Cities, parks, and places where nature still reigns supreme: here’s the best if you’re planning to travel this autumn
What are you doing this year after summer?
Once the heat is gone and the sunshine fades, is it back to the daily grind and the usual routine, right?
Not at all—why would you do that to yourself?
This autumn, treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience with one of our amazing trips: we’ve got something for everyone, but for this occasion we’ve chosen to highlight a few experiences that are an essential part of our tours, giving you options to visit:
- stunning urban settings;
- the best national parks in the world;
- some of the most beautiful unspoiled places the human eye can admire.
Let’s go!
Read also: What to see in Nepal? Two words are more than enough: Himalayas and Everest!
Autumn in the city: Tokyo and Edinburgh
Tokyo
Did you think you knew Tokyo? Did you believe it was only skyscrapers, technology on every street corner, and giant robots launching from underground hangars to fight radioactive monsters?
Well, you were wrong.
Sure, Tokyo’s ultra-modern side is incredibly cool, but if you visit in autumn you absolutely can’t miss the city parks, which literally burst into a symphony of colors.
Here are some of the most iconic places to admire the foliage—that classic autumn landscape created by trees beginning to fall asleep as they prepare for winter.
So, if you want to experience Tokyo’s beautiful autumn scenery, we recommend:
- Rikugien Garden, famous for its maple trees reflected in the ponds, creating shades of red and orange;
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, where the maple leaves around the ponds turn vivid shades of—guess what—red and orange;
- Icho Namiki Avenue in Meiji Jingu Gaien, where the ginkgo trees glow with brilliant golden hues, a truly beautiful sight.
But that’s not all.
Autumn is also the perfect time for a lovely walk through Tokyo’s historic districts, such as Asakusa and Yanaka. It’s like stepping into a postcard: cobbled streets, ancient temples, and traditional houses framed by autumn colors will make you feel as if you’ve been transported to another era.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh in autumn, everyone.
Edinburgh Castle is one of the city’s most iconic attractions, and during this season, surrounded by the warm colors of the leaves, it creates a breathtaking scene. And honestly, rainy and chilly months like these might be the perfect time to spot one of the ghosts for which the Scottish capital is famous.
If you’re looking for shelter on autumn evenings, well, Edinburgh’s pubs are hard to beat: there’s The Sheep Heid Inn, the oldest pub in Scotland, or The Royal Oak, famous for its folk music—both perfect for soaking up the local atmosphere while enjoying craft drinks.
Autumn in nature
Yosemite
Yosemite National Park, in California’s Sierra Nevada, looks like a true palette of warm colors in autumn. The valleys, meadows, and giant sequoias seem straight out of a movie.
One of the most iconic viewpoints is Tunnel View, which offers a breathtaking panorama over Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, and Half Dome, creating a dreamlike landscape.
And what exactly is Bridalveil Fall?
Well, no big deal… just a 620-foot waterfall! It’s incredible—truly an unmissable natural spectacle, especially in the wetter seasons when the water flow is at its fullest.
Then there’s Mariposa Grove, an area of the park where you can go hiking among majestic giant sequoias, some of which are over 2,000 years old!
Other popular trails include the Vernal Fall Footbridge, a short but scenic route, and the Mirror Lake Loop, which offers close-up views of Half Dome.
And if all that still isn’t enough, take a look at our article dedicated to Yosemite National Park.
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park, south of Yosemite, is the park of gigantic things.
The biggest of them all?
Well, there’s General Sherman, a giant of the plant world—a sequoia so majestic that it holds the title of the largest tree in the world by volume.
If you want to go hiking surrounded by autumn colors, you’ll find trails here for every taste.
The Congress Trail is a loop route that passes by some of the park’s most impressive trees, while the Moro Rock Trail leads to a panoramic view over the Sierra Nevada. The Crescent Meadow Loop, meanwhile, is a quieter trail offering beautiful scenic views.
Joshua Tree National Park
And then there’s Joshua Tree National Park, in southeastern California.
Here you won’t find sequoias, but desert landscapes and rock formations that look like they came straight out of a science fiction movie. In autumn, temperatures are cooler and hiking becomes a real pleasure in places like Hidden Valley and Barker Dam Trail, which offer easy routes with spectacular views of the rocks and desert flora.
Joshua Tree is also a paradise for stargazers. Thanks to its remote location and clear skies, it’s one of the best places in the world for observing the stars, and autumn evenings are perfect for admiring the Milky Way and countless constellations. Keys View, in particular, offers incredible scenery both by day and by night.
Wild autumn
Iceland
Iceland is like nature having an identity crisis.
Glaciers? It has them.
Volcanoes? Those too.
Natural hot springs? Absolutely—plenty of them.
In short, here in the North Atlantic you can find everything, and sometimes all in one place, such as Vatnajökull National Park, one of the main destinations, where you can trek on glaciers like Skaftafell and venture among active and dormant volcanoes. Among the most spectacular routes here is the one leading to Snæfellsjökull volcano, covered by a glacier, which offers incredible views over the peninsula of the same name.
And then the highlight: the Northern Lights.
Autumn in Iceland is the ideal time to spot them, thanks to the long nights and clear skies that make this natural phenomenon especially visible from September onward. Places like Thingvellir and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon are perfect for watching the northern lights dance across the sky.
Uganda
Uganda is famous for its safaris and for the unique opportunity to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
We’ve already been here several times, and it’s absolutely incredible: a guided trekking session led by the park rangers, who take you deep into the forest until you reach the perfect spot to come face to face with these magnificent mountain gorillas.
AMAZING!
Beyond gorillas, Uganda offers many other opportunities for excursions in its national parks. Murchison Falls National Park is known for its spectacular waterfalls and rich wildlife, including elephants, lions, and hippos. Kibale National Park, on the other hand, is famous for its large chimpanzee population and lush rainforests.
In conclusion
So, to sum it up, this autumn we’ve got loads of great options for you:
- 13-day itinerary in Japan;
- 8-day trip to Scotland;
- California and beyond road trip, where we explore all the national parks we’ve told you about;
- 7-day group trip to Iceland;
- 13-day tour of Uganda featuring some of the best safaris in the world.
Not bad, right?
And if even all this still isn’t enough, then head over to the All trips section and discover the full Sto Gran Tour offering.
