Your cazenove+loyd travel calendar

The tropical beaches of Bahia, in the north-east of Brazil, are a wonderful place for winter sun. Our favourite retreat here is Txai Resort Itacaré, a remote and very special hideaway right on Itacarezinho Beach and surrounded by native Atlantic rainforest. We also recommend heading to the laid-back, old fishing village of Trancoso, a chic spot to enjoy the wide, sandy beaches, restaurants and boutiques. We always suggest our clients visit the capital of Bahia, Salvador de Bahia, a cultural melting pot of Portuguese, African and Brazilian influences and one of the country’s most interesting and beautiful cities.

If you’re looking for an epic journey, we can arrange an amazing itinerary in Argentina and Uruguay. January is one of the best times to travel to Patagonia in Argentina, which combines well with Uruguay, where you can relax on the sun-drenched beaches of José Ignacio, a chic seaside town that we love. There is so much you can do in both of these Latin American countries – from staying in an estancia and spending time with the local gauchos to trekking glaciers or exploring spectacular landscapes on horseback, by bike or on foot, accompanied by our incredible local guides who will bring these countries to life.

In January, the weather will be balmy in South Africa, with blue skies and sunshine. We can suggest plenty of fantastic experiences and the best places to stay in Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, the Cederberg Mountains or on a private game reserve.

The Maldives is not only a fabulous honeymoon destination but ideal for anyone longing to unwind on a glorious, white-sand beach after Christmas. These island idylls are home to soft, sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, spectacular coral reefs and diverse marine life. Each has its own personality and appeal, and our Destination Experts know them well so can select the best one for you.

February is a superb time to be in Tanzania as the great migration is usually in the southern Serengeti, where it is calving season so you are almost guaranteed to view some extraordinary carnivore action. We suggest ending your trip with rejuvenating beach time on a stunning private island, such as Fanjove or, for a bigger group of friends and family, Thanda.

February is also a great time to go to Southeast Asia. We can craft an unforgettable adventure, taking in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Highlights include exploring Angkor Wat the c+l way and visiting the temples before the crowds with one of our specialist guides, getting involved with conservation at Shinta Mani Wild, a remote jungle retreat, and hiking in Vietnam’s picturesque Hoang Lien National Park.

Mexico is lovely in February and wonderfully diverse. Whether you’d like to visit incredible Mayan temples and Aztec pyramids, swim in a turquoise cenote or wander around colourful markets in beautiful, colonial towns, we can arrange everything for you to ensure you experience this country in the best way possible. Here, you can stay in historic haciendas inland and soak up the rays in small, secluded hotels or stunning private houses on the Pacific or Caribbean coasts.

In our opinion, March is one of the best months to visit Israel. Spring is arriving and temperatures are mild, pleasant and dry. If you’re interested in religion, history, geopolitics, culture and food, this fascinating Middle Eastern country may be just what you’re looking for. We have explored everywhere from Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth to the Judean Desert, the Golan Heights and Tel Aviv, and can design amazing journeys here, with the best specialist guides and private access to the highlights and less-visited treasures.

Spring is always the most colourful time to be in the Nepalese Himalaya, with rhododendrons and other flora and fauna in full bloom and plenty of migratory birds. Days are longer, making it a great time for exploring Nepal’s splendid monasteries, hiking in stunning scenery, camping in the wilderness or enjoying rejuvenating experiences.

With ancient cities buried in the jungle, dramatic volcanoes, colourful markets and stunning Caribbean beaches, Guatemala and Belize make a brilliant combination. In Guatemala, we can arrange for you to explore colonial cities such as Antigua, stay in our favourite hideaway on the shores of breathtaking Lake Atitlán or enjoy a night camping in the amazing ruins of Uaxactún, which date back further than any other Mayan city. Following this, you can retreat to the Placencia Peninsula on the coast of Belize to enjoy its glorious white-sand beaches, warm Caribbean waters and diverse marine life.

Although they can, of course, be explored individually, Costa Rica and Nicaragua make a great combination. Costa Rica is perfect for nature enthusiasts, home to prolific wildlife and numerous national parks – 75% of the country is made up of designated nature reserves. It’s also great for families and adventure lovers. Relatively underrated, Nicaragua has so much to offer too, with unspoilt nature, dense rainforests, volcanoes and interesting culture. Both have beautiful Pacific and Caribbean coastlines for beach lazing. We know the best places to stay, from stunning lodges and boutique hotels in remote spots to fabulous homestays and a stunning four-room, private-island idyll on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast.

