Where to travel in November

November sits in a rare sweet spot. The monsoon has withdrawn from most of Asia, Europe has exhaled its summer crowds, and the Indian Ocean is turning glassy.

In Japan, the maples of Kyoto burn crimson against temple eaves, and the crowds of October begin to thin. Book a ryokan in Arashiyama and wake to mist over the river.

In the Maldives, the first dry weeks arrive. The water is warm, the light is soft, and the resorts are still quiet before the festive rush.

Closer to home, Rajasthan is at its most golden — desert forts, cool evenings, and the Pushkar fair if you time it right. Wherever you go, November rewards the traveller who plans a little ahead.