Where to travel in November: an in-between month for precise choices

Egypt: the Nile season begins

In Upper Egypt, between Luxor and Aswan, the summer heat is genuinely hard going. From roughly October to April the days are warm and dry and the evenings pleasant, and November falls at the start of that window. It's a good time to take the Nile slowly – by dahabiya, a traditional sailing boat with a handful of cabins, over four or five nights, stopping at temples the big cruise ships pass by.

We'd suggest starting in Cairo: the pyramids of Giza, the streets of Islamic Cairo and the Grand Egyptian Museum deserve at least a few days. Egypt is relatively quick to reach from Lithuania with little time difference, so it works for ten days' leave.

Vietnam: choose the north

Vietnam is the clearest example of why the region matters in November. The north is entering its drier, cooler season: Hanoi is pleasant for walking, and in the mountains of Ha Giang and the valleys of Cao Bằng buckwheat often flowers in autumn, the air is clear and the mountain roads are free of summer downpours. On the central coast around Hue and Hoi An, by contrast, October and November are often the wettest months, with storms and flooding possible. In the south the rains usually ease as the dry season approaches.

So in November we'd suggest planning Vietnam from the north: a few days in Hanoi, the highlands with a driver and homestay nights, perhaps a night on the bay. The central coast is better saved for spring.

Chile: spring in the desert and the lakes

November in Chile is late spring. In the Atacama Desert the days are warm and the nights cool and – as almost always – extraordinarily clear: it's one of the world's great places for stargazing. The Valley of the Moon at sunset, salt lagoons with flamingos, geyser fields at dawn – the Atacama also works as the start of a longer journey across the Bolivian highlands. The altitude is high, so take the first days slowly and talk to a doctor before you travel.

In the south, in the Lake District, spring is green, the volcanoes still wear snow and rain still comes and goes. In Patagonia the season is only beginning in November: long days, fewer travellers, but strong winds.

Singapore and Australia: a long journey, with a pause

November in Australia is late spring, one of the best times of year for the south. In Tasmania and on Kangaroo Island the days are long and mild, the country is green and the wildlife active. Sydney is warm but not yet hot. The north is different: the tropics are heading towards the wet season, and on the Queensland coast the marine stinger season begins, when swimming in protective suits is advised. In the Red Centre, around Uluru, it's already hot, so walks are planned for early morning.

The journey from Lithuania to Australia is about as long as travel gets, with a huge time difference. So we'd suggest breaking it: two or three nights in Singapore on the way. November brings the wetter north-east monsoon to Singapore, with afternoon downpours, but the city barely notices – the hawker halls, gardens, Katong's streets and parks carry on regardless. Above all, your body gets time to shift towards the new time zone before the rest of the flight.

If you have days free in November, tell us how many and what you're after – warmth, mountains or a long journey. First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.