Gardens by the Bay, a nature park in Singapore that is adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. monticello/Shutterstock
Want an adrenaline-fueled adventure? Would you prefer to relax by the sea? Or maybe you’re keen to absorb some culture at a festival?
August is prime time for an epic escape. So check out some of our recommendations for where to travel and start planning your next adventure.
Northeast Sri Lanka
There’s a triple whammy of good news about Sri Lanka’s northeast in August: the weather is great, prices are low and beaches are quiet. Unlike the southwest, which catches the rain now, the northeast coast this month has blue skies, warm waters and – at Arugam Bay particularly – good surf. Civil war ensured this region was largely off-limits until recently, so the coast is minimally developed; you can still find an empty patch of sand at spots such as Nilaveli, Uppuveli and Passekudah. The center is also pretty dry in August, good for visiting the rock fortress of Sigiriya and spiritual hub Kandy, which bursts into noisy, colorful life during the Esala Perahera celebrations honoring the Sacred Tooth relic of Buddha each summer.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Sri Lanka hub.
Cyclades, Greece
Okay, we won’t lie: August across this magnificent Mediterranean archipelago is hardly castaway quiet. The weather is alluringly hot and sunny, and popular islands like party-central Mykonos and dreamy Santorini heave. However, smaller outposts – such as Schinoussa, uninhabited Fidousa and craggy-coasted Iraklia – will be far less crowded. Plus, there’s a way to get away from everyone: jump in that crystal-clear blue sea. Book an open-water swimming holiday to hop between bays, coves and beaches under your own steam – rather than hordes of tourists, you’ll see sea caves, rock arches, towering cliffs, and colorful fish.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Greece hub.
Sweden
Allemansrätt is an amazing thing. This “Right of Public Access,” written into Swedish law, means everyone has the right to visit any beach, swim in any lake, fish anywhere off the coast, put up a tent on (almost) any patch of ground and forage all over. And in a country with as much wonderful wilderness as Sweden, the possibilities are endless. Even in peak-season August, there’s plenty of space for everyone. Plus, it’s a great month for foraging: look out for wild mushrooms plus bushes heavy with blueberries, raspberries, lingonberries and cloudberries. But where to go? Perhaps a wild camp kayaking expedition around the islands of the Stockholm Archipelago? Or a hike along the Kungsleden (King’s Trail) in remote Swedish Lappland? Or how about berry picking in the forests of Skuleskogen National Park?
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Sweden hub.
Ecuador
Little Ecuador packs the best of South America into one handy package. It has amazing architecture in Quito and Cuenca; Inca remains at Ingapirca; Indigenous markets at Otavalo, Saquisilí and Zumbahua; magnificent cones (including picture-perfect Cotopaxi) along the “Avenue of the Volcanoes”; and profuse wildlife in the Amazon, the Galápagos and the northern cloud forests. Both highlands and rainforests are driest in August, so it’s prime time for absorbing the cultural highlights and hiking on volcanoes and rafting whitewater rivers. Ecuador’s a bargain to boot, with great value accommodations.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Ecuador hub. Or you can copy our writer Chamidae Ford's trip with Elsewhere.
eSwatini
Landlocked eSwatini (known until 2018 as Swaziland) has all the allure you’d expect from a wild tract of southern Africa and August is the height of the dry season. There are 17 game-packed protected areas spread across this small nation’s bushveld, highveld and subtropical forests – ranger-led walks in Hlane Royal National Park are a particular thrill. But arguably it’s the human interactions here that’ll leave the greatest impression. Ruled by one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchs, eSwatini has a well-preserved cultural heritage, displayed in most dazzling fashion in late August or early September at the Umhlanga Reed Dance. This large event at Ludzidzini sees up to 40,000 exuberant, brightly dressed young women dance before the king and the queen mother, accompanied by poker-faced warriors. It’s an unmatched eruption of swaying, singing, color and noise.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our eSwatini hub.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nowhere else are a city and a dance so inextricably linked. Tango is, simply, the heartbeat of Buenos Aires, and the Argentine capital’s passion for both the music – exemplified by the songs of Carlos Gardel, which still waft out of many windows – and the dance never seems to diminish. The cool month of August isn’t just a wonderful time to visit BA: it also sees the city fling itself into its annual Festival de Tango, with performances and concerts by the finest exponents. At other times, you can enjoy touristy (but usually high-caliber) tango shows at various clubs and theaters, or simply watch the weekly Sunday sessions in Plaza Dorrego. But to really feel the spirit of the dance, join a lesson at a San Telmo milonga (dancehall) and stay for the late-night free-for-all with expert Porteños afterward, fueled by fine Argentine red wine.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Buenos Aires hub.
