TravelLocal showcases local travel companies from 49 countries across Africa, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East and North Africa.
TravLocal has highlighted destinations worth considering at different times throughout the year.
Visit Lima in late April and you will coincide with the Paso Horse Competitions, many of which are held just outside the city in Pachacàmac.
It's a chance to witness outstanding displays of horsemanship, including parades of flamboyantly-dressed riders skilfully directing their 'dancing' horses.
The trip also allows hiking of the shores of Lake Titicaca and the peaks of Machu Picchu.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/setours-test-peru-panorama
Festival of Roses in Morocco
Held each May in El Kelaâ M'Gouna, in Southern Morocco's Dadés Valley, the Festival of Roses celebrates the harvest of rose petals for use in perfume, rose water and cooking (dates to be confirmed depending on the harvest).
Festivities include parades, music, dancing, sporting events and a rose-themed market.
May is one of the best times to visit Morocco, when everything is blooming and it is usually sunbathing weather but without the peak summer scorch.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/m-trek-and-tour-festival-of-the-roses
White Nights in Russia
Each June, St. Petersburg and much of northern Russia experience the 'White Nights' phenomenon, meaning that this vast area enjoys nearly 24 hours of sunlight a day.
In terms of climate this is a good month to visit, with summer is revving up and making the days long and warm.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/explorussia-moscow-to-st-petersburg
Secret summer in Oman's Hajar Mountains
At 2,000 m above sea level, there's the chance to escape the sweltering heat of the Gulf in Oman's Hajar Mountains.
With temperatures at 30 degrees, almost cloudless, warm evenings there are low season prices.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/secret-oman-oman-secret-summer
Festival of Flowers in Colombia
A highlight of any August holiday in Colombia is the Festival of Flowers, or 'Feria de las Flores', which takes place over the course of ten days in Medellin, the City of Eternal Spring.
As well as parades of colourful displays of flowers carried by local farmers, there is a carnival atmosphere with markets, and many musical concerts, fireworks and a Paso Fino horse parade.
The city's balconies, terraces, gardens and billboards are carpeted in flowers.
Up to a million people visit the city to join the locals in celebrating this unique cultural occasion.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/zaia-travel-the-flowers-fair
Autumn hiking in Georgia
In the remote Svaneti region of northwestern Georgia, late summer warmth lingers and hiking trails are still open, making September the perfect time for an active break.
This vastand untouched area is filled with flower-covered alpine valleys, deep gorges, and remote villages.
Hike from village to village from Mestia to the Shkhara glacier, against a backdrop of the dramatic ice-topped Caucasus mountains, and stay at traditional local homestays to enjoy Svanetian hospitality, food and home-produced wine.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/hidden-caucasus-independent-svaneti-tour
The Bon Om Touk Water Festival in Cambodia
The Water Festival ('Bon Om Touk') is a vibrant riverside celebration taking place annually on the full moon of the Buddhist month of Kadeuk (which in 2020 is between 30 October and 2 November).
Three lively days of festivals, parades, boat races, fireworks, dances and Khmer pop music mark the reversing flow between Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River and the filling of the lake.
In the capital, Phnom Penh there is also the chance to visit the Angkor temples and the floating town on Tonle Sap Lake.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/hanuman-travel-cambodia-classic-tour-8-days
Turtle nesting and whale watching on South Africa's Elephant Coast.
In late November, Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles start to come ashore in the enchanting surroundings of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park to lay their eggs.
It's also prime time for whale watching, as well as off-peak season for safaris in the Kruger and surrounding national parks, making it a time for spotting abundant wildlife without the crowds.
On a self-drive tour through the Elephant Coast, with time spent in Mkhuze Game Reserve, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, St Lucia, and Manyoni Private Game Reserve, there's the chance to enjoy a safari, beach and boat cruise.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/tailor-made-safaris-best-of-the-elephant-coast
Solar eclipse in Chile
On 14 December 2020, a total solar eclipse will take place in the skies above Chile.
The country's Lake District is a backdrop for viewing this astronomical marvel.
It is a 210-mile stretch of land with sapphire-blue lakes, wild national parks and lakeside villages. As well as witnessing the eclipse, visitors can hike through the Torres del Paine National Park, spotting guanacos and other wildlife and observe a large colony of penguins in Magdalena.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/ecochile-travel-best
Jazz Festival in Cuba
Many of the world's most influential music artists will perform during the annual Havana Jazz Festival each January.
There's the chance to combine the in the Cuban capital with learning to salsa, staying in Casas Particulares (family homes offering fabulous food and micro-local knowledge), cycling through the tobacco farms in the verdant Vinales valley, and relaxing on the shores of Varadero.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/micuba-classic-cuba-8-days
Skiing in Armenia
Armenia offers an affordable change from the Alps or the Dolomites and a February trip offers excellent facilities for winter sports in the mountains surrounding Yerevan.
There is also the chance to visit the traditional mountain village of Aragyugh, climb Mount Teghenis and Seghanasar, experience excellent skiing on uncrowded slopes, visit temples and monasteries, and sample Armenian wines in the Areni winery.
www.travellocal.com/countries/armenia/our-experts
The Tok Tokkie Trail in Namibia
Very few places on earth get nearer to zero light pollution than Namibia, making the stargazing here a major attraction.
In March, the best month given that night-time temperatures are mild, there is the chance to take the Tok Tokkie Trail through the NamibRand, one of the largest nature reserves in Africa.
Across the red sand dunes, sand-and-gravel plains and imposing mountains there are oryx and springbok, barking geckos, golden moles, shovel-snouted lizards and bat-eared foxes.
www.travellocal.com/itinerary/wild-dog-safaris-hiking-trails-of-namibia