Where to go when guide
Tied to school holidays, keen to miss the monsoon season or hoping for an off season deal?
Best countries to visit in August
August is peak travel season in the Northern Hemisphere, with kids streaming out of school. For families, we recommend multi activity holidays in places such as Montenegro’s Lake Skadar National Park, Croatia, Greece or rural Spain. Expertly organised itineraries include activities as varied as canyoning, white water rafting, whale watching and zip lining.
From African game reserves to turtle beaches in Costa Rica, August is a fantastic month for wildlife holidays. ![]()
There’s a running theme for our August holiday ideas that kids (and teachers) will be very familiar with: escape. Escape the crowded cities and get into the mountains where it’s cooler. If you want the coast, small ship cruises are the way to go. And while Spain and Greece are always popular, activity centres give parents the chance to relax and throw themselves into the fun as well. Read our guide to find out more about the best places to go on holiday in August.
August holiday activities
Small ship cruising
August is a popular month for small ship cruises, with sunny weather and calm seas in Europe and North America. Explore the idyllic Dalmatian Coast in Croatia or board a luxury gulet in Turkey. Stylish, comfortable, romantic and relaxing, there are few better ways to travel. And because passenger numbers are limited, you can get to places the bigger ships can’t reach.
Classic African safaris
Responsible Travel’s customer director Tim Williamson reckons African safaris are some of the best holidays in August. From Botswana to Mozambique to Tanzania, the days are cooler, the vegetation is thinner and, crucially, the water is scarcer. That makes it much more likely you’ll see some action around the remaining waterholes.Family fun
School’s out and activity centres – whether in Greece, Croatia, Spain or Montenegro – are the best places to go in August with kids. Professional instructors keep the fun stuff coming thick and fast with expertly designed itineraries that will leave everyone exhausted but happy. Expect good sleep, big smiles and great memories.
Activity holiday in Montenegro
An active villa holiday at stunning Lake Skadar, Montenegro
From
£895 to £1045
8 days
ex flights
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan highlights tour
Three stunning countries in one unforgettable tour
From
£1731 to £2002
13 days
ex flights
Three Reserve safari in South Africa
A 10 day big game safari visits 3 different game reserves
From
£3550 to £3750
10 days
ex flights
Croatia self drive holiday
A self drive discovery tour of beautiful Croatia
From
£1295 to £1950
15 days
ex flights
Dolomites walking holiday in Italy
Sandwiched between the spectacular peaks of the Dolomites
From
£2499 to £3629
8 days
ex flights
Italian cooking holiday, small group
Immersive local gastronomy & cooking in undiscovered Tuscany
From
£1600
7 days
ex flights
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European touring
Scotland is always busy in August, when the weather is at its warmest and driest. But take a railway tour, and you’ll find there are still parts of the Highlands that are remote and wild. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania can easily be combined on a fascinating small group tour. Even in August, they’re relatively quiet compared to other parts of Europe.
Wildlife watching
Wildlife watching is one of our top August holiday recommendations, when animals are often at their most active. In the Azores, whales and dolphins arrive in huge numbers to feed in nutrient-rich waters. Malaysian Borneo is one of only two places you can see orangutans in the wild. August is a great time for African safaris, and land-based or cruise tours of the Galapagos Islands get you up close with iguanas, sea lions and giant tortoises.Where to go in August that isn't too hot?
If you’re after a European summer holiday with less chance of a European summer heatwave, consider looking beyond the traditional Med destinations. In Scandinavia, Norway’s fjords have their most stable weather, or you might consider Sweden (average daily high, 20°C). Slightly further south you can explore the forests of the Baltics by bike without getting too hot (average daily high in Lithuania in August, 22°C). Scotland is mild and warm, with calm seas for small ship cruises and hills purpling with heather; it’s an average of 16°C in the Highlands. Alternatively head to Europe’s more mountainous regions. In France, the Alps tend to stay a cooler than the coast (average daily high 26°C in Chamonix) and with the snow gone, it’s a great month for walking. Try the Dolomites in Italy (average high 20°C) or consider northern Spain for cooler temperatures than its sun-baked south, especially in the Picos de Europa (average daily high 22°C).
More Best places to go in August articles
Our map and highlights showcase the best places to go on holiday in August.
It may be peak season in some parts, but August means peak excitement where we’re concerned.
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