Got a chunk of annual leave for October but have no idea how to spend it? We may be able to help.<\/strong><\/p>\n October is a brilliant month to travel. Autumn is blazing its way across Europe<\/a>\u2018s forests and countryside, spring blooms are blanketing mountains and moorlands in Australia, and the intense summer heat finally subsides in North Africa<\/a> and the Middle East. It\u2019s also a shoulder month in many destinations, meaning smaller queues and fewer folks in your holiday snaps.<\/p>\n From feasting on fresh sardines in Portugal to wandering ancient temples in Egypt, here are the top picks of where to travel in October.<\/p>\n October blows through Portugal<\/a> like a welcome breeze after a fiery summer. Visit during this time and you\u2019ll be rewarded with the very best of its cities, cuisine and beaches. Climbing Lisbon and Porto\u2019s steep cobbled streets in the summer can be sweaty work, but by October, it\u2019s all the more enjoyable.<\/p>\n The sea in Portugal is much cooler than that of its Mediterranean neighbours, but after a long, cloudless summer, the water is finally warm enough for a comfortable dip. The locals say the best time to eat seafood is any month with an \u201cr,\u201d so be sure to get your fill \u2013 including Portugal\u2019s famous sardines. Wine lovers can also head to the picturesque Douro Valley to participate in the annual grape harvest activities.<\/p>\n There\u2019s never a terrible time to visit Italy, but anyone who\u2019s queued outside the Colosseum in the sweltering summer sun can attest to the benefits of holding out for September. Millions of visitors pour through Italy<\/a> from June to August, but the shoulder months are considerably quieter.<\/p>\n The autumn sun is still gloriously warm and ideal for al fresco dining \u2013 and it\u2019s just as well because October is also in the middle of the harvest in Italy, which means a delicious array of fresh fruits and veggies and plenty of local vino. If you travel primarily for food (let\u2019s be honest, who doesn\u2019t), you may be interested in an olive oil, cicchetti and cheese-filled adventure<\/a> inspired by nonnas\u2019 kitchens all over the country.<\/p>\n Swap views of sunbathing tourists for turquoise blue waters, and trade queuing for\u00a0exploring ancient ruins at your own pace. As the worst of the crowds has thinned out and the gorgeous weather lingers long after everyone returns home, early to mid-October is the perfect month to sail the salty waters of the Cyclades. You\u2019ll avoid inflated prices and have your pick of golden sands to sprawl on.<\/p>\n Roll with the waves of the Aegean Sea as you cruise between Mykonos and Santorini, stopping off at ancient villages and secluded coves for a swim. Fuelled with fresh food plucked straight from the land and sea, this is Greek<\/a> island life at its best.<\/p>\n Love spooky tales and haunted castles? Then our Halloween in Transylvania trip has your name on it. All spooky stuff aside, Romania<\/a> is a fascinating country with well-preserved medieval citadels and a rich history shrouded in folklore and mythology. Not to mention its forests and countryside which turn dazzling shades of orange in autumn.<\/p>\n Prepare to raise your eyebrows as you visit the 12th-century town of Sighisoara (AKA the\u00a0birthplace of Count Dracula), ride a Ferris wheel in a salt mine-cum-amusement park, and enjoy an autumnal feast in a traditional Saxon village. (Halloween costumes are optional but encouraged.)<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t get more colourful than Turkey<\/a> in October. The sea is the bluest of blues, the vibrant magenta bougainvillea is in full bloom and ruby red pomegranates are once again plentiful in markets across the country. Watermelon, quince and grapes are also at their most delicious, so be sure to get your hands on a freshly pressed juice.<\/p>\n The shoulder season is the best time to avoid the scorching summer and bitterly cold winter that envelop much of the country. The coastal city of Fethiye still boasts\u00a0pleasant temperatures of up to 30\u00b0C\u00a0(86\u00b0F) and the sea is warm, calm and crystal clear. Take advantage of near-perfect weather and hike along the southern coast on the famous Lycian Way \u2013 a path once used by ancient Greeks and Romans. Or, fall in love with the landscape of Cappadocia on a trek or from a hot air balloon<\/a>.<\/p>\n As the northern hemisphere slows down for winter, the southern hemisphere is waking up and blooming with life. Tasmania, or \u2018Tassie\u2019 as it\u2019s affectionately nicknamed, boasts some of Australia\u2019s most pristine landscapes. This island has everything from misty mountains to Tarkine forests and powder-white beaches. It also has a top-notch gastronomy scene thanks to abundant local produce.<\/p>\n Hike through the glacier-sculpted terrain surrounding Cradle Mountain, feel sea spray on your face as you walk across the Bay of Fire\u2019s orange-hued boulders or look out for seals and migrating whales on a wilderness cruise of the East Coast.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a metaphorical exhale throughout Egypt<\/a> in October as the summer heat subsides. Crowds start growing in October, but it\u2019s a far cry from how busy it is in December and January. With moderate crowds and manageable temperatures, you can focus on soaking up the history of Egypt\u2019s ancient temples instead of worrying you\u2019ll melt into the sand.<\/p>\n For a unique experience, you could align your trip with the biannual Abu Simbel Sun Festival at the Temple of Ramses. At sunrise, the sun perfectly illuminates the statues in the temple\u2019s central chamber, followed by singing and dancing when they fall back into shadow.<\/p>\n Check out our recommendations on where to travel in November<\/a> and December<\/a>, or explore our last minute deals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Got a chunk of annual leave for October but have no idea how to spend it? We may be able to help. October is a brilliant month to travel. Autumn is blazing its way across Europe\u2018s forests and countryside, spring blooms are blanketing mountains and moorlands in Australia, and the intense summer heat finally subsides […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11760],"tags":[4517,7116,542],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-144552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-october","tag-places","tag-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n1. Portugal<\/h2>\n
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![\"Three](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-Portugal-Lisbon-041.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n2. Italy<\/h2>\n
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3. The Cyclades, Greece<\/h2>\n
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-Greece-Santorini-hike-group-walking-crater-view.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n4. Romania<\/h2>\n
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![\"Bran](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-Romania-Translyvania-Bran-Castle-lush-hills-day-blue-skies-shutterstock_1673492752.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n5. Turkey<\/h2>\n
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6. Tasmania, Australia\u00a0<\/h2>\n
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![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Intrepid-Travel-Tasmania-Cradle-Mountain-landscape-9.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n7. Egypt<\/h2>\n
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Still deciding on October?<\/h2>\n