June Leave List
Summer begins.
Where to travel in June?
June is when summer really begins. Across the Northern Hemisphere, days are getting longer, temperatures are rising and some of the world’s most spectacular landscapes are finally opening up after winter.
It’s an incredible month for mountain adventures, wildlife encounters, long summer days and Mediterranean sunshine. Whether you want to hike beneath the midnight sun in Norway, road trip through Iceland, swim along the Albanian Riviera or watch elephants move through the Okavango Delta, June offers plenty of ways to make your annual leave count.
And for destinations further afield, June can be a particularly rewarding time to travel, with excellent conditions for wildlife, trekking and outdoor adventures.
Best Places to Visit in June
Mountains, fjords & outdoor adventures
Norway
Perfect for: Fjords, hiking, wildlife & the midnight sun
Average temperature: Around 12–20°C
Season: Summer
June is one of the most exciting times to explore Norway. The days are incredibly long, and above the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn’t set at all. This gives you an almost endless window to explore the country’s dramatic landscapes.
The warmer weather also makes June ideal for hiking, road trips and exploring the fjords, while waterfalls are particularly impressive after the spring snowmelt.
Best things to do: Cruise through the Norwegian fjords, hike to Trolltunga or Pulpit Rock, explore the Lofoten Islands, experience the midnight sun, go kayaking or take a scenic road trip through the mountains.
Iceland
Perfect for: Road trips, waterfalls, hiking & dramatic landscapes
Average temperature: Around 8–15°C
Season: Summer
Iceland starts to feel much more accessible in June. Long daylight hours make it possible to fit far more into each day, while many hiking routes and remote areas become accessible after the winter.
It’s one of the best months for a road trip, with waterfalls flowing strongly, green landscapes and plenty of opportunities to experience Iceland’s extraordinary volcanic scenery.
Best things to do: Drive the Ring Road, explore the Golden Circle, visit waterfalls such as Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, hike through volcanic landscapes, soak in geothermal pools or explore the South Coast.
Switzerland
Perfect for: Mountains, hiking, lakes & scenic train journeys
Average temperature: Around 15–25°C
Season: Summer hiking season
By June, many of Switzerland’s mountain trails have opened up after winter, while the valleys are covered in wildflowers. The combination of warm temperatures and dramatic alpine scenery makes it an excellent month for an active escape.
You can also combine hiking with some of Europe’s most spectacular train journeys and beautiful lakeside towns.
Best things to do: Hike around Zermatt, see the Matterhorn, explore Interlaken, cruise Lake Lucerne, visit Lauterbrunnen Valley or take the Glacier Express through the Alps.
Slovenia
Perfect for: Lakes, mountains, hiking & outdoor adventure
Average temperature: Around 18–26°C
Season: Early summer
Slovenia is one of Europe’s best destinations for an active trip without needing to travel huge distances. June brings warm days, green landscapes and excellent conditions for exploring the mountains, lakes and rivers.
It’s particularly appealing if you want to combine beautiful scenery with hiking, kayaking and a little time by the water.
Best things to do: Visit Lake Bled, hike in Triglav National Park, kayak along the Soča River, explore Lake Bohinj, visit Ljubljana or go canyoning in the Julian Alps.
Sunshine, beaches & summer escapes
France
Perfect for: Road trips, beaches, food & countryside
Average temperature: Around 20–28°C depending on the region
Season: Early summer
France comes alive in June. Provence begins to turn purple as the lavender fields bloom, the French Riviera is warm enough for long beach days and the countryside is perfect for road trips.
It’s an especially good month to combine several experiences in one trip, from beautiful villages and vineyards to Mediterranean beaches and mountain scenery.
Best things to do: Explore the lavender fields of Provence, road trip along the Côte d’Azur, visit Nice and Antibes, explore the villages of Provence, hike through the Calanques or spend a few days in the French Alps.
Albania
Perfect for: Beaches, mountains, road trips & adventure
Average temperature: Around 22–30°C
Season: Early summer
June is one of the best times to discover Albania’s spectacular Riviera. The weather is hot enough for swimming and beach days, while the country is still relatively easy to explore before the busiest part of summer.
What makes Albania particularly interesting is the combination of dramatic mountains, turquoise water, historic towns and surprisingly affordable travel.
Best things to do: Road trip along the Albanian Riviera, swim at Ksamil, explore Himarë, hike in the mountains, visit Gjirokastër and Berat or explore the Blue Eye.
Wildlife & once-in-a-lifetime adventures
Canada
Perfect for: National parks, hiking, wildlife & road trips
Average temperature: Around 15–25°C depending on the region
Season: Early summer
June marks the beginning of Canada’s spectacular summer season. Mountain roads and hiking trails become increasingly accessible, alpine lakes begin to thaw and wildlife becomes much more active.
For a road trip through the Canadian Rockies, June offers an incredible combination of dramatic scenery, outdoor adventure and opportunities to spot wildlife.
Best things to do: Road trip through Banff and Jasper, see Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, hike through the Rockies, spot bears and elk, explore turquoise glacial lakes or drive the Icefields Parkway.
Rwanda
Perfect for: Gorilla trekking, wildlife & mountains
Average temperature: Around 18–27°C
Season: Dry season begins
Rwanda offers one of the world’s most unforgettable wildlife experiences: trekking through the misty mountains of Volcanoes National Park to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
June marks the beginning of the drier season, making conditions better for trekking. The country’s compact size also means you can combine gorilla trekking with other wildlife and cultural experiences.
Best things to do: Trek to see mountain gorillas, track golden monkeys, explore Kigali, visit Lake Kivu, go on safari in Akagera National Park or discover Rwanda’s volcanic landscapes.
Botswana
Perfect for: Safari, wildlife & wilderness
Average temperature: Around 10–25°C
Season: Dry season
June is a spectacular time for a Botswana safari. As the dry season begins, wildlife increasingly gathers around permanent water sources, making sightings easier.
The Okavango Delta is particularly special at this time of year, as seasonal floodwaters begin to transform the landscape into a network of waterways filled with wildlife.
Best things to do: Explore the Okavango Delta by mokoro, go on game drives, see elephants and lions, visit Chobe National Park, take a walking safari or spend a few nights in a remote safari camp.
China
Perfect for: History, culture, mountains & iconic landmarks
Average temperature: Around 20–30°C depending on the region
Season: Late spring / early summer
June can be a great month to explore China’s huge variety of landscapes and cultural sites. Temperatures are generally manageable in many of the country’s most popular destinations, making it possible to combine cities, ancient landmarks and outdoor adventures.
It’s a country where a well-planned itinerary can take you from imperial history to dramatic mountains and some of the world’s most impressive modern cities.
Best things to do: Walk along the Great Wall of China, explore Beijing’s Forbidden City, visit the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, cruise along the Li River, discover Shanghai or explore the mountains around Zhangjiajie.
Why travel in June ?
June is one of the best months for big outdoor adventures. Summer has arrived across much of the NorJune marks the beginning of summer and brings some of the year’s longest days and best outdoor conditions across the northern hemisphere.
You can:
- Chase the midnight sun through northern landscapes
- Hike through mountains, valleys and alpine meadows
- Go on safari during the start of the dry season
- Explore dramatic coastlines, lakes and national parks
- Escape to the islands for warm weather and turquoise waters
With long daylight hours and excellent conditions for outdoor adventures, June is ideal for making every day of annual leave count.