April is one of the best months to trek the iconic Annapurna Circuit, a loop that takes roughly two weeks, with some of the world’s highest mountains as your backdrop. Tread along a suspension bridge, watch Nepalese flags wave in the wind, and in April, you won’t find the extreme temperatures of summer and winter. Rhododendrons are in full bloom. Welcoming tea houses connect the trail, offering delicious meals of dhal bat (a selection of vegetable dishes served with lentils and rice), ginger tea, and a cosy place to spend the night. Because you don’t have to carry a tent or meals, it’s an ideal trip for backpackers who want to focus on soaking in the scenery without worrying about the stress of setting up camp. If you want to ring in Nepalese New Year, start or end your journey in Pokhara on Nepal Sambat (14 April). The city celebrates with parades, live entertainment, and plenty of food.

If sunshine and a laidback way of life are what you seek for an April getaway, you’ll find it in Tulum, a small town on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. Beach clubs line its palm-shaded white sands, ranging from laid-back backpacker haunts offering cheap drinks to glamorous party spots and family-friendly retreats. Tulum’s public beaches also offer an opportunity to get away from it all. While you could spend all day sipping coconuts and cocktails, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy here, too. Tulum is famous for its food, and there’s no shortage of delicious Mexican Caribbean delights. Snorkel in the gin-clear waters of the region’s cenotes, scuba dive with sea turtles, and kayak on calm waters. The region is steeped in Mayan history, with relics and ruins hiding among tropical vegetation. Go on an expedition into the Sian Ka’an Biosphere, a 3,200-square-kilometre wilderness reserve. Pack your camera and search for manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and birds taking refuge among the reefs and mangroves.

Come springtime, Japan’s cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the country is cloaked in a rosy hue. Sakura, the cherry blossom bloom, begins in the southern end of Japan in late March, working its way up to the north, with flowers blooming in early May. So, why not follow the flowers and embark on a trip through Japan this April? Festivals, called Hanami, take place throughout the country with picnics, music, food, and drinks. Tokyo’s Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the best, with gorgeous cherry blossom trees and parties that continue long after the sun goes down, with lanterns illuminating the trees under the night sky. Festivities take place in Tsuruoka, Osaka Castle, Odawara Castle, Goryokaku, and hundreds of other destinations around the country.

There’s an unmistakable energy in Sedona, Arizona, a small town surrounded by red sandstone buttes. The landscape changes as the day goes on, with pastel pink tones in the morning light and fiery embers come sunset. Because of this energy and natural beauty, it’s a prime place to disconnect from a chaotic world and get away from it all on a retreat. SpiritQuest Sedona hosts wellness, spiritual, yoga, solo, and family programs at a spacious retreat centre. Sedona Mago also offers rejuvenating programs dedicated to wellness and mental clarity. Vita Pura Yoga runs yoga classes and guided hikes in the red rock wilderness. Or, create your own retreat with quiet accommodation, nature walks, and spa treatments. In April, blue skies are all but guaranteed, and the weather is pleasant.

Explore Petra and you’ll be exploring a city over 9,000 years in the making. Perhaps most famous of all its sites is the Al-Khazneh Treasury, a building carved from rose-coloured sandstone, regal Hellenistic columns marking its entrance. Other architectural wonders include the Royal Tombs etched into mountain walls, the Theatre that once held poetry and drama performances, and the Petra Pool and Garden Complex, which has a complex hydraulic system. It’ll come as no surprise: Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is one of the best places to travel in April, as cold winter nights are left behind, and scorching summer days have yet to arrive.