Temperature Control: Degrees of international escapes

Welcome to our diverse list of destinations, catering to all preferences, from those who relish summers by the sizzling sea to those who seek the chill of glaciers beneath multiple layers of clothing.

We've compiled a selection of places, ranging from the coldest to the warmest, to ensure every traveler finds their perfect escape.

So, whether you dream of frosty adventures or yearn for some interesting locations or tropical delights, let our list guide you to your ideal destination.

New Zealand

1-6°C

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North Island or South Island for the Antipodean winter? North Island is milder, however it’s also wetter, while South Island is colder and perfect for winter sports and icy adventure – the west coast for glaciers, the Southern Lakes for skiing on the slopes around Wanaka and Queenstown, with whale and dolphin watching on the east coast at Kaikōura. South Island is the New Zealand you see in travel posters, a scene-stealing destination of cinematic rainforest, fjords, vertiginous waterfalls, and mountain peaks. It’s a place for epic road trips, dark-sky stargazing and private flights over glaciers, along with heli-skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing – though if you just want to watch, the Audi Quattro Winter Games take place in August.

Stay

In Mahu Whenua, in the Motatapu Valley – once owned by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It’s a luxurious conservation homestead with just five suites. Nearby, Minaret Station is an Alpine lodge and working sheep farm on the shores of Lake Wanaka; both will connect guests with the epic landscape via helicopter safaris and ski adventures. mahuwhenua.co.nz minaretstation.com

Patagonia

8°C

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When it comes to the planet’s great wildernesses, Patagonia is one of most beguiling and awe-inspiring. It’s also one that most people have trouble locating on the map – but spin the globe and you’ll find it at the southern end of South America, its boundaries shared between Argentina and Chile, with a vast terrain that takes in salt desert, rainforest, lake districts, and great glaciers left behind by the last ice age. Keep heading south from here and you’ll hit Antarctica. For the intrepid traveller, Patagonia is a wide-open blank page, ready for whichever adventure narrative you want to throw at it, with horse riding, 4X4 and quad-biking among the experiences, along with wildlife spotting in pursuit of pumas and guanacos. Days are short in August, but it’s the best time for whale watching and to see the Torres del Paine National Park covered in snow – head to Cerro Catedral near Bariloche for the best skiing – while September sees the first buds of springtime.

Stay

Chilean-based hotel group Explora has opened some of South America’s most thrilling destinations with sustainably built adventure lodges embedded in the landscape. Its El Chaltén property opened in 2021 in Argentina’s Los Huemules Natural Reserve, with views onto the Marconi Glacier and the chance for ice climbing.

explora.com/el-chalten-lodge/

Dolomites, Italy

14°C

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In the 19th century, European royalty in search of a health kick would make their way to the Dolomites in summer, to breathe in the mountain air and immerse themselves in spa waters; thinkers, poets, and painters followed suit, hoping the sublime natural beauty would inspire creativity. While the French and Swiss Alps may be world-famous, known for their glamorous ski resorts and challenging runs, Italy’s Dolomite Alps are still relatively offradar for most people. Italians tend to regard them as a winter destination, but summer here is beautiful, with high meadows perfumed by wildflowers and grazed by cows, and the dramatic peaks rising up all around – described by modernist architect Le Corbusier as “the most beautiful natural architecture in the world” when he was here in 1907. The whole region was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, one that’s best explored by hiking, hang gliding, cycling, or simply by taking a cable car up for a mountain view.

Stay

Overlooking the pretty village of Merano in South Tyrol, Hotel Miramonti is a Scandi-styled spa hotel with minimalist rooms and elevated food. In the Trentino region, Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti is an informal but chic spa hotel with Chineseinspired treatments, excellent local cuisine, and brisk woodland hikes past cascading waterfalls.

miramonti.net, dolomiti.lefayresorts.com

Iceland

10°C

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The midnight sun is a strange and surreal natural phenomenon only experienced in the far north or far south, when the sun hovers just above the horizon while never setting and daylight lasts up to 24 hours a day. So, in theory, you have the whole day (and much of the night) to explore Iceland during the summer. And it’s a land made for exploring, with wholly dramatic landscapes featuring glaciers and waterfalls, geothermal springs, strange geological formations, and volcanic black sands – making it an excellent destination for adventure sport thrillseekers who hike around canyons and rivers. Just make sure to pack a sleeping mask.

