8 Destinations for Traveling Slowly Next Spring
8 Destinations for Traveling Slowly Next Spring
As the summer travel season comes to a close, many of you might be thinking about your next great adventure. Hopefully, you caught our recent post on the power of slow travel. Now, we're excited to highlight 8 destinations perfect for an intentional, mindful journey in early Spring. Your personalized itinerary — thoughtfully crafted by your travel designer — is certain to lean into a refreshing yet energizing pace. When you pause long enough to rediscover your own curiosity, you'll have the opportunity to forge genuine connections with locals and your travel companions. The moments you have and the people you meet along the way will leave you with lifelong memories and stories to share.
Australia
When to Go: March—May
Australia is the unexpected: A place to explore the world’s oldest cultures on vast ochre plains and unimaginably blue waters. It’s vast yet intricately connected, the perfect backdrop to a slow-paced journey. You only have to travel a stone’s throw from any of Australia’s cities before you’ve landed somewhere truly out of this world.
Traveling to Australia in March through May offers warm, sunny days and mild evenings as the country transitions away from the scorching summer sun into autumn. This shoulder season means fewer crowds at iconic destinations like the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, allowing for more intimate wildlife encounters and scenic hikes without peak-season congestion. Harvest season the Barossa and Hunter Valley vineyards invite you to sample world-class wines and fresh local produce like prized black truffles and artisanal cheeses. Coastal cities of Sydney and Melbourne offer pleasant beach weather, vibrant festivals, live music, and alfresco markets.
Chile
When to Go: March—April
Chile is nature on a colossal scale, but travel here is surprisingly easy — if you don't rush it! Preposterously thin and unreasonably long, Chile stretches from the belly of South America to its foot, reaching from the driest desert on earth to vast southern glacial fields. This means one thing: Traveling to and from different regions takes careful planning and a little extra time.
March and April mark the beginning of shoulder season, when you can enjoy a more peaceful experience with fewer crowds (and lower prices for flights and hotels). Warm days and cool nights make this the perfect time for outdoor activities like hiking in Patagonia, where the intense summer winds have died down, or exploring the otherworldly Atacama Desert. For wine enthusiasts, it’s also harvest season, where vineyard festivals feature grape stompings and tastings. Chileans heartily embrace the concept of buena mesa: The love of good food and good company. ¡Salud!
Colombia
When to Go: February—March
Colombia’s breathtaking diversity stretches from Andean peaks to pristine Caribbean beaches and the Amazon jungle. Its rich cultural tapestry is reflected in its music, world-class coffee, and colorful festivals. Warm hospitality and delectable cuisine make Colombia an increasingly popular destination for travelers looking to slow down and soak it all in.
February and March are the country’s sunniest and driest months with consistently warm temperatures and minimal rainfall for strolling along colonial cobblestone streets in laid-back Cartagena or visiting the soft white beaches in Tayrona National Park. In February, Barranquilla’s legendary Carnival is a riot of color, music, and dance; March is perfect for exploring the historic La Candelaria district in Bogotá under clear skies. Take in the diversity, warmth, and beauty of this country at a pace that lets you enjoy every stop and connect with the people and places you meet.
Ecuador
When to Go: Year-Round
Ecuador is a land of swaths of green between postcard-perfect plazas, vibrant Kichwa villages, and white-sand beaches and cultural fusion to mindfully explore. The Andean Highlands down to the lush Amazon Rainforest and Galápagos Islands are all home to extraordinary biodiversity. Diverse regions in a compact size make it ideal for relaxed, immersive travel.
From March through May, Ecuador dazzles with vibrant landscapes, wildlife, and festivals on full display. As the “land of eternal spring,” Quito’s mild highland climate is perfect for exploring historical ornate churches and palaces and the city’s Inca ruins. In the Andes, spring alpine wildflowers bloom along the Avenue of the Volcanoes; the Amazon Basin offers rainforests teeming with colorful birds and butterflies. Nesting season peaks in Spring in the Galapagos, making wildlife encounters unforgettable. With fewer crowds and lush scenery, spring in Ecuador is ideal for your immersive adventures.
