This page has affiliate links. If you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
July is summer holiday season in the northern hemisphere, so Europe is busy and expensive. In Asia, the cooler north and Indonesia's dry season are the best bets.
1. Furano and Biei, Hokkaido
Lavender fields usually peak in July, with cool temperatures compared with the rest of Japan.
Key sights
- Farm Tomita: Purple lavender fields at their peak in July.
- Blue Pond, Biei: Strikingly blue pond with dead trees standing in the water.
- Patchwork Road: Rolling hills of flower and crop fields around Biei.
2. Mongolia
The Naadam festival in mid-July brings wrestling, horse racing and archery.
Key sights
- Naadam Festival: Wrestling, horse racing and archery, around 11 to 13 July.
- Gobi Desert: Dunes, camels and the Flaming Cliffs.
- Terelj: Ger camps and hiking near Ulaanbaatar.
3. Swiss Alps
Hiking trails and mountain railways are fully open, with alpine flowers in bloom.
Key sights
- Jungfraujoch: Rail up to Europe's highest station and the Aletsch Glacier.
- Engelberg and Titlis: Rotating cable car and the lake at Trübsee.
- Zermatt: Car-free village below the Matterhorn.
→ See the suggested day-by-day itinerary
4. Bali, Indonesia
Peak dry season with clear skies, though it is also peak season for prices.
Key sights
- Pura Ulun Danu Beratan: Lakeside water temple in the cool highlands.
- Nusa Penida: Kelingking cliff and manta ray snorkelling.
- Ubud: Monkey Forest, rice terraces and evening dance.
5. Xinjiang and Gansu, China
Summer is the season for the grasslands and lakes of northwest China.
Key sights
- Zhangye Danxia: Rainbow-striped hills, best at sunset.
- Dunhuang: Mogao Caves and Crescent Lake among the dunes.
- Sayram Lake: Blue alpine lake ringed by grassland in Xinjiang.
Weather to plan around
Much of East Asia is hot and humid in July, and typhoon season brings storms to southern China, Taiwan, Okinawa and the Philippines.
← June · All months · August →
Questions people ask
When do the Furano lavender fields bloom?
Usually from late June to early August, with the peak in mid to late July.