Your August Travel Adventure Guide: Where to Go When Summer Calls

Summer Travel Guide-5 places to visit

1. Bali, Indonesia: Where Time Slows Down

Imagine that you are sitting there on a bamboo mat at Uluwatu Temple and suddenly hundreds of Balinese dancers come off in the golden hour light. Kecak dance starts, and you suddenly forget that you are holding a phone. Bali in August, that is.

What you absolutely cannot miss

1. Uluwatu Temple at sunset: Show up half an hour before. Take my word on this. The best pictures are found on the left of the amphitheater, but more so found the best look at how shadows of the dancers play with the ancient stones of the temple.
2. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: Here’s a secret: bring a small bag of peanuts (the vendors sell them outside). The monkeys know the sound of a peanut bag opening from 50 feet away. Just keep your phone in a zippered pocket.
3. Tegallalang Rice Terrace: Go at 7 AM. The morning mist rolls over those emerald steps like something out of a dream, and you’ll have the place mostly to yourself.

Where to rest your head

1. The Mulia, Nusa Dua: Wake up, step onto your balcony, and watch fishing boats dot the horizon. The infinity pool here? It literally disappears into the ocean.
2. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan: Each villa has its own pool overlooking the jungle. You’ll fall asleep to the sound of the Ayung River and wake up to monkeys chattering in the trees.

Travel tricks I wish someone had told me

1. Keep a small towel in your bag. Bali’s humidity hits differently than you expect.
2. Download the Gojek app before you arrive; it’s your lifeline for getting around.
3. When visiting temples, bring a sarong. Sure, they rent them, but having your own means you can linger as long as you want.

Explore the full details by reading the full blog post here.

2. Santorini, Greece: Every Sunset is a Standing Ovation

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to live inside a postcard, Santorini in August is your answer. But here’s what the photos don’t show you: the way the white buildings feel cool against your palm when you lean against them, or how the black sand at Kamari Beach is surprisingly soft between your toes.

Experiences that’ll stick with you

1. Oia Village: Everyone talks about the sunset, but here’s what they don’t tell you: get there two hours early. Grab a coffee, wander the narrow streets, and watch how the light slowly transforms everything from white to gold to pink. The sunset crowds arrive at 7 PM, but you’ll already have found your perfect spot.
2. Kamari Beach: The black sand here gets hot like, really hot. But wade into that crystal-clear water and you’ll understand why people have been coming here for thousands of years.
3. Volcanic Tour: When you reach the hot springs near Nea Kameni, don’t just dip your toes. Swim out about ten feet and float on your back. The contrast between the cool Aegean and the warm springs is incredible.

Places to Stay

1. Canaves Oia Suites & Spa: That infinity pool? It’s positioned so you can watch the sunset while floating. Book a suite with a private pool if you can swing it.
2. Katikies Hotel: The cave-style rooms stay naturally cool, and waking up in one feels like emerging from a cocoon into paradise.

Insider knowledge

1. Book everything and I mean everything at least two months in advance. August is when half of Europe decides to visit Santorini.
2. Those cobblestone streets are beautiful but treacherous in flip-flops. Bring shoes with a grip.
3. Hit the main attractions before 9 AM or after 5 PM to avoid the cruise ship crowds.

3. Kyoto, Japan: Where Ancient Meets Timeless

Kyoto in August is hot. Let’s not sugarcoat it. But it’s also when the city comes alive with summer festivals, when the temples offer cool refuge, and when you realize that some places are worth a little sweat.

Moments That Matter

1. Fushimi Inari Shrine: Start your climb at 6 AM. The thousands of red torii gates create this incredible tunnel effect, and in the early morning, shafts of sunlight pierce through at random angles. About halfway up, there’s a small shrine where you can sit and catch your breath while the city wakes up below.
2. Gion District: Walk slowly here. I mean it. This isn’t a place to rush through. Duck into a traditional tea house, order matcha, and watch the world slow down. If you’re lucky, you might spot a geisha hurrying to an appointment.
3. Kiyomizu-dera: The wooden stage juts out over the hillside, and from here you can see all of Kyoto spread out below. Come at sunset when the city lights start twinkling on.

