Where to go in a month when things are heating up? How about a cool-cation in Canada among glacially fed lakes and spectacular peaks or trek trails in Alaska to outlooks where whales breach and bears feast? If Europe is calling, there’s no destination quite like Provence, France, during the lavender bloom to capture the essence of a place. Or escape summer altogether and fly to the Southern Hemisphere, maybe to peak-bag Machu Picchu in Peru or scout animals on a safari in South Africa. It’s the perfect month for both.
Here are our favorite countries for July adventures:
Peru
The dry season in Peru’s Andes runs from April to October, with the least rainfall of the year recorded in July, making it an ideal month for hiking, biking and general outdoor adventuring. There are few clouds, brisk morning and evening temperatures and highs in the Sacred Valley hover around 70 degrees.
From a cultural standpoint, late July is a festive time here, as the nation celebrates its Independence Day on July 28 (although fiestas tend to start the 27th and last through the 29th). You’ll see a profusion of red-and-white flags and decorations, hear traditional music and watch ceremonies, parades and fireworks.
Trek up Machu Picchu and you can nearly count on views for miles and beautiful birdwatching conditions this month. Visiting the ancient salt pans? July is when the pink salt is harvested. It’s also the end of the harvest season, which means incredibly fresh produce found in markets, stands and on the table, notably beans, potatoes and maca, a root vegetable long used in traditional medicines.
Learn More About Backroads’ Peru Trips
Canada
Cool mountain breezes and warmer waters beckon travelers to our northern neighbor’s grand national parks and coastal islands in July. Summer is leafy, green and lovely in popular city destinations like Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City, where locals spend more time outdoors basking in the long days and temperatures in the mid-70s.
If visiting a turquoise alpine lake is on your bucket list, Lake Louise has long captivated travelers with its unbelievable hue. Located in the heart of Alberta’s Banff National Park, this amazing natural attraction is especially brilliant in summer, thanks to glacial runoff that carries pulverized rock “flour” downslope and into the water, where the granules shimmer in the sun.
Lesser known but equally spectacular is Emerald Lake, just 25 miles west, in British Columbia’s Yoho National Park. Loop around the lake and admire the surrounding hillsides popping with buttercups and lupine wildflowers in July, then head to the astoundingly preserved Burgess Shale Fossils, one of very few places in the world to see remarkably well-preserved details of creatures that predated the dinosaurs. Because bad weather and snowfall can last well into June and recommence in late August, July is the best window to trek up to these heights and fully admire the thousands of geologic wonders on view.
Throughout Canada, but especially on its islands and in coastal towns, local farm stands do a bustling business in July, selling everything from honey to homemade jams. If you’re a foodie, you know that produce and many kinds of fish, including wild coho and sockeye salmon, are at their freshest this month. And this is the season to try Moon Mist ice cream, a mash-up of grape, banana and bubblegum flavors. It was invented in Nova Scotia and remains the pride of that province.
Summer brings calm seas, perfect for whale watching by boat or kayak. More frequent breaching activity and good visibility in July increase your chances of spotting these amazing creatures from a coastal trail. Gray whales and orcas can be spotted off Vancouver Island this month, while humpback and minke are more frequently seen off St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Finally, if you’re looking for a unique thrill, raft a tidal bore—a powerful, fast-moving wave surging upriver, against the flow—on the Bay of Fundy, home to the highest tides in the world. It’s touted as a signature experience in eastern Canada.
Learn More About Backroads’ Canada Trips
Alaska
Although witnessing glaciers calve, whales breach and bears station themselves in rivers full of spawning salmon are all highlights of a summer trip to our 49th state, experiencing the midnight sun is a novelty to anyone who lives in the lower 48. The Kenai Peninsula, for example, sees 19 hours of actual daylight in early July, but a drawn-out twilight each evening means it’s never truly dark for long.
This, of course, influences the culture: many eateries are open well into the night and sporting events and festivals carry on until the wee hours. Additionally, supersize produce is a surprising phenomenon of extended summer rays. If you get the chance, visit a state fair; competitions have showcased cabbages that could double as Cinderella’s carriage and pumpkins as large as reindeer.
If you’re exploring Alaska for the first time, seeing the astounding array of wildlife probably tops your list. Caribou are on the move in mid-July to feed on the tundra, grizzlies are bulking up on fish feasts, thousands of walrus are hauling themselves ashore and moose and muskoxen can be seen leading their calves through the woods. If you’re a birder, come to check puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes and other seabirds off your list. White belugas are another fantastic sight, often visible in the dark waters of the Kenai River or Beluga Point, outside Anchorage, during high tide.
Learn More About Backroads’ Alaska Trips
South Africa
One of the best months for a safari in southern Africa is July. In Sabi Sands, northeast of Johannesburg, expect daily highs in the mid-70s, little rain and excellent visibility. Vegetation thins considerably by July, and animals are drawn more regularly to watering holes because it’s the dry season, making it easier to spot especially elusive animals like cheetahs, leopards and solitary rhinoceroses. And clear skies expose constellations we don’t typically see in our northern heavens, like the Southern Cross and Centaurus, as well as the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower. Hiking and biking paths in this region of the country also tend to be free of puddles, mud and slippery terrain during this month.
The private Mashatu Game Reserve, just over the northern border, in Botswana, is popular for its elephant and big-cat populations. You might also see Nile crocodiles sunning on the shores of the Limpopo River, vultures circling a carcass, prides of lion stalking zebras and giraffes towering above the treeline.
If you’re closer to Cape Town, a visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden merits a stop to see South Africa’s national flower, the showy king protea, blooming in bunches around the massive grounds.
Learn More About Backroads’ Trips to South Africa and Botswana
Provence
When visitors think of Provence, France, likely the first image that comes to mind is rows and rows of flowering lavender. And when the bloom peaks in July, the purple fields are a sight to behold. But the chance to breathe in the delicate scent is the real reward of a visit.
Of course, Provence’s lavender is just one highlight of a summer vacation in the region. Visit one of 10 historic UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Avignon, with its iconic bridge on the Rhone River. Bask in the warm rays of the French Riviera, wander shorefront towns peopled with glitterati and explore the places that inspired Cézanne, Matisse and Van Gogh. The height of summer is when the South of France comes alive with bustling markets, offshore boats dotting the horizon and locals out late strolling the streets. There’s no equal scene in all of Europe, which is why so many Francophiles return summer after summer.
