BEAT THE HEAT

With summer temps climbing and urban settings filled to the brim, our first instinct is usually to hibernate indoors until the cooler days of fall roll back around. Not for your veteran traveller: they’re aware of something that many of us are not. It’s not about hiding from summer; instead, it’s about discovering those areas where summer becomes unforgettable.

Snow-capped monuments rising thousands of feet above the ground, quaint villages with a long recorded history and islands that are so stunning they resemble paintings in every single sunset are just a few illustrations of how amazing summer can be to explore. Some have a cool mountain breeze blowing through them, while other places embrace the summer warmth, utilising it as an inviting character.

If you’re ready to pack up your suitcase and let your inner adventurer out, we have compiled a list of eight fabulous locations that you simply must include in your next summer travel plans.

Dzukou Valley, Nagaland, India

Where the mountains bloom

Located in Northwestern India is one of the most magnificent natural wonders of the country, Dzukou Valley (commonly called the “Valley of Flowers”), which remains largely undevastated by mass tourism. While reaching Dzukou Valley is not necessarily easy due to the moderate effort involved in completing the trek from the viewpoint to the valley, you will be rewarded each time you turn to your left or right with breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Dzukou Valley is about 8,000 feet above sea level, and during the monsoon rainy season, it appears almost to come alive by transforming its vast areas of grass into colourful patches of flowers, many of which, including the Dzükou Lily (the only place in the world), are rare.

In contrast to most places that you could visit during the summer, where you often find yourself looking for shade under an umbrella or attempting to escape from the oppressive heat of the summer sun, Dzukou Valley offers you pleasant temperatures, fog and mist on the surrounding mountains, and an overall other-worldly atmosphere. There are no glamorous hotels or trendy sights to see here; instead, it is the pure, unadulterated beauty of Mother Nature.

If you are looking for solitude, clean air, and views that are so serene and peaceful that they appear not to have changed in millions of years, Dzukou Valley will provide you with many wonderful memories long after your trek has been completed.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Nature at its wildest

There are few places in the world that offer the magnitude and variety of wildlife viewing found at Kruger National Park. Spanning nearly two million hectares, this famed park is one of Africa’s leading safari locations.

As summer brings forth torrential downpours and transformative growth, the land is transformed into a sea of lush green as the thunderclouds roll in, rivers become swollen with life, and baby animals appear across the vast savannah. The park’s well-known inhabitants—including lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos—continue their daily interactions while surrounded by rich emerald vegetation.

Although temperatures can rise throughout the day, the benefits more than outweigh the drawbacks. Birdwatchers can view migratory species travelling thousands of miles to reach their summer nesting grounds, while photographers can find countless opportunities to capture stunning photos due to the dramatic skies providing extraordinary natural light.

Kruger offers more than just a final chance to see all of the Big Five (lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos). It also represents an opportunity to experience the greater forces of nature on a big scale and to understand that, if one takes time to appreciate it, the wild world has immense beauty!

Aix-en-Provence, France

Summer with a touch of elegance

Aix-en-Provence is a place where summer feels like a natural part of life.

Aix is a beautiful town in the southern area of France, known for its openness to arts and culture, as well as for having a calming lifestyle. The famous artist Paul Cézanne drew inspiration from the surrounding environment when he resided in Aix; today, nearly every street looks as if it has come straight out of one of his paintings.

On hot summer days, you can wander through outdoor markets, always smelling fresh lavender. You can also browse through little shops or relax at a restaurant with a terrace, surrounded by larger trees planted alongside the restaurant.

There are many fountains located throughout Aix, which help to reduce the heat from the hot Provençal sun.

What attracts people to Aix isn’t only the beauty but also the slow pace of life; everything you eat and drink is meant to be enjoyed, including the pastry that has just been baked for you, your rosé (made in the area), and the evening walk that you take through the old town.

Aix shows you that a heat wave can still be carefree and sophisticated.

Bali, Indonesia

The island that never goes out of style

Bali has been a consistently great place for people around the world to experience because of its beautiful beaches, sacred temples, rich culture, and peaceful, calming atmosphere. The dry season is a perfect time to explore the island and go surfing or scuba diving in its pristine waters. You can see some of the most amazing landscapes in Southeast Asia, where the lush green rice fields flow down from the mountaintops to the ocean below.

Bali is not only known for the beauty of nature but also for its spirituality, which permeates everyday life through temple ceremonies, offerings placed outside homes, and traditional practices that continue to shape culture. You can spend one day watching the sun rise at the top of a volcano and the next indulging in world-class cuisine or experiencing the ultimate relaxation at a luxury spa with an incredible view.

