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Who doesn’t cherish a mid-year holiday as something to look forward to when winter closes in? July may be the monthly equivalent of hump day, but we think it’s also a wonderful time to travel. In the northern hemisphere, you can make the most of long daylight hours and settled weather, while July in the southern hemisphere features fewer crowds and maybe a sprinkling of fresh snow. For many tropical regions, July is the dry season, making them the ideal choice if you’re craving sunny days as an antidote to the mid-winter blues. Here’s a few of our favourite July holiday destinations to get you inspired:
Comprising 2900 coral reefs and 900 islands, the waters of the Great Barrier Reef are home to 400 types of coral, 1500 species of fish, 4000 types of molluscs and six species of marine turtles. The region offers everything you could wish for in a tropical, mid-winter beach break, plus you can leave your passport at home. July is a great time to holiday here, when settled weather means warm temperatures and clear waters. Island resorts that range from rustically charming to downright luxurious will provide the ideal land-based antidote to wintry woes, or you can opt for a sailing charter and spend your entire holiday cataloguing the endless shades of blue.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
In keeping with the tropical theme, July is the ideal month to visit one of the world’s true bucket list destinations. Eternally popular as a luxury honeymoon destination, the location of this beautiful collection of 115 islands, between Australia’s West coast and Africa, means you’re assured a summer holiday experience even in the depths of an Aussie winter. With almost half of the total land area protected as national park or reserve, the diversity of species on land and in the water is a nature-lover’s dream. It’s the ideal destination in which to really spoil yourself: spend your days island hopping and sampling the local Creole culture and cuisine before toasting yet another psychedelic sunset.
Snorkelling in Seychelles
Escaping the everyday world and into the natural world is a great way to set yourself up for the back end of the year. There are 63 national parks in the United States alone, and our pick for a July adventure is Denali. The park shares its name, which means ‘the Great One’, with its highest peak, and although mountaineering is a popular pastime in this vast wilderness area, there’s plenty to entertain less adventurous types as well. Bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and Dall sheep comprise Alaska’s version of the ‘Big Five’, all of which you have a good chance of spotting during a hike, bike ride or bus tour through the park, or you can experience true wilderness, with a touch of luxury, by staying at one of the private wilderness lodges located within the park.
Denali National Park, Alaska
Maybe a city break is more your style, in which case, July is the ideal month to visit Montreal. Already a popular year-round destination thanks to its world-class museums, historic architecture and incredible park spaces, in July the weather is just the right amount of warm for spending long, lazy evenings soaking up the city’s lively atmosphere. Numerous vibrant festivals take place throughout the year, including the world’s largest jazz festival in late June/early July. A tour of the cobbled streets of Old Montreal is a must – for extra thrills, opt for a night-time ghost walk or soar over the rooftops on an urban zipline circuit.
Montreal, Canada
July may be a little cooler and wetter in this southernmost part of Africa, but it’s also the time when the Cape region is at its most verdant. The hills above the city offer incredible views and hidden waterfalls, while the shallow waters just offshore offer a haven for calving southern right and humpback whales. An occasional dusting of snow may decorate the highest peaks, but we think that’s the perfect excuse to head into the Winelands for a cosy fireside lunch and wine tasting.
The beautiful city of Cape Town
Although much of Southeast Asia experiences its rainy season between May and October, July in ‘Jogja’ marks the beginning of the dry season, making it the ideal time of year to visit. The countryside is lush and green, and the warm, dry weather enhances the city’s beautiful scenery, rich culture, incredible architecture and vibrant cuisine. ‘Jogja’, which is considered the cultural capital of Indonesia, serves as a gateway to some of Indonesia’s most impressive Buddhist monuments. Nearby Borobudur is the world’s largest Buddhist temple complex: a towering, multi-tiered collection of domes (stupas) and statues that provides the ideal vantage point for watching the sun rise or set across jungle-clad hills. Sampling Javan cuisine is an essential element to your Indonesian holiday – be sure to try the gudeg and bakmi goreng.
World largest buddhist temple in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
This 900-kilometre ribbon of highway, which hugs the Pacific Coastline from San Francisco to San Diego, is utterly deserving of its status as one of the world’s great road trip destinations. Unlike modern US roads, the PCH is designed for travelling slow while taking in the endless views of towering peaks, ancient trees, surfing towns and rugged beaches. Although you could complete the entire journey in a day or two, we recommend taking your time: sample divine seafood at the Monterey’s Cannery Row, play a round of golf at iconic Pebble Beach, shop for antiques in Santa Barbara and marvel at the sheer grandeur of hilltop Hearst Castle. Pro tip: if you’re travelling with kids, allow extra time for Monterey’s ‘Dennis the Menace’ playground and the Santa Cruz boardwalk amusement park.
The surfing town of San Diego
July in Norway is the season of eternal sunshine, especially if you travel beyond the Arctic Circle. Hiking, cycling, kayaking and berry picking are all popular summer pastimes, and although this is peak season for tourists, the longer daylight hours mean it never really feels crowded. Norway is blessed with more than its share of dramatic fjords that slice inland between towering peaks, a landscape which you can explore by coach, boat or rail. Visit the Lofoten islands known for its remote and rugged beauty or head for the northern city of Tromsø if you want to fully appreciate the marvel of the midnight sun – we recommend midnight champagne at the top of the Fjellheisen cable car.
The iconic Lofoten islands
For more July holiday ideas and inspiration, talk to your personal travel manager.
We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.
