The 12 best autumn holidays with fewer crowds and lower prices

Travelling in the off-season, when there’s less tourist demand, lower prices and fewer crowds, is proving popular. Among UK travellers concerned about overtourism, more than three in five said they would take trips out of season to ease pressure on popular destinations, according to YouGov research. Autumn is full of quieter wonders. In Europe, there are comfortable city-break temperatures and changing foliage in the countryside. Between September and November, the climate is appealing in North Africa and the Canary Islands, while certain long-haul escapes offer autumn sweet spots between the hottest and rainiest times of year. After writing a book about off-season trips, I have picked 12 of the best autumn holidays, from chasing the Northern Lights in Scandinavia to beach-hopping in Costa Rica. An Arctic Wilderness Lodge is perfect for enjoying the view and autumn presents the best time to see the Northern Lights (Photo: Arctic Wilderness Lodge) September Arctic Circle Why? Unexpected aurora When it comes to northern Scandinavia, most travellers go for midsummer sunshine or midwinter snows. But September offers a mild, magical in-between-y alternative, with fewer people and some seasonal specialities: trees in blazing colours, berry foraging, king crab fishing. Also, many experts reckon autumn is the best time for the aurora, with the late-September equinox bringing about the year’s greatest solar activity. “Autumn is perfect for anyone who wants to experience the aurora without the cold weather,” says Sue McAlinden, of Best Served Scandinavia. “Accommodation can also often be considerably cheaper than in the peak winter months.” A spot-check shows that a weekend stay in a four-star hotel in the Arctic city of Alta is at least £100 cheaper in mid-September compared with mid-December. A four-night Autumn Auroras in Norway trip costs from £2,780pp, including flights; best-served.co.uk Shorts Slovenia Why? An active autumn Slovenia is a neat little package, scenically spectacular and brimful of adventures, but not as busy or expensive as its Alpine neighbours. The weather is still fine this month (averaging in the low-20°Cs, but visitor numbers plunge, from 3.3 million overnight stays in August to 1.7 million in September – all the better for visiting hotspots like fairy tale Lake Bled. Crucially, for now you can still hike and mountain bike in the Julian Alps, climb Mount Triglav or raft along the dazzling Soca River – activity trips start to wind down in October. You might catch the grape harvest or the start of the autumn colours, too. An eight-day self-guided Ultimate Active Holiday costs from £1,620, excluding flights; adventure-holidays-slovenia.com Morocco Why? Cooler coasts and cities With quieter cities, fewer local holidaymakers on beaches and lower air fares (Skyscanner rates it the cheapest month), try September for Morocco. The fascinating central cities are still hot, but not unbearably so like in high summer. Expect 30°C+ days in Fez and Marrakech, though much cooler nights – perfect for atmospheric evening souk-strolling. Temperatures in coastal spots like Casablanca and Essaouira will be pleasant in the low 20°Cs, thanks to fresh Atlantic breezes. It’s a great time for a hike in the Atlas mountains, too, before winter snows fall. A seven-day self-guided Mountain Treks and Bohemian Beaches break costs from £839pp, without flights; rickshawtravel.co.uk. Just You has a 10-day Morocco Imperial Cities and Desert Kasbahs tour from £3,249pp, with flights; justyou.co.uk Cambodia The ancient stone faces of Bayon temple in Angkor Wat (Photo: Tamvisut/Getty) Why? Uncrowded Angkor September to October is a super time to travel in Cambodia. The green season is coming to a close (you may still get a little wet, but the upside is that the land is wonderfully lush) and it is just before the traditional peak begins in November. “It’s a real sweet spot for travellers who want fewer crowds and better value,” says Nick Pulley of Selective Asia. “Visitor numbers are typically around 25 to 30 per cent of the levels expected in November and many hotels introduce offers, including stay-four-nights-pay-for-three deals.” The lower visitor numbers make a particularly noticeable difference at Angkor Wat. Also, the pools around the temples are full – great for photos. A 12-day tailor-made Taste of Cambodia trip costs from £1,890pp, excluding flights; selectiveasia.com October Algarve, Portugal Why? Wonderful walking It would be madness to plan a walk in southern Portugal in summer – it’s just too hot, plus traditional holidaymakers push flight prices up. However, come October, conditions are ideal, with cooler days (up to 25°C) and fewer people. Coastal walking is especially appealing – there are numerous trails via wild beaches, and the water is still warm enough for mid-walk dips. You might even see masses of migrating birds – the area around Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente acts as a funnel for raptors heading south for winter. Tie in a trip with the Sagres Birdwatching Festival (2–5 Oct). A seven-day self-guided Coastal Algarve trip costs £791pp excluding flights; inntravel.co.uk Greek islands Enjoy the windmills without tourist crowds in Rhodes Old Town (Photo: Joe Daniel Price/Getty) Why? A warm welcome “From late September, the Greeks have time to talk – this is when you will experience the best of Greek hospitality,” says Dudley Der Parthog, of the tour operator Sunvil. Pick your destination wisely, though, as many resorts are shutting for the season. Consider the Dodecanese islands, which enjoy a longer, more stable summer than other