Where to go when guide
If you’re tied to school holidays, keen to miss the monsoon season or hoping to snag an off-season bargain, read our month-by-month guide on where to go on holiday when.
Where to go on holiday in February
February is a month when many of us make for warmer climes, escaping grey skies and rain back home. Our February map and highlights reveal some exciting, and perhaps surprising, places for winter sun, from Costa Rica and Sri Lanka to Tasmania and India. And while it’s lovely and warm in Southeast Asia at this time of year, in other parts of the world February is still very much winter. This is a magical time to go snowshoeing in the Spanish Pyrenees, or wait for the Northern Lights while showing the kids the time of their lives in Finnish Lapland.
Our Best places to go in February Holidays
Amalfi Coast walking holiday, Italy
Walk in lemon groves and hillside villages
From
£1199 to £1849
8 days
inc UK flights
Costa Rica highlights holiday & beach
Short highlight itinerary covering city, forests and beach.
From
£1455
13 days
ex flights
Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
A week to explore the spectacular sites and scenery of Jordan
From
£1829 to £2149
9 days
inc UK flights
Finland Northern Lights holiday, Wilderness Auroras
Winter activities & Aurora hunting in Finland
From
£1565 to £1725
5 days
inc UK flights
Borneo tour, Great Apes and Beach escapes
Explore bustling cities, lush jungles and paradise beaches.
From
£1658
9 days
ex flights
Costa Rica wildlife holiday
An amazing variety of Costa Rican wildlife
From
£3199 to £4349
16 days
inc UK flights
Kerala tailor made holiday, 11 days
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
From
£1349 to £1779
11 days
ex flights
Chile and Argentina tour
Santiago, Lake District, Patagonia, Glaciers & Buenos Aires
From
£2595
14 days
ex flights
Northern Lights family holiday, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing spa hotel
From
£1085 to £1795
4 days
inc UK flights
Finland winter activity holiday & Northern Lights
Discover this Finnish winter activity wilderness week
From
£2049 to £2549
8 days
inc UK flights
Rajasthan 15 day tour
A well crafted northern Indian and Rajasthani experience
From
£1749
15 days
ex flights
Cross-country skiing holiday in Finland, Russian border
Guided hut-to-hut cross-country skiing holiday in Finland
From
€1040
7 days
ex flights
Cross country skiing holiday in the Dolomites, Italy
A famously beautiful range of jagged peaks
From
£1399 to £1999
8 days
inc UK flights
Luxury fitness holidays in Spain
Luxury weight loss, detox, fitness & wellness retreat Spain
From
£1195 to £1295
7 days
ex flights
Northern Lights short break, Finnish Lapland
Unique aurora tour with huskys, snowshoeing and snowmobiling
From
€1206 to €1253
4 days
ex flights
B&B self drive tour of Tasmania, meet the locals
Explore coastal expanses and mountainous magnificence on this Tassie tailor made trip
From
AU $1495 to AU $6000
10 days
ex flights
Vietnam and Cambodia 15 day tour, tailor made
See two wonders of the world in just two weeks
From
£1855
15 days
ex flights
Tiger watching holiday in India
A chance to see the majestic tiger in the wild
From
£825 to £1050
9 days
ex flights
Kerala homestay tour, India
Stay in homestays in various destinations in Kerala
From
£2125
16 days
inc UK flights
Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh holiday in Vietnam
Capture the spirit of Vietnam on this compact adventure
From
£660 to £935
10 days
ex flights
Classic Cuba holiday, 11 days
Get into the Cuban swing over just ten days.
From
£1125
12 days
ex flights
Jordan holiday, small group
Visit Jordan from cities to mystic desert landscapes
From
£776 to £1010
8 days
ex flights
Tailor made wildlife tour of Sri Lanka
Wildlife tour around Sri Lanka - see blue whales!
From
£1990
11 days
ex flights
Siberian Tiger & Amur Leopard tours in Russia
Track tigers in snowy Russian backcountry, accompanied by an expert guide of Durminskoye Reserve
From
£2995
10 days
ex flights
Alternative family winter holiday in Chamonix, France
Easter family ski, yoga & circus holiday
From
£835 to £845
7 days
ex flights
Costa Rica
1. Costa Rica
While you can expect crowds in hotspots such as the national parks, February is the best time to visit Costa Rica. It’s warm, dry and the wildlife is uninhibited by rain. Leatherback turtles nest on beaches in Corcovado National Park and the rainforests are a riot of colour and noise, with toucans and butterflies brushing up against monkeys, tapirs and iguanas.
Finnish Lapland
2. Finnish Lapland
With thick snow and longer days, February is one of the best months to visit Finnish Lapland. You’ll have a full range of activities, from snowshoeing to dog sledding, available to you. You also have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights in February. Finnish Lapland is beautiful at any time of year, but February is sublime – a wintery wonderland.
India
3. India
In February the temperatures in India are very manageable, especially in the south. This is a lovely time to tour the Golden Triangle route, although you will encounter crowds at popular sites such as the Taj Mahal. If you’re hiking or scouting for tigers in the national parks, then you’ll want to layer up in the mornings and evenings.
Sri Lanka
4. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a popular February destination for travellers seeking winter sun with some culture thrown in. You’re just outside the busy season, should avoid the second monsoon, and it’s great for wildlife watchers. Animals in Yala National Park are more visible as the dry season commences and this is peak time for whales – you might even see an early blue whale.
