The heat of August has given way to cooler temperatures, the sun rises later and sets earlier, and school is back in session, but the end of summer is no reason to stop travelling. Autumn is the season to check out the changing colours and visit destinations when they’re largely free of crowds. From the Pacific coast to the mountains of Montana, the Arizona desert, Antarctica and even the Galapagos Islands, here are 10 getaways to keep you travelling in the coming months.
1. California Coast Cycling: Escape Adventures is pleased to offer a six-day cycling tour of California’s Central Coast from Santa Barbara to Big Sur. Tour highlights include the iconic Highway 1, Piedras Blancas Light Station, Monarch Butterfly Grove, Harmony Headlands State Park, McWay Falls, Point Lobos, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and cycling the world famous 17-Mile Drive.
2. Fall under the Big Sky: A visit to Big Sky, Montana, and a stay at The Wilson Hotel offers the opportunity for autumn adventures in Yellowstone country, when elk bugle and aspen groves turn golden against a backdrop of green forest. Hike and mountain bike the trails around town, fish the famous Gallatin River, or take one last tour of the natural wonders and wildlife of Yellowstone National Park before the roads close for the season.
3. National Parks RV Trip: Blacksford rents fully equipped Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Overland Adventure Vehicles from Winnebago with an all-inclusive pricing model that includes unlimited miles, bedding, kitchen and bath supplies, a free annual pass to the National Parks, 24-hour roadside assistance and no generator fees. The AdventureGenie AI-powered RV Trip Planner is a great way to plan an unforgettable holiday.
4. Arizona + Black Canyon Mountain Biking: Explore all that the Sonoran Desert has to offer with Escape Adventures’ Best of Phoenix and Black Canyon Trail Mountain Biking Tour. This trip is ideal for close groups of biking friends looking for a warm autumn or winter getaway. Highlights include exploring the 21,099-acre McDowell Mountain Regional Park, riding on conservation land and ripping more than 40 miles of fast and flowing singletrack.
5. Jackson Hole Glamping: Wyoming’s Fireside Resort offers 25 tiny, luxuriously appointed tiny house rentals designed by Wheelhaus. The resort is close to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole’s ski slopes, making it the perfect place to set up shop for an autumn getaway or winter ski trip.
6. Yellowstone Horseback Fly Fishing: Ride into the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park and cast for trout on seldom-fished streams guided by the experts at Flying Pig Adventures. Whether it’s for a few hours or a full day, as a family or with a group of friends, Flying Pig will take care of all the details for a truly unique Yellowstone fishing trip.
7. Autumn Galapagos Adventure: Autumn is one of the best times of year to visit Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, especially when it comes to wildlife and weather. Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel has teamed up with Scalesia Galapagos Lodge to offer a new week-long programme that includes day trips aboard the yacht Sea Lion, glamping in luxury tents on Isabela Island, and visits to remote and mysterious places that illustrate the incredible diversity of the archipelago.
8. Amazon Autumn Adventure: Experience the amazing biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest during a stay at Ecuador’s Sacha Lodge. The 5,000-acre private ecological reserve surrounding the lodge is home to more than 600 species of birds and other wildlife, and guests have the opportunity to learn about the rainforest up close from naturalists and native Quechua guides.
9. Early Season Antarctica: Avoid the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage and reach Antarctica faster by booking an early season fly-and-cruise expedition with Adventure Life. Start the eight-day trip in Punta Arenas, Chile, then fly two hours to King George Island, board the Magellan Explorer and cruise among the icebergs, penguins, seals and whales of the white continent.
10. Piedmont Culinary + Hiking: The wine region of Piedmont may well be the ultimate destination for casual walkers who are also food and wine lovers. Accommodation along the way includes a UNESCO site, a winery and a boutique hotel in the countryside. In October, the Nebbiolo grape harvest can still be in full swing and the colours make the hills and vineyards look as if they have been painted!