20 top destinations
spring fling is best taken before the school’s-out crowds of Easter. And, as luck would have it, March is when many destinations begin to bloom. Dry season is starting at the locations of some of Asia’s most incredible adventures – Himalayan trekking, tracking orangutans – while deserts everywhere from the Mojave to the Middle East bask in perfect temperatures, the calm before the summer sizzle. Elsewhere, there are springtime celebrations to mark the joy of a new season: Holi’s festival of colours and Las Fallas, Valencia’s flame-licked fiesta of fire. And if that all sounds too much, it’s shoulder season at beach escapes everywhere from the Indian Ocean to the Caribbean.
- Borneo, Malaysia
‘Primeval’ best describes Borneo, Asia’s largest island: land of swamps and mangroves, mist-swirled mountains and deserted shores – not to mention its 140-million-year-old rainforest, among the most ancient in the world. And perhaps nowhere encapsulates these wild ways more than Sabah, at its northern tip: around 55 per cent of this Malaysian territory is tangled with jungle. As March ushers in Sabah’s dry season, orangutans become easier to spot in their natural habitat, while whale sharks assemble around tiny Lankayan Island, known for its radiant reefs. All this confronting the immensity of nature can be taxing, though, so canny adventurers set aside recovery time for Gaya Island: land of infinity pools, cabanas and cocktails.
- DELHI, INDIA
Holi, the festival of colours, might now attract as many Hackney Instagrammers as devout Hindus, but the spring celebrations are, of course, at their best and brightest in India. Come March, the country’s capital erupts in a riot of rainbow powder, as Holi parties across the city pop with DJs, street food and clothes-ruining antics. After several showers, be sure to explore the city’s dichotomies: grand temples and dusty bazaars in Old Delhi, followed by New Delhi’s colonial pomp and G&Ts. For a taste of modern India, Hauz Khas Village (‘HKV’ to trendy young Delhiites) is a pedestrian-friendly hub of galleries, fashion boutiques, bars and bohemian cafés.
- Oman
Natural and understated, Oman couldn’t be more different to its neighbour on the Arabian Peninsula, the UAE. Where the latter has built a playground of space-age skyscrapers and bling-bling beach, Oman has the pristine, dolphin-filled fjords of the Musandam Peninsula, Wadi Shab’s emerald waterfalls and Salalah’s misty greenery – a quirky anomaly in a region known for barren ruggedness (thank the Khareef, Salalah’s very own monsoon). Even Oman’s port capital Muscat keeps it classy with a backdrop of craggy brown mountains and the majestic, sandstone Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Not that Oman can’t do luxury – it’s just of a more low-key sort. See the Omani-style villas of ultra-secluded Six Senses Zighy Bay (where guests can paraglide in), or Anantara’s canyon-edge village in the remote Hajar Mountains. The perfect time to discover the Middle East’s unsung jewel? March falls neatly between the winter rush and stifling summer heat.
- Valencia, Spain
Spain’s third largest city celebrates spring in typically fiery Spanish style. Which is to say, it sets everything on fire. March’s week-long Las Fallas festival sees Valencia display a host of giant, satirical papier-mâché sculptures (often nodding to topical political scandals and celebrity meltdowns), before they’re paraded around town and spectacularly set ablaze on the final night. In the lead-up, the whole city’s a party: parades, music, ear-busting fireworks, plus the hipster Ruzafa district puts on its own dazzling festival of lights. Better still, this appealing cosmopolitan port city isn’t short of spectacles by day. Alongside almost 3km of beaches and a vibrant old town, there’s the awesome futuristic architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences, where buildings evoke the skeleton of a whale, a water lily, a giant eye and more.
- Fez, Morocco
Bigger than Marrakech, the imperial Moroccan city of Fez also comes first for authentic charm. Its eighth-century medina is a chaotic trip back in time to fragrant tanneries and wizened merchants; an extraordinary restoration project has lately breathed new life into old buildings. Less of a tourist circus than its medieval rival, Fez is nevertheless catching up in the sophistication stakes. Parisian designer Christophe Pillet’s 50-bedroom, stone-clad Sahrai hotel has a covetable rooftop bar and Givenchy spa, while Dar Arsama riad is a chic blend of contemporary and traditional, hung with the curious art of Spanish owner Violeta Caldrés. Exciting chefs are also bringing modernity to the medina: El Bulli, Noma and French Laundry alum Najat Kaanache applies haute techniques to local-market finds at her intimate new restaurant Nur.
