North & East Coast Sri Lanka
These coasts of Sri Lanka hang onto fine weather until later into autumn making September the time to visit as rates fall following peak season. The sea remains swimmable, untroubled by spats of rougher weather on the rest of the island. This month, the number of elephants peaks in Minneriya Park and the Cultural Triangle quietens. Allow yourself a few days here as the autumn glorious Binara Poya festival will easily eat into your sightseeing itinerary.
Mongolia
A must-see event in East Asia, the Mongolian Eagle Festival takes flight in September. The sight of dozens of eagle hunters on horseback, clad in traditional Khazak costume, is one to behold - to see one capture an eagle in full flight is breathtaking. Held close to Ölgii in the west of Mongolia, the festival is as noted for its traditional feasting as the main event itself. Lodging with a local family makes for a complete authentic experience.
Papua New Guinea
How to describe the Goroka Festival, held in September each year? The weekend-long shindig attracts tribes from all over the country for song, dancing, merriment, storytelling and an extravagant display of native dress. Taking place in the otherwise peaceful East Highlands, words and images can’t do justice to this tapestry of Papuan diversity. It is a ‘sing sing’ - and only once you experience this sing sing can its splendour truly be grasped.
Iran
By September, travel in Iran and its majestic main centres is pleasant as the sweltering summer recedes. To fit in everything that Iran has to offer takes planning. Vast desolate deserts, chasmic green valleys, soaring mountains, and countless mythical islands fanning out across the Persian Gulf offer a myriad of experiences. And that’s not to mention the magnificent cities that once made up the Persian Empire. Iran is a delight and to many, a surprise.
Georgia
September is perhaps the best time of year to visit Georgia. The lowlands around Tbilisi shrug off the humid heat of summer and the vineyards of Kakheti to the west enter peak harvest time amid the variegated colours of early autumn. Venturing into the High Caucasus regions in the northeast and northwest rewards hikers with the ever-changing subtle dramas of the season while there’s still good beach weather on the coast as the summer tourists drift away.
Uzbekistan
The incredibly friendly populace of Uzbekistan marks the beginning of September with Independence Day celebrations and set the tone for this month of harvest. The markets fill with fruits and other bountiful produce and wine from the vineyards in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains flows. Desert treks are mostly conducted in autumn and a jeep trip along the Silk Road reveals a myriad of mosaic-clad mosques, mausoleums and remote tribal villages.
Lebanon
Still a little off the tourist map, today Lebanon enjoys a reputation as one of the safest countries in the region. Visitors to the archaeological sites and hikers in the many nature reserves are assured of an authentic travel experience. September in Lebanon remains warm and dry and there’s still plenty of sun on the Mediterranean coast. September marks the start of wine-tasting season in the Bekaa Valley and the annual olive harvest.
Armenia
With the heat of midsummer fading, September is particularly pleasant in Armenia. The northern provinces of the capital Yerevan and neighbouring Lori feature breath-taking green landscapes, mountain ranges and medieval monasteries. A tour heading south from the European ambience of Yerevan takes in the vast Lake Sevan as the land changes to reveal deep gorges, ravines, rivers and plains with magnificent ancient monuments around every corner.
Tajikistan
September in Tajikistan begins with celebrations of the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. The nation’s focus switches to the annual harvest of potato and cotton and ends the month sweetly to mark its other renowned produce with the yearly Apple Festival and the Honey and Melon Festival that showcases melon, watermelon, honey and oriental sweets. Tajikistan remains warm right through to November.
Jordan
Autumn is a fleeting season in Jordan. The Red Sea remains warm, the ‘Rose City’ of ancient Petra more leisurely, and the desert region authentically hot. Scuba divers at the Gulf of Aqaba enjoy the water temperatures as they peak and the reefs teem with colourful marine life. At below sea level, the area around the Dead Sea is the warmest in Jordan at this time of year with the salt lake cooler than the air temperature making for a refreshing, floaty dip.
