Where to go in October: 9 places at their best
October is the month when the heat lets go. The deserts of North Africa and the Middle East become comfortable again, India and Taiwan move into their dry seasons, and in the northern hemisphere the leaves turn red and gold. Europe is quieter, but the weather there is less sure, so this list leans towards places that are at their most reliable now.
It is also a month with real seasonal edges. Clocks change in much of Europe at the end of the month, and some mountain and island places close for winter. Prices are lower than in summer almost everywhere, and the crowds are thinner. Here are nine countries that are at their best in October.
Because the weather shifts quickly in October, trips need more flexibility than in summer. Keep a spare day for storms or fog, and check the forecast for the week before you go.
It is also a good month for a longer trip. Flights are cheaper than in summer, rooms are easier to book, and the sights that were crowded in July can be seen without the queue. Pick a region and give it time, and avoid the trap of moving on every night to fit in more places. Whatever you pick, expect shorter days than in summer, so start sightseeing early.
South Korea
Autumn is the best time for many travellers: clear skies, comfortable temperatures and, from mid-October into November, red and gold leaves on the mountains and in the palace gardens. Book early for the best foliage weeks. Chuseok, the harvest festival, falls in September or October, and trains and roads are packed around it. Plan Seoul with the Seoul itinerary, then read the South Korea travel guide. Pair the capital with the palaces, the mountains and a few days in Busan or Jeju. The trains are quick and easy.
Morocco
Autumn is nearly as good as spring. Temperatures fall from the summer heat, the light is soft, prices ease, and the Sahara is comfortable by October. The sea is still warm on the Atlantic coast. Marrakech is warm enough for the pool and cool enough for the souks; start with the Marrakech itinerary and the Morocco travel guide. Add the Atlas valleys and a night in the desert. Evenings can be cold, so bring a warm layer.
Egypt
By October the heat has eased and the season is beginning. The sea is warm, the days are bright, and the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Luxor and Aswan are comfortable for most of the day. It is one of the best times to go, and quieter and cheaper than the Christmas peak. The Egypt travel guide covers Cairo, the Nile and the Red Sea. Allow time for Cairo, the Nile and Luxor, and keep a few days for the Red Sea. The south is best at dawn.
Jordan
Temperatures are ideal for walking by October, with warm days and cooler nights. September can still be hot in the south, but Petra and Wadi Rum are comfortable by now, and the crowds of spring have not arrived. Dress for cold nights in the desert. See the Jordan travel guide. Give Petra two days if you can, and keep a night for Wadi Rum. Both are better at the start and end of the day.
India
October opens the main season for the north, Rajasthan, Agra, Varanasi and most of the country. The monsoon has gone, the days are warm and sunny and the nights are cool. Diwali, the festival of lights, falls in October or November and moves each year; trains and hotels fill around it. Air quality in Delhi and the northern plains is often poor from October, so check conditions if you are sensitive. Start with the India travel guide. Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan make a classic first loop. Book trains ahead, and expect morning fog from December rather than October.
United States
New England's leaves turn from late September through October, and the Appalachians and the Northeast are at their best. The Southwest has cooled, and the crowds thin after Labor Day. New York in the autumn is comfortable for walking all day. Hurricane season still runs on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts until November. Use the New York itinerary and the United States travel guide. A week in New England by car is the classic way to see the colour. Book rooms early for the peak weekends.
Taiwan
Autumn is the best season: warm, dry and clear, with typhoon season over and comfortable temperatures for walking cities and hiking gorges. The south stays sunny and warm. October and November are often ideal. Read the Taiwan travel guide, and consider pairing it with South Korea on a longer trip. Taipei is the base for hot springs and the east coast gorges. The south, around Kaohsiung and Kenting, is sunny.
Vietnam
October is one of the best shoulder months for the north: autumn is clear and golden around Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa. The centre is another matter. From about September the coast around Hue and Hoi An rains heavily and can flood, so check forecasts if your route goes there. The south is in its rainy season, with short afternoon showers. Plan the capital with the Hanoi itinerary and read the Vietnam travel guide before choosing a route. Fly or take the train between the north and south rather than crossing the country by road. The rain in the centre is the thing to plan around.
Argentina
Spring comes to the southern hemisphere, and October and November are lovely in Buenos Aires, with jacaranda trees in flower and mild days. It is good for Mendoza and the north-west, while Patagonia is still cold and windy early on. Southern right whales visit the Valdés Peninsula from about June to December. See the Buenos Aires itinerary and the Argentina travel guide. Buenos Aires for a few days, then Mendoza for wine, makes a good ten days. Patagonia is better from December.
Planning a trip for October
October trips tend to turn on one thing: leaves, a festival or the end of a monsoon. Book the foliage weeks in Korea and New England first, and Diwali travel in India early. Everywhere else, you can wait a little longer, and the lower prices make it a good month for longer trips. Our guide on how far in advance to book helps you set the order.
A good October trip crosses two seasons, so pack in layers: a light jacket for cold desert nights, sun protection for the days and something waterproof. If you are travelling with friends, shoulder-season travel explains how to judge the edges of a season together.
It helps to decide early who is doing what: one person to book the trains, another the tables and a third the tours. A shared plan stops the same job being done twice.
