The Best Places to Travel in March 2024
Here at Culture Trip we love to travel in March. As winter begins to fade away and the early signs of spring emerge, we get an insatiable urge to discover somewhere new. With that in mind, here is our top selection of trips to take in March 2024.
Volcanic Iceland – 16-20 March
Visiting Iceland is usually a tug of war between the long sunny days of summer, versus the higher chance of Aurora Borealis in winter. If you’re desperate to see the Northern Lights, but not quite so keen on the dark, cold winters of Northern Europe, then March is the perfect time to visit. It’s still in Northern Lights season, but the days begin to get lighter and you’ll get to see Iceland with and without its seasonal coating of snow.
Our Volcanic Iceland trip is a five-day discovery of a landscape like no other. We start in Reykjavik, toasting our arrival with a local beer and traditional three-course dinner, before a day exploring the city, seeing waterfalls in the Borgarfjörður region and stopping off at the charming town of Reykholt for a dip in geothermal baths derived from Europe’s most powerful hot spring.
Day three starts with a tour of Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, with a stop at a geothermal bakery to sample their volcanic rye bread – quite literally unlike any other bread on Earth. Then it’s time to really embrace the wilderness as we zoom across a glacier on snowmobiles.
Our final full day traces the dramatic southern coastline, starring glaciers, waterfalls and otherworldly black sand beaches. We’ll share a soul-warming shot of whisky after battling the elements on a glacier hike, followed by a well-deserved hearty Icelandic dinner. The next day, before we go our separate ways, it’s time to really indulge with a visit to the Blue Lagoon – those geothermal pools will work wonders on your muscles and your skin, ahead of your flight home.
Majestic Turkey 1-12 March
The intensity of heat during summer in Turkey can be a little restrictive if you want to really explore the country. Meanwhile, places like Istanbul and Antalya can begin to overflow with tourists. This means the milder month of March is a beautiful time to visit – you might even start to see the tulips blooming in Istanbul – particularly if you join our comprehensive 12-day Majestic Turkey trip.
We’ll start with a few days of exploration on the continent-crossing colossus that is Istanbul. We’ll discover the historic architectural masterpieces, the bustling bazaars and spice markets, the Bosphorus’ busy channels and the city’s incredible food scene, before we move on to the capital, Ankara. From there you’ll discover the real meaning of ancient, as we explore a number of incredible archeological sites on our way to Cappadocia. This region is famed for its otherworldly rock formations, and we’ll embrace tradition by staying in cave rooms built from local stone. You’ll make pottery, taste wine and even have the chance to go on a once-in-a-lifetime hot-air balloon ride over the region – this is not to be missed, trust us.
We’ll also discover an underground city and go hiking in the valleys before moving on to the sacred city of Konya, bathed in Persian history. You’ll discover more ancient sites in this region before we head to our final destination, the golden beaches of the Turkish Riviera. Here we’ll have a few days to enjoy everything Antalya has to offer, before our Majestic Turkey adventure comes to an end.
Blissful Bali – 16-27 March
The March weather in Bali is truly glorious. Temperatures hang at an average of around 26C, and humidity drops significantly from previous months. As a destination that has had its serenity challenged by mass tourism in recent years, the shoulder season is arguably a better time to experience authentic Bali.
Our 12-day Blissful Bali trip is designed to help you understand the local way of life, and how it has been formed by this region’s incredible natural bounties. With the help of our Local Insider, we’ll introduce you to traditional cuisine, cultural practices and meditative ceremonies.
The first six days will be dedicated to the main island, starting with a traditional Balinese offering before exploring mountains, temples and waterfalls. We’ll take you to a FlyHighYoga session and a mouthwatering Balinese cooking masterclass. The highlight of the first half of our trip is a sunrise hike to Mount Batur – seeing the sun rise from cloud-level atop an active volcano is not something to forget in a hurry.
On day seven we’ll hop on a speedboat to the Gili Islands. This tropical archipelago is paradise personified, with its pristine beaches and gentle ocean waters. Here we’ll do some yoga, snorkel with sea turtles and have plenty of time to chill on the beach or take advantage of the hotel’s spa facilities.
