Seasonal travel discovery guide
Some places feel enchanted all year long; others have their magic heightened at special times, like the blaze of fall foliage across New Hampshire’s White Mountains or the continuous glow of the midnight sun over Iceland. Deciding where—and when—to take your next trip? We’re here to help you find your best time to travel.
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Showing 1–5 of 255 tours

Europe’s calling
Spring or winter, peak or off-peak, the best season to travel to Europe depends on your preferences. But one thing’s certain: No matter when you go, you’ll be wooed by the continent’s charms.

London, Paris & Rome
Big Ben. The Eiffel Tower. The Colosseum. Some landmarks shine no matter the season. Find your best time to travel, take to the skies, and dive into three of the world’s great cities.
Your seasonal tour begins here
You could wait for inspiration to strike—or find some with a little help from our team of experts.
What’s the deal with off-peak’s trending appeal?
Fall and winter travel to Europe is a hot commodity. We’ll tell you why its popularity is peaking and how you can jump on the trend.
The ultimate travel guide for your ultimate trip
Have a tour in mind, but wondering about the best season to travel? Our destination guides break down what to expect whenever you take off.
All-time memories, all year round
Passing time wrinkles the fabric of a place in different, delightful ways—like the warmth of the sun after a summertime swim off Santorini or the dance of the aurora borealis across Iceland’s wintry landscape. Enjoy the fruits of each season on these tours.

A Week in Italy
Watch Venice, Florence, and Rome come alive in the spring.
Explore the 9-day itinerary
A Week in Greece
Catch a dose of summer sun in Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini.
Explore the 9-day itinerary
Switzerland to Austria
Trek across Alpine Europe as autumn descends on three countries.
Explore the 9-day itinerary
Iceland
Use the winter nights to your advantage and hunt the northern lights.
Explore the 6-day itinerarySeasonal experiences for your memory vault. Why don’t you...

Stop and smell the sakura trees
Find a patch of grass and indulge in hanami—the age-old tradition of enjoying the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms. Try it on our Cherry Blossoms in Japan: Tokyo to Kyoto tour.
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Sail the azure waters of the Aegean Sea
Cruise between a trio of Greek islands—Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes—as you make your way to the Turkish resort town of Cesme. Try it on our Greece & Turkey: Athens, Greek Islands Cruise & Istanbul tour.

Admire Canada’s autumnal palette
Sink into the slower pace of life in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, all dressed in the auburn colors of the season. Try it on our Fall Foliage Tour: The Canadian Maritimes.

Sip on steaming mulled wine
See how Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland celebrate the holidays (and compare each of their takes on a favorite seasonal drink). Try it on our Christmas Markets of Eastern Europe tour.
Experiential travel made easy
You dream it. We’ll take care of every last detail.
Pick your perfect trip
We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.
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Prep your packing list
While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about.
Go far (and get rewarded)
Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.
What travelers are saying about our tours
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Yolanda
#goaheadtours did an amazing job of planning our entire vacation ( London, United Kingdom, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Rome,Italy). Our Tour Director Lynn was extremely...
Traveled in Jul 2024 on London, Amsterdam & Rome
5 out of 5 stars
4th-time traveler Anonymous
The tour was absolutely amazing. Switzerland itself is beautiful, the itinerary was great and the tour guide and fellow travellers were wonderful. Would definitely recommend this...
Traveled in Jun 2025 on Switzerland by Train: Lucerne to Zurich
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Vincent
This was our fourth trip with EF GoAhead. Our tour director Raul was amazing and patient. Hotels were very nice. The overall itinerary felt rushed; could have had fewer stops (my...
Traveled in Jun 2025 on Grand Tour of Portugal & Spain: Porto to Barcelona
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Daniel
This tour was absolutely fantastic! The sights and experiences were amazing. I particularly enjoyed the archaeological sites, but there was a great mix of activities that gave a...
Traveled in Jun 2025 on Italy & Greece
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Maxine
EF Tours as far as I'm concerned planned a near perfect tour!! Our tour director Servanne was PERFECT so informed personal and Professional. This was my second tour with EF and I...
Traveled in Jul 2025 on Central Europe for Solo Travelers
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Julio Fidel
My wife Paulita and I were truly delighted with this exciting and beautiful tour. The organization of the tour was excellent, including transportation, hotels, guides, and above...
Traveled in Jun 2025 on The Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini & Crete
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Dustin
We really enjoyed the family trip to Italy and Greece in July 2025. It was a heat wave, but there's nothing we could have done to be better prepared. We brought neck fans and...
Traveled in Jul 2025 on Italy & Greece
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Kyra
This tour was hands down one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life, and a huge part of that is thanks to our phenomenal Tour Director, Colin. From the moment we met...
Traveled in Jun 2025 on Scotland for Solo Travelers: Highlands, Aberdeen & Edinburgh
Get into the spirit of the season
Which season? That’s up to you. From major holidays and festivals to the quiet of an average day, these tours showcase the depth and breadth of a country’s character.
Save up to $600
Save up to $600 on the getaway you deserve—whether you’re craving a trek through the Peruvian jungle or a week in a European city. Claim your deal by 7/22.†
Travel tips for seasonal trips
Simply put, seasonal travel means timing your trip to a particular country or region’s attractions. For many, those special occurrences—like the bloom of Japan’s cherry blossoms in spring or the mirth of Germany’s Oktoberfest celebrations in fall—often dictate the best time to travel to a place. But remember: Some of the most memorable moments happen at the most unexpected times, so don’t be afraid to plan a tour outside of summer’s peak, like during the shoulder season.
There’s no hard-and-fast rule—the best season to travel depends on your own preferences. Want to feel like you have a destination all to yourself? Consider taking one of our Off-Peak Tours to sink into the pace of local life. Craving a summer trip without the summer heat? Check out our list of Coolcations.
The best time to travel also depends on the places you’d like to visit. For example: Spain in spring blooms with festivals like Valencia’s Fallas and Seville’s Feria de Abril, while Ireland in summer balances balmy temperatures, less rain, and those famous emerald landscapes.
Of course! Each of our more than 200 itineraries shares the same great perks (think pre-planned activities, quality accommodations, and the like), and that includes an expert Tour Director to shepherd you from destination to destination. Furthermore, you’ll meet with local experts throughout your guided seasonal tour who’ll give you the inside scoop on their hometowns.