Embrace the beauty of 7 Springtime Destinations to Explore in 2024, each offering vibrant blooms, serene landscapes, and cultural treasures that promise an unforgettable travel experience.
7 Springtime Destinations to Explore in 2024
We’re excited for longer daylight hours, warmer weather, and more adventure opportunities as spring approaches. In these months, flowers like bougainvillea and wisteria begin to line the streets of Greece and Italy, and you can explore some of the greatest architectural treasures on Earth without having to deal with the crowds. Alternatively, travel to Japan to experience its magnificent Sakura season, when cherry blossoms are strewn throughout the country’s zen gardens and parks like a pink confetti. Additionally, springtime is an excellent time to see wildlife in places like Sri Lanka, where whales are frequently spotted off the coast of Mirissa. In order to help you plan your next 7 Springtime Destinations to Explore in 2024, we’ve compiled a list of our five absolute favorite trips before the season officially begins.
1. Watch whales breach off the coast of Sri Lanka
On day nine of our Wild Sri Lanka adventure, you will have the chance to embark on an optional whale-watching excursion off the coast of Mirissa. Additionally, experts on wildlife say that visiting Sri Lanka’s coastline in March will increase your chances of seeing Blue, Humpback, Bryde’s, and Sperm whales breaching in the wild. Why? because one of the world’s greatest cetacean migratory routes, the yearly migration of sperm and blue whales between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal passes by the coast of Sri Lanka!
Mirissa is one of the greatest spots in the nation for whale watching, which is probably why our group has planned an optional activity here. Its geographic location is responsible for this. The reason it’s a great location is that the continental shelf is narrowest here, a few kilometers offshore, with water depths of just 1 km.
Although there are many tours to choose from from this location, you can be sure that your knowledgeable local guide will assist you in booking a tour with the most responsible and secure operator. Apart from whale watching, this exciting trip is best scheduled in March, just before the monsoon season begins, when the weather is at its best all over Sri Lanka and you’ll have more chances to spot wildlife like leopards in Yala National Park, where warmer temperatures draw them to the watering holes.
2. Spot birds and butterflies walking through Sicily
You can discover the picturesque coves in the Zingaro Natural Reserve, hike to the summit of Monte Monaco, and meander through the winding, medieval streets of Trapani during our enchanted Coastal Walks of Western Sicily trip. And springtime is the ideal season to schedule a trip to the azure shores of Sicily. Strolling along the roadside during shoulder months allows you to see bursts of red poppies, yellow broom, wild iris, and marigolds in addition to dodging the throngs of people.
During this time of year, early spring butterfly species like the Green Hairstreak, Little and Holly Blues, Clouded Yellow, and Southern Festoon can be spotted thanks to the pleasant weather and sunny days. Serious birdwatchers may also be able to spot woodlarks, hoopoes, stonechat, and Sardinian warblers.
3. Experience Zion National Park, USA at its best
Our National Park Walk trip will not let you down if you’re hoping to see some of the most surreal scenery the United States has to offer. Surprisingly, springtime is one of the greatest seasons to visit this region. Along with exploring breathtaking hiking trails and rock formations in the National Parks of Bryce, Arches, and the Grand Canyon, you’ll also get to go on a backroads tour in the Monument Valley with a Navajo guide. Before wrapping up the journey with a view of the glittering Las Vegas strip, the trip offers you the chance to drive along a portion of the famous Route 66. But hiking through Zion National Park is one of the main attractions of this trip, especially if you go in the spring.
Waterfalls start to appear after the winter months when snowmelt produces a rush of spring runoff; one of the best places to find waterfalls is Zion. Watch out for the famous waterfall at the Temple of Sinewava, the Lower Emerald Pools, and the trio of waterfalls at the Upper Emerald Pools.
In addition to waterfalls, Zion’s red rock backdrop is home to a variety of wildflowers such as desert marigolds, deep red Indian paintbrush, and pink and yellow western columbine. This time of year, Zion’s verdant hanging gardens, which adorn Weeping Rock, are especially colorful. New wildlife also appears in the spring, including baby bighorn sheep, chicks from wild turkeys, and fawns from deer. In terms of temperature, it’s the ideal time of year to hike through national parks, as it might be too hot to do so in the summer.
