Best Places to Travel in January

The best places to travel in January are a mixed bag of warm weather destinations and frigid winter wonderlands, providing travellers with the opportunity to choose an adventure that fits their style! Many people looking to travel in January want to either escape the cold weather at home or start the New Year off on the right foot, so whatever your reason is we hope to inspire you with the amazing tour destinations below. Argentina, Costa Rica, Tanzania, and the Rocky Mountains of Canada are all at the top of this year’s list of best places to travel in January.

In a similar fashion to December’s list of the best places to travel, it can be hard to determine the most popular travel destinations for January due to the polar opposite reasons why people are travelling at the start of the New Year. For many, it is an opportunity to start fresh with a worldly experience, while others simply want to leave the bitter cold of winter weather behind and don’t care where the destination is… as long as it’s hot!

With that being said, we’ve put together a list of the best places to travel in January with the hopes that there are a few destinations that will appeal to travellers of all types. Who knows, you might just find yourself being tempted to break away from your norm and hit the slopes for a snowy ski touring adventure! Read on to discover the best places to travel in January:

The Best Places to Travel in January Ranked

Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

#1 in Best Places to Travel in January

Last month we featured Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia as one of the best places to travel in December, so this month the focus is shifted slightly to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentinian Patagonia! Although January is smack in the middle of the summer season in South America, Los Glaciares National Park will showcase the frigid beauty of the many glaciers that give the park its name, as well as the rugged mountain peaks that characterize the region’s landscape. This is a wild adventure that you won’t want to miss!

Favourite Tour in Los Glaciares NP: Iguazu Falls and Patagonia Hiking Tour

Rincón de la Vieja, Costa Rica

#2 in Best Places to Travel in January

For those travellers who are looking to both escape the cold of winter and get a great dose of thrilling adventure in the process, a trip to Costa Rica should definitely be in the cards. Rincón de la Vieja is a wonderfully scenic and laidback region of this small Central American country that offers great access to the outdoors, and will allow you to explore all of the stunning beaches, rainforests, and volcanoes that make Costa Rica such a unique destination. It also doesn’t hurt that January is one of the driest months of the year in Costa Rica, so what are you waiting for?!

Rocky Mountains, Canada

#3 in Best Places to Travel in January

Canada’s Rocky Mountains are a breathtaking sight to behold no matter the season, but visiting the region in winter is a truly eye-opening experience. Whether you decide to explore the rugged terrain and stunning national parks of Alberta or British Columbia doesn’t matter, as both will have you begging for more incredible views and exhilarating adventures. If you are even remotely interested in winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or ice climbing, you will want to give this outdoor lover’s paradise a visit. You won’t regret it!

Favourite Tour in the Rocky Mountains, Canada: 9-Day Rocky Mountain Ski Tour

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

#4 in Best Places to Travel in January

Let’s face it, at one point or another in our lives we have all had visions of setting out on an extraordinary African Safari; so why not turn that dream into a reality?! Serengeti National Park is a beautifully scenic destination in Tanzania that offers the chance to witness countless wildlife species in their natural habitat, and travelling there in January is one of the few times when you can witness the Great Migration of wildebeest as they navigate throughout the national park. Sounds like the perfect adventure to us!

Favourite Tour in Serengeti NP, Tanzania: Great Migration Safari Tour

Rila Mountains, Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a travel destination that isn’t on many people’s radar, but boy should it be! This Eastern European country is home to some incredible Black Sea beaches that are a summertime hotspot, but it is the winter season when Bulgaria really begins to shine. Head out into the breathtaking landscape of the Rila or Pirin Mountains on a Ski Touring Excursion and get back to us on whether you’ve seen any winter wonderland scenery that is comparable. If you are after a wintersport adventure that is a bit off the beaten track, then the Rila Mountains of Bulgaria are the perfect destination for you to explore this January!

Favourite Tour in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria: Ski Touring in Bulgaria

Andalusia, Spain

Rounding out our list of the best places to travel in January is another warm(ish) weather destination - the historic Andalusia region of southern Spain. While temperatures at this time of year won’t be overly hot (10-16°C is the average), you will still find them to be much warmer than many other European destinations in January. Whether you take your time exploring the historic city streets of Seville or make your way into the picturesque countryside of Grenada for a walking experience like no other, there are always incredible adventures waiting around the corner in Andalusia, Spain.

Favourite Tour in Andalusia, Spain: Alpujarras and Granada Walking Tour

Travel Opportunities During Other Months

January is a fantastic time to travel; however, many people are strapped for cash after the holiday season and it can be a challenge to book time off at the start of the New Year. Luckily for you, there are 11 other months of the year, all of which are all perfect for travel in their own unique way! No matter what time of year it is or where in the world you want to go, 10Adventures offers a wide range of adventure tours that will perfectly match your travel style.

Not planning on travelling this January? Keep an eye out for next month’s list of the best places to travel in February, or check out the articles from months past to get some inspiration:

Best Places to Travel in December

Best Places to Travel in January

Best Places to Travel in February