North & East Coast Sri Lanka
These coasts of Sri Lanka hang onto fine weather until later into autumn making September the time to visit as rates fall following peak season. The sea remains swimmable, untroubled by spats of rougher weather on the rest of the island. This month, the number of elephants peaks in Minneriya Park and the Cultural Triangle quietens. Allow yourself a few days here as the autumn glorious Binara Poya festival will easily eat into your sightseeing itinerary.
Mongolia
A must-see event in East Asia, the Mongolian Eagle Festival takes flight in September. The sight of dozens of eagle hunters on horseback, clad in traditional Khazak costume, is one to behold - to see one capture an eagle in full flight is breathtaking. Held close to Ölgii in the west of Mongolia, the festival is as noted for its traditional feasting as the main event itself. Lodging with a local family makes for a complete authentic experience.
Papua New Guinea
How to describe the Goroka Festival, held in September each year? The weekend-long shindig attracts tribes from all over the country for song, dancing, merriment, storytelling and an extravagant display of native dress. Taking place in the otherwise peaceful East Highlands, words and images can’t do justice to this tapestry of Papuan diversity. It is a ‘sing sing’ - and only once you experience this sing sing can its splendour truly be grasped.
Iran
By September, travel in Iran and its majestic main centres is pleasant as the sweltering summer recedes. To fit in everything that Iran has to offer takes planning. Vast desolate deserts, chasmic green valleys, soaring mountains, and countless mythical islands fanning out across the Persian Gulf offer a myriad of experiences. And that’s not to mention the magnificent cities that once made up the Persian Empire. Iran is a delight and to many, a surprise.
Georgia
September is perhaps the best time of year to visit Georgia. The lowlands around Tbilisi shrug off the humid heat of summer and the vineyards of Kakheti to the west enter peak harvest time amid the variegated colours of early autumn. Venturing into the High Caucasus regions in the northeast and northwest rewards hikers with the ever-changing subtle dramas of the season while there’s still good beach weather on the coast as the summer tourists drift away.
Uzbekistan
The incredibly friendly populace of Uzbekistan marks the beginning of September with Independence Day celebrations and set the tone for this month of harvest. The markets fill with fruits and other bountiful produce and wine from the vineyards in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains flows. Desert treks are mostly conducted in autumn and a jeep trip along the Silk Road reveals a myriad of mosaic-clad mosques, mausoleums and remote tribal villages.
Lebanon
Still a little off the tourist map, today Lebanon enjoys a reputation as one of the safest countries in the region. Visitors to the archaeological sites and hikers in the many nature reserves are assured of an authentic travel experience. September in Lebanon remains warm and dry and there’s still plenty of sun on the Mediterranean coast. September marks the start of wine-tasting season in the Bekaa Valley and the annual olive harvest.
Armenia
With the heat of midsummer fading, September is particularly pleasant in Armenia. The northern provinces of the capital Yerevan and neighbouring Lori feature breathtaking green landscapes, mountain ranges and mediaeval monasteries. A tour heading south from the European ambience of Yerevan takes in the vast Lake Sevan as the land changes to reveal deep gorges, ravines, rivers and plains with magnificent ancient monuments around every corner.
Tajikistan
September in Tajikistan begins with celebrations of the country’s independence from the Soviet Union. The nation’s focus switches to the annual harvest of potato and cotton and ends the month sweetly to mark its other renowned produce with the yearly Apple Festival and the Honey and Melon Festival that showcases melon, watermelon, honey and oriental sweets. Tajikistan remains warm right through to November.
Jordan
Autumn is a fleeting season in Jordan. The Red Sea remains warm, the ‘Rose City’ of ancient Petra more leisurely, and the desert region authentically hot. Scuba divers at the Gulf of Aqaba enjoy the water temperatures as they peak and the reefs teem with colourful marine life. At below sea level, the area around the Dead Sea is the warmest in Jordan at this time of year with the salt lake cooler than the air temperature making for a refreshing, floaty dip.
