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September is a superb time to hit the road. The great shoulder season of travel offers prime conditions for exploring a vast array of big-name destinations for food and drink, culture, relaxation or simply an incredible journey. So whether you want to laze on uncrowded Mediterranean sands, venture through South American rainforests or explore incredible culture in Central Asia, September has something to suit every type of explorer.

1. Isle Royale, Michigan, USA

Best for getting well and truly away from everyone

, in Michigan, is the least-visited national park in the lower 48. It鈥檚 closed completely for almost half the year, and when it does open, it is only accessible via floatplane or non-car ferry, exclusively attracting those keen for a wilderness immersion by boat, kayak or on foot. It鈥檚 well worth the effort, though.

The park is a wetland wonderland, comprising one large, forest-swathed island and some 450 smaller ones jutting into Lake Superior; an , it鈥檚 the realm of otters, moose, wolves, herons, hawks and loons. September is less busy and less buggy than peak summer, but still warm enough to paddle, trek and wild camp. There are 272km (169 miles) of trails to explore 鈥� experienced hikers will lust after the tough 150km (93-mile) Wonderland Trail. Kayakers can explore the eastern shore鈥檚 inland lakes and fjord-like bays 鈥� Malone Bay to McCargoe Cove makes a good multi-day adventure.

2. Southwest 罢眉谤办颈测别

Best for a final summer fling

As summer segues into fall, what could be more alluring than a last shot of sunshine on the tantalizingly named Turquoise Coast? 罢眉谤办颈测别鈥檚 Mediterranean shore is much quieter in September once the school holidays have ended 鈥� but the water is still balmy, the air still warm, and the historic sites 鈥� of which there are many to lure you off your lounger 鈥� are still open.

Where you head depends on your taste. Lagoon-side 翱虉濒耻虉诲别苍颈锄 is the top choice for paragliding. At Patara, combine endless-seeming swathes of golden sand with a hint of Christmas: this was the birthplace of St Nicholas (aka Santa). Or head for sleepy C抬谋ral谋, a protected area where sea turtles nest 鈥� from mid-September, you might see hatchlings emerge. To really get away from it all, opt for the stretch of coast east of Alanya. It was once the refuge of pirates, but few foreign tourists make it here. The seaside resort of K谋zkalesi has an authentically Turkish feel, plus fine beaches, caves to explore and an imposing 12th-century castle floating out at sea.

3. Namibia

Best for great game

Desert-dominated Namibia is a pretty arid place at the best of times. And September is the best of times 鈥� at least if you鈥檝e come looking for the country鈥檚 big game. Temperatures are on the up this month (making early safari wake-up calls less chilly), but there likely hasn鈥檛 been a drop of rain for months, meaning thin vegetation and wildlife congregating at an ever-decreasing number of water sources. Spotting everything from elephants to the long-nosed elephant shrew, from cheetahs to rare black rhinos becomes easy in these conditions 鈥� especially in game-packed areas such as Etosha National Park. You don鈥檛 even need a guide: Etosha鈥檚 excellent road network makes a self-drive safari simple; just park next to a waterhole and wait for the wildlife to arrive.

4. Guyana

Best for roaring waterfalls and rainforest wildlife

Guyana is an extraordinary land, where turtles nest on shell beaches, jaguars stalk the rainforest, giant otters frolic and huge harpy eagles soar over thundering waterfalls. Its climate is also extraordinary, with multiple rainy seasons hitting the coast and interior at different times. September is a junction month, when most of the country is dry after the heavy rains, making road travel easier and life more comfortable in general, but with jungles at their lushest.

The big-ticket attraction is Kaieteur Falls, which plummets 226m (741ft) in a single drop into the depths of the rainforest. Add to that the canopy walkway and wildlife of Iwokrama, ecolodges offering encounters with Makushi Indigenous peoples, the otters of the Rupununi and the cowboys of vast Dadanawa Ranch, and you have an epic adventure in the making. Start planning your trip with this first-time guide to Guyana.

5. Dublin, Ireland

Best for a taste of the city on the Liffey in the mellowest season

Dublin in September, often the sunniest month, sees a diminishing number of tourists after the crowds of July and August have dispersed. This city is many things to many people. Yes, you鈥檒l find lively pubs (and they deserve detailed examination), historic marvels, humor and national pride 鈥� but Dublin is also a cultural powerhouse, boasting magnificent galleries and museums, notably Dublin Castle鈥檚 Chester Beatty Library, one of Europe鈥檚 finest. During September, the Irish capital welcomes hundreds of arts performances during the fortnight-long .

