Cool weather destinations: five places to escape the summer heat
After consecutive years of record-breaking temperatures in many parts of the world, travellers are looking for cool weather destinations for their summer holidays. Here are five places worth considering.
After consecutive years of record-breaking temperatures in many parts of the world, travellers are increasingly looking for cool weather destinations for their summer holidays. Here are five destinations worth considering.
Western China
The western interior of China enjoys a much cooler summer climate, partly thanks to its altitude. Qinghai's vast plateau averages around 15°C in July, and daily temperatures can vary up to 20 °C in some parts. Yunnan, meanwhile, is known for its eternal spring-like climate. Although Chengdu and Chongqing can be swelteringly hot in summer due to their valley geography, Western Sichuan is much cooler as the altitude rises. Of course, Tibet and Northern Xinjiang are pleasant in summer as well, and Kodama can arrange your tour to these destinations, including your Tibet Permit.
Summer in Iceland is special. And this year, there will also be a solar eclipse, and many guided tours are booking out fast. The long summer days and midnight sun are great for road trips or chilling outside your wooden cabin for some BBQ. The interior highlands, accessible only in summer when the F-roads open, are a different country altogether: black lava fields, geothermal hot springs, and fewer crowds. For wildlife, summer brings puffins to the Westfjords and Látrabjarg cliffs, and whale watching is reliably good in Akureyri and Húsavík in the north.
The UK's reputation for grey skies and rain has now made it a destination for those wanting to escape the summer heat. Outside heat wave events, when the temperature can reach high 30s, the UK's temperature consistently hovers in the low 20s. Scotland's northwest coast, the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland average 14–16°C in July, with Atlantic winds that make it feel cooler.
British Columbia in summer offers two very different versions of cool. On the coast, the Inside Passage and waters around Vancouver Island and the Great Bear Rainforest are prime whale watching territory — humpbacks, orcas, and grey whales are all present, and the temperate rainforest keeps temperatures mild. Head inland and the scale shifts entirely: the Canadian Rockies around Banff and Jasper offer pleasant hikes and wildlife viewing (bear, elk, wolf).
New Zealand's winter (June–August) is often overlooked. The South Island, particularly around Queenstown and Franz Josef, is great for winter sports or glacier walks. Kaikōura's sperm whales are present year-round, and the fjords of Milford Sound are at their most atmospheric — low cloud, waterfalls after rain, and almost no cruise ship crowds. Winter is also the best time to see the kākāpō recovery work on Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and engage with some of New Zealand's conservation programmes.
Need more summer holiday inspiration? Don't hesitate to chat to us to start planning!
