The best places to travel in August
If Bust-a-Move Month were a thing, August would be it. From Argentina's tango dancers to Mustang's horse riders to Tanzania's wildebeest, creatures great and small—even trippy river algae!—see the coming weeks as go time, and travellers are the lucky beneficiaries. To see what we mean, head to any of these seven spots.
Buenos Aires
Grip a red rose between your teeth and make your way to the Tango Festival and World Cup in Buenos Aires (Aug. 8–21). The dance’s birthplace is the obvious spot for this off-the-charts annual celebration, with free concerts, talks, and lessons, among many other tango-related treats. The excitement peaks at Mundial de Tango, the dance-off to end all dance-offs. You'll find plenty of #dancespo (and ideas for fabulous outfits) at Hotel Faena’s Rojo Tango show. Kick back with a glass of Malbec, feast on beef tenderloin with truffled mashed potatoes and keep your eyes peeled for dance-obsessed celebs. Everyone from Bono to Katy Perry has turned up here.
Svalbard
This pristine archipelago in the Arctic Ocean is a veritable polar bear playground — and August is one of the best months to spot them. Cute and fuzzy as they may seem, polar bears are actually the world’s largest terrestrial carnivores, with adult males weighing in at a monstrous 1,500 pounds. Bearing that in mind (no pun intended), it’s worth taking care when picking a guide. An extended cruise is the safest — and surest — way to see them. Take an arctic expedition and you have a good chance of spying walrus, reindeer, and whales, too.
Tanzania
Some things are worth travelling around the world for — like, watching one and a half million wildebeest and friends migrate across the Mara River. Though the Great Wildebeest Migration happens throughout the year, the river crossings (considered the pièce de résistance by many a wildlife fanatic) are generally best viewed in August. But old softies, take note: You'll likely have to avert your gaze during the occasional alligator ambush. Check into the award-winning Asilia Sayari Camp for easy access to the river. Here, you can join a 4X4 game drive, or get your pulse racing on a hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti. While you’re at it, why not double your bucket list bragging rights with a trip to Mount Kilimanjaro? August is one of the best months to climb Africa’s tallest mountain thanks to dry, clear skies (still: brrrrrrr).
Minneapolis
Minneapolis comes alive in summer with farmers markets, art fairs, fireworks and festivals. Two of the season's most choice offerings are the Minnesota Fringe (Aug. 4-14) and Minnesota State Fair (Aug. 25 – Sept. 5). Need a place stay? Check into the Hotel Emery: a mid-century-style hotel with some serious Don Draper-esque glam. At the rooftop restaurant – Giulia – grab a negroni and a plate of chef, Josh Hedquist’s signature blueberry panna cotta.
Whitehorse
If you think Canadian cuisine is all about crispy bacon and maple syrup, think again. Bison, arctic char and elk are just some of the exotic foods on offer in the Yukon. Summer is high time to enjoy local chefs cooking outside over an open fire, while lucky guests (that’s you) relax with Yukon beers and craft cocktails. It's also Yukon Pride Month (Aug. 1-30), with over 40 events planned across the territory (the majority being in and around Whitehorse). The focus of this year's festival is to bring the community together, support one another, and create spaces where we all belong. While you're there, take a guided tour of the paddle steamer S.S. Klondike and visit the newly-renovated MacBride Museum. By happy coincidence, August is also the perfect month to paddle the Yukon River. Now’s your chance to take a four-day canoeing trip from Whitehorse to Little Salmon Village, visiting gold rush towns, and spotting eagles, beaver and moose along the way.
Mustang
If ancient rituals, thrilling horse races, and all-day parties seem a winning combination, the Yartung Festival is for you (Aug. 31- Sept. 3): probably the most raucous summer celebration in Nepal. As the monsoon season ends and the weather becomes drier and warmer, thousands gather in the the Buddhist pilgrimage site of Muktinath. In this fairy tale town, surrounded on all sides by majestic, snow-capped mountains, you’ll witness all manner of Himalayan hijinks, including drunken dance troupes, archery contests, and a high-speed horse race through the winding streets. You can't go to Nepal and not experience adventure. A guided trek to Annapurna or Everest Base Campp for 10 or 15 nights is available through Nepal Treks and Tours that sets you up with everything you need. Most hiking tours start in Kathmandu, so while you’re here, be sure to check out ‘Freak Street’ (Jhochen Tole) – a favourite of The Beatles in the late Sixties. Grab a slice of freshly-baked apple crumble at Snowman Café, then skip around the corner to Janakpur Dahi Lassi Bhandar for a cooling glass of lassi.
Caño Cristales
How about cooling off with dip in a liquid rainbow this August? Every summer, the crystalline river – Caño Cristales – blooms with multi-coloured aquatic plants known as ‘macarenia clavigera’. You’ll need a guide to access this red, green, blue, and yellow marvel of nature. Tours include hikes to waterfalls, picnic lunches by psychedelic streams, and a chance to splash around in bizarrely beautiful Willy Wonka-esque ponds. While you’re here, try a night or two at Wayabero Lodge. You can soothe your jet lag in the infinity pool, then take a guided hike in the Sierra de la Macarena National Park (stay on the alert for iguanas, eagles, jaguars and toucans). Luckily, most tours to Caño Cristales go via Bogotá – the perfect excuse to join the capital’s back-to-back summer celebrations: Carnival de Bogotá (August 5-6) and Festival de Verano (August 1-4).