Summer is well and truly on its way, and while we might already be out the other side of those luscious four days of sun in the UK, we’re hankering for more. These are the top holidays for June – and the perfect wardrobe to accompany them.
We’ve picked our top destinations to get booking NOW for the most memorable summer yet. Whether it’s plunging in paradise with creatures of the deep, or sauntering sun-drenched avenues of the European capitals, we know just where to be heading as the mercury rises.
Ningaloo Reef, WA, Australia
Australia’s lesser known barrier reef on the western side of the continent is a keen traveller’s heaven. With barely any other tourists year-round, a trip to this corner of Australia’s largest state (1 million square miles!) may make you feel like the only souls on Earth.
Forget the tourist-packed Great Barrier, this sublime reef on the other end of the country offers snorkelers and divers brilliantly clear turquoise waters, striking and unique coral blooms and the world’s largest fish. Whale sharks make their migration route through northern WA’s waters between May and November. Attracted by ‘zooplankton’ explosions formed by the new coral spawns that follow on from summer, these gentle giants are a sight to behold. Up to 60ft in length, these curious fish practically invite you into the warm waters to swim alongside them for a truly remarkable and memorable experience. The whale sharks are extremely protected by local authorities, so finding tours with local professionals is best. And while taking the plunge with these creatures is highly recommended, just be sure not to touch! The towns of Coral Bay and Exmouth are the best bases for this. You’re sure to spot giant manta rays and shy little reef sharks in this area too, and if you’re lucky, elusive humpback whales might break the surface out in deeper waters.
Elsewhere in this rugged-landscaped corner of the globe you can head into the desert to see the natural wonders of the Pinnacles (ancient rock formations) and the impressive “Nature’s Window” rock arch in craggy Kalbarri National Park.
Balearic Islands
The islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza offer visitors everything you could ever want from a summer vacation. But far from being just places to bronze all day and party all night, the islands’ rugged coastlines and diverse interiors provide travellers an array of exciting activities.
Majorca’s World Heritage Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is not to be missed. Spectacular hiking trails, freshwater lakes and some of the world’s best driving roads for dropping the top down are just the beginning of the draws to this stunning location.
Ibiza manages to perfectly combine chilled-out, sophisticated beach retreats with more raucous resorts, separated by just a few pretty, quiet coves. Treat yourself to a day of coastal hedonism before decadence after dusk in the notorious party towns of Eivissa and San Antonio. Its sister island of Formentera is well worth a day trip by boat too.
Peaceful Menorca exudes a calmer way of life. The islands central wineries are world class, yet little explored and the mountainous interior is peppered with historic towns and villages that are proud of their rich heritage and local traditions that have remained almost unchanged for centuries.
Lisbon, Portugal
Sampling a pastel de nata (custard tart) is a rite of passage for anyone venturing to the handsome Portuguese capital. As spring turns to summer, join the locals in slowing down and indulging in fine wine and delicious food against the reverberations of gentle fado music. Lisbon’s hilly setting means it isn’t short of pretty verandas and hidden sun traps to while away the afternoon with a glass of port or fruity ginjinha liqueur. Well-known in Europe for its great value, visitors rave about the city’s celebrated coffee, breads and seafood that remain top quality yet cut-price.
The city’s warren of pretty alleys and narrow stairways between the streets will send visitors giddy with Instagram ammunition, and June is packed with exciting festivals throughout the week and weekends – The Feast of St Anthony will delight seafood lovers as the scent of grilled sardines fills the streets.
Be sure to catch a ride on one of the cities famous bright-yellow trams that wind through all the most fashionable districts up to Bairro Alto for exceptional views over the cityscape.
Jamaica
June is ideal in Jamaica. The tourists that flock to the island from December to April should have disappeared by June with the prospect of hurricane season looming. But since that doesn’t really get going until the end of the month you’ll have an idyllic couple of weeks to explore this sensational and diverse island. Soak up the rich Caribbean culture with jerk chicken, goat curry, rasta and reggae beats and of course rum, all against a symphony of steel drums.
Beyond the bountiful beaches and turquoise sea are the bewitching Blue Mountains, great for hiking, wildlife spotting and river rafting. World famous rum distilleries are scattered among the forested peaks, offering tastings and tours, or check out the stunning tiered Dunns River Falls. The towns of Negril and Montego Bay are notorious for vibrant nightlife, and the capital, Kingston is a whirlwind of loud markets, uproarious street performances, blaring traffic alongside colonial architecture and the cool Bob Marley museum.
The opportunities are endless in this Caribbean nirvana.
St. Petersburg, Russia
If 24 hours of sunshine isn’t a summer holiday draw then what is? St Petersburg’s ‘White Nights’ from mid June to early July are something special to behold. The sumptuous northern city with its magnificently ornate baroque palaces and its pretty network of canals will be bathed in sunlight that barely sets at night, illuminating the merriment in the streets surrounding music festivals and high-arts performances – opera and ballet are staples of St Pete’s rich culture.
Taking a scenic canal cruise or wandering along the banks of the Neva river are essential activities in the so-called “Venice of the north”. The city was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, designed specifically to impress. Its grandeur still delights visitors to this day, with glorious palaces, museums, theatres and gardens with bursting fountains and the scents of summer.
June is a blissful time in the Imperial city. The Carnival of White Nights sees celebrated actors parade the streets in period costume, warbling operatics and whirling in dance to world-class orchestras.
The illustrious and opulent Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace is not to be missed. Housing a collection of world artefacts so large that its said if you spent a minute ogling each item, you would be inside the museum for over 11 years!
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Venturing to the paradise of the Pacific islands is becoming an ever more popular pilgrimage. The scenery is like a fantasy movie: azure waters teeming with technicolour fish and swaying palms rising from ice-white sand. If snorkelling in clear, warm waters among the schools of marine life doesn’t sound like heaven, then laying back watching a glorious orange sunset with a coconut in hand will be. Attracting divers from all over the globe, expect to spot sharks, rays and endearing green and loggerhead turtles that come to greet you in the sheltered bays.
The principal island of Bora Bora and its string of smaller isles and atolls that encircle it are peppered with lavish resorts and traditional huts. Fancy staying in a bungalow perched over the water on stilts? So do we!
This tropical utopia basks in the high 20s year round, but June is the driest and balmiest season – the perfect time to head to the tropics before the high season in July and August, and avoiding the intense humidity of the rest of the year.
These islands have for a long time been synonymous with the Hollywood elite. Not only so silver screen lovebirds continuously honeymoon here but also the late Marlon Brando has a luxury resort – The Brando – that is dedicated to local conservation. Grab yourself a slice of the celebrity lifestyle in blissful paradise this summer.
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