Morocco
When to Go: March—April
Morocco is a gateway to Africa and a country of dizzying diversity, its compact geography and layered cultural tapestry making it a dream slow travel destination. From sun-drenched shores to rugged highlands and golden desert expanses, the country offers endlessly varied landscapes to explore. Distinguished by its Berber, Arabian, and European influences, Morocco’s reflects centuries of cultural exchange.
March and April mean lush landscapes under mild skies, a welcome break from summers of 100°F or more. In iconic Marrakesh, spring provides comfortable weather for sipping mint tea and exploring colorful, spice-filled souks. Coastal Essaouira pairs seafood feasts with laid-back surf culture, and Fez showcases imperial palaces and mosques. Craving adventure? Trek in the Atlas Mountains, where your local guide shares Berber cultural tradition. Explore the legendary Sahara Desert’s sweeping dunes on camel by day and gather around communal fires under dazzling night skies. Here, time slows and the warmth travels home with you.
New Zealand
When to Go: March—April
New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed, but it's always epic. Explore mammoth national parks, dynamic Māori culture, and world-class surfing and skiing. Spanning two main islands and numerous smaller ones, you’ll find the forests, mountains, lakes, beaches, and fiords that have made NZ one of the best hiking (locals call it 'tramping') destinations on the planet.
March and April shift into autumn, with warm days and crisp evenings under vivid skies. Trails of rust-red beech forests and serene lakes of Milford Sound and Fiordland National Parks are much quieter. Auckland’s 100+ beaches and diverse neighborhoods shine, with cooler nights for alfresco dining and coastal sightings of migrating shorebirds and whales. On Waiheke Island, vineyards and olive groves hum with the harvest as you sip wines from cellar doors beneath golden foliage. Fewer crowds and comfortable weather mean this shoulder season is the perfect time to slow down and savor New Zealand’s natural charm.
Peru
When to Go: Year-Round
Peru enchants with ancient civilizations, dramatic landscapes, and vibrant cultural traditions, weaving deep heritage with modern vitality. The third largest country in South America, you’ll want to plan for at least a ten-day journey to mindfully explore. Take this big place in small bites and don't rush. In Peru, the adventure usually lies in getting there.
Peru is a year-round destination, but journeys between February and April offer cultural sites and events with thinner crowds (ideal for Machu Picchu!). You don’t have to be a history buff to marvel at the ancient Incan city or colonial Lima, where history is potent and still pulsing in streetside festivals. Remote villages outside the city preserve sacred rituals and time-honored crafts; your travel designer can find the most intimate experiences for you. Less-traveled hiking trails in the Andean Highlands burst into bloom in April, while local markets brim with fresh produce and handwoven textiles. Spring journeys here ensure authentic experiences, vibrant landscapes, and cultural immersion without the rush.
South Africa
When to Go: April—May
South Africa is a premier safari destination, where sweeping coasts and mountain ranges give way to vast wildlife preserves, savannas and deserts. Here, music, vibrant art scenes, and flavorful cuisine and geography meet heritage and adventure in a dynamic immersive journey.
Visiting South Africa in autumn’s April and May mean cool evenings and tapering rainfall. Home to the Big 5 — Lions, Leopards, Buffalo, Elephants, and Rhinos — national park wildlife safaris showcase animals gathering around dwindling water sources. The Cape Winelands are perfect for wine tours and scenic drives with rich red and gold foliage; breezes keep beaches in the Cape Peninsula and the southeastern region pleasant sans summer crowds. Cape Town is a true fan favorite, with its exciting Mediterranean vibe, amazing culinary scene, beautiful Cape Dutch architecture, and thriving art community – all set to the backdrop of iconic Table Mountain and the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Begin Your Next Mindful Journey!
Whether you are ready to embark on a Destination: Unknown adventure or looking for a Custom Travel Experience this spring, we invite you to begin your slow and mindful journey with us.