From a private-island art resort in the Maldives to Northern Lights over a steaming lagoon, these are the journeys worth taking before the year runs out
The clocks go back this Sunday, the heating is officially on, and London has settled into its annual grey. Which is precisely when we start plotting our exit. But an autumn escape doesn’t have to mean a sun lounger. October is the month the world shows off its full range: long-haul beaches at their sunniest, mountains sharpening into winter, cities at their most golden and wild places teeming with life.
So we’ve split this edit into four moods. Two trips for chasing the sun, two for embracing the chill, two for city lovers and two for those who’d rather be out in the wild, each paired with the one hotel we’d book without hesitation.
The edit at a glance
- Chase the sun: Raa Atoll, Maldives and Paros, Greece
- Embrace the chill: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy and Reykjanes, Iceland
- City lights: Tokyo, Japan and New York City, USA
- Into the wild: Sri Lanka and Madikwe, South Africa
PART ONE: CHASE THE SUN
1. Raa Atoll, The Maldives
October temperature: 30°C
Why go now
While Europe reaches for its knitwear, the Raa Atoll is all white sand, glassy lagoons and some of the richest reefs in the Indian Ocean. October is a quiet triumph underwater: seasonal plankton blooms pull in manta rays, and reef sharks, turtles and dolphins are regular company on a snorkel. Come nightfall, the shoreline glows with bioluminescence. No filter required.
Where to stay: Joali
Joali has the entire 24-acre island of Muravandhoo to itself, and it’s the Maldives’ first resort conceived around art, with pieces by established names, rising talent and local craftspeople woven throughout. The 73 villas are a study in mosaics, open-air pavilions and uninterrupted ocean views, and each comes with a jadugar, the resort’s butlers, who seem to read minds for a living. The wellness sanctuary covers body treatments, movement workshops and cooking masterclasses, while the complimentary Muramas Kids Club (ages four to 12) keeps younger guests happily occupied.
Don’t miss: A night-time walk along the beach when the bioluminescence is out. It’s the kind of thing you’ll still be talking about at Christmas.
The details
- Best for: Art lovers who also want a butler
- Price: From £1,850 per night
- Getting there: Around 10 hours from London to Malé, followed by a scenic seaplane transfer
2. Paros, Greece
October temperature: 24°C
Why go now
Paros delivers everything you want from a Greek island (whitewashed villages, sandy beaches, clear coves, a food scene built on Cycladic produce) without the cruise-ship crush of Santorini or Mykonos. In October the sea is still warm, the harbour tavernas are still open, and you can finally get a table without a fight.
Where to stay: Méros
New this year and already one of the island’s most sought-after addresses, Méros is the work of the family-run Santikos Collection. Just 26 rooms sit in the heart of Naousa, all whitewashed architecture, natural textures and sweeping Aegean views. The pace is deliberately slow: long afternoons by the pool, longer evenings on the sun-warmed terraces with the season’s last glass of rosé. At under £200 a night, it’s also the best-value stay in this edit.
Don’t miss: A drive inland to the villages of Lefkes, Prodromos and Marpissa, where island life still runs to its own rhythm.
What else to do
Browse the boutiques around Naousa harbour, then head to Golden Beach, Greece’s windsurfing capital, to watch the pros (or join them).
The details
- Best for: Cycladic glamour, minus the crowds
- Price: From £188 per night
- Getting there: Fly to Athens (around 3.5 hours), then a short hop or ferry to Paros
PART TWO: EMBRACE THE CHILL
3. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
October temperature: 14°C
Why go now
October is Cortina’s secret season. The air turns crisp, the larches glow gold against the peaks, and the trails are blissfully empty, all a month before ski season fills the town. You get the dramatic mountain scenery, historic alpine architecture and long love affair with the silver screen, minus the queues at the lifts.
Where to stay: Grand Hotel Savoia
Cortina’s grande dame has been holding court since 1912, and its guest list reads like a film festival red carpet: Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren all stayed in its heyday. Now part of the Dhom Collection, the hotel balances classic and contemporary Italian style, with warm, cosy rooms and suites looking out to the peaks. The Savoia Spa, with its traditional sauna, Turkish bath and signature beauty menu, is exactly where you want to be after a day in the mountains.
Don’t miss: The passeggiata along Corso Italia, a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, ending with a spritz at golden hour.
The details
- Best for: Old Hollywood glamour in the mountains
- Price: From €600 (approx £510) per night
- Getting there: Fly to Venice (around 2 hours), then roughly 2 hours by road into the Dolomites
4. Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland
October temperature: 5°C
Why go now
October is when Iceland’s long nights return, which means Northern Lights season is properly under way and the summer crowds have thinned out. The landscape turns moody and russet, the air bites, and there is no better antidote to the cold than slipping into milky-blue geothermal water as the sky starts to dance.
Where to stay: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Set into an ancient lava field less than an hour from Reykjavík, The Retreat is one of the most otherworldly hotels on the planet. Its 62 suites pair serene Scandinavian design with floor-to-ceiling windows framing moss-covered volcanic rock (in the Lava View suites, it’s close enough to touch from your terrace). Guests have their own private stretch of lagoon, well away from the day-trippers, plus the subterranean Retreat Spa, where the signature Blue Lagoon Ritual is a must. Dinner is at Moss, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, where Icelandic produce takes centre stage.