Egypt is fabulous in April and we can organise incredible private access here, for example, an out-of-hours visit to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities or the Pyramids of Giza accompanied by one of our specialist Egyptologists, so you can enjoy these treasures in privacy. We would also recommend a private boat trip along the Nile from Luxor to Aswan on which you can stop by some of the less-visited sites, such as the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel.

This is a wonderful time to be in the captivating kingdom of Jordan when the rains are virtually over and the weather is warm and sunny. We can arrange an amazing journey, taking in Wadi Rum, Petra and the Dead Sea. Our unparallelled knowledge and relationships on the ground mean we can ensure the best guides and places to stay as well as private access to both the highlights and the more off-the-beaten-track, undiscovered gems.

Home to sandy beaches lined with palm trees, this lush island makes a perfect beach break at this time of year. Inland, you’ll find volcanic peaks and picturesque landscapes worth exploring and on the sea you can go scuba-diving or snorkelling above beautiful coral reefs, set out whale- or dolphin-watching or enjoy endless watersports. Mauritius is a tropical playground for children, with plenty of excellent family-friendly hotels. However, whether you’re travelling alone, as a couple, with friends or your family, we have the inside track on where to stay and will recommend the best hotel or villa for you.

Rugged and beautiful year-round, Namibia is a great option if you’re looking for complete isolation this May. Sparsely populated and with vast, wide-open spaces, this has to be one of the best places to go to really get away from it all.

For a fabulous beach holiday, consider the Seychelles, an archipelago of more than 100 islands dotted in the Indian Ocean. Ideal for families, couples and honeymooners alike, these glorious islands are home to powdery beaches, warm and clear waters, beautiful coral reefs, diverse ecosystems, rich flora and fauna both on land and beneath the waves. Each has its own appeal, and we know them inside out so we can recommend the best one for you.

Ecuador + the Galápagos can be explored separately or together on one epic adventure. Both are amazing destinations for a truly mind-expanding trip. On the mainland, in Ecuador, you can wander around Spanish colonial cities, hike in spectacular cloud forests or Andean mountains and stay in stunning jungle lodges in Amazonian rainforest.

The extraordinary Galápagos Islands are one of the best places on Earth for experiencing incredible up-close wildlife sightings. There is no better way to discover them than by boat with phenomenal guides. May is a particularly good time to visit, as the weather is warm and dry and the wildlife is prolific. You may be lucky enough to spot blue-footed boobies doing a courtship dance at this time of year, waved albatrosses laying their eggs or sea turtles hatching.

A far cry from the Galápagos, China is also great in May. We will help you get under the skin of this country’s fascinating history, way of life and culture, and can arrange incredible experiences with fantastic guides, such as a picnic on the Great Wall of China, exploring the Forbidden City in Beijing with an architecture specialist or discovering the remote Yunnan province with one of our favourite guides, Huang Huaihai.

If you’re looking for a wildlife holiday in June, travel to Zambia and Zimbabwe. Move slowly, really absorbing the sights and smells of Africa, by going on a walking safari in South Luangwa or Lower Zambezi national parks or a canoeing safari down the Zambezi River. Start or finish your trip with a visit to the magnificent Victoria Falls, which is at its fullest at this time of year. To extend your time in Southern Africa, we suggest travelling to Malawi, where you can trek in Nyika National Park, go on safari in one of the country’s Big Five parks or spend a rejuvenating few days or weeks on Likoma Island in Lake Malawi.

For wildlife lovers looking to get off the beaten track, we recommend exploring São Tomé + Príncipe. Known as ‘the Galápagos of Africa’, here you can go hiking and spot killer whales and dolphins off the coast. This time of year is epic for birding, also marking the start of the turtle nesting season.

Western and northern Australia are fantastic in June. We can design an unforgettable journey taking in the Kimberley region of western Australia, Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory and Daintree National Park in Tropical North Queensland, followed by a week or two on a far-flung isle in the Pacific Islands.

