November’s Best On-Water Travel Destinations

The summer fleet has gone home and the Caribbean season hasn't started yet. But for anyone who knows where to look, November can be the most generous month of the year.

November has a reputation problem. In the Northern Hemisphere it's when the light fades early, the beaches fall quiet, and everyone waits for Christmas. In the Southern Hemisphere, summer hasn’t quite arrived and the Pacific cyclone season is ramping up. Timing is everything though in travel, and these five places reward getting it right.

Urupukapuka Island in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands. November brings calm seas and quiet anchorages. /Camilla Rutherford

Bay of Islands, New Zealand: spring, in one of the world’s great marine playgrounds

While Europe heads into winter, New Zealand's Northland is moving towards summer. The Bay of Islands scatters more than a hundred islands across sheltered water, and in November it's still mostly yours. The Kiwi summer holidays are weeks away and the pōhutukawa haven't yet turned the coastline red for Christmas. The water is bracing and the days are long. It's the ideal time to charter a yacht out of Russell or Ōpua before the country arrives at the beach.

Our recommendations
On Land: The Duke of Marlborough Hotel has musket-marked walls and its roots in colonial history, but is now the beautifully-restored, historic heart of Russell.
To Eat: Approach Sage from land, or head straight there in the tender where the team will pick you up onshore and transport you through the vines to this restaurant inspired by moana (sea) and whenua (land).
On Water: Explore the bay’s 144 islands, starting with Urupukapuka, the largest, and home to ancient Māori pā sites and clear, deserted beaches.

The Similan Islands are a protected natural reserve ideal for snorkelling

The Andaman Sea: opening night

On Thailand's west coast, November is the start of the season rather than the end. The northeast monsoon brings dry air and settled seas, the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay rise out of calm green water, and the Similan Islands have just reopened after their annual closure. Arrive before the Christmas rates begin and you get the islands while the season still feels new.

Our recommendations
On Land: Six Senses Yao Noi places you in the heart of Phang Nga Bay with the intense blue of the bay present at every turn.
To Eat: Aulis Phuket is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Phang Nga and delights with a chef’s table of just 15 guests.
On Water: The Similan islands open each year from October 15 and overnight stays are banned, making it the perfect yachting destination for those seeking quiet.

In November, Mallorca’s anchorages grow quieter and the city becomes more still.

Mallorca: the Mediterranean, back with its locals

By November the superyachts have moved into port and the anchorages around the Bay of Palma are empty again. The sea still holds much of its summer warmth. The Serra de Tramuntana, too hot to walk in August, becomes the island's best feature, with terraced olive groves being harvested and Sóller's orange trees starting to colour. Palma's restaurants cook for the city again rather than for the cruise ships. Book a table at a place you couldn't get into in July, and take the long road over the mountains afterwards.

Our recommendations
On Land: Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden has combined the romance of an historic Mallorcan house, with the ease and luxury of a sumptuous hotel. And crucially, the pool is heated for winter.
To Eat: Restaurant Marc Fosh serves tasting menus in a 17th-century former convent in Palma's old town, built around produce from across the Balearics, and its seasonal menus are the perfect way to taste the Mediterranean in Autumn.
On Water: During summer, anchorage at the Cabrera Archipelago National Park is limited to a night or two, but in November you can linger up to seven. Though the park is the largest in Spain, visitors at this time of year are few and the coastal landscape is considered the best preserved in Spain.

November in the Seychelles means enjoying calm seas and ideal water visibility /Adrien Daurenjou

Seychelles: the calm between the winds

As the southeast trades ease and before the northwest monsoon arrives, the Seychelles in November offer something the islands can't promise for most of the year: flat water and light breezes. Rains increase but don’t usually become heavy until December and the calm waters deliver excellent snorkelling and diving conditions. It's the month to sail slowly between Praslin and La Digue, to anchor off sculpted granite boulders and to dive while the visibility is at its best.

Our recommendations
On Land: Raffles Seychelles has been undergoing a comprehensive transformation which is set to launch in October 2026, making this November the ideal time to be one of the first to enjoy its new culinary and social offerings.
On Water: Take the tender to Curieuse. Home to giant tortoises, it’s also the only place beside Praslin where the coco de mer palm grows naturally, and November is the perfect time to take advantage of the guided sea turtle nesting experiences running from October to March.

November creates excellent viewing conditions for the aurora borealis/Stein Egil Liland

Norway and Hurtigruten’s Northern Lights Promise

There’s no calculation quite like that of trying to figure out your best window of opportunity to see Northern Lights. Legendary Norwegian exploration and maritime line, Hurtigruten has taken the pressure off with its Northern Lights Promise. If the aurora borealis isn’t sighted on your cruise with Hurtigruten, they’ll offer a complimentary six or seven day voyage for you to take another shot. The offer applies for those sailing on a voyage of 11 days or more between September and March. November offers an excellent time of year with long dark nights and short daylight hours maximising your chance of seeing the lights.

Our recommendations
On Land: Ytri is 60 kilometres off Norway’s coast and perched on a battered cluster of islands, pelted by the ocean. This brand new hotel places you in the heart of the harsh Arctic landscape while cossetting you with warmth, good design and an all-encompassing sense of calm.
To Eat: Iris Expedition Dining serves an 18 course tasting menu from the heart of a floating art installation in the middle of Hardangerfjord. It’s truly one of a kind.
On Water: Hurtigruten has a number of cruises designed around viewing the aurora while taking in some of Norway’s most striking coastal sites.