Marking the start of summer in the northern hemisphere, June brings sunny weather and longer days. This is a good time to explore Europe and North America, with natural beauty in abundance. Winter is starting in the southern hemisphere and the cooler weather makes this ideal for a visit to Australia's Northern Territory, which can be unbearably hot for much of the year; and Machu Picchu, where the cooler weather is great for hiking.
Unforgettable Journeys
Greek Islands - Greece
Make your own odyssey on an island-hopping holiday. Many hundreds of islands dot the seas around mainland Greece, and there's an extensive ferry network so you can always find a quiet spot.
Uluru (Ayers Rock) – Australia
Get bush craft skills and take a safari into the "Real Outback". Learn from Aboriginal guides, see ancient cave paintings, and walk around majestic Uluru (Ayers Rock)—the world's largest monolith.
Machu Picchu – Peru
A fantastic feat of construction on the side of a mountain. It's a strenuous high-altitude hike through the mountains, but the glorious views of this ancient city make the effort worthwhile.
Jefferson National Forest – USA
On the Appalachian Trail. The west-central Virginia section of the trail passes through some outstanding displays of azaleas and rhododendrons in this month.
Halong Bay - Vietnam
A sailing trip between some of the 3,000 limestone isles. Cruise through this hauntingly beautiful seascape of dramatic limestone peaks and caves, coral reefs, and sandy beaches.
Natural Wonders
Reykjavik – Iceland
Explore this beautiful land of ice, fire, and the midnight sun. It's a geologist's paradise—the best way to enjoy it is to get out and around, among the glaciers, lava fields, thermal spas, and waterfalls.
Kruger National Park - South Africa
Go on safari in one of the Africa's largest game preserves. If it's the "big five" you're after—lion rhino, elephant, Cape buffalo and leopard—the Kruger is an excellent and varied safari destination.
Kodiak Island – USA
As the salmon run they attract the famously large bears. As well as huge bears you'll see moose with their calves, foxes, seals, and maybe orcas—and an astonishing amount of birdlife.
Pantanal – Brazil
The world's largest freshwater wetlands teem with wildlife. The animals here are far more visible than in the rainforest—see giant otters, tapirs, caiman, herds of capybara, and many, many birds.
Carpathians – Romania
Take a horse-riding and trekking holiday in the hills. Ride a local hutzul horse through the flower-covered meadows and foothills of the unspoiled Carpathian Mountains and see Dracula's castle.
Active Adventures
Vanuatu - Melanesia
A string of volcanic islands are a diver's paradise. The reefs are spectacular, but there's more here than just diving— try trekking, horse-riding, caving, kayaking, or volcano watching.
Yunnan - China
Walk the precipitous Tiger Leaping Gorge. Base yourself in Lijiang, one of the prettiest towns in China, with some remarkable sights before embarking on this famous hike.
Cape Kiwanda - USA
Plenty of activities on this wild, north Oregon coast. Take an RV and camp among the dunes—great for sand boarding and surfing on too; or swim, fish, and kayak in the rolling waves.
Hadrian's Wall - England
Walk the National Trail next to this famous monument. Classic 135-km walk along the remains of this Roman monument through the rugged Northumberland countryside.
Daytona Beach - USA
Learn to surf at a summer camp on north Daytona Beach. Florida is underrated as a surf destination, and while there aren't awesome waves in summer, they should be perfect for learning.
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When to Go