July is a brilliant time to experience Greenland at its best, as the weather is warm. It’s the perfect month to visit Disko Bay and Ilulissat’s icefjord and spot large populations of whales off the coast in their summer feeding grounds. If wildlife is top of your priorities, we can arrange for you to set sail on an exciting boat trip around Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. It is a wildlife mecca and a fantastic place to spot polar bears, walruses and whales.

July is the dry season in Rwanda and Uganda, making it one of the best times for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking. Both of these unspoilt countries are superb standalone destinations in their own right but they also combine well with each other and elsewhere in East Africa.

Alternatively, for another phenomenal but very different wildlife adventure, go on a mobile safari in northern Botswana on which you can take your time and reconnect with nature in spectacular surroundings. Or stay in one of Botswana’s new safari camps, such as Xigera Safari Lodge in the Delta, Little DumaTau in Linyanti Wildlife Reserve or the reimagined Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.

The British summer is a very good time for exploring Peru and Bolivia. We can arrange a South American journey that includes lesser-known treks and adventures in the Andes and the stunning Sacred Valley, and sleeping under the stars on Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats.

For something else even more wild and secluded, Mongolia is an extraordinary getaway. Here, spend your days living like a nomad, staying in a private ger in the wilderness and enjoying the vast sense of space on the steppe and sunny days. We can even organise for you to spend time with the eagle hunters in western Mongolia, an unforgettable experience.

For a wildlife adventure, Madagascar in August is phenomenal, when the humpback whales gather off the coast and the weather is dry but cool, perfect for walking in the Tsingy de Bemeraha National Park and spotting the island’s endemic wildlife in the dense jungle.

September is a brilliant time to travel in Morocco, as the weather is generally warm and sunny but not too hot. This makes it a great time of year for exploring the vibrant medieval medinas of Fez and Marrakech or trekking in the Atlas Mountains, stopping by Berber villages along the way. We know the best places to stay – ranging from exquisite boutique hotels and beautifully restored riads to stunning private villas and an unforgettable camp in the Sahara Desert – and will pick the right one for you.

For an exciting European adventure, consider Iceland for your September escape. This is the best time for spotting orcas and, although it’s getting cooler, it’s a lovely time to explore Reykjavík, go hiking or horse riding or visit geysers, volcanoes, geothermal pools and lava tunnels before deep winter strikes. You may even be lucky enough to catch sight of the Northern Lights.

Autumn is a lovely time to visit, as temperatures are warm and the country is bathed in sunshine. Situated on the meeting point of the Middle East and the West, Lebanon is an enthralling blend of cultures and religions. The appeal is endless – from hiking and mountain biking in stunning nature reserves or history and heritage in Baalbek and Byblos to art and architecture in buzzing Beirut and amazing food throughout your trip.

If you’re looking for some R&R this autumn, Mozambique is fabulous in October. Whales gather at this time of year and turtles come ashore to nest. We know some heavenly beachfront boltholes on mainland, such as the heavenly Santorini, which lies above Kingfisher Bay in Vilanculos, as well as stunning island retreats off the coast, where you can dive and snorkel in crystal-clear Indian Ocean waters.

For a lovely holiday combining city, mountains, desert and beach, head to Oman. We recommend starting in Muscat, then spending a few days in the majestic Al Hajar mountains, before exploring the Wahiba Sands in a private 4WD and staying in an isolated tented camp. Finish your trip on the beach at Zighy Bay.

New Zealand is a sensational setting for a truly awe-inspiring trip. There are so many adventures to be enjoyed, such as hiking, kayaking and rafting through spectacular scenery,  and we can recommend the most incredible lodges where you will enjoy breathtaking surroundings and delicious food and wine. We can design memorable experiences, for example flying in a helicopter over glaciers, spending time with the Māori on North Island or discovering secret walking trails. October isn’t the peak season, which makes it a lovely, quiet time of year to be here, so you are likely to have the spring flowers and glorious scenery all to yourself.

Although many like to time their travels to the cherry blossom season in spring, October is a wonderful time to be here. The ‘fall’ colours are spectacular and there are some beautiful autumnal hikes to enjoy. The weather is warm but not hot, making it perfect for exploring cities too, such as Tokyo and Kyoto. The season is also considered a good time for the arts, with many of the most prestigious exhibitions taking place. A journey in Japan is all about the food, gardens, culture, art and architecture, and we can ensure you experience these in the best way possible, taking in all aspects of this fascinating country.

