This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
As the Northern Hemisphere moves into the shadow of winter, thoughts, for many, turn to some sunshine. And that’s still just about possible within the fringes of Europe, with the far-flung Atlantic Iberian islands basking in warm autumn sun. It’s a great time for hiking in the Azores, Canaries and Madeira, while mainland Europe sees in its harvests — including olives, mushrooms and truffles — with a slew of festivals.
North America’s eastern reaches are ablaze with fall foliage, with Thanksgiving an atmospheric time for a city break in the likes of New York, Boston and Montreal. It’s a fine time to head to the Caribbean, too, where the stormy season is retreating.
1. Canary Islands
Escape to the Spanish archipelago off the coast of West Africa for some November sunshine. The rugged volcanic islands have black and white sand beaches and some of the sunniest winter weather in the Northern Hemisphere. Tenerife usually has the best temperatures and hours of sunshine, and with averages of 18-23C, it’s great weather for hiking some of the island’s 750 miles of designated trails.
The local government has designated nearly half of Tenerife as a ‘protected area of nature’, so expect lush sub-tropical vegetation, laurel forests and dramatic volcanic views. Trails like Anaga Rural Park, a UNESCO Biosphere, are home to incredible birdlife including the endemic Bolle’s and laurel pigeons.
Sustainable travel tip: November is also whale-watching season and between Tenerife and La Gomera, you’ll find Europe’s first Whale Heritage Site. Choose a reputable ethical local small boat operator such as Biosean and Whale Watch Tenerife — two notably ‘Blue Boat’ certified firms.
(How to spend a weekend on Tenerife’s wild northern coast.)
2. Barbados
There are often some bargain breaks to be had in the shoulder season, between the tail-end of summer’s hurricanes and the start of winter’s peak travel time. A few islands celebrate independence in November, too, including Barbados, which makes for a fun few days of street parties, feasting and music.
Swimmers can make the most of those azure Caribbean blues, with Barbados Open Water Festival (8-12 November), a fun annual sporting event with 1.5km, 3.3km, 5km and 10km races welcoming a broad mix of ages and abilities, including serious swimmers and first-timers to open water.
Sustainable travel tip: Check into one of the burgeoning number of locally owned eco hotels, such as ECO Lifestyle + Lodge near Bathsheba, overlooking the little fishing village of Tent Bay. It’s solar-powered with eco-products including reef-friendly suncream and organic mosquito spray, while its 10 rooms have an island castaway feel.
(Where to eat in Barbados.)
3. Tuscany, Italy
The summer crowds have long departed but the days in November are still golden. Misty mornings give way to sunny afternoons, hillsides blaze with autumn colours and crisp evenings are scented with woodsmoke as the first home fires of the season are lit. This is the time for new wines (vini novelli), similar to France’s Beaujolais nouveau, with special menus, tastings and events in villages and enotecas (regional wine shops) across the region.
It’s also when olive harvests come in, and just-pressed oils can be enjoyed alongside other seasonal treats like chestnuts, truffles and porcini mushrooms. Tuscany hosts various food festivals in November, including one dedicated to white truffles in the hilltop town of San Miniato (three weekends from 11 November 2023).
Sustainable travel tip: Hike or bike from village to village and work up an appetite with the likes of Responsible Travel and Inntravel, or take a small group tour visiting independent Italian food producers with Sapori e Saperi.
(This is how dogs learn to hunt for truffles.)
4. Mexico
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a time for families to come together to remember loved ones, with lively celebrations across Mexico. Based on an ancient, pre-Hispanic belief that death is just one stage of life’s long journey, the holiday sees families sprucing up ancestral tombs, decorating graves and making offerings at home shrines in a show of love and respect for their departed, who are thought to be closest to the living at this time of the year. Mexico City hosts a Day of the Dead parade ― a choreographed spectacle of mariachi music, dance and all manner of sparkling skeleton costumes and face paints. The southern city of Oaxaca has become the unofficial hub for travellers joining celebrations, the altar at the Zócalo public square a riot of flower petals, candles and sugary offerings.
Sustainable travel tip: Travel with a tour operator who taps into the local community, such as Audley, which offers locally guided trips to markets and visits to family homes in Oaxaca.
(These cities go all out for Day of the Dead. Here’s where to stay.)
5. England, UK
Light up those dark November evenings with a Bonfire Night display, the explosive annual parties that commemorate the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, the anniversary of a failed attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
The Sussex town of Lewes is home to famous a medieval-style display, with street processions featuring marching drummers and 17 burning crosses, (referencing the 17 martyrs burnt at the stake in the town in the mid-16th century) before arriving at a vast bonfire for the fireworks display. Or head to London for a Thames cruise, passing the site of the failed plot itself at Westminster before arriving at Battersea Pier, a short walk from Battersea Park, home to one of the UK’s biggest displays. In the north of the city, Alexandra Palace offers spectacular hilltop views of the capital, DJs, a laser show high in the sky, street food and a huge fireworks display.
Sustainable travel tip: Visit an organised display rather than hold your own, to minimise debris, pollutants and harm to animals.
6. Wisconsin, USA
Thousands of sandhill cranes congregate on the Wisconsin River’s banks and islands in November, preparing for their annual migration south. The Great Midwest Crane Fest in the town of Baraboo, just under 200 miles from Chicago, marks the moment (10-11 November 2023), with guided birding tours, nature hikes and prairie walks. Now in its second year, the festival ‘celebrating community and conservation’ is a place for the locals and bird-loving visitors to enjoy conservation talks, nature art exhibitions, wildlife photography workshops and film screenings. Early last century, only a few dozen cranes remained in Wisconsin due to habitat loss and overhunting. Today, this annual gathering is one of conservation’s great success stories.
Sustainable travel tip: Festival organisers work with the local Ho-Chunk Nation to provide shuttle bus services between event venues. Register for the festival ($60/£50 for two days) and proceeds go towards funding conservation initiatives and raising global awareness of crane conservation and how climate change impacts their habitats.
