10 places to go in June

August may be France’s official national vacances but the country also presses pause for three weeks in late June, as attention turns to the country’s sporting pride and passion: the Tour de France. The world’s premier cycle race takes over the most scenic parts of the country, showcasing chocolate-box villages, lofty mountain passes and wide boulevards. Get ahead of the peloton on a cycling holiday in France, or pedal at your own pace on one of our self-guided cycling tours, perhaps discovering the wine regions of Burgundy, or the fairy-tale châteaux of the Loire Valley.

June is the ideal time to explore Georgia by bicycle, with pleasant temperatures making hilly ascents a breeze, flowers blooming in the meadows and snow dusting the mountain peaks. Georgia is an immensely rewarding country to explore from the saddle, travelling along part of the Silk Road trade route and over impressive mountain passes in the Caucasus – plus you can refuel with delicious khinkhali dumplings and fiery ‘chacha’ grappa.

The drawn-out, sub-zero winters in Russia mean summer is celebrated with great fanfare. Travel in June for the solstice and you’ll get to experience the liveliest celebration of them all, the White Nights festival, which celebrates the almost midnight sun. Between late April and August, the sun never completely sets; instead the night sky remains twilight affording long, light days ideal for exploring. On our Russia's Golden Ring tour, you can experience St Petersburg’s two-week festival of music and carnivals, including actors dressed as Peter and Catherine the Great.

Travel to Peru in June for the Winter Solstice, where it’s officially the dry season. The Inti Raymi festival in Cusco is the highlight of the calendar, when local people gather together to show appreciation to the Sun God with music, colourful costumes and – best of all – the sharing of food. The ancient Inca festival is held once per year and on our Classic Peru trip, you’ll get to witness a historical reconstruction at Sacsayhuaman Fortress.

Take the family away over the May half term to the magnificent Garfagnana Valley in northern Tuscany. At this time of year, the region is alive with colour, while the villages are bustling with activity. Our family activity adventure in Tuscany is based out of the valley but also heads into the Cinque Terre and the Apennines. After a busy day full of activities, parents can kick back and relax with a glass of wine out on the terrace.