Don’t miss: A late-night soak in the lagoon. If the aurora makes an appearance, you’ll have the best seat in the house, from the water.
The details
- Best for: Northern Lights from a hot spring
- Price: From around £1,300 per night
- Getting there: Around 3 hours from London to Keflavík, then a 20-minute drive
PART THREE: CITY LIGHTS
5. Tokyo, Japan
October temperature: 19°C
Why go now
The heavy summer humidity has finally lifted, leaving Tokyo at its most walkable: clear skies, mild days and the first hints of autumn colour in its gardens. Spend mornings in the shrine forests, afternoons in Ginza’s flagship boutiques and evenings perched at an eight-seat omakase counter. It’s a city that rewards wandering, and October is the month to do it.
Where to stay: Janu Tokyo
The first hotel from Aman’s new sister brand, Janu opened in 2024 in Azabudai Hills, a leafy new neighbourhood in Minato. Think Aman’s calm, pared-back elegance with the volume turned up a notch. Its 122 rooms and suites are flooded with light through floor-to-ceiling windows, many with balconies and views of Tokyo Tower. There are eight restaurants and bars, from all-day Italian at Janu Mercato to an intimate omakase at Sumi, and the 4,000-square-metre spa, one of the city’s largest, comes with a 25-metre pool and private spa houses. Jet lag doesn’t stand a chance.
Don’t miss: A nightcap at Janu Bar, where classic cocktails get a Japanese twist.
The details
- Best for: Design lovers and wellness devotees
- Price: From around £800 per night
- Getting there: Around 14 hours direct from London to Tokyo Haneda
6. New York City, USA
October temperature: 14°C
Why go now
Autumn is New York at its best-dressed. Central Park turns copper and gold, the air is crisp enough for your best coat, and the city’s restaurant, theatre and gallery calendar is in full swing after the summer lull. Stay until the 31st and you’ll catch Halloween in the Village, an event in its own right.
Where to stay: The Fifth Avenue Hotel
On the corner of Fifth Avenue and West 28th Street in NoMad, this 2023 opening marries a 1907 Renaissance-style palazzo with a sleek modern glass tower. Inside, designer Martin Brudnizki has gone all in on Gilded Age drama: jewel tones, ornate detailing and rooms so richly layered you’ll want to photograph every corner. It’s been awarded two Michelin Keys, and Café Carmellini, the French-Italian restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, draws as many locals as hotel guests.
Don’t miss: Dinner at Café Carmellini. Book well ahead, then walk it off in Madison Square Park, a few minutes away.
The details
- Best for: Maximalists and serial restaurant-hoppers
- Price: From around £735 per night
- Getting there: Around 8 hours from London to New York JFK
PART FOUR: INTO THE WILD
7. Sri Lanka
October temperature: 28°C
Why go now
Few countries pack so many holidays into so small a space. In a matter of hours you can move from leopard-tracking in Yala (one of the densest leopard populations on earth) to spotting sloth bears and elephants in quieter Wilpattu, from the rock fortress of Sigiriya and the temples of Kandy to the misty, tea-carpeted hills around Nuwara Eliya. Down south, Galle brings colonial architecture and beaches, while Mirissa is one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Where to stay: Uga Halloowella, Hatton
High in tea country, this 1880 colonial bungalow has been beautifully reimagined by architect Channa Daswatte, and with only six suites, it feels more like a private estate than a hotel. Every suite comes with a clawfoot bath, an open fireplace and a dedicated butler. The infinity pool looks out across the valley to Castlereagh Reservoir, and there are outdoor jacuzzis and a semi-open-air Balinese spa for slow, misty mornings.
Don’t miss: A market tour followed by a cooking class with a local chef. You’ll come home with a new favourite dhal recipe and a list of fruits you never knew existed.
The details
- Best for: A romantic hideaway in the hills
- Price: From £813 per night
- Getting there: Around 11 hours direct from London to Colombo, then a scenic drive up into the hill country
8. Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
October temperature: 23°C
Why go now
Madikwe is a vast 75,000-hectare reserve on the Botswana border, and crucially, it’s malaria-free. October brings the first rains, turning the bush lush and green, and with it some of the year’s most rewarding game viewing. Lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and Cape buffalo are all on the cards, alongside giraffe, zebra, hippo and more than 300 species of bird. After dark, the skies are some of the clearest you’ll ever see.
Where to stay: The Royal Madikwe
Family-owned and fiercely intimate, The Royal Madikwe welcomes no more than 17 guests at a time across three suites and two private villas. It feels like a beautifully run private home in the wilderness. Mornings are for expert-led game drives and walking safaris, afternoons for Africology spa treatments, and evenings for the lodge’s signature Gastronomic Safari tasting menu, served under the stars.
Don’t miss: A guided bush walk. Seeing the reserve on foot, rather than from a vehicle, is a different (and thrilling) experience entirely.
The details
- Best for: An exclusive, family-friendly safari
- Price: From £865 per night
- Getting there: Around 11 hours from London to Johannesburg, then a road or light-aircraft transfer to the reserve
Craving pure heat? The Maldives and Paros have you covered. Want to lean into the cold? Cortina’s golden peaks and Iceland’s aurora-lit lagoons are calling. City lovers should split the difference between Tokyo’s calm and New York’s buzz, and if it’s wildlife you’re after, Sri Lanka and Madikwe will stay with you long after you land back in London. Whichever mood you’re in, winter can wait.
