INDIA

October, November till mid-December is great time to plan your north India holiday with the weather remaining moderate. The highlight of this period is Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrated during the month of November. It is a terrific time to be in Rajasthan during Diwali. Our pick of the lot is a tour of north India starting from Delhi, the heart of modern India and ending in the city of lakes Udaipur, with Diwali in Jaipur. While most wildlife parks in India open mid- October, the Kaziranga National Park in Assam – home to the one horned Rhino – opens for visitors only in mid- November.

The month of January can be surprisingly cold and foggy in the plains of North India with temperatures dropping down to as low as 1°C (33°F). It is the best time to head to the south of India or plan a beach holiday where day temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F). February is bright and sunny in north India with an average day temperature of 25°C (77°F) while south India is still at 30°C. The flowers are in full bloom and it is one of the best months to visit India, although very busy.

Our pick of the lot in February is Hampi in south India with its magical surreal landscape. The plains of north India start to get warm during daytime in the month of March after Holi, the festival of colours. But evenings and mornings are still pleasant. Mid-February onwards and the entire month of March are great for photography tours in both north and south India.