Top 10 Places to Visit in January

The Phi Phi Islands are located in the Strait of Malacca in Thailand. The main populated island is Ko Phi Phi Don, while the smaller Ko Phi Phi Le is famous for its beaches. Limestone rocks make up the rest of the smaller islands in the group. January brings dry weather and calm seas to this region. It is the middle of the best weather window for the islands. You can swim and boat without worrying about monsoon rains. The major downside is the sheer volume of tourists. The beaches get crowded early in the day, and speedboats create constant noise. Accommodation prices are at their highest level of the year.

This volcanic archipelago lies in the Pacific Ocean about 558 miles west of Ecuador. The islands of San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela hold most of the local population. The area is highly protected to preserve the unique animal species that live here. January is a transition month with warm water and sunny skies. The ocean is relatively calm, which makes boat travel between the islands much easier if you get seasick. Green sea turtles and land iguanas are highly active during this time. Getting here is expensive because flights to the islands only depart from mainland Ecuador. You must also pay a significant national park entry fee in cash upon arrival.

Tromsø is a northern city located on the island of Tromsøya. The city centre has a large collection of historic wooden houses dating back to 1789. Bridges and tunnels connect the island centre to the mainland and neighboring Kvaløya island. January is deep winter here. The sun does not rise above the horizon for the first half of the month, which creates a long twilight. This darkness makes it one of the best times of the year to view the northern lights. It is incredibly cold and icy. You will need high quality winter gear to spend any time outdoors. Prices for food and drinks in Norway are some of the highest in Europe.

The Moai are massive stone statues carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island. Nearly half of the statues remain at the main quarry of Rano Raraku. The rest stand on stone platforms called ahu around the coast of the island. January falls during the southern hemisphere summer. The weather is warm and sunny, which is perfect for exploring the open archaeological sites. Sea breezes keep the island from getting too hot. Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. Flights from Santiago are expensive and limited. You must book your park pass and a registered guide before you can visit the archaeological sites.

This national park sits in southern Chilean Patagonia and features mountains, glaciers, and lakes. The Cordillera del Paine is the center of the park. It borders Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and Argentina's Los Glaciares National Park. January is the absolute peak of summer. The days are very long, with up to seventeen hours of daylight. This gives you plenty of time to complete long hikes without needing a headlamp. The wind during January can be ferocious, sometimes reaching over 100 kilometers per hour. It can literally knock you off your feet. You must book campsite and refugio spots months in advance.

Bagan is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, thousands of Buddhist temples and monasteries were built here. Today, more than 2,200 of these structures still stand across the plains. January offers some of the coolest and driest weather of the year. Temperatures are comfortable for walking around the dusty plains. The morning fog often settles over the temples, which makes for excellent early morning viewing. Climbing on most of the temples is now banned to protect the structures. You have to view them from designated ground areas or viewing mounds. Travel to Myanmar requires careful checking of current safety advisories.

Angkor Wat is a massive temple complex located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and later transitioned into a Buddhist temple. It is the largest religious monument in the world. January is the dry season, so you will avoid the heavy monsoon rains. The humidity is lower than usual, which makes walking through the stone galleries much more tolerable. This is the busiest month of the year for the park. The main temple gets crowded by dawn, and you will have to wait in long lines to climb the upper towers.

This park covers the southwest corner of New Zealand's South Island. It is the largest national park in the country and features deep glacier carved valleys. The park is a refuge for rare native birds like the takahē and the kākāpō. January is mid summer in New Zealand. This month offers the warmest temperatures of the year for hiking the famous Milford Track. The waterfalls are usually full due to frequent rain. Fiordland is one of the wettest places on earth. Even in summer, you should expect heavy rain on any given day. Sandflies are also a constant annoyance near the water.

The Taj Mahal is an ivory white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. Emperor Shah Jahan built it in the 17th century to house the tomb of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The complex includes a mosque, a guest house, and formal gardens. January is much cooler than the scorching summer months. Walking around the marble plaza is comfortable in the afternoon sun. You will not have to deal with the extreme heat that hits northern India later in the year. Heavy morning fog is very common in January. If you arrive too early, the monument might be completely hidden from view. You may need to delay your entry until midday.

Lake Baikal is a massive rift lake located in southern Siberia. It is the deepest lake in the world, reaching down over 1,600 meters. The lake contains more than twenty percent of the world's fresh surface water. January is when the lake begins to freeze over completely. The ice grows incredibly thick and clear, which allows you to see deep into the water. Large pressure ridges and ice bubbles form under the surface. The weather is extremely cold, with temperatures often dropping below minus twenty degrees Celsius. You must dress in specialized arctic gear. Travel to this region requires careful planning and complex visa arrangements.