Wondering where to go for your September getaway? Enter our monthly destination guide.<\/strong><\/p>\n With tourists packing up their swimsuits and sunhats in the Med, US national parks quietening down after the summer rush and the arrival of spring breathing new life into the southern hemisphere, September is an excellent month to visit many corners of the globe.<\/p>\n From hiking through the USA\u2019s Wild West to squeezing the last drops of summer on Italy\u2019s Amalfi Coast, here are seven destinations to consider this September.<\/p>\n June to September is considered the off-season<\/a> in the Galapagos<\/a>, but it\u2019s best to take this with a (large) pinch of salt. Why? Because the Galapagos doesn\u2019t really<\/em> have an \u2018off\u2019 season. Yes, it\u2019s slightly windier and the ocean is a tad cooler at 22\u00b0C (72\u00b0F), but lower humidity makes it easier to hike through the lush highlands and look for terrestrial wildlife, and underwater action is at its prime. <\/p>\n The arrival of the Humbolt Current brings rich nutrients and a slew of hungry marine life to the Galapagos, including fur seals, reef sharks, dolphins and whales. And don\u2019t forget to look out for adorable sea lion pups when you come up for air.<\/p>\n Over on Isla Bartolome, penguins begin searching for a mate, providing a rare opportunity to watch their impressive courtship rituals. You may also see the archipelago\u2019s most famous birds, the blue and red-footed boobies, during their nesting season.<\/p>\n Nicknamed the \u2018Land of Fire and Ice\u2019, Iceland<\/a> is chock full of intriguing natural landmarks from gurgling geysers to active volcanoes. September marks the start of autumn, and while this usually brings more rain and cooler temps, we think the moody skies make the scenery even more dramatic. But perhaps the biggest reason to visit is the Northern Lights which are visible again thanks to dark night skies. While you\u2019re never guaranteed to see them, low cloud cover in September boosts your chances.<\/p>\n As a shoulder month, there\u2019s also a sizeable drop in tourist numbers. See and hear the power of the Gullfoss (Golden) double waterfall on the Hvita River, march across the mottled ice cap of Vatnajokull, and soak in the milky-blue waters of the famous Blue Lagoon \u2013 all without the peak season crowds.<\/p>\n Western USA<\/a> isn\u2019t short of a national park<\/a> or two \u2013 Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Joshua Tree, to name a few. Summer crowds thin out by September, but the days are still long, making it an excellent month to go hiking at your own pace. Cooler daytime temperatures are also safer for tackling more strenuous trails which are too dangerous during the peak summer heat. Oh, and did we mention the stunning autumn colours that arrive at the end of the month?<\/p>\n Feel spellbound as you stroll the rim of the Grand Canyon<\/a>, weave through towering sandstone buttes in Monument Valley with a Navajo guide, or walk beneath Yosemite\u2019s giant granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls and ancient redwood trees.<\/p>\n Home to golden beaches, wine regions and national parks teeming with wildlife, there\u2019s no denying that South Africa<\/a> is a year-round destination.\u00a0However, the main reason for visiting in September is the Hermanus Whale Festival, which celebrates the return of southern right whales. The cliffs of Hermanus and the surrounding Cape Whale Coast are also blanketed in spring blooms, providing a dreamy backdrop to watch them breaching close to the shore.<\/p>\n After your phone is filled with whale snaps, journey along the Garden Route to trek the Lesotho Highlands and track down the four-legged residents of Addo Elephant National Park. Or, go further on an overland adventure\u00a0through Botswana<\/a> and Zimbabwe<\/a> where you\u2019ll scout for rhinos on foot, learn about the ancient culture of the Venda people at a homestay and go bushwalking with the world\u2019s first all-female anti-poaching unit<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve always dreamed of sitting down with a glass of wine and a big bowl of pasta to watch the sunset over the Amalfi, but don\u2019t fancy frantic summer crowds cramping your style, the shoulder month of September could be just the ticket. It\u2019ll still be busy, but there\u2019ll be less noise and more space on the beach than in July and August. The temperature cools as the month ticks on, but it\u2019s still balmy enough to bathe in the sea.<\/p>\n Work up an appetite for the region\u2019s culinary delights on a hiking and kayaking adventure along Amalfi\u2019s coastline, stopping off at secluded beaches and ancient sites. Or admire the rugged coastline from afar as you sail to the pastel-coloured islands of Sorrento, Capri and Procida.<\/p>\n Lombok offers everything from tropical rainforests and epic volcanic peaks to yoga studios and beach bars. September is the last month to enjoy dry weather \u2013 and activities like hiking Mt Rinjani and snorkelling \u2013 before the monsoon arrives in late October. Plus, the crowds are usually on the quieter side.<\/p>\n Visit a local village to learn about the local coffee trade and traditional weaving techniques, snorkel at secluded islands in search of sea turtles, or trek through monkey-filled forests to Mt Rinjani where you\u2019ll be rewarded with epic views across Bali, the Gili Islands and Mt Agung.<\/p>\n September in the Western Balkans offers a sweet balance of good weather, smaller crowds and lower prices. Hotspots in Croatia<\/a> are emptying out, allowing you to enjoy the whitewashed villages of the Dalmatian Coast and amble around Dubrovnik\u2019s Old Town. Now that most big ships have dropped anchor for the season, it\u2019s also an excellent time for a sailing or cruising trip.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lesser-known destinations like Albania<\/a>, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a> have a fascinating mix of Eastern and Western cultural influences, with minarets, mosques and medieval churches. Outside the cities, you\u2019ll find dense forests, lakes, wine regions and mountains. Come September, the foliage in the countryside starts to turn, providing a stunning backdrop for a hike or a spot of winetasting.<\/p>\n Check out our recommendations on where to travel in\u00a0and\u00a0October<\/a> and November<\/a>. Or explore our last minute deals<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wondering where to go for your September getaway? Enter our monthly destination guide. With tourists packing up their swimsuits and sunhats in the Med, US national parks quietening down after the summer rush and the arrival of spring breathing new life into the southern hemisphere, September is an excellent month to visit many corners of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144672,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11760],"tags":[7116,4968,542],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-144670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","tag-places","tag-september","tag-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n1. The Galapagos Islands<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n2. Iceland<\/h2>\n
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3. Western USA<\/h2>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n4. South Africa<\/h2>\n
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5. Amalfi Coast, Italy<\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\n6. Lombok, Indonesia<\/h2>\n
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7. The Balkans<\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nNot set on September?<\/h2>\n