Singapore
Singapore is a hot and tasty prospect year-round. Since it’s practically on the equator, it’s always warm here, while the food scene – from Michelin-starred to street stalls – is always delicious. August, when local school holidays are over and rain is scarce, can be especially mouthwatering. There’s a growing focus on thinking local and sustainable, too, with a resurgence in the popularity of the city’s hawker market culture and comfort food faves (laksa, hokkien mee rice, fried kway teow noodles), young “hawkerpreneur” chefs adding hipness to the traditional scene and attempts to tackle food waste issues. Indeed, Singapore is aiming for a greener future all round, with a pledge to double the size of its nature parks and plant more than a million trees by 2030.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Singapore hub.
Portland, Oregon
The Pacific Northwest is notorious for its damp, misty weather. However, your best bet for a break with less drizzle is in August: it’s one of the region’s hottest, driest months, and ideal for soaking up Portland’s alfresco summer food scene. At this time of year it’s all about exploring the distinct neighborhoods, hanging out on patios and plazas, grazing from food trucks, browsing farmers markets, supping at microbreweries (there are around 70 in town) and scootering between award-winning baristas. Coffee is treated as seriously as wine here. A java crawl might include the rock-star roaster Stumptown, an iced cold brew at Courier and a cuppa at Bison, the city’s only Native American–owned coffee shop.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Portland hub. And don't forget to check out local writer Margot Bigg's favorite spots to grab a bite in Portland.
East Greenland
It’s tough to explore East Greenland. This side of the Arctic island is practically uninhabited outside the Ammassalik region, and its northern reaches – largely encompassed within Northeast Greenland National Park, the biggest national park in the world – are locked in by pack ice for most of the year. But for a few summer months, the ice loosens its grip, the coast opens up just a peep and small expedition ships can make forays into this remotest wilderness. Head for Tasiilaq (August average highs: 10°C/50°F), a peak-flanked town that makes a fine base for excursions such as tundra hikes and helicopter flights over the ice cap. You can also board a northbound cruise to explore Scoresby Sund (the planet’s biggest fjord system), float amid icebergs, zip along glacier faces in inflatable boats, stop at the isolated community of Ittoqqortoormiit to learn about Inuit culture, and trek across the tundra, looking out for musk ox, Arctic fox, seals and seabirds.
Trip plan: Kulusuk Airport is a 2hr flight from Reykjavík; helicopters connect to Tasiilaq. During summer months various expedition cruises are possible. Some cruises combine East Greenland with Svalbard or Iceland.
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
The craggy, saw-toothed Flinders Ranges in South Australia are venerable indeed. Formed over 600 million years ago, they’re home to some of the oldest multi-cellular fossils on earth – the region’s Nilpena Ediacara National Park, designated in 2021, is arguably the world’s richest and most intact paleontological site. Also, human activity here dates back 49,000 years, with Aboriginal stories seemingly woven around every rock and outcrop. August is a good time to plot your own Flinders walkabout: there’s more rain, but it fills the creeks and pools, attracting wildlife. Animals are more active during the cooler winter days, too – hikers might find themselves strolling with yellow-footed rock wallabies, emus, gray kangaroos and flocks of galahs. The rugged northern section of the 1200km (750-mile) Heysen Trail (which starts on the south coast) cuts through the region, finishing at Parachilna Gorge, winding via Mt Remarkable, Alligator Gorge and the craterlike bowl of Ikara (Wilpena Pound). Truly epic hiking country.
Find everything you need to know to plan a trip on our Australia hub.