We’ll end our Gili detour with a beach barbecue before heading back to Bali on day 10. The last few days are pretty chill, giving you the option to try surfing, explore more of the island or simply relax on the beach. We’ll end the trip with a traditional Balinese blessing ceremony and a sumptuous farewell dinner, leaving you reinvigorated by the natural splendour and heartwarming culture of Bali.
Discover Jordan – 2-9 March
Much like Turkey, the summer heat in Jordan is intense, especially in the desert. In March it’s far more pleasant and, with the calmer crowds of shoulder season making Petra a little nicer too, we think our Discover Jordan trip is an ideal March getaway.
Our trip starts and ends in Amman, beginning with a night in a luxury city centre hotel. We’ll cross the desert to Jerash, one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Middle East, before returning to Amman for a street food tour, featuring some of the most delicious falafel and hummus on the planet, followed by a tasting session of top class Jordanian wines.
We’ll visit Jordan’s most famous site, the ancient city of Petra, entering through a backdoor to embark on a hike to the mountaintop monastery. We’ll also visit Little Petra and dine in a local family’s home. Next up is Wadi Rum, made famous by pretty much every big blockbuster movie in the last ten years.
This reddish rocky desert is even more impressive in person. We’ll tour the area on 4x4s and spend the night in a desert camp, with a mindblowing stargazing experience. After a few days in the desert you might be craving the coast, so we’ll end our trip visiting two famous seas – the Red Sea, where we’ll swim and snorkel, and the Dead Sea, which we’ll float in before staying at a chalet on the world’s lowest nature reserve.
Captivating Kerala – 23-31 March
This Indian state, straddling the southwestern coast, is an outdoor-lovers dream. It’s serene backwaters, beaches and tea plantations are beautiful in the balmy temperatures of March.
Our Captivating Kerala itinerary is a nine-day getaway starting in the state’s largest city, Kochi, with a stunning sunset harbour cruise. You’ll explore Fort Kochi and learn to cook Keralan style with a culinary masterclass. Then it’s on to the scenic highlands of the Cardamom Hills, where we’ll spend three nights in a gorgeous rural retreat. Your stay here will involve hiking valleys and hills, passing through tea plantations and tiny rural villages.
Then it’s onwards to the tropical backwaters of Kumarakom, staying in a hotel that specialises in Ayurvedic spa treatments. You’ll have plenty of time here to relax in the calming surrounds, but we’ll also visit the local Responsible Tourism initiative to learn about local skills like net fishing, coir weaving and coconut palm climbing.
You’ll end this unforgettable adventure with a cruise and Keralan lunch on Kumarakom’s backwaters – finishing our Indian adventure just like we started it.
Colourful Belize & Guatemala – 23-31 March
These little Central American gems are two of our favourite destinations right now, so we decided to combine them into one incredible Epic Trip! March is the perfect time to join us, since you’ll be catching the back end of the dry season, making it the perfect time to explore Belize’s beaches and Guatemala’s volcanic landscapes.
We’ll start in Belize, where it’s all about enjoying the bounties of the Caribbean coast. We’ll explore the kaleidoscopic marine life of the Belize Barrier Reef on a snorkelling excursion, before discovering hidden cayes and untouched beaches surrounded by palm trees. On the next day we’ll head down Monkey River on a boat tour and rainforest hike. Our last day in Belize will be largely yours to enjoy as you wish, before we embark on a magical sunset cruise.
On day five we head inland to Guatemala, where we’ll explore the charming old streets of colourful Antigua, with unique architecture designed specifically to protect the city from our next attraction, Pacaya Volcano. We’ll reach the summit at sunset, cooking pizza and marshmallows over molten lava.
Then we’ll head to the volcanic crater lake, Atitlan, stopping off on the way at an ancient pre-Columbian city, where we’ll witness the local Mayan community gather to partake in a traditional ceremony. You’ll get the chance to zipline over Lake Atitlan, as well as kayak on the waters, before our time in Guatemala comes to an end.