4. Tuck into the freshest seafood in Portugal
Portugal experiences roughly 300 days of sunshine on average each year, making the spring a great time to visit. Its beaches and natural areas are covered in wildflowers during these shoulder months, and from March onward, the days are mild and sunny, making them ideal for cycling.
The majority of your route on our Porto to Lisbon Atlantic Ride will take you on scenic rides through the towering dunes of the São Jacinto Natural Reserve and along the Silver Coast towards the bustling seaside town of Furadouro and the fortified medieval village of Óbidos. You will enjoy spending time in the historical centers of Porto and Lisbon, the enchanting “City of Seven Hills.” Freshly caught seafood is available here, along with dishes like “Polvo à Lagareiro,” which is octopus and potatoes, “Dourada Grelhada,” which is sea bream with rice, and “Sapateira Recheada,” which is stuffed crab shell made with paprika, shallots, and boiled eggs. But what makes eating seafood in the springtime so unique? March and April are prime months to take advantage of the Portuguese proverb that states seafood is at its freshest during the months ending in “r.”
5. Celebrate Sakura season in Japan
Without Japan, no list of “must-see spring” destinations would be complete. Sakura season is perhaps one of the most magical times to visit Japan. Locals value this brief window of time when cherry blossom trees bloom so highly that many websites monitor weather forecasts to predict which Japanese cities and regions will be the liveliest and when. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to witness some of the most famous locations in Japan during our tour of Ancient and Modern Japan, such as the Senso-ji Temple in bustling Tokyo, Nara Park, the Golden Temple of Kinkakuji, and Nijo Castle in Kyoto.
You can fully experience the beauty of springtime in Japan by participating in “Hanami,” one of the locals’ favorite pastimes, if you have free days in Kyoto and Tokyo. Hanami, which translates to “flower viewing,” is the custom of setting up picnics beneath the ethereal pink buds of the cherry blossoms to appreciate their fleeting beauty.
Bento boxes stuffed with sushi varieties like Futomaki and Chirashi are our preferred easy-to-make snack. Hurry to secure your spot on our trip if you want to experience the splendor of this season in Japan with Matcha drinks and Sakura-themed treats.
6. Admire the monuments of ancient Greece without the crowds
When visiting Greece in the spring, you’ll see stunning arrangements of pink poppies and anemones interspersed with yellow daises, gladioli, and iris flowers as you stroll around. Traveling in the shoulder spring months also offers the advantage of seeing some of the most important archaeological sites in the nation without the mass crowds that come with summer travel. Furthermore, April’s average temperature of 22 degrees makes spring the ideal season for comfortable foot exploration.
You can see major attractions like the Acropolis, the theater at Epidaurus, the ancient city of Mycenae, and Olympia, the location of the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C., on our Highlights of Ancient Greece tour. Additionally, there are fewer tourists in the spring, which makes for better photo ops and more time for you to take it all in at your own pace. Secure your spot now for an exciting excursion to witness Greece’s greatest ancient ruins on our limited spring departures.
7. See Semana Santa processions in Andalucia
Without a doubt, spring is one of the greatest seasons to travel to the sunny region of Andalucia. Perennial Buckler-mustard flowers grow high in the rock crevices of Sierra de Grazalema, Andalucia’s first national park, while bugloss flowers bloom on the ground in stunning blue and pink hues. The UNESCO-protected Real Alcázar gardens and Seville’s elegant Maria Luisa Park also come to life with breathtaking floral displays. Nevertheless, seeing Seville’s vibrant Semana Santa processions is one of the best reasons to travel there in the spring.
You can experience the best of both worlds on our Walking in Andalucia trip, which includes trekking in the Sierra de Grazalema, El Chorro Gorge, and making a full circuit of the stunning Peñon, all while spending time in the enchanted city of Seville. The people joyfully greet Semana Santa (Holy Week) with a variety of vibrant processions through their tiny streets from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. If you’re lucky enough to go at this time of year, you might see religious brotherhood members parade elaborate gold effigies of Jesus and Mary accompanied by brass bands. It’s quite a sight to behold. Only a few spots remain on our spring departure during Semana Santa, so reserve your spot now before it sells out!
If this has inspired you to start planning your next 7 Springtime Destinations to Explore in 2024, take a look at our Club TravelScape last-minute departures.
