MARCH OFF-SEASON TRAVEL

DEEP OFF-SEASON
SWEET SPOT

March is ideal for “sweet spot” (shoulder season) travel. The Northern Hemisphere awakens with pleasant spring weather and fewer crowds before summer’s peak. The Southern Hemisphere enjoys comfortable autumn conditions after summer, also with fewer people. Deep off-season spots still face extreme cold or the onset of challenging heat/humidity.

Main Regions Globally and Their Associated Seasons in March:

Northern Hemisphere:

    • Temperate (e.g., Europe, US/Canada): Late winter/early spring. Gradually warming temperatures, first blooms. Largely a shoulder season, with some winter activities still possible early in the month.
    • Tropical/Subtropical (e.g., Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Middle East): Towards the end of their dry/cool season, or warming up rapidly before the intense heat/rain. Mostly shoulder season, but still peak season for some areas.
    • Arctic/Far North (e.g., Iceland, Norway, Alaska): Still winter, but increasing daylight. This is primarily a shoulder season for winter activities (aurora viewing) winding down, or deep off-season for general tourism.

Southern Hemisphere:

    • Temperate (e.g., Southern South America, Australia/New Zealand): End of summer/early autumn. Pleasant temperatures, start of fall foliage in some areas. Predominantly a shoulder season.
    • Tropical/Subtropical (e.g., Southern Africa, parts of South America): End of rainy season or pleasant post-summer conditions. This is generally a shoulder season moving towards peak for safaris.