6. Altai Mountains, Mongolia

Best for learning about the skills and lifestyles of traditional eagle hunters

In the breathless Altai Mountains at the very center of the Asian landmass, four borders converge 鈥� this is where Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Mongolia lean in toward one another. And among those peaks in western Mongolia, Kazakh nomads maintain the ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles 鈥� a legacy celebrated during festivals in Altai, U虉lgii and Sagsai in September and October each year, when eagle hunters don customary garb and display their prowess with the majestic raptors.

This pleasantly cool, dry season is also ideal for exploring the mountains of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, hiking between waterfalls, ancient petroglyphs and glistening lakes 鈥� trek with Bactrian camels or ride Mongolian horses for extra authenticity, bedding down in gers (yurts) as local people have for millennia. During the festivals, dozens of hunters clad in animal skins, with huge fur-lined hats and colorfully embroidered clothes, demonstrate their skills between bouts of wrestling, archery contests, camel races and boisterous horseback goatskin tug-of-war.

7. Nova Scotia, Canada

Best for filling up in fall

The start of the season of mellow fruitfulness is ideal for taking a foodie tour around Nova Scotia, the most delicious of the Maritimes. First, seek out succulent seafood: try scallops from the Bay of Fundy (where over-summering whales may still be spotted) or eat a lobster roll by the beach (head to Barrington, 鈥淟obster Capital of Canada鈥�).

Then, as the harvest gets underway, sample local wines. Boutique vineyards pepper the province, from the Annapolis Valley鈥檚 Domaine de Grand Pre虂, the granddaddy of Nova Scotian wine (open daily June鈥揝eptember), to Benjamin Bridge, which produces acclaimed fizz in the Gaspereau Valley. And don鈥檛 forget the fruit: this month brings loads of blueberries and apples, which find their way into delicious pies province-wide. Here are our 11 favorite places to visit in Nova Scotia to eat and play.

8. Red Sea, Jordan

Best for diving into delectable waters

As the stifling heat of the Jordanian summer begins to drop, things really heat up along the Red Sea coast. September and October are among the best months to dive here, with the air temperature hot but bearable, and the oh-so-clear water around a balmy 26掳C (79掳F) and jam-packed with activity: look out for eagle rays, moray eels, seahorses, turtles, lionfish and an array of other colorful fishes 鈥� over 510 species have been recorded.

There are 30-plus dive sites along the Aqaba coast, most close to shore and many good for snorkeling, too. These range from shallow coral gardens and gaping canyons to shipwrecks, including that of the Cedar Pride, which sits at a depth of just 7鈥�25m (23鈥�82ft). Good-value learn-to-dive courses are available in Aqaba and resorts along the coast.

9. New Zealand

Best for ravishing views from the rails

With snow still sprinkled on the mountaintops but lambs a-gamboling in the fields, spring-green September can be a month of natural splendor in Aotearoa, with few other tourists around. If you鈥檙e worried the weather might still be a little cool and unpredictable, opt to explore by 鈥檚 scenic lines 鈥� that way you鈥檒l be insulated from the chill and free to gaze out the window as the countryside glides by.

Start aboard the , which connects Auckland and Wellington via fertile farmland, Tongariro鈥檚 volcanoes and the Raurimu Spiral 鈥� an impressive feat of rail engineering. Take the ferry to the South Island and then pick up the to trace the shoreline from Picton to elegant Christchurch. Then join the to cross the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps (via lofty Arthurs Pass) and finish at Greymouth on the east coast.

10. Catalonia, Spain

Best for warm weather and natural adventures

While Barcelona is often used as a byword for overtourism, the surrounding area is a beacon of travel done well: Catalonia was the first region to obtain the UNESCO-backed , in recognition of the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. That nature is certainly a lot of fun 鈥� nestled between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, Catalonia is a varied outdoor playground, perfect for exploring in not-too-hot September weather, with average highs of 25掳C (77掳F).

Waterbabies will love kayaking between the 500m-high (1640ft) walls of the Mont-rebei Gorge, paddling across the bird-flocked Ebro Delta (looking for autumn migrant birds) and rafting the wild Noguera Pallaresa river. Landlubbers can hike amid the 200-odd lakes of Aig眉estortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, cycle the volcanic landscapes of La Garrotxa or climb the sheer rock faces of the Val d鈥橝rran.