Where to go · January
Hiking and nature trips in January
Places that are usually at their best for hiking and nature in January, and why. Travel times are from the East Coast for a 7-day trip; change anything below.
Places for hiking and nature in January
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Great fit
Petra & Wadi Rum
Jordan · Africa and the Middle East
- Typical highs around 57°F, lows around 35°F
- Rain on about 3 days a month
- About 15 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
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Great fit
Kathmandu & the Himalayas
Nepal · Asia
- Typical highs around 67°F, lows around 37°F
- Rain on about 4 days a month
- About 18 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Weather is for Kathmandu; trekking routes are far higher and much colder.
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Good fit
Zion & Utah’s national parks
United States · North America
- Typical highs around 55°F, lows around 30°F
- Rain on about 5 days a month
- About 5 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- No passport needed for U.S. citizens
- Weather is for Springdale, by Zion; higher parks are cooler.
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Good fit
Mallorca
Spain · Europe
- Typical highs around 60°F, lows around 47°F
- Rain on about 6 days a month
- Sea around 59°F
- About 9 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
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Good fit
Rotorua & the North Island
New Zealand · Oceania
- Typical highs around 71°F, lows around 55°F
- Rain on about 7 days a month
- Usually one of the busiest times to visit: book early
- About 21 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Temperatures are estimates for the area and can run a few degrees cool on small islands and in the mountains
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Good fit
Queenstown
New Zealand · Oceania
- Typical highs around 60°F, lows around 44°F
- Rain on about 10 days a month
- Usually one of the busiest times to visit: book early
- About 22 hours of travel from the East Coast (estimate)
- Weather is for the town; the ski fields are colder.
- Temperatures are estimates for the area and can run a few degrees cool on small islands and in the mountains
Where this comes from
- Weather is what’s typical for those dates over 1991–2020, not a forecast. Daily highs and lows come from the nearest good weather station where there is one; otherwise they’re estimates for the area, and the card says so.
- How busy a place usually is, ski seasons and events are our own notes from official tourism sites. Dates change every year, so check the official site before you book.
- Travel times are rough estimates from the distance, not flight schedules.
- No prices. We don’t show prices we can’t vouch for, and no place pays to be listed.
- Entry rules change and depend on your passport: always check the official page linked on each place.
Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5, 1991–2020). Typical conditions, not a forecast. Daily highs and lows: NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN-Daily) station records, 1991–2020 (public domain).