Where To Stay

1. The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto: The rooms here blend Japanese minimalism with luxury. Plus, the staff will arrange experiences you can’t book yourself, like private tea ceremonies or meetings with local artisans.
2. Kyoto Hotel Okura: Right in the heart of everything, and the rooftop restaurant has views that’ll make you forget how hot it is outside.

Pro tips from someone who’s been there

1. Temples and traditional gardens are naturally cooling; use them as your air conditioning.
2. Buy a portable fan from any convenience store. The locals do it, and they know what they’re doing.
3. Don’t just visit during the day. Kyoto at night, especially in Gion, is like stepping back in time.

Want to learn more? Check out the full blog post here.

4. Banff National Park, Canada: Where Mountains Touch Your Soul

In August, Banff is what adventure dreams are made of. The snow has melted from all but the highest peaks, wildflowers carpet the meadows, and the lakes. The lakes are this impossible shade of turquoise that cameras just can’t capture.

Adventures that’ll change you

1. Lake Louise: Rent a canoe and paddle to the far end of the lake. The silence there is profound. Just you, the water, and the mountains that have been standing for millions of years. Pack a lunch and eat it on the rocky shore while chipmunks try to negotiate for your sandwich.
2. Moraine Lake: Arrive before 8 AM. The parking lot fills up fast, but more importantly, the morning light on the water is ethereal. Bring a jacket even in August, it’s crisp up there.
3. Plain of Six Glaciers Hike: This is a commitment, 6 miles round trip, but at the end, you’re standing in front of actual glaciers. The tea house at the end serves the best apple strudel you’ll ever eat, and you’ll have earned every bite.

Where to Rest

1. Fairmont Banff Springs: They call it the “Castle in the Rockies,” and they’re not wrong. The lobby alone is worth the price of admission, and the spa uses glacier water in its treatments.
2. The Rimrock Resort Hotel: Every room has a view that’ll make you want to never leave. The outdoor hot tub under the stars is a religious experience.

Mountain Tips

1. Weather changes fast in the mountains. I once went from shorts to a winter jacket in 20 minutes.
2. Wildlife is real here. I’ve seen bears, elk, and mountain goats just driving through town. Keep your distance and your camera ready.
3. Book accommodations a year in advance if you can. Banff in August is popular for good reason.

For a detailed guide, head over to the full post here.

5. Cape Town, South Africa: Winter Never Felt So Good

August is Cape Town’s winter, but don’t let that scare you off. It’s more like California’s winter mild days, crisp nights, and some of the clearest skies you’ll ever see. Plus, it’s whale season.

Experiences that’ll blow your mind

1. Table Mountain: Take the cable car up, but here’s the secret: book the sunset trip. Watching the sun set over the Atlantic from 3,500 feet up, with the city lights beginning to twinkle below, is pure magic.
2. Boulders Beach: African penguins. Just trust me on this one. They waddle around like little comedians, and you can get surprisingly close. Bring a good camera with a zoom lens.
3. Cape Winelands: A day trip to Stellenbosch or Franschhoek isn’t just about wine tasting (though the wines are incredible). It’s about sitting on a veranda surrounded by mountains, watching the afternoon light play across the vineyards.

Your South African sanctuary

1. One&Only Cape Town: The views of Table Mountain from here are legendary, and the spa treatments use local fynbos (indigenous plants) that smell like the Western Cape in a bottle.
2. The Silo Hotel: Built in an old grain silo, this place is Instagram famous for good reason. The views from the rooftop are unparalleled.

Cape Town survival guide

1. Pack layers for 60°F days that can drop to 40°F at night.
2. August is the rainy season, but it’s more like gentle showers than storms.
3. Use Uber or the MyCiti bus system. Driving in Cape Town takes local knowledge you don’t have.

Discover more by visiting the full blog article here.

Your August Action Plan

1. For beach lovers: Bali and Santorini are your spots. Can’t go wrong with either.
2. For culture seekers: Kyoto will overwhelm you in the best possible way.
3. For adventure junkies: Banff is calling your name.
4. For something completely different: Cape Town in winter is an experience you’ll never forget.
5. Universal truth: Book everything early, pack for variable weather, and leave room in your itinerary for spontaneous moments.

August is waiting. Where will you go?