Tasmania
5. Tasmania
In Tasmania, February is the tail end of summer and “peak” season. “Peak” because even when it’s busy in Tasmania, it’s still nothing compared to the crowds you’d find elsewhere in Australia. February lends itself to self drive holidays, travelling slowly between vineyards and national parks, pausing for walks here and there, and with friendly B&B hosts awaiting you every evening.
Thailand
6. Thailand
February is a great month to visit Thailand – it’s dry and not too hot, and nowhere is off-limits. You can lend a hand at an elephant sanctuary, visit the hill tribes, browse the night markets and head down to the islands for a little taste of luxury. Opt for a tailor made tour and you can have it all.
Our top Best places to go in February Holiday
Jordan holiday, a week in Jordan
A week to explore the spectacular sites and scenery of Jordan
From
£1829 to £2149
9 days
inc UK flights
Small group travel:
2022: 5 Feb, 12 Mar, 2 Apr, 13 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 28 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 26 Oct, 29 Oct, 2 Nov, 5 Nov, 9 Nov, 12 Nov, 16 Nov, 19 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 30 Nov, 3 Dec, 7 Dec, 10 Dec, 14 Dec, 17 Dec, 28 Dec
2023: 4 Feb, 11 Feb, 25 Feb, 11 Mar, 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 15 Apr, 22 Apr, 29 Apr, 6 May, 13 May, 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun ...
2022: 5 Feb, 12 Mar, 2 Apr, 13 Apr, 16 Apr, 23 Apr, 30 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 28 May, 4 Jun, 6 Aug, 3 Sep, 10 Sep, 17 Sep, 24 Sep, 28 Sep, 1 Oct, 8 Oct, 15 Oct, 22 Oct, 26 Oct, 29 Oct, 2 Nov, 5 Nov, 9 Nov, 12 Nov, 16 Nov, 19 Nov, 23 Nov, 26 Nov, 30 Nov, 3 Dec, 7 Dec, 10 Dec, 14 Dec, 17 Dec, 28 Dec
2023: 4 Feb, 11 Feb, 25 Feb, 11 Mar, 18 Mar, 25 Mar, 5 Apr, 12 Apr, 15 Apr, 22 Apr, 29 Apr, 6 May, 13 May, 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun ...
Travel Team
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February holiday advice
We’ve spoken with our expert travel partners to find out where they recommend travelling to in February. Here’s what they say…
Paul Goldstein, from our partner Exodus Travels, says:
“As with all wildlife watching, it is great to take kids on a tiger safari in India. But just be aware of the heat. Choose the time of year correctly to avoid the hottest times... February half term would be perfect.”
Mary Curry, from our travel partner Adventure Life, on Antarctica cruising:
“February is fabulous. If you want to get good access through and your goal is to get really far south because you want to cross the polar circle, then you need to go in the height of the season. That’s also supposed to be the calmest water in the Drake Passage – although that’s really hit and miss. You can get totally calm seas in March and 4.5m waves in January, so you can’t guarantee that, but that’s the general rule of thumb. Many people want to go in February as they’re trying to balance all these factors – they’re trying to balance the penguins and the whales, and the possibly calmer water and possibly calmer access.”
Paul Goldstein, from our partner Exodus Travels, says:
“As with all wildlife watching, it is great to take kids on a tiger safari in India. But just be aware of the heat. Choose the time of year correctly to avoid the hottest times... February half term would be perfect.”
Mary Curry, from our travel partner Adventure Life, on Antarctica cruising:
“February is fabulous. If you want to get good access through and your goal is to get really far south because you want to cross the polar circle, then you need to go in the height of the season. That’s also supposed to be the calmest water in the Drake Passage – although that’s really hit and miss. You can get totally calm seas in March and 4.5m waves in January, so you can’t guarantee that, but that’s the general rule of thumb. Many people want to go in February as they’re trying to balance all these factors – they’re trying to balance the penguins and the whales, and the possibly calmer water and possibly calmer access.”
Geraldine Westrupp, from our specialist travel partner Wild Photography Holidays, with some advice on Iceland:
“February means the chance to see the aurora borealis and the landscapes are very icy and wintery, but there’s good light by then.”
“February means the chance to see the aurora borealis and the landscapes are very icy and wintery, but there’s good light by then.”
Martin Royle, founder of our wildlife holiday specialists, Royle Safaris says:
“By far the best time to try and see wolves in the USA is during the winter and in particular the late winter. This is due to the fact that after the annual rut of the bison and elk the males are very tired (near constant fighting and mating for weeks on end) and so they are easy pickings. The wolves also dominate the ecosystem during this period as the bear species (grizzlies and black bears) are hibernating. It is also the main breeding season for the wolves and so they are more active in trying to find mates and establish new packs. So I would recommend February for wolf watching in the USA.”
“By far the best time to try and see wolves in the USA is during the winter and in particular the late winter. This is due to the fact that after the annual rut of the bison and elk the males are very tired (near constant fighting and mating for weeks on end) and so they are easy pickings. The wolves also dominate the ecosystem during this period as the bear species (grizzlies and black bears) are hibernating. It is also the main breeding season for the wolves and so they are more active in trying to find mates and establish new packs. So I would recommend February for wolf watching in the USA.”
More about Best places to go in February
Tigers and whales; salsa lessons and Northern Lights – there’s much more to February than ski slopes.
Our top 10 February holidays explore winter sun, cultural touring and fantastic wildlife watching.
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