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Best destinations to visit in January

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Sri Lanka
Ancient cities, tea hills and surf beaches
7.3
Blue whales feed off Mirissa on the south coast from November to April. Whale watching boats leave the harbor at dawn for a morning at sea. Galle Fort, a UNESCO site since 1988, sits about an hour's drive along the coast. Yala National Park in the southeast is known for its leopards.
Highlights:
  • 🚂 Take a scenic train ride through the tea plantations to Ella
  • 🐘 Spot elephants on safari in Minneriya National Park
  • 🪨 Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress and admire its ancient frescoes
Hakuba
Alpine ski valley beneath the Japan Alps
7.9
The 1998 Winter Olympics used Hakuba for alpine skiing and ski jumping. Ten ski areas fill the valley beneath the Northern Alps. Cold winds from Siberia pick up moisture over the Sea of Japan and drop deep snow. Onsen baths in the village warm tired skiers after a day on the slopes.
Highlights:
  • 🏟️ Visit Hakuba Olympic Ski Jumping Stadium and museum
  • ♨️ Relax in natural hot springs after outdoor adventures
  • 🎿 Ski or snowboard on world-class Hakuba slopes
Maldives
Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas
9.2
The Maldives spreads 1,192 coral islands across 26 atolls in the Indian Ocean. January belongs to the northeast monsoon, which brings dry weather and calm seas. Whale sharks gather around South Ari Atoll throughout the year. Water temperatures stay near 28 degrees Celsius for snorkeling and diving.
Highlights:
  • 🌌 Watch a glowing beach at night on Vaadhoo Island
  • 🦈 Snorkel with reef sharks and manta rays at Hanifaru Bay
  • 🏝️ Stay in an overwater villa surrounded by turquoise lagoon
Cambodia
Angkor temples, riverside cities and quiet coast
7.1
Angkor Wat was built in the early 1100s by King Suryavarman II. January falls in the cool dry season with clear skies over the temples. Ta Prohm, where tree roots wrap ancient stone walls, is a short tuk tuk ride away. Sunrise crowds gather beside the reflecting pond before dawn.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise along Tonlé Sap Lake and visit floating villages
  • 🌿 Explore the jungle-covered ruins of Ta Prohm Temple
  • 🌅 Watch sunrise over the ancient temples of Angkor Wat
India
Palaces, temples, backwaters and Himalayan peaks
7.5
Republic Day on 26 January brings a grand military parade to Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Jaipur Literature Festival gathers authors at Diggi Palace each January. Kite flying fills the skies over Gujarat around 14 January during Uttarayan. Cool dry weather across the north suits visits to the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Sail on the serene backwaters of Kerala
  • 🛺 Take a colorful rickshaw ride through Old Delhi’s lanes
  • 🌅 Watch sunrise over the majestic Taj Mahal
Japan
Bullet trains, temples, onsen and neon cities
10.0
Meiji Shrine in Tokyo draws about three million people in the early days of January. Visitors line up to pray for good fortune in the new year. Snow monkeys bathe in hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano each winter. Niseko in Hokkaido is known for deep powder snow.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Admire Kyoto’s golden Kinkaku-ji Pavilion shimmering in sunlight
  • 🚶🏻 Walk the iconic Shibuya Crossing and feel Tokyo’s pulse
  • 🏔️ See Mount Fuji reflect on Lake Kawaguchi at sunrise
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