Few places in the world have the ability to provide such a perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, and cultural richness as Bali. This is why Bali is consistently at the top of premium travel destinations for people all over the world each year.

Upper Carniola, Slovenia

Europe’s rising summer star

While other parts of Europe are crowded with tourists during the peak season, Slovenia’s Upper Carniola Region provides a rare opportunity: space to breathe.

The region is home to the stunning Julian Alps and combines mountain scenery, the pristine lakes of Triglav National Park and enchanted mediaeval villages with large areas of untouched nature. While most tourists come to the area for Lake Bled, they will discover a whole region of dramatic beauty.

Visitors can spend their days hiking in the beautiful alpine mountains, riding their bikes along crystal-clear rivers and exploring Triglav National Park. Upper Carniola is also gaining a reputation for its fine dining, with Slovenia’s growing global Michelin-star dining profile.

The reason Upper Carniola is so special is that, like many of Europe’s other famous exclusive holiday destinations, it has a balance to it. In addition to providing tourists with a picture-perfect setting that resembles other well-known mountain tourist environments, Upper Carniola retains an authentic and less crowded atmosphere.

For travellers looking for cooler temperatures and postcard-like scenery, Upper Carniola is quite possibly Europe’s best-kept secret.

Fès, Morocco

A journey through living history

Visiting Fès is like going back in time instead of just coming to see a city. Founded in the 8th century, Fès is known as the cultural heart of Morocco and has some of the most amazing urban areas in all of the world. The medina (old town) of Fès is a UNESCO World Heritage site made up of thousands of winding narrow streets lined with artisans, merchants, and craftspeople doing their work in ways that are similar to how they did many years ago.

The tanneries (places that tan animal hides) in Fès exhibit one of the most unique views in all of Fès, with their colourful dye pits (basins with different colours of dye) being viewed in a similar way today compared to how they would have been viewed centuries ago. Near the tanneries is another notable landmark, the University of Al Quaraouiyine, which serves as a testament to the abundance of intellectual wealth that the city of Fès has produced over the years.

Exploring Fès during the summer months will allow for a slow-paced exploration. Many riads (homes converted into hotels) offer cool courtyards (large meeting areas) to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy street during the heat of the day; once the sun has gone down, the ambience of the city creates a magical atmosphere with the lanterns illuminating the ancient walls of the city.

Every sense of the body is stimulated in Fès, and that is what makes Fès unforgettable.

Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India

The art of escaping summer

For those seriously motivated to escape the heat, Spiti Valley provides an almost dreamlike alternative.

Situated at a high elevation in the Himalayas, this cold desert seems to exist on another planet compared to the frenetic pace of life in India’s urban centres. It is a barren yet breathtaking landscape of rugged mountains, twisting roads, and unlimited horizons.

Ancient monasteries are perched on cliffsides and hilltops, preserving thousands of years of Buddhist culture. The most famous monastery is Key Monastery, located atop a ridge, watching over the valley like a relic from a different time.

The pace of life is quite different here; internet access is sporadic; timing becomes less relevant; and the tranquillity itself becomes a draw.

There is no luxury here in the traditional sense, only something that you will struggle to find anywhere else — stillness.

Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar

One of the last true frontiers

Although many places throughout the world have been photographed, reviewed, and geo-tagged by visitors, the Mergui Archipelago still presents a sense of mystery. Lying scattered throughout the Andaman Sea, the hundreds of islands that make up this complex have a unique atmosphere in that they are largely undeveloped. There are dense jungles and white sandy beaches that meet, and coral reefs thriving beneath crystal-clear water with very vibrant marine animal life.

For many years, this area has been largely isolated, allowing many of its natural features to be preserved. At present, this area continues to experience remarkably lower numbers of visitors when compared to other tropical destinations found within Southeast Asia.

The Moken people, who are also referred to as “sea nomads”, have had a long-standing connection to these waters and add another interesting aspect to the archipelago.

To visit the Mergui Archipelago, potential visitors must adhere to current travel advisories and include planning and organisation within their travel arrangements; however, because this location is untouched, it would provide an adventurous traveller with an amazing destination that is still untouched by modern society.

The Final Word

You can still take amazing luxury vacation destinations during summer without going to busy beaches and crowded cities. Some of the most beautiful places can be located in flower-filled valleys, remote desert mountains, medieval medinas or beaches located near chain islands far away from touristy destinations. These places include the misty perspective from the hills of Nagaland and the timeless streets of Morocco. Each place can inspire you to enjoy summer as much as possible. Instead of trying to avoid summertime, find places that you will love during this time of year.