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Where to Go in August: The Best Places to Travel
The following destinations are ideal to visit in August. At the top of the list you’ll find spots that are currently welcoming U.S. travelers and therefore likely to be open this summer. We are updating this list as information develops on low-risk travel, but the pandemic is causing many and frequent changes, so click to Ask Wendy before planning anything.
Please also see our Covid-19 travel coverage, including which countries are open to U.S. travelers.
(Don’t miss the rest of our “Where to Go” series on the best destinations for every month of the year. If you’re wondering when’s the best time to book your destination to get the best value for your dollar, see our “What to Book Now” series.)
Washington State: The San Juan Islands
Lime Kiln Point Lighthouse, Haro Straight, San Juan Islands, Washington. Photo: Shutterstock
August brings the clearest skies to the San Juans, making it one of the most popular months to visit the region. Read how this family made the most of an August trip to the islands during the pandemic.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to San Juan Islands and the Olympic Peninsula.
Hawaii
Makena, Maui. Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
With a climate that is relatively stable year-round, Hawaii makes for a great late-summer beach getaway, especially for families—provided you book through a destination specialist who can help you avoid the crowds.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to the Big Island, Oahu, and Maui.
Iceland
Kirkjufell mountain, Iceland. Photo: Shutterstock
Iceland’s high season starts to taper off in the second half of the month, meaning that you’ll find fewer crowds, more hotel availability, and somewhat better prices—but the weather is still pleasant for exploring the country’s awesome landscapes.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this.
Costa Rica
Monteverde, Costa Rica. Photo: Shutterstock
Mid-June through mid–August is the middle of the rainy season, but prices are relatively low, everything is lush and green, and weather patterns are predictable: You get beautiful sunny mornings for adventure activities, and the strong showers in the afternoon give you time to rest while listening to the tropical rain that cools things off for the evening.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Costa Rica Luxury Eco-Travel.
Alaska Small-Ship Cruises
Guests spot calving ice while exploring on Zodiac in Southeast Alaska. Photo: Lindblad Expeditions/Michael S. Nolan
August is especially inviting for a small-ship expedition cruise to Alaska, as daylight remains long, wildlife is plentiful, and the glaciers are uniquely illuminated by the late summer sun. Stay up late at this time of year and you may even be treated to the gorgeous green glow of the Northern Lights. While current rules forbid larger ships from sailing in U.S. waters, ships carrying fewer than 250 passengers are not subject to the C.D.C.’s orders. Many small-ship cruise lines are requiring all adult passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Small-Ship Alaska Cruises.
Croatia, Greece, and Turkey
This will be the rare summer when the iconic ports of the Eastern Mediterranean—Dubrovnik, Athens, Corfu, Istanbul, Kusadasi—won’t be overrun with cruise-ship day-trippers. While these countries will likely be a hot spot for European beach-goers, the crowds will be much more manageable without mega-ships calling at these ports on a daily basis.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this.
The Galapagos Islands
Prior to Covid, on a Galapagos cruise you’d often have to share a guide with 15 other guests; for the moment, that ratio is often much lower. All travelers and staff are tested prior to flying to the Galapagos. Some hotels on the islands are welcoming visitors again, a few expedition-cruise ships are operating—or maybe your family group wants to have a small vessel all to yourself. Do keep in mind that the waters are choppiest in August, so the seasick-prone should steer clear.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this.
The Seychelles
Chez Batista Villas, Seychelles. Image courtesy of Torsten Dickmann – STB
August is one of the sunniest months in the Seychelles. Rain can occur at any time of the year, but storms are typically short and isolated. Bear in mind that seas can be a little rougher from May to September.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to the Seychelles.
Kenya Safari: The Great Migration
The Great Migration on the Mara River. Photo: James Friedman
The best time to see the Great Migration—one of the grandest wildlife spectacles on Earth, with more than 2 million wildebeest and zebra on the move and predators lurking nearby—is July through September, and the best place to be is in the Masai Mara National Reserve. There are more than 15 different river crossings in the Masai Mara (bottlenecks along the migration route where the animals must avoid hungry crocodiles and lions), with great names like Smelly Crossing, Rekero Crossing, Football Crossing, Helicopter Crossing, and Double Crossing. You need to be patient, and in the right location at the right time of day. To increase your odds, consider staying at two camps in different locations. Check out these reviews of trips that travelers have taken to Kenya during the pandemic.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to The Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania.
Rwanda and Uganda: Gorilla Trekking
The best time for gorilla tracking in Rwanda is June through September. Photo: James Friedman.
The best time for tracking the gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda is June through September, when it’s cool and there is less precipitation (but remember, this is still the rain forest, and storms can hit any day).
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and Uganda.
Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons
Grand Teton National Park is full of outdoor activities in the summer, including kayaking on Jackson Lake. Photo: Billie Cohen
July and August bring the best weather of the summer, with warm days and cool nights; wildflowers are blooming, hiking trails are usually free of snow, and rivers should be clear of spring runoff, making for perfect fly-fishing conditions. All other summer activities, such as biking, rock climbing, rafting, and horseback riding, are easily available. (Skies may be hazy from area wildfires in August.)
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons.
Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring view at Yellowstone National Park. Photo: Shutterstock
In August you’ll find warm days and cool nights, wildflowers in bloom, and hiking trails mostly free of snow. Do keep in mind that this is the busiest time in Yellowstone, with prices to match, and skies may be hazy from wildfires. Things are noticeably quieter during the last week of the month, since families have headed home and retirees wait until after Labor Day.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons.
Newfoundland
Newfoundland scenery. Photo credit: Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
Ever since Wendy went there one August several years ago, she’s been urging other East Coasters to flee to Newfoundland in late summer, as an antidote to the crowds, heat, and beach traffic that choke the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. You get a foreign island with dramatic sweeping landscapes, lighthouses and fishing villages galore, roads to yourself (well, you plus a few moose), a distinct local culture, and incredibly friendly people, all without having to schlep too far from home. (You can fly there via Toronto or Halifax from many U.S. hubs.) A must on any Newfoundland itinerary is the Fogo Island Inn, a fascinating five-star philanthropic experiment that Wendy says has the most soul of any hotel she’s ever seen. Read why Wendy loved it there.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Newfoundland.
British Columbia
Heli-hiking at Kinuseo Falls in Monkman Provincial Park, British Columbia. Photo: Hello BC
August days are usually clear and sunny (ideal for seaplane and helicopter flights). It’s prime time for kayaking, hiking, fishing, and river rafting, not to mention bear- and whale-watching. August is when Wendy chose to take her family to Whistler (see We Had the Best Family Trip in Whistler and We Never Put on Skis and I Can’t Believe We Did This: Mountain Climbing in Whistler), as well as to the Discovery Islands (see My Extreme Week in Canada and 6 Otherworldly Escapes That Feel More Remote Than They Are).
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to British Columbia.
Austria
Summer in Austria is all about beautiful weather, long days, and festivals. Photo: Austria Tourism Board
Sure, Austria is crowded in August, but the days are relatively long, the weather is great, and there are music festivals—especially opera—all over the country. You can usually find good hotel deals in August, except in Salzburg, which hosts its six-week classical music festival (one of the biggest in Europe).
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Austria.
Cambodia and Angkor Wat
Sunset cocktails on the moat of Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Photo: ABOUTAsia Travel
Late May through early September is Cambodia’s green season. It rains two days out of three, but the mornings are almost always sunny and bright, with rain clouds gathering toward the late afternoon; get out of bed early to explore when Cambodians are most active ahead of the midday heat, and you’ll enjoy far fewer crowds and vibrantly green rice paddies. Plus, the money you save on shoulder-season hotel rates you can spend on massages, world-class golf, and fine food.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to Angkor Wat and Siem Reap Without the Crowds.
Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia
Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Photo: Shutterstock
August brings clear blue skies, good visibility for divers and snorkelers, and calm seas (the wind usually dies down at the end of July). It’s also a great time to view wildlife: dwarf minke whales visiting the northern reefs, manta rays off Lady Elliott Island in the region’s southern zone, and humpback whales—including Migaloo, the world’s only known all-white humpback—on their annual migration to Antarctica.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to the Great Barrier Reef.
New Zealand
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. Photo: Rob-Suisted/New Zealand Tourism
Summer skiing, anyone? August is the top month for skiing in New Zealand: You’ll get the most reliable (very high quality) heli-skiing conditions in August, and combining that with a tropical island can be fun.
You’ll be marked as a VIP and get a trip like this. Learn more in our Insider’s Guide to New Zealand.
Other Good Options This Month
Click on any of the destinations below to find out why August is a good time to go.
Alaska Large-Ship (Affordable) Cruises
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Trancoso, and the Amazon
England’s Castles, Manor Houses, and Gardens
France: Paris apartment rentals while the city is quiet
Switzerland: hiking in the Alps
We’re here to help
Right now is a remarkable opportunity for global travelers. When your friends say that travel is problematic as a result of the pandemic—rental cars aren’t available, service even at 5-star hotels is shoddy—the problem is they’re not planning their trips right! Travel can be spectacular now if you choose the right destination, know the savviest local fixers, and approach them the optimal way. Check out these recent trip reviews to see the difference that Wendy’s WOW approach to trip planning makes. And if you’re looking for a similarly carefree travel experience, contact us at Ask Wendy.
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