From Arctic expeditions to African safaris, lavender fields to fire festivals, July offers a global stage for summer’s most extraordinary adventures. Whether you crave quiet nature or cultural immersion, this is the month to move.
Find your summer rhythm
As school terms end across Europe and the mercury climbs globally, July marks a seasonal turning point—one where travel dreams take flight. For families, it’s the ideal time to head to the beach or explore outdoor adventures together. For solo travelers and couples, it’s an invitation to chase rare wildlife sightings, celebrate ancient traditions, or find cooler climes where nature is in full bloom.
Across continents, the world opens up in fascinating ways this month. Indonesia escapes the Southeast Asian monsoon, the Arctic becomes briefly accessible, and Europe hums with energy as streets, festivals, and coastlines fill with life. From the quiet lavender hills of Provence to the icy fjords of Greenland, here are five standout destinations that capture July at its best.
Japan: Fire festivals and sacred peaks
In Japan, July brings both spiritual celebration and high-altitude adventure. At the heart of the cultural calendar is Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, one of the country’s oldest and grandest festivals. Dating back to the 9th century, the event was originally meant to placate angry gods during an epidemic. Today, it’s a month-long spectacle, with elaborately adorned floats rolling through Kyoto’s historic streets on July 17 and 24. These wooden giants—some as tall as 25 meters and weighing up to 12 tonnes—transform into mobile art galleries, bursting with ornate fabrics, carvings, and sacred relics. Leading up to each parade, the streets come alive with Yoiyama parties, where visitors sample street food, admire the floats, and collect good-luck charms.
Beyond the festivities, Japan’s most iconic natural wonder opens to adventurers: Mount Fuji. The hiking season runs from early July through early September, but July hits a sweet spot—after the rainy season, before the peak crowds. Climbing overnight, hikers reach the 12,389-foot summit at dawn to witness the sun rising from the crater rim, an unforgettable moment in the land of the rising sun.
Okavango Delta, Botswana: The safari of a lifetime
While much of southern Africa dries out in July, the Okavango Delta in Botswana comes to life. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the largest inland deltas on Earth, floods with waters that have taken six months to travel from Angola. July marks one of the highest water levels of the year, coinciding with the dry season’s start and offering some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on the continent.
Cool mornings (with lows in the single digits Celsius) give way to crystal-clear days, keeping mosquitoes at bay and creating perfect conditions for wildlife tracking. Visitors glide silently in mokoro canoes, eyes level with hippos, elephants, and buffalo navigating reed-fringed channels. Birdwatchers will delight in spotting wattled cranes, kori bustards, and the elusive Pel’s fishing owl among the Delta’s 400-plus avian species.
Outside the Delta, nearby reserves like Moremi and Chobe National Park teem with wildlife as animals congregate around shrinking watering holes. For travelers eager to witness Africa’s legendary Big Five—or even the Great Migration creeping from Tanzania into Kenya—July is peak safari season.
The Arctic: Summer at the edge of the Earth
July offers a rare chance to visit the Arctic, where ice retreats just enough to welcome adventurous travelers. Whether navigating Greenland’s Disko Bay, sailing around Spitsbergen in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, or venturing toward the Geographic North Pole, this is the season to see Earth’s most remote frontiers.
Temperatures hover just above freezing (3–7°C), but daylight stretches endlessly—up to 24 hours a day thanks to the midnight sun. This abundance of light creates stunning conditions for wildlife viewing and photography. Polar bears, Arctic foxes, walruses, reindeer, and even humpback whales are on the move, taking advantage of the short feeding season. Meanwhile, seabirds such as puffins and kittiwakes flock to coastal cliffs, and the tundra bursts into unexpected bloom, a colorful contrast against the stark white landscapes.
Most expeditions are cruise-based, with daily landings by Zodiac boat or kayak excursions into ice-speckled fjords. For those who think they’ve seen it all, the Arctic offers an entirely different perspective on summer.
Peak District, England: A green getaway full of adventure
For a slower-paced escape, the Peak District in central England offers a refreshing alternative to the country’s crowded coastlines. As the UK’s first national park, it’s a patchwork of rolling moorlands, limestone dales, and historic villages, perfect for families and hikers alike.
July is peak season for exploration. With over 1,600 miles of walking trails and dozens of cycling routes, including the family-friendly Tissington Trail, it’s an active traveler’s paradise. Try wild swimming at Three Shires Head, hiking up The Roaches, or sampling classic Bakewell tarts in the charming market town of the same name.
The month is also festival-rich: opera and jazz lovers can indulge at the Buxton International Festival, while foodies flock to the Foodies Festival for gourmet treats. Music fans won’t want to miss Y Not Festival, a rock and indie bash set among the Derbyshire hills, complete with circus acts, paint fights, and a cinema under the stars.
Provence, France: Lavender dreams and national pride
Few summer sights are as iconic as the lavender fields of Provence, and July is when they reach their peak. The flowering season, which spans from late June to late July, paints the hills of Luberon and the Verdon Plateau in dreamy hues of purple. Visitors can wander rows of fragrant blooms, visit small distilleries, and explore charming villages like Valensole, where lavender festivals fill streets with music, markets, and the scent of summer.
For a deeper dive into the region’s floral fame, the Musée de la Lavande in Coustellet offers insights into the plant’s harvesting and oil-making process. Don’t miss local delicacies like lavender honey, best enjoyed with a picnic in view of the fields.
Nearby, Gorges du Verdon provides a refreshing escape from the heat. Its turquoise river—colored by glacial minerals—carves a dramatic canyon perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, or motorboat cruising. And on 14 July, towns and cities across France light up in celebration of Bastille Day, the country’s national holiday. Expect fireworks, parades, and communal joy from Paris to Provence. In July, the world blooms with possibility. Whether you’re watching dragons duel in Komodo, toasting marshmallows over Icelandic lava, or sipping rosé in a Provençal garden, the heart of summer invites you to explore, experience, and exhale.
