Where to go on holiday in April

Lukey Bourne, from our small group adventure specialists Wild Frontiers, recommends northern Ethiopia in April for empty, dramatic landscapes: “By the time you get to April it is getting hot. I went in April, and we had Lalibela to ourselves. We were going around the rock-hewn churches and there were so few tourists there… It was before the rains so it was still very barren and dry, and spectacular, but very different to September-October when it’s very lush, so a real contrast in terms of the landscape and the scenery in terms of colours…”

Ilija Milos is a guide at our Croatia adventure specialists Fiore Tours. He recommends walking and hiking in Istria in spring: “The best time for cycling in Istria is April, May, June, September and October. This time of year is cool and less busy, plus Istria offers a lot of food and culture events. You can try wild asparagus dishes during April and May, which is ready for picking. The whole region is into it.”

Susie de Carteret founded our partner Tasmanian Odyssey. She says to consider Tasmania in its autumn: “March and April – Tasmania’s autumn – is a brilliant time of year to visit. This is usually the driest time of year and the days are still warm and long, but the nights are beginning to cool down and everywhere is much quieter. However, this is mating time for Tasmanian devils so the chances of seeing them in the wild are less than at other times of the year.”

Vicky Rodford, from our partner Intrepid Travel, loves Mexico in spring – just beware the notorious spring break: “Spring is an amazing time to go – around March and April. The weather is warm enough that you need to put on sunscreen, flights are well-priced and it is just a lovely time to go out there. But you do want to be wary of the US spring break along the Mayan Riviera, as there is a massive influx of US college students who are out to drink as much as they can in a two-week period. On our sort of tours, it doesn’t really impact you as much as we stay off the beaten track, but if you just want to see beaches, the US spring break will have an impact on your holiday.”

Vicky’s colleague Tim Winkworth prefers to go to the Galapagos Islands in April for a birding extravaganza: “The blue-footed boobies are beautiful with their bright blue feet… March and April is their mating season, so Easter is the perfect time to go because you are not just walking round and seeing one or two birds, or a flock just being as they normally are. You are walking round, in and out, having to step off the path to walk around these birds in massive numbers as they’re doing their mating rituals. You’re watching the funny dance, and in that same trip you get the blue-footed boobies wobbling from left to right, sort of like an accentuated penguin, and the frigate birds inflating the red sac on their neck, blowing it up and making a noise. April is the time that all happens.”

Annie Antonatou is a guide at our sailing and diving specialists Mystic Blue. She says that the Cyclades are lovely in spring: “The nature here is unique compared to the rest of Greece. Although it’s very barren, in spring you have lots of wildflowers you can only find in this part of the world. There are lots of orchids all over the Cyclades; March, April and May are the best months for these… Many small birds pass through the Cyclades – migratory season is February till May… Outside the tourist season (November-April) you can expect all kinds of weather, from thunderstorms, wind and even snow to lovely sunny days on which everybody rushes to the beach for a barbecue and a dip in the water.”

David Thomson, based in the Melbourne HQ of our partner Intrepid Travel, says that April is best for Australia: “I love to visit the Northern Territory in the shoulder seasons. In the Red Centre, April and October are my favourite months. The summer months can have temperatures up to 40°C and winter months can have nights below zero; it’s a semi-arid desert region, after all. The ‘in-between’ months are not too hot, not too cold and not too busy.

“My favourite time to visit the Top End is April to May. The whole ecosystem is pumping with wildlife and waterfalls, and the swimming waterholes are crystal-clear following the heavy rains of the wet season. The skies are clear for the most part, and the landscape is lush and green after the rains. What amazes me is that there are not many people about, so you’re often experiencing waterholes in a UNESCO World Heritage park by yourself.”