Stay

Eleven Deplar Farm lodge, set on the Troll Peninsula in Iceland’s far north, complete with two helipads, will connect you with the landscape through horse riding and salmon fishing experiences.

elevenexperience.com

Scotland

16°C

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While 2022 was the hottest year on record for Scotland, reaching an unheard of 34.8C one day in July, overall, England’s northern neighbour is refreshingly breezy. It’s also remarkably rewarding as a summer destination, packing a range of terrains and activities into its compact geography that’s as varied as the traditional tartans woven here – from deep lochs, ruined castles, and epic mountainscapes to white sand beaches, unspoilt islands, and city culture scenes. Start in the capital, Edinburgh, with its art galleries and summer international festival – along with new restaurant arrivals such as SUSHISAMBA – and then head to the wild Trossachs, perhaps East Neuk of Fife for its fishing villages, or the Highlands for untrammelled wildlife spotting and adventure sports.

Stay

Newly opened Gleneagles Townhouse, set in a former bank, is a stylish Edinburgh base in which to acclimatise yourself before heading to the Highlands or islands. For an old-school hit of salmon fishing, billiards, and chandeliers, Inverlochy Castle is right by the famous Ben Nevis Mountain – arrive by steam train on the West Highland Line and the hotel’s Rolls-Royce will pick you up. Or hop on the Belmond Royal Scotsman heading west out of Edinburgh, which includes three-night Highland Survival Adventures among its itineraries, with onboard cèilidhs (traditional Scottish dancing) and challenges such as kayaking to islands and abseiling down a waterfall.

gleneagles.com, inverlochycastlehotel.com, belmond.com

Bhutan

22°C

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It’s a measure of this Himalayan kingdom’s approach to life that the government measures Gross Domestic Happiness to monitor the country’s wellbeing. Known as Land of the Thunder Dragon, it’s a destination immersed in myth and folklore, and a deeprooted spirituality that can be encountered in the many monasteries dotted around the mountains and valleys – one of the most dramatic is Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery. It’s also deeply committed to sustainability, being the only carbon-negative country in the world. Bhutan only reopened to international travellers in September 2022, after lockdown, so visiting now will place you in a select group of visitors and give you the chance of being among the first to tread the Trans Bhutan Trail, a newly restored historic route connecting villages along 400km of valley and mountain pathways.

Stay

To make the most of Bhutan’s unspoilt beauty, book a twocentre stay at COMO Uma Paro, modelled on a traditional village with just nine villas near Taktsang, and COMO Uma Punakha, set in rice fields above the Mo Chu River. The hotly anticipated &Beyond Punakha River Lodge opens in September.

comohotels.com, andbeyond.com

Maldives

27°C

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It’s the rainy season in the tropical island dreamscape of the Maldives, but that doesn’t mean more than the occasional shower – particularly if you’re in the north – and a little more humidity than usual. Other than that, you’ll find this Indian Ocean destination as pristine and pictureperfect as ever, with thatched villas set above clear turquoise waters and powdery, bone-white sands, and a rainbow of colourful sea life shimmering beneath the waves. Snorkelling is better than diving at this time of the year, to swim among whale sharks and manta rays, if you’re lucky. What you get up to the rest of the time depends on which island resort you choose (as it’s off-season here, it’s often possible to find a bargain), but will doubtless involve extreme relaxation.

Stay

There are Maldives resorts for every type of visitor, from adventure sports to gourmet and wellness. Some have underwater restaurants and nightclubs, others have their own observatory for stargazing, while some specialise in family escapes or couples only. However, JOALI, which opened in 2022 in the Raa Atoll, is an accomplished all-rounder open all year, with shisha pipes at the beach bar, a variety of restaurants, and large private pools in the villas.

joali.com

Turkey

30°C

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Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey’s reputation as a holiday destination has risen steadily over the past few years, challenging Greece as a Mediterranean hotspot – not so much for its islands but for its classical ruins, beaches (around 8,000km of coastline), and alfresco food. While the inland Cappadocia region is fascinating, with its cave buildings and strange rock formations, it’s the coast that really appeals: also known as the Turquoise Coast for its waters, the Turkish Riviera is drawing more superyachts than ever before. The beaches on the Aegean side are less developed than the ones east of Antalya, with the gloriously unspoilt sands of Patara Beach stretching for 12km. Experiences include renting a gulet, the traditional wooden sailing boat, for a few days, swimming and snorkelling in the warm Mediterranean waters, or windsurfing and diving on the Bodrum Peninsula. For culture lovers, exploring classical ruins such as the ancient Greek ones at Troy, Pergamon, and Ephesus, and Ottoman mosques such as Istanbul’s famous Blue Mosque are great options.

Stay

Start your trip in Istanbul to see the city’s sights, basing yourself at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet in the heart of the Old Town, close to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace. Half an hour outside Bodrum on the Turquoise Coast is the Bodrum Edition, a fun hotel with private cabanas and beach, jetskis to hire and even a climbing wall, as well as three restaurants including one specialising in Turkish cuisine.

fourseasons.com, editionhotels.com