- Las Vegas, USA
Sin City isn’t subtle. But you might call it an interesting anthropological study. What happens when you build an entire city dedicated to hedonism? Everyone goes nuts. Look no further than the Strip, where even early mornings see punters stumbling giddily past a dancing fountain and lava-spewing volcano, toting half-yards of booze. But when not ogling the spectacle, the city’s chequered history makes for fascinating discoveries. The Mob Museum, in the old courthouse, is a thorough chronicling of the mafia here, while the Neon Museum shows off retro, rescued signs from the earliest hotels and casinos. The slightly seedy Atomic Liquors bar also claims a place in Vegas lore: from its rooftop, drinkers would watch mushroom clouds billow out of nearby atomic testing sites in the 1950s. March weather in Vegas is like a good UK summer day. But a day in Vegas is like nowhere else on Earth.
- Jordan
As well as being regarded as the Middle East’s most accessible country, Jordan is its most captivating. But then, it has many an unfair advantage. There’s the ancient, stone-carved city of Petra, a new wonder of the world; Jerash’s vast Greco-Roman ruins; the super-salty Dead Sea. Or joining a camel caravan to Wadi Rum, star of Lawrence of Arabia: a cinematic, rust-red desert valley dressed up with dramatic sandstone mountains and deep caverns. March is an excellent time to bound around. Daytime temperatures hang in the comfortable half of the 20s, while desert nights are warm enough for camping under the stars.
- Nepal
There’s no better time than spring to experience Nepal’s Himalayan charms. Flowers are blooming in the high mountains, dry and clear weather shows off generous views, and the days are warm but not sticky. It’s ideal for trekkers, although you needn’t summit Everest for elevated adventure: the Annapurna range offers excellent hikes through lowland villages and around high, glacial lakes. After the wreckage wrought by the 2015 earthquake, cultural powerhouse Kathmandu is thoughtfully renovating its heritage buildings, and still offers enough traders and temples, fluttering prayer flags and grand palaces to intoxicate any traveller. March’s Holi festival paints the town red, blue, yellow, purple and green, too.
- Ireland
The country is one of those rare places that fully lives up to its reputation: incredibly green, windswept, raucous, and – more often than not – pelted by rain. What better time to visit than during the month that features an ode to St Patrick, the 'Apostle of Ireland'? Donegal’s wild beaches and the looming Cliffs of Moher are movie-beautiful, and the elemental, towering sea crag of Kerry’s Skellig Michael was picked for a pivotal role in Star Wars. There’s nowhere cosier for a pint than the brightly painted pubs of Galway (wood-panelled Tigh Neachtain’s is a favourite), best paired with the riverside city’s famous oysters. In Dublin, the cobbled, Georgian capital, the docklands have lately gone from run-down to tech hub: the so-called Silicon Docks are now home to Facebook, Google and Airbnb HQs. The rooftop bar at the area’s Marker Hotel is where young Dublin comes for après-coding.
- Vietnam
There's no better time to scale the length and breadth of this compelling country. Vietnam's usually sticky humidity vanishes in March and dazzling sunshine heralds the driest month of the year. It's the ideal time to laze on the southern beaches but also optimum weather for trekking the craggy northern mountains. It's also still shoulder season, meaning you can see much more for less. Admire Ho Chi Minh's French colonial architecture from a buzzing sky bar, explore Hanoi's ancient pagodas, sail on the tranquil Mekong and take a rickety bike ride over the bridges of Hoi An in the gorgeous central region. Just up the coast is the Khoai Chau district, where the Chu Dong Tu festival takes place in March with processions of richly embroidered golden dragons and burning incense. It's a feast for the senses that won't be forgotten in a hurry.
- Madrid, Spain
Barcelona's big sister sheds her winter skin in March. When the clocks go forward, as if by magic a wave of warmth sweeps the city and loosens up its reserved exterior. Madrid's expansive parks burst into bloom and locals tumble out onto the streets to sip caipirinhas and dance till dawn. Temperatures stay around 20ºC (far more gentle than the capital's sizzling summers), meaning you can explore its world-class galleries, belle-époque mansions and designer boutiques without breaking a sweat. There's great traditional tapas to be had, but leave time to try the city's newer breed of stylish gastrobars. Just don't plan anything more than a siesta afterwards.
- Puerto Rico
Kick off the month with a beach party on the shores of Puerto Rico. Only two hours from Miami, this Caribbean isle has long been the USA's weekend playground. Expect a distinctly Latin flavour with a side of southern home comforts - Puerto Rico has the biggest shopping mall in the Caribbean and the largest virgin tropical rainforest. March is the best month to sample both sides of island life. The beaches lose their crowds and a light breeze rustles the palm trees, lifting the humidity and letting you sleep on the sand in Vieques. Those craving a faster pace can always go salsa dancing in Mayagüez, whale-watching in Rincón or wander the cobbled streets of old San Juan, Piña Colada in hand.
