Our guide to October half term

Beach escapes

For many, October is a last opportunity to catch some summer rays before the winter weather arrives. There are areas of the Mediterranean offering warm weather and the chance to explore the Greek islands without the crowds, or visit Turkey’s beautiful coves around Bodrum. It’s the perfect month to fly and flop on a beach in Mauritius, where you can combine beautiful beaches and the warm Indian Ocean for snorkeling with time hiking and zip-lining in the mountains. Or why not go island-hopping in the Seychelles, perhaps combining the charming island of La Digue where the main mode of transport is bicycle or traditional ox-cart, with a luxurious resort on Praslin. The Tanzanian island of Zanzibar boasts some superb diving and snorkeling in crystal clear seas and balmy daytime temperatures before the humidity that comes later in the year. Or for the ultimate luxury, head to an unspoiled island resort in the Maldives, indulging in pampering spa treatments, snorkeling with turtles and relaxing in an over water bungalow.

Adventurous spirit

If you’d prefer a more active break, head to Sri Lanka to take in the temples and tea plantations, or go on a trek in the Nepal Himalayas – October is one of the clearest months of the year in the mountain range, ideal for photography. If culture and history are more your cup of tea, this is the prime time to visit the Middle East and North Africa. You could explore Oman’s desert and mountainous interior, riding camels and relaxing afterwards at a beautiful hotel in Muscat. Or explore the wonders of Jordan, taking a trip to combine Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. In East and Southern Africa, October is the end of the dry season, providing some of the best game viewing opportunities of the year. Catch the migration herds in the Serengeti, go on a walking safari in Zambia or paddle the waterways of the Okavango Delta in a traditional mokoro.

Families

We are experts at arranging family vacations, whatever age your children are. If you have young children in tow, we understand that you’ll want all the details taken care of, and plenty to do to keep them entertained. Our Scott Dunn Explorers clubs are a great way to make sure your younger family members are kept busy at all times, and give parents the chance to relax – we have clubs in destinations ranging from Crete and the Algarve right through to Niyama in the Maldives. Or head to the Four Seasons Orlando at Disneyworld, where you can enjoy all the magic of Disney by day and all the comfort of the hotel by evening, with a spa for parents in need of a bit of pampering. Kenya is a great family destination with many safari camps offering specific kids activities – imagine your young ones learning to become a Maasai warrior, and tracking animals by their footprints around the camp. For families with teenagers, why not head to a ranch in Arizona for a wild west adventure the whole family will remember for years to come, or explore Brazil’s Igauzu Falls and play football with the locals on the beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Something completely different

If you really want to make the most of your October break and have an unforgettable adventure, we have plenty of tricks up our sleeve. You could go trekking in China’s Yunnan province, spending time with monks and getting a glimpse of nearby Tibet. Or head to Argentina to embrace your inner gaucho at an estancia in the Pampas, or exploring the furthest reaches of Patagonia on foot. Whatever you have in mind, however far you want to travel, our specialists can conjure up a magical trip this October.