In October, the monsoon has finally come to a close and the weather in most of India returns to lovely, warm, sunny days with clear-blue skies. Temperatures are perfect for exploring this diverse and fascinating country, whether you would like to explore Rajathan’s opulent palaces and forts or trek in the mystical Himalayas. Whatever type of adventure you want to have in India, our experts will design something extraordinary and beyond all expectations.

November is the beginning of Chile’s summer and one of the best times to visit Patagonia, as the walking conditions are perfect and the landscape is alive with vibrant spring blooms. Here, you can watch majestic icebergs float down from Grey Glacier, hike to rewarding panoramic view points to take in the famous Los Cuernos (‘The Horns’) of Torres del Paine, cycle through a forest of lengas and ñirres or spot the elusive puma, Andean condors and other local residents with a specialist wildlife guide. The Atacama Desert is also great in November, where you can watch the sun set over moon-like landscapes, discover secret hot springs and enjoy some of the world’s best stargazing.

In this surreal landscape of glaciers, ice floes and mountains, the icebergs are particularly dramatic in November as the winter ice breaks up and wildflowers are starting to bloom in South Georgia and the Falklands. We recommend this extraordinary destination if you’re looking for a real adventure surrounded by awe-inspiring nature. The best way to explore is by expedition ship. On the voyage, you are likely to spot an incredible amount of wildlife up close here, such as penguins busy nest building and courting.

This captivating mountain kingdom is the ideal regenerative and spiritual escape. In November, the weather is at its best for trekking along scenic, relatively untrodden trails, camping in glorious valleys along the way. At this time of year, endangered black-necked cranes migrate from the Tibetan plateau to the Phobjikha Valley where they remain until February. In Gangtey, a colourful festival is held in November to celebrate their arrival, which we can arrange for you to attend.

If you’re looking for a spoiling holiday in a far-flung location where you can enjoy plenty of sunshine and some of the world’s best scuba-diving, Indonesia is the answer. November is a great time to explore Ambon and Spice Islands in the Coral Triangle. Set sail on one of our favourite boats, such as the long-range explorer yacht, Aqua Blu, or incredible phinisi yacht, Prana by Atzaro. You will pass through areas of jaw-dropping natural beauty, discover empty beaches and stand-up paddleboard, kayak or snorkel around remote isles, with specialist guides enlightening you on the culture and history of the region along the way.

Consider Kenya for the ultimate bush-and-beach Christmas. The short rains in December mean the weather is warm but not too hot and there is a refreshing flush of green across the landscape as well as a good chance of seeing newborn animals and migratory bird species. The Mara or Laikipia Plateau are ideal places for a Christmas safari, followed by a fabulous week or so celebrating the new year on the chalk-white beaches of the coast. We know all the best owner-run safari camps and beach retreats, and will select the right one for you and your family and friends.

If you’re looking for sunshine, beach and delicious food, Sri Lanka would be fantastic in December. For a small island, the climate varies dramatically, but in this month, the weather is perfect on the honey-hued beaches of the south and west coasts as well as in the Cultural Triangle and emerald tea country. It’s also the beginning of the whale-watching season off the south coast. Whether you’re travelling with your family or a group of friends, we can recommend the best small luxury hotels or amazing private villas for you.

In South America, Colombia is an excellent choice. The country’s sunny December days are ideal for exploring the country’s charming colonial towns and cities, such as Cartagena, from where you can visit the Rosario Islands, discovering the lush coffee region or hiking in the cloud forests of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range.

With its history, culture, music and art, Cuba is a fun and exciting place to spend the festive season. Start your trip in Havana, where you can experience amazing insider access, such as private visits to artists’ studios or musicians’ houses as well as exclusive dance performances and lessons. Whether your interests lie in Cuban ballet, jazz, rumba or salsa, we will ensure you get behind the music, art and dance scenes of this vibrant city. Continue to Trinidad, with its beautiful Spanish colonial architecture, where we can arrange specialist guides and more fascinating encounters with musicians or artists. Finish your trip exploring the sugar-cane plantations and mountains inland or lazing on a beach, lapped by the Caribbean Sea.