Where to go on holiday in January

January always feels like a long month. With December’s festivities well and truly over, it’s 31 days of post-Christmas, back-to-work gloom and dreary weather but the turn of year brings a fresh optimism and a desire to escape to distant shores. We have picked a selection of destinations to kick-start your travel calendar. 

Long haul adventures in Latin America will provide you with the opportunity to maintain your New Year’s resolutions albeit to be more active, to learn more about different cultures, to sample new cuisine or to challenge yourself.

Why not try our Classic Costa Rica holiday which will introduce you to the delights of this natural paradise, sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. You will tour National Parks, explore ‘one of the most biologically intense places on earth’, learn about the country’s culture and wildlife and have plenty of opportunity for walking, diving, kayaking and more.

January is summer in South America and an ideal period of the year to visit this stunning region. The fifth largest country in the world, both by size and population, Brazil occupies almost half of the South American continent and has an extraordinarily rich natural and cultural diversity. When travelling here, it can often feel as if you are visiting several completely different countries at once. Brazil is blessed with a wealth of attractions, including the magical Amazon Rainforest, a stunning coastline spanning over 4,500 miles, a dizzying abundance of wildlife in the Pantanal wetland, and the majestic Iguaçu waterfalls. Our 15 Night ‘Natural Wonders of Brazil’ itinerary captures the essence of what this wonderful country has to offer.

A little closer to home, head north to the awe-inspiring land of the Aurora Borealis - Swedish Lapland, northern Norway and the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Holidays here can be as relaxed or as active as you desire. Try your hand at mushing a team of husky-dogs, learn how to capture the dazzling Northern Lights on camera, stay in sub-zero accommodation at the ICEHOTEL or stay in one of the many unique cabins at the Treehotel.

Discover the unique archipelago of Lofoten with its spectacular glacial rock formations and where picturesque fishing hamlets cling to the coastline with our 3 Night 'Relaxing winter break in Lofoten' itinerary.

A holiday in January to Madeira will take you to a land of breathtaking landscapes and botanical beauty. This sun-drenched Portuguese island is known as the ‘Floating Garden’, so you can expect lots of colour. From the turquoise Atlantic coastline to its year-round climate promising exotic blooms and the scarlet poinsettias that decorate its backdrop. Escape the grey skies and spend 7 nights at the Cliff Bay hotel in Funchal, one of the most highly-praised hotels on the island. The hotel's dramatic cliff top setting offers wonderful views of the ocean from the bedrooms, gardens and swimming pool.

Another choice for a holiday in January is the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus where the mild temperatures are perfect for touring and sightseeing. Year-round warmth and blue skies will tempt you away from the cold and damp of the UK, while azure seas, sandy beaches, rocky cliffs and rolling hills complete Cyprus' roll call of dramatic scenery. You can experience all of this on our 'Two centre Athens and Latchi in Cyprus' holiday.