SUN AND CULTURE
MARRAKECH MEDINA 22C, seven hours of sunshine
The first time I went to Marrakech, I was hit by “culture shock”. The frenetic atmosphere and especially the disorientating honeycomb of streets in the medina took me a day or two to come to terms with. But once you get used to the intensity and start to appreciate its historic importance as an ancient desert trading city, it’s a magical place to spend a stimulating winter week. It isn’t as hot as Egypt, however – go in November for reliably warm weather. December to February will be about three degrees cooler than listed above – though still very sunny, and there is the added bonus that the distant Atlas Mountains will be capped with snow, a remarkable sight in the desert landscape.
EasyJet Holidays (0330 551 5165; easyjet. com/en/holidays) offers stays at the four-star Riad Chergui from £483 , B&B. Departs November 20 2021
JOURNEY THROUGH JORDAN 24C, eight hours of sunshine
From the wonderful Roman sites at Jerash and Amman in the north to early Christian mosaics at Madaba, the Dead Sea, the red-stone city of Petra, and the desert landscapes of Laurence of Arabia at Wadi Rum, Jordan offers a superbly varied cultural tour. And if it’s winter sun you are after, you can round it all off with a couple of days by the Red Sea at Aqaba. You do need to time things carefully, though. While the Red Sea coast is always warm, it can be cool in the north from December to February. So I would go for a November departure when Amman temperatures are still peaking at about 19C and it’s 24C in Aqaba. Exodus Travels (020 3553 5013; exodus. co.uk) offers an eight-night A Week in Jordan tour from £1,869, B&B, including two dinners. Departs November 17 and 20 2021
SUNSHINE ON THE NILE 23C, nine hours of sunshine
In my humble opinion, the upper stretch of the Nile between Luxor and Aswan has the world’s most perfect winter climate. The sun shines virtually from dawn to dusk, and the desert humidity is so incredibly low that you always feel comfortable. The nights are refreshingly cool, too. Combine that with the astonishing sights of the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Edfu, and the insight they give into the ancient Egyptian civilisation, and the sheer pleasure of soaking up the sun on the deck of a river cruiser as the amazing desert landscape drifts past, and you have pretty much the ideal winter holiday. Abercrombie & Kent (01242 386500; abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers a five-night Classic Nile tour from £2,295, full-board, on the five-star Sanctuary Nile Adventurer. Departs on selected dates in January 2022
HISTORIC SRI LANKA 31C, eight hours of sunshine
Sri Lanka’s history is ingrained in the fabric of this lushly beautiful tropical island. It has ancient archaeological treasures, such as Sigiriya, the site of the 5th-century castle built by King Kashyapa, and the 1,000-year-old city of Polonnaruwa. There are some exceptional and historic Buddhist temples and monasteries, too, such as those at Kandy and the Dambulla caves. And then there’s the colonial heritage of Galle, where the Portuguese built a fort, the 18th-century walled town was constructed by the Dutch, and the cricket pitch by the British. It’s a fascinating historical mix that it is best to enjoy after December, when the rainy season peters out. Ampersand Travel (020 7819 9770; ampersandtravel.com) offers stays at the five-star Amangalla from £3,145 , B&B. Departs on selected dates from January 11 2022