Why November is One of the Best Travel Months
November is cheap in some places and expensive in others, and the skill is knowing which is which. In Europe and North America summer is over, so flights and hotels have dropped, and the Mediterranean has cooled to a walkable 18–22°C / 64–72°F: warm enough to eat outside, cool enough to climb a hill without regretting it. In South Asia, North Africa and Southeast Asia the logic runs the other way. The weather is turning good, and so are the prices, upwards. That is the trade-off. The word "shoulder season" describes Lisbon in November. It does not describe Jaipur.
In 2026, the quietest window is usually mid-month. Avoid the first week, when half-term travel and the tail of the autumn holidays still push fares up, and avoid US Thanksgiving week (26 November this year), when American demand lifts prices on transatlantic routes and in the big city hotels. Christmas pricing tends to start in earnest in early December. Book flights early, check the dates against your own calendar, and treat every price in this guide as an estimate as of October 2026.
Rajasthan, India: The Perfect November Window
Go to Rajasthan between November and February, and November is the best of those months. The desert state is too hot before then and starts warming again from March. In November, days sit around 25–30°C / 77–86°F, evenings are cool, and the post-monsoon air has cleared enough that the sandstone forts look sharply outlined against the sky. It is also high season, so book heritage hotels early and expect to pay for it. The Pushkar Camel Fair is held around the Kartik full moon, which usually falls in November. Check the exact dates with Rajasthan Tourism before you build a trip around it.
The Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur) is the classic first route, and it is crowded for a reason. Rajasthan gets more interesting further in. Jodhpur's blue-washed old town falls away beneath Mehrangarh Fort. Jaisalmer's sandstone citadel rises straight out of the Thar Desert, and people still live inside its walls. Udaipur's Lake Palace sits on Lake Pichola, and the city is known for its appearance in the Bond film Octopussy. Plan around the distances, though. Jodhpur to Jaisalmer is a long day by road or an overnight train, and few visitors allow for it.
Rajasthan November Budget
- Budget: about $30–50 (≈ €25–45 / £25–40) a day (guesthouses, local thalis, auto-rickshaws). Mid-range: about $70–120 (≈ €60–105 / £55–95) a day (heritage hotels, private transfers). Splurge: palace hotels from roughly $200–600 (≈ €180–540 / £155–470) a night, higher in peak November weeks. Estimates as of October 2026.
- Domestic flights from Delhi to Jaipur or Jodhpur start from around $20–40 (≈ €18–35 / £16–30) when booked ahead. The Delhi to Jaipur train takes about 4.5 hours, from roughly $8 (≈ €7.14 / £6.30) in sleeper class. Book on IRCTC at least two weeks out, because November seats go early.
- Safety: read the UK FCDO advice for India before you go, and check the section on areas near the border with Pakistan, which Rajasthan shares. The usual advice applies elsewhere: keep valuables out of sight, use registered taxis or the Uber and Ola apps, and stick to bottled or filtered water.
- Entry: most nationalities can apply for an e-visa online, with processing times and fees that vary by nationality and have changed before. Check the official Indian government e-visa portal for the current cost, and apply well before you fly.
Morocco: Golden Light and Warm Days
Morocco in November is a strong bet if you want sun without summer's heat. Marrakech sits around 22–25°C / 72–77°F in the daytime, the crowds of high summer and the school holidays have thinned, and the low light across the Atlas Mountains and the edge of the Sahara is at its best in the late afternoon. Marrakech's souks, Fez's medieval medina and the blue lanes of Chefchaouen all suit a slower pace. Nights get properly cold in the desert and the mountains, so pack a warm layer. Many visitors don't.
The practical gain is on price. Riads, the traditional courtyard guesthouses, can cost $170–225 (€150–200; ≈ £135–180) a night in peak periods and often fall to roughly $78–110 (€70–100; ≈ £60–85) in November. Check current rates, because they vary widely by riad and by week. Desert trips to Merzouga, the big dunes on the main tourist circuit, are less crowded this time of year. The four-day loop from Marrakech over the Atlas to the dunes is a good short itinerary, but it is a lot of driving for little time on the sand. Ask your operator for the exact hours in the car before you book.
Morocco November Budget
- Budget: about $39–67 (€35–60; ≈ £30–55) a day (guesthouses, tagines from simple cafés, shared transport). Mid-range: about $90–145 (€80–130; ≈ £70–115) a day (riads, restaurant meals, a private desert tour). Estimates as of October 2026.
- Safety: the UK FCDO publishes current advice for Morocco, including notes on specific regions, so read it before you book. In the big medinas the main nuisance is persistent touting, mostly verbal. Walk with purpose, say a polite no, and agree prices before you accept a guide or a taxi.
- Marrakech to Fez takes about 8 hours by CTM bus (around $17, €15; ≈ £13), about 8 hours by shared grand taxi (around $20, €18; ≈ £16), or about an hour by domestic flight (around $45–78, €40–70; ≈ £35–60). Fares change, so check them close to the date.
- Go to a hammam. Choose a traditional neighbourhood bathhouse rather than a hotel spa, and expect to pay roughly $6–11 (€5–10; ≈ £4.74–8.69) for the basic version. Take your own towel and flip-flops if you can.
Vietnam: Look South, and Be Careful About the Centre
In November, head for the south of Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta and Phu Quoc island, where the dry season is beginning. The north (Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long Bay) is cooler and can be grey or damp, though it is usually workable. The centre is the one to approach with care. Hoi An and Da Nang are often described as perfect in November, but the central coast's wet season runs roughly from autumn into December, and heavy rain, flooding and typhoons are a real possibility. Hoi An's old town is prone to flooding in the autumn months. The long-run drier window for the centre is generally spring.
None of that rules the centre out. Hoi An is a UNESCO-listed trading port with lantern-lit evenings, a long tailoring tradition and good cao lau and banh mi, and a wet day there is still a good day. Build in slack, buy flexible bookings and check the forecast from the Vietnamese weather service a few days before you travel. Order tailored clothes on your first full day, so there is time for fittings and alterations.
Vietnam November Budget
- Budget: about $25–40 (≈ €20–35 / £20–30) a day. Mid-range: about $55–90 (≈ €50–80 / £45–70) a day. Estimates as of October 2026.
- Phu Quoc: November to April is the dry, peak season, so book beachfront stays ahead. Expect roughly $40–80 (≈ €35–70 / £30–65) a night mid-range, and more around Christmas.
- Hoi An (via Da Nang airport) to Ho Chi Minh City: about an hour by domestic flight, from roughly $20–40 (≈ €18–35 / £16–30) when booked early. Check the weather before flying, since storms can disrupt central routes.
- Safety: read the UK FCDO advice for Vietnam. The most common problems are bag-snatching from motorbikes (carry your bag on the side away from the road), traffic and food hygiene. Drink bottled or filtered water throughout, and take out travel insurance that covers motorbike use if you plan to ride.