Where to go on holiday in April

Swap April showers for clear skies, mountain peaks, sun-baked beaches and unique wildlife. Ditch the waterproofs and instead grab an ice-cold beer, some suntan lotion and your pair of binoculars or hiking boots.

Sri Lanka’s shoulder season offers your best bet for good weather across the country. The monsoon rains are beginning to clear from the north and east while the good weather in the south and west is due to last another month. You might experience a little rain in the central highlands, but it’s nothing compared to monsoon season a few months later.

Possibly the best time to visit Cuba to avoid the tourist crowds, assuming you avoid Easter that is. Temperatures are still toasty and the sun lingers in the sky. Head to out-of-the-way Baracoa for the raucous Semana de la Cultura festival celebrating the 1895 landing of Antonio Maceo. Expect indigenous cuisine and plenty of music.

The rainy season has come to an end by April, and the island’s unique and plentiful wildlife is out to play. Whilst the jungle lodges fill-up fast for Easter, it’s still a great time to see orangutans swinging through the canopy, exploring the dense jungle wilderness, scaling the peak of Mt Kinabalu or relaxing on the golden shores.

Just before the wet season, April is a great time of year for wildlife. You’ll find leatherback turtles in Tortuguero and a variety of birds. If your searching for the quetzal then April and May give you your best chance. You’ve also got a great chance of seeing large flocks of migratory birds throughout the month.

April is the ideal time to visit Greece. The country looks so beautiful this time of year, as the Spring climate brings with it blossoming wild flowers and temperatures that are comfortably warm. You’ll also avoid the busier summer-season crowds and can visit all the highlights in a more personal way.

With two monsoon seasons, it can be difficult to know when to visit Malaysia. April falls within both, so is an ideal time to explore all parts of this fascinating country. Visit its diverse & fascinating cities, sample its delicious cuisine and relax on one (or more!) of its multitude of idyllic islands.

Spring and Autumn are your best bets for great weather across China. The monsoon is yet to hit the south and the north is wonderfully pleasant with clear skies and warm temperatures. The cities, in particular, are toasty without being too sweltering. It’s also the ideal time of year for a spot of trekking.

Head to Panama in early April and, assuming you’ve missed the Easter holidays, you can expect deserted beaches and sun-kissed sand. Don’t worry if you are here over Easter though, although you won’t have the place to yourself you can join in with the Easter festivities, one of the biggest celebrations in the Panama calendar.

Strap on your hiking boots and head off into Nepal’s mountains in April and you’ll be met with a riot of rhododendrons. It’s a great time to breath in that fresh mountain air, and why not head to Bhaktapur to celebrate Bisket Jatra, the Nepalese New Year.

Spring is one of our favourite times to visit Iceland, with temperatures rising and landscapes slowly turning from white to green. This is also the ideal time for wildlife encounters and Northern Lights viewings are still possible.