Aegean groups. Tiny Tilos, a beacon of sustainable travel (the world’s first zero-waste island, run on renewable energy), is a lovely choice. Or try the chic Saronics, the closest islands to Athens, where resorts stay open longer. “The seafood here is exceptional,” adds Der Parthog, “because they are catering for the local market.” A seven-night Tilos trip costs from £951pp, or a 10-night Saronics trip starts from £1,642pp, both including flights; sunvil.co.uk USA Why? Plummeting prices The weeks between Labour Day (early September) and Thanksgiving (late November) are a sweet spot for certain parts of the US, according to Katrin Rummer, of Wexas Travel. “Northern California enjoys clear days – perfect for Yosemite without crowds – and the wine harvest. Plus, prices drop substantially in October,” she says. “Prices also drop in the Grand Canyon region, and with fewer visitors, things like parking become easier. It’s also a fantastic time to visit Utah’s Zion National Park – you get the contrast between the dramatic sandstone and the fall foliage.” A 12-day Northern California fly-drive holiday costs from £2,800pp in October (vs £3,495pp in September), a 16-day Canyon Country fly-drive costs from £4,260pp (vs £5,235pp), both including flights; wexas.com Fall foliage in Zion National Park, Utah, is one of the things on offer in an autumn visit (Photo: Galyna Lunina/Getty) Peru Why? Fewer people The dry season in Peru’s ravishing, ruin-scattered highlands runs from mid-April to October, but things get particularly busy from June to August. So, to skip the worst crowds, highest prices and iffiest weather, October is the best choice (along with May). The rains are beginning, but that means atmospheric mists twirling around the peaks and terraces of Machu Picchu. To really escape the crowds, though, head a little more offbeat. Jarrod Kyte, of Steppes Travel, says: “The site of Taqrachullo is billed by many as the ‘new Machu Picchu’ but is four times larger and with only a fraction of the footfall.” A 12-day self-guided Cusco to Colca trip costs from £5,500pp, including flights and Taqrachullo; steppestravel.com. Mercury Holidays has a 13-day guided Sacred Peru trip from £2,679pp, with flights, mercuryholidays.co.uk November Canary Islands Why? Appealing awakenings As mainland Europe slides into winter, the Canaries continue to hold out – both air and sea still average 21°C. There are few school holidays this month, so popular islands like Tenerife are calmer, more adult and a bit cheaper. For something quieter still, transfer over to La Gomera, an offbeat isle of volcanic ridges, ancient forest, traditional villages and excellent trails. “Prices and visitor numbers won’t vary dramatically from summer – it’s not a busy island,” says Chris Bladon, of Pura Aventura. “But what November visitors get here is the feeling of things waking up as the mainland is getting ready for bed.” A seven-day self-guided La Gomera trip cost from £1,650pp, excluding flights; pura-aventura.com Italy The Ponte Veccio in Florence (Photo: Oleh Slobodeniuk/Getty) Why? Super cities In Italy, November offers a reprieve from summer’s heat, without giving up entirely on decent weather – Venice typically sits around 14°C (with magical morning mists), Florence up to 15°C. It means that you can admire the art and architecture in more comfortable, less crowded conditions. If it rains (fairly likely), there’s always a world-class gallery in which to shelter. “Visitor numbers to Florence have swelled in recent years,” says Nia Kile, of Martin Randall Travel. “However, it is still possible to explore the city in relative tranquillity, with carefully planned visits to avoid busy times.” A seven-day guided Art of Florence trip costs from £3,060pp, excluding flights; martinrandall.com Costa Rica Why? A great weather window November, particularly late November, is a wonderful window of opportunity in Costa Rica. “It may be officially classed as the wet season, and you will certainly need to pack a mac, but the heavy monsoon rains are over, everywhere is lush and green, and the national parks are teeming with wildlife rather than human-life,” says Jude Limburn Turner, of Mountain Kingdoms. The peak season erupts in mid-December, so this is the time to squeeze in a coast-to-coast adventure before the masses arrive, combining highlights like Caribbean-lapped Tortuguero National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest plus hot springs, volcanoes and Pacific beaches. A 14-day Gentle Walking and Wildlife Costa Rica group trip costs from £3,995pp, excluding flights; mountainkingdoms.com Kenya A safari in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya (Photo: WLDavies/Getty) Why? Slightly damp savings November is a much better safari month than many people expect: in East Africa (particularly Kenya and northern Tanzania), it is traditionally associated with the “short rains”. In reality, these are often brief afternoon showers followed by sunshine, and rarely have a significant effect on wildlife viewing. “In fact, the landscapes begin to freshen up, the light can be beautiful and visitor numbers are generally lower than in peak season,” says Tom Morris, of Expert Africa. He recommends a safari combining the Masai Mara and Laikipia, two of Kenya’s best wildlife destinations, adding: “November’s shoulder-season pricing makes it particularly attractive.” A seven-day tailor-made Purple Grenadier Fly-in Safari costs from £5,310pp in November (vs £6,540ppin October), excluding international flights; expertafrica.com ‘Lonely Planet Offseason: Amazing Crowd-Free Trips’ by Sarah Baxter and Paul Bloomfield will be published on 12 September (Lonely Planet, £16.99)