1
Maldives
Maldives- Temperature
- 26–31°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Dry-season sunshine, calm water and excellent visibility make January a classic Maldives month.
–Christmas/New Year demand carries into early January and resort rates remain high.
January
Best nature and outdoor destinations in January
For landscapes and the outdoors in January, Maldives comes out first, with average highs around 31°C.
Destinations known for landscapes and outdoor activities, ranked by how good the month is there. Each card shows the real average temperature, crowd level and price level for January, and links to the full January guide for that destination.
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
Photo: Tromsø (#3 on this list)
2Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala- Temperature
- 11–23°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- $$
+Clear mornings and sharp volcano views.
–Cold nights and busier hotels.
- 3
Tromsø
Norway- Temperature
- -5–-1°C
- Crowds
- Moderate-High
- Prices
- $$$
+Dark skies and the film festival.
–Polar night until about January 15.
4Hong Kong
Hong Kong- Temperature
- 15–19°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$$
+Very low rainfall
–Can feel cool and cloudy
5Chiang Mai
Thailand- Temperature
- 16–30°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+The coolest, clearest weather of the year.
–High season prices and crowds.
6Medellín
Colombia- Temperature
- 18–28°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Dry weather and the lights remain in places.
–Hotels are busy and priced high.
7Queenstown
New Zealand- Temperature
- 10–22°C
- Crowds
- Very High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Long days and warm weather.
–Busy and expensive.
8Cape Town
South Africa- Temperature
- 17–27°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$
+Warm weather and long summer days.
–Peak-season prices and crowds.
9Rovaniemi
Finland- Temperature
- -14–-7°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- €€€
+Snowy forests and northern lights.
–Very cold and short days.
10Seychelles
Seychelles- Temperature
- 25–30°C
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Prices
- $$
+Warm seas and vivid greenery
–Frequent rain and high humidity
11Zermatt
Switzerland- Temperature
- -7–1°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Snowy slopes and Matterhorn views.
–Busy and very expensive.
12Bali
Indonesia- Temperature
- 25–31°C
- Crowds
- Low
- Prices
- $$
+Green landscapes, warm temperatures and a much quieter Bali.
–Heavy tropical showers and high humidity can interrupt beach days.
13Madeira
Portugal- Temperature
- 14–20°C
- Crowds
- Low–Moderate
- Prices
- €€
+Mild and good value.
–Rainy spells.
14Maui
United States- Temperature
- 18–28°C
- Crowds
- High
- Prices
- $$$$$
+Humpback whales offshore.
–The rainiest month, and busy.
15Amalfi Coast
Italy- Temperature
- 7–13°C
- Crowds
- Very Low
- Prices
- €
+Empty stairways and the lowest prices of the year.
–Most hotels, restaurants and ferries are closed.
Temperatures are monthly averages. Crowd and price levels are my own judgement. Want to narrow it down? Filter all destinations for January.
FAQ
Best nature and outdoor destinations in January
What are the best nature and outdoor destinations in January?
Maldives, Antigua Guatemala and Tromsø come out best in January. Destinations known for landscapes and outdoor activities, ranked by how good the month is there.
Which of these is warmest in January?
Maldives, with average highs around 31°C in January.
Which of these is quietest in January?
Amalfi Coast, where crowds in January are very low.
Best nature and outdoor destinations in another month
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