Best Places To Visit In November
Brief Overview
In the United Kingdom, November indicates that winter is quickly approaching, which means that it is soon time to get up and head home in the dark, generally in the pelting rain, with no winter coat on earth being able to combat the season’s creeping damp. If you want to make it through the dark winter months until the sun starts peeking out again in March, a getaway is practically a necessity. The rainy season in East Africa and Southeast Asia is ended, and the Caribbean is enjoying a peaceful pre-Christmas glow. Leave our wet islands for the spectacular white-outs of the far north and south if you want to see how winter is done.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Loi Krathong is one of the most beautiful festivals celebrated all across Thailand (but especially in Chiang Mai). Loi means “float” in Thai, and a krathong is a type of basket made from banana leaves, often adorned with flowers, incense, and candles.
On the night of the November full moon, devotees of Pra Mae Khongkha, a water goddess in the mythology of the Buddhist countries of Southeast Asia, float krathongs on rivers and canals as an offering to the goddess. These sacrifices are made as an act of contrition for polluting the region’s waterways. Thailand has always been a farming nation that has relied greatly on its rivers and canals.
Don’t use polystyrene if you plan on floating a krathong this November; instead, use banana leaves or, more recently, bread. Officials in Thailand have retrieved hundreds of krathongs made of non-biodegradable materials from the water during the past few years. There is no point in feeling guilty about damaging rivers that we use.
Michoacan, Mexico
You should visit Michoacan to take part in the celebrations if you haven’t already. As a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead (Dia De Muertos) by erecting altars, donning costumes, and paying respects at gravesites. The festival’s symbolism, including the colourful costumes and painted sugar skulls, has become well-known around the world.
The Day of the Dead is celebrated as such because it is a holiday honouring the dead. In Mexico, death is seen as a beneficial element of the cycle of life. The dead are said to come to earth on this night to join in the festivities.
While Dia de los Muertos is celebrated with great fanfare in Mexico’s larger cities, the tradition has deeper roots in the south. Researchers believe that the festival combines elements of an ancient Aztec holiday with All Saints’ Day. Its history is more robust in the south, particularly in Michoacan, because it was not celebrated there until the 20th century. Plan a visit to the stunning colonial city of Morelia for the festival on November 2nd.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon’s average November temperature is 18 degrees Celsius, making it a desirable destination even as the rest of Europe freezes. And it’s not just the pleasant climate that draws visitors to this historic capital; the city has emerged as one of Europe’s hippest weekend getaways, with an abundance of hip bistros, dive bars, and designer boutiques (not to mention those cute, canary-yellow vintage trams). Cais do Sodré, a once seedy area, is now a trendy neighbourhood with a riverbank promenade, stylish warehouse conversions, and great food vendors at Mercado da Ribeira.
Yukon, Canada
Call of the Wild (about a domesticated dog who is taken from California and sold to sleigh dog racers, starring Harrison Ford) brought a lot of attention to Canada’s sparsely inhabited, mountainous province Yukon over the past year or two. November heralds the start of the winter season in this cold wilderness—explore on skis, take a snowmobile or go ice-fishing. Visit Dawson City to learn more about the history of the Klondike Gold Rush, as the film is set in the 1890s. And then wait for the heavens to light up with Aurora Borealis at night.
Morocco
Although though everyone is talking about Marrakech because it will be Africa’s first City of Culture in 2020, other Moroccan cities have have rich cultural histories. Consider the progressive city of Tangier, famous as the hangout of beat writers and poets in the 1950s (including Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg at The Tangerinn and William S. Burroughs at Hotel El Muniria, where he penned Naked Lunch). Tangier’s art galleries give visitors a taste of the thrilling confluence of Europe and African culture in this port city, which is just a quick ferry ride across the Mediterranean from Spain.
Egypt
The number of tourists visiting the Pyramids is rising, so you should probably go now before it gets too crowded. Tutankhamun’s gold mask and a massive 83-ton statue of Ramses II clenching his fists are practically within reach, but they cannot be seen by the public until the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo opens (sometime in 2023 is the idea). Even yet, the place reeks of history, which seeps from every crevice. If you’re visiting the country for its beaches, flying into the Sphinx International Airport on the Giza side of the city will make it that much more convenient to drop in for an immersive ancient history lesson.
Florida, USA
Throughout the summer, Florida, and particularly Orlando, the home of many amusement parks, is a hive of activity due to the influx of visitors. Yet, there are many other, less-visited parts of Florida to explore, and the weather is still pleasant enough for sunbathing in November.
Martin County is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets, with some of the state’s most beautiful white-sand beaches, interesting historical landmarks, and the most diversified lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere.
Visit Everglades National Park, either as a day trip from Miami or for a brief stay, to see the greatest of Florida’s wildlife. This time of year is perfect for hiking or kayaking through the park’s beautiful mangroves and wetlands. Because of the warm waters in the Everglades, you may also see a manatee, which begin to migrate there in the month of November.
Oman
Oman is, without a doubt, a scorching place to visit, prompting the age-old joke, “Oh man, it’s hot.” Visit during a milder time of year, such as November. temperatures of 31 degrees Celsius during the day and 21 degrees Celsius at night are forecasted. The weather will be mild across the country in November, making it an ideal month for a lengthy journey. Go to Muscat’s historic district, hike up the world’s tallest sand dune at Ramlet Jadilah, and take in the sights in Wadi Ghul, the Grand Canyon of Oman.
At its deepest point, the canyon in the Hajar Mountains lies over a kilometre below the mountain’s peak. The deserted community of As Sab can be reached through a trail that follows a ridge.
Athens, Greece
In spite of the harsh economic climate, Athens is a great destination for a weekend getaway thanks to the city’s vibrant new youth culture and the success of innovative new businesses founded by young, creative people. Several upscale stores have been transformed into restaurants, and once seedy areas are now home to performance spaces, art galleries, and unique bars. Visit in the month of November when temperatures are mild and the sky is clear enough for a picturesque Instagram post at the Acropolis and Parthenon. In addition to beating the crowds, you’ll also be able to enter and leave quickly.
Iceland
The ideal time to observe the Northern Lights in Iceland is during the month of November, when the evenings are longest due to the onset of winter. You’ll be warned that aurora-hunting is difficult, but in a country where witnessing the green veils dance as you leave the airport would be the exception rather than the rule, you’d have to be quite unlucky to miss out. Staying somewhere as delectably isolated as Deplar Farm will only help your chances. The nicest hotel in all of Iceland is located on the secluded Troll Peninsula, and it offers guests a wide variety of activities, from heli-skiing to sensory deprivation pods.
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