: high 29ºC; low 17ºC
Sure, there’s the risk of cooler nights and the odd downpour (especially in the Atlas Mountains), but October in Morocco means fewer crowds in Fez, less manic medinas in Marrakech and stretches of warm, empty beach along the largely undiscovered Atlantic Coast. With temperatures still high, it’s arguably when our fairy-tale casbahs and reclusive riads are at their most magical.
Bhutan
Avg. temperature: high 22ºC; low 10ºC
Bhutan is at its peak in October, when rain is rare and climes are mild. Ideal conditions for hiking the country’s three mountain ranges, temple-hopping, or spending balmy evenings in Bhutan’s colourful teahouses. And get up close to the culture with yak and horse riding, traditional song and dance, and souvenirs made from local herbs at Laya’s Royal Highlander Festival, held 4,000-metres above sea level.
Crete
Avg. temperature: high 23ºC; low 17ºC
It’s not over until… the hotels close their doors — and during the lengthy Greek summer, that doesn’t technically happen until well into the autumn. In October, we can’t promise Herculean-strength rays from Helios, but we can guarantee quieter beaches, family-friendly resorts and the Med’s fifth-biggest island almost to yourself. The comparatively cooler temperatures also mean far less sweaty hikes.
Mauritius
Avg. temperature: high 28ºC; low 22ºC
Let the Christmas crowds chase their tails. You, on the other hand, can pour out a rum and sit back, smug in the knowledge that dry, sunny October is when you can max out on Mauritius’ outdoor lifestyle. Azure skies make this a prime time to hike coastal mountains like Le Morne, explore the unfettered wilderness of the Black River Gorges National Park, and bask on the talcum-white sands of Belle Mare Beach.
Massachusetts
Avg. temperature: high 18ºC, low 7ºC
In October grab your binoculars and Jack O’ Lantern buckets for a trip to the Berkshires and Boston in Massachusetts. However, nature goes so gung-ho painting the autumn leaves here that you’ll be less leaf-peeping and more leaf-gawping in all directions. Stop off at farms for fresh cider, corn-maze fun and pumpkin patches in anticipation of Halloween, celebrated all month long in the capital.
Cambodia
Avg. temperature: high 31ºC; low 23ºC
In October, Mother Nature redecorates Cambodia in vivid green as the country transitions from wet to dry season. Start by exploring Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, speedboating across swell-at-this-time-of-year Tonlé Sap lake to Phnom Penh to participate in temple offerings for Pchum Bun celebrations; then revel in Kirirom National Park’s lavish verdure, before sun-chasing on the Koh Rong and Krabey islands.