We believe that timing can shape a journey just as much as place. While peak seasons often get the spotlight, we’ve found that traveling outside them—the so-called "off-season"—can reveal something deeper, quieter, and, for some, more rewarding.

Here are five reasons to consider off-season travel

1 — A Different Kind of Beauty

Landscapes shift with the seasons, and seeing a place at a less popular time can offer a unique view. In the Galápagos, cooler waters bring a surge of marine life. In Patagonia, the fall colors blaze and fewer hikers step foot on the trails. What might not look like the postcard version often turns out to be the moments guests remember most.

In Zimbabwe, the December-May “green season” offers lush hues rarely seen in the more popular “dry season.”

2 — Fewer People, More Presence

Off-season doesn’t mean deserted—but it does mean breathing room. It means quieter trails, easier conversations, and a destination at its most serene. There’s a kind of clarity that comes when you can savor the landscape, linger in the experience, and feel more connected to the place.

In Patagonia, the “off-season” offers a little more space on their increasingly popular trails.

3 — More Time to Connect

During off-season months, there’s often more time for conversation—with our guides, with local hosts, with the people who live where we travel. The exchanges feel unhurried, more open. We’ve had some of our most moving moments in the quiet seasons, when there’s more time to ask questions, and to really listen to the answers.

In Turkey, fewer crowds in the spring and fall mean more time to enjoy the warmth and energy of locals.

4 — A More Sustainable Footprint

We believe travel should tread lightly. Traveling in the off-season spreads out visitor impact and eases pressure on fragile ecosystems and small communities. It’s a subtle difference, but an important one—especially in the places we care most about.

In the Ecuadorian Amazon, lowering the impact of travel isn’t just preferable, it’s essential

5 — Unexpected Joy

There’s a magic in letting go of perfect timing. It’s about embracing the surprises: the sudden burst of birdsong in a rainstorm, a chance sighting, a longer conversation over tea. Traveling in the off-season invites us to show up with more curiosity, more flexibility, and more openness to the unplanned.

In the Galapagos “off-season” in the fall, sea lion pups make playful snorkel companions

Whether it's misty mornings in the Amazon, the “dry-season” of the Galápagos, or the lush “green season” in Zimbabwe, the so-called off-season often brings us closer to what matters. And over the years, it’s become our preference. When we stop chasing the "best time to go," we find that the best moments are waiting right there for us.

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