Ever dreamed of hopping between sun-kissed Aegean islands or making tracks along the Silk Road? If a great voyage beckons on your bucket list but you don’t know where to start, here are four epic experiences to tantalize intrepid souls. Adventure awaits in September – all you have to do is start the journey…
Island-hop between whitewashed fishing villages and gorgeous beaches
In the 1970s, Aegean island-hopping was a backpacker’s rite of passage; today, with flights and fast ferries, it’s easier – and more popular – than ever. Despite the numbers of tourists on the best-known islands in high season, there’s still magic to be found. This is particularly true if you arrive in September when the weather is still balmy and the seas calm, while prices and visitor numbers fall. You can discover an empty beach, a traditional taverna, and a working harbor with fishing boats bobbing at anchor.
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Trip plan: There are international airports on Mykonos and Santorini. A busy ferry network links the islands with each other and to mainland ports including Piraeus for Athens. A tempting itinerary might include Mykonos for nightlife (plus a trip to ancient Delos), Paros for hillside villages, beaches and windsurfing, Naxos for hiking and diving, Santorini for those views from Oia across the crater, and one of the Little Cyclades to step off-grid.
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Need to know: Hotels, tavernas, and other services on most islands close from mid-October to Orthodox Easter.
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Other months: Apr & Oct: mild; May–Sep: hot (Jul-Aug: busiest); Nov–Mar: cool, sleepy.
Traverse the ‘Stans in mellow autumn
Traders criss-crossed Asia for over 1200 years before Marco Polo’s 13th-century journey to the court of Kublai Khan in Beijing. The allure of the Silk Road hasn’t waned, especially in Central Asia between the Caspian Sea and the ancient trading city of Kashgar in west China. September is an ideal month for exploration, as conditions are pleasant – not overly hot in Turkmenistan’s deserts or the ancient cities of Uzbekistan, and not too snowy in the mountains and turquoise lakes of Kyrgyzstan.
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Trip plan: Popular overland routes run from Istanbul through Turkey and via Iran or Georgia and Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan. Key highlights include the interesting Darvaza gas crater and quirky Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, the tiled medressas and minarets of Samarkand and Khiva in Uzbekistan, and the stunning mountain meadows and Song-Köl lake in Kyrgyzstan, culminating at Kashgar’s Sunday Market en route to Xī’an and Beijing in China. If you can’t spare three months, even two weeks could take you from Ashgabat to Tashkent (Uzbekistan) or Tashkent to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).
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Need to know: You’ll need a visa and/or letter of invitation to enter Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan and China.
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Other months: Apr–May & Sep–Nov: moderate heat; Jun–Aug: deserts fiery; Dec–Mar: below 0°C (32°F) at altitude.
Cruise or hike one of Germany’s most beautiful rivers
A lovely ribbon of water meanders through Germany, its banks striped with vineyards and ridges topped with fairy-tale castles. This isn’t the Rhine; rather, it’s its charming tributary, the Moselle. The Moselle enjoys many of the former’s attributes, but without the cargo ships and tourist congestion. Emerging from Luxembourg near the ancient city of Trier, which is blessed with impressive Roman remains, the Moselle winds between medieval towns such as Bernkastel-Kues, Traben-Trarbach, Beilstein, and Cochem before merging with the Rhine at Koblenz.
September is the ideal month to trace its meanders; the grape harvest is celebrated with numerous festivals and wine tasting opportunities. Moreover, both visitor numbers and rainfall are lower this month as well. If you fancy offsetting your wine with walking, try a section of the way-marked Moselsteig footpath alongside the river.
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Trip plan: Many cruises combine the Rhine and Moselle rivers. From May to October, scheduled boats link towns along the Moselle several times daily, making it easy to chart your own oenophile odyssey.
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Need to know: Canoeing the Moselle is a popular option, with numerous canoe-hire outfits, campsites, and spots to climb out and taste local wines available.
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Other months: Apr–Jun: warmer; Jul–Aug: summer, busy; Sep–Oct: also popular; Nov–Mar: many facilities closed.
Admire roaring waterfalls and rainforest wildlife in Guyana
Guyana is an extraordinary land, where turtles nest on shell beaches, jaguars stalk the rainforest, giant otters frolic, and enormous harpy eagles soar over thundering waterfalls. Its climate is also remarkable, with multiple rainy seasons hitting coast and interior at different times. September is a transitional month when most of the country is dry after the heavy rains, making road travel easier and life generally more comfortable. The jungles are at their most lush.
The big-ticket attraction is Kaieteur Falls, which plummets 741ft (226m) in a single drop into the depths of the rainforest. This is complemented by the canopy walkway and wildlife of Iwokrama, ecolodges offering encounters with Makushi indigenous peoples, the playful otters of the Rupununi, and the cowboys of vast Dadanawa Ranch – all contributing to an epic adventure in the making.
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Trip planner: Booking an organized tour – be it with a group or tailor-made – is the best way forward. A typical two-week itinerary might include the coastal capital Georgetown, Kaieteur Falls, the rainforest at Iwokrama, the Amerindian village at Surama, and an opportunity to meet the giant otters at Karanambu.
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Need to know: Malaria can be a concern, and mosquitoes can be bothersome – make sure to cover up and use insect repellent.
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Other months: Feb–Apr & Sep–Nov: mostly dry, hot; May–Aug & Dec–Jan: wet (Apr–Aug: interior experiences heavy rain).
Looking for more inspiration? Explore additional suggestions for where to go in September.
Article first published in July 2017, and updated in July 2019
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