What does November have in store for eager travellers? Fewer crowds for a start – paired with spellbinding sights in Ethiopia, all-you-can-eat conch in the Caribbean and scenic hikes in Hong Kong.
Choose your November adventure with these recommendations from our destination experts.
Dust off your trail runners in Hong Kong
The summer rains have gone, and the mercury has dropped (slightly), making November the perfect time to strap on your hiking boots and hit the trail. Mountain tops barely peek above Hong Kong’s iconic skyscraper-studded skyline, hinting at the hundreds of kilometres of wild trails waiting to be explored just beyond the hum of the city.
The gutsy can enter the Oxfam Trailwalker (oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk; 18-20 November). This annual 48-hour endurance challenge covers the MacLehose Trail, a 100km undulating strip that tiptoes along the ridges of the New Territories and descends down to some of Hong Kong’s best beaches, as well as the unusual rock formations of the Unesco-listed Global Geopark.
Or take it at a slower pace on one of the other trails that criss-cross the islands, such as Dragon’s Back, which snakes up to panoramic coastal vistas at 284m-tall Shek O Peak and was named the world’s best urban walk.
Hong Kong’s excellent public-transport network means tackling these trails is as easy as lacing up your shoes.
Lauren Keith – Destination Editor. Follow her tweets @noplacelike_it.
Experience the highs of northern Ethiopia
Cobalt blue skies loom large in the Ethiopian highlands during November, making the perfect travel companion for historical explorations, mountain treks and an incredible cultural celebration.
Head out onto Lake Tana’s waters from Bahir Dar to visit more than a dozen sacred monasteries; sip a perfect macchiato in Gonder before wandering through 16th-century castles and palaces; and descend into a world frozen in stone at Lalibela, the site of 11 spellbinding rock-hewn churches.
If you’d like to get even closer to the compelling African sky, climb up into Simien Mountains National Park. But be warned, you’ll spend most of your time looking down – the views over the Abyssinian abysses are mesmerising, as are the sights of enigmatic bleeding heart monkeys (geladas) and walia ibex.
The northern town of Aksum, famed for its ancient civilisation, towering monolithic stelae and its claim to house the Ark of the Covenant, swells at the end of the month with thousands of followers who’ve made the pilgrimage to celebrate the Ethiopian Orthodox festival of Maryam Zion. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the devotion (and pomp and circumstance) associated with the religion.
Matt Phillips – Destination Editor, sub-Saharan Africa. Follow his tweets @Go2MattPhillips.
Test your taste buds in Turks & Caicos
In November, most of the Caribbean is in the last throes of hurricane season, but the rains and storms soon subside, giving way to an ideal shoulder season that allows travellers to avoid the crowds and high prices that arrive in December.
Turks and Caicos shakes off the weather and jumps right into its own festivities – at the end of the month, the islands hold the world’s only conch festival, a celebration of the delicious gastropod that is a staple of local cuisine. The main event is the ‘Conch-etition’, a tasting competition in which chefs compete for the top prize in several categories including Best Conch Chowder, Best Conch Salad, Best Specialty Conch and Best in Show. Attendees can also show off their own conch-cooking skills in the Home Kitchen competition – whip up your best sea snail recipe and see if it takes home the prize.
After you’ve eaten your fill, head to one of the islands’ pristine beaches to rest up, or get moving by hiking to historic ruins on North Caicos or trying your hand at kiteboarding the waters off Providenciales.
Bailey Johnson – Destination Editor, Central America & Caribbean. Follow her tweets @The_Traveling_B.
Explore whimsical holiday markets in NYC
You can’t beat the sensory experience of New York City in November. The smell of roasted chestnuts rises up from food carts on every street corner, piercing the cool autumnal air with their pungent sweetness. Fallen leaves crunch underfoot with each step. Fantastical and festive displays fill the massive storefront windows along the city’s shopping corridors. The excitement of the approaching holiday season manifests itself all over the city.
The holiday markets at Bryant Park, Union Square, Columbus Circle and Grand Central Terminal open at various times throughout the month, as do ice-skating rinks at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center. Take some time to wander through these warrens of vendor stalls and admire the handiwork on offer, ranging from jewellery and clothing to art, and then sample some of the seasonal culinary delights on display. Each market offers a different setting and allows you to soak up the atmosphere of this city at its most sparkly and alluring.
Rebecca Warren – Destination Editor, Eastern USA. Follow her tweets @RebeccaGWarren.
Tour the food festivals of Tuscany, Italy
Truffles, handmade pasta and freshly pressed olive oil... Tuscany is brimming with fresh produce in November and is best experienced at the region’s many food festivals.
The first of November marks the beginning of wild boar hunting season and the rich meat finds its way into a variety of Tuscan stews and pastas. Alternatively, sample hand-rolled Bringoli – a pasta traditionally topped with meatless ragù – at the Feast of San Martino.
Olive harvesting and pressing also starts this month. Get involved at local farms and celebrate at the Olive Oil Festival in Montemurlo (festadelloliomontemurlo.it). But don’t spend all your money on oil – you’ll need to save some for the Festival of the White Truffle of San Miniato if you’re a fan of this flavoursome fungus.
If you’re still hungry, walk through the city walls of Lucca to discover the Desco, a large food fair that begins mid-November and continues all month. If you look up from your tasting plate, you might even catch the last of the autumn colours.
Jenny Stephens – blogger at exploreadventurediscover.wordpress.com and Lonely Planet Pathfinder.