- Canary Islands
Spain's tiny golden islands off the coast of North Africa are heavenly in early spring. The days are getting longer and sunnier and there's no sign of the peak-season crowds. We're excited by Lanzarote's beautiful beaches, cool surf scene and amazing places to stay. We're captivated by Tenerife's unexpected lunar landscapes and intrigued by the unsung Canaries: a whistle-stop tour could take you through Santa Cruz de la Palma's whitewashed Renaissance palaces, La Gomera's plunging ravines and Fuencaliente's sleepy volcanic craters bathed in early morning mist.
- The Maldives
Night-snorkelling, island-hopping and the turquoise Indian Ocean lapping onto ice-white shores… when it comes to the Maldives the travel clichés flow as freely as the cocktails. While the island nation is idyllic year-round, March is a great time to spot manta rays and sharks or simply relish the temperate 30ºC days in a private beach hut. It's dreamy for the kids too, as many spectacular hotels are designed with family holidays in mind. One of the best is Soneva Fushi's The Den, with its tunnels, treasure maps and a pirate ship built for would-be Peter Pans and Wendys.
- South Africa
For a high-octane safari adventure look to the tip of this mighty continent. South Africa has 19 national parks and the tail-end of wet season means fewer tour groups and lower costs if you can tolerate the odd afternoon shower. If you're hungry to see the big five, head to Kruger National Park in the north-east, while elephant-lovers go east and those yearning for an Out of Africa-style romance travel south to the lush Garden Route to track game on horseback. Or if you don't want to stray too far from the city, Little Karoo is the closest safari to Cape Town. When you're done, dust off at one of Cape Town's smartest hotels: the southern capital is at its best in March, mostly free of visitors and basking in the sun.
- Mexico's West Coast
Mexico's Pacific coast transplants Californian cool to a warmer climate with bigger waves - no wonder Hollywood heavyweights jet down to graze by the pool in Cabo. March is a fantastic time to visit, with prime conditions for whale-watching in Baja California, virtually no rain and rising temperatures. Check in to Cabo's One&Only Palmilla to star-spot over ceviche but leave a few days to enjoy the simpler pleasures of the mainland. Chilled-out Sayulita draws travellers with its neon-bright shopfronts and wild beaches. Further south in Oaxaca, you'll find Puerto Escondido, a beach town where you can surf all day, party all night and browse contemporary art installations the morning after. If you fancy branching out during your stay, click here to see the hottest day-trips from Sayulita.
- The Philippines
This emerald archipelago is the perfect spot for unwinding after a long winter. A thatch-roofed villa in a private island resort is the ideal base from which to discover the winding rice terraces, quaint villages and coral reefs of the Philippines. In March the heat is more bearable on the beaches and in the bustling capital Manila. But those itching to get their feet wet should head to the Palawan islands - the real inspiration for Alex Garland's The Beach. Take a dip in a natural lagoon, or doze under the tilting coconut trees.
- Chamonix, France
Set on a mountainside below Mont Blanc, Chamonix has bags of storybook appeal: churches sparkle under a frosting of snow, the windows of picturesque chalets glow with firelight, and shimmering pine trees look as if they've been plucked straight off a Christmas card. By March the serious skiers have left to find cooler climes and the weather is warm enough for lunching al fresco. You can still catch the last of the winter snow and accommodation is easier to find, whether you're after a romantic cabin for two or a lodge big enough for a post-piste party.
- Bermuda
Castaways in the 17th century were the first to see the startling beauty of this undiscovered island. Bermuda hasn't changed much since then with its pristine rose-pink sands and fiercely loyal locals who have a disdain for flashy resorts. Visit in March before the late spring price spike for warm waters and seven hours of daily sunshine. Watching a rosy sunset from the docks of the capital Hamilton, you'll feel as if you've accidentally stumbled on paradise.
- SORRENTO, ITALY
Nothing brings a spring to the step quite like the sight of Italy’s glorious Amalfi coast. Particularly in March, when its vertiginous twists are bathed in a daily average eight hours of sun. Cliffs plunge into the Tyrrhenian Sea, topped with grand palazzos and smart hotels. Narrow, Roman lanes are stuffed with limoncello stalls flogging the boozy spoils of Sorrento’s famous fruit. Its snoozy air and pastel-coloured houses are pure Italian cinema: you might even swear you’ve seen a young Sophia Loren looking impossibly saucy by the quay. Do as the Italians do and spend the lazy, romantic days enjoying a long aperitivo. Don’t miss fresh fritto misto at Marina Grande, the town’s old fishing harbour, or Michelin-starred Il Buco in the cellars of an old monastery, where chef Peppe Aversa serves seasonal ingredients under a stone-hewn, vaulted ceiling. The sweet life, indeed.
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