July

· The official climbing season on Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain (3,776m), opens at the beginning of this month. Although children and grand parents regularly make it to the top, this is a serious mountain not to be trifled with. It can get very cold at the summit so make sure you pack for all weathers. The ascent of the mountain is divided into 10 stations but most people start at one of the higher stations which you can reach by road. From there it's only four and a half hours to the summit. The idea is to reach the top at dawn to see the sunrise without the mist. Don't forget a torch. The Japanese say you're wise to climb Mt Fuji, but a fool to climb it twice. Japan National Tourist Office in London (020 7734 9638).

· Head to Italy in July to get the pulse racing, where the colour, noise and spectacle of Siena's Palio horse race commands the most attention. There is, however, an alternative event that causes temperatures to rise in Sardinia - the S'Ardia race held in Sedilo. On 6 and 7 July every year the festival of San Constantino is marked by a furious, three-hour horse race around a tight course in the town.

One specially nominated (and honoured) rider is pursued by dozens of other horsemen, who charge around to the sound of spectators letting off guns. Injuries to riders and spectators are common, so don't get too close to the action. It's a stunning spectacle, especially when mixed with the heat of the day and the noisy participation of the crowd. Sardinia has plenty of beaches where you can cool off once all the excitement gets too much. Exploring the largely undeveloped Costa Verde on the west coast can be great fun. Long Travel (01694 722193) is a Sardinia expert. Alternatively contact the Italian tourist office (020 7408 1254).

· There are worse places to spend summer than in and around London. The parks are at their finest, the nightlife is buzzing and events are going on all over the place. First is the London Mardi Gras.The gay and lesbian march, which used to be called Gay Pride, is provisionally planned for the weekend of 26 and 27 July. Details are expected late next month. You could also make an effort to go to all the events that you keep meaning to go to but always seem to miss: Henley Royal Regatta 2-6 July; Hampton Court Flower Show 2-7 July; the BBC Proms starting on 18 July, to name but a few. And if you find all that a bit much, you can cool off in one of the capital's many open-air pools - Hyde Park's Serpentine, Hampstead Heath Ponds and Lido and Brockwell Park Lido. See www.lidos.org.uk for details.

Also in July
Finland's Wife Carrying Championships in Songkajarvi offer the winner his partner's weight in beer (6 July), Stonehaven in northeast Scotland hosts its unique midnight swims each Wednesday of the month, giving residents and visitors the opportunity to swim under the stars in the town's beautiful art deco seawater lido, and the notorious Running of the Bulls takes place in Pamplona, Spain,on 6-14 July.

August

· North Wales has beautiful scenery with fresh air and lots to keep everyone interested. As well as Snowdonia, the castles at Harlech and Caernarvon and white-water rafting on the River Treweryn, there's a collection of runners trying to overtake a steam locomotive to enjoy. Every year in mid-August, the seaside town of Tywyn organises the'Race the Train' event over 15 miles. For more information, and great photos, visit the website www.racethetrain.co.uk.

While you're in the area, take a trip to the Centre for Alternative Technology (01654 705950) to see its wind-powered telephone boxes and recycling toilets and a funicular railway powered by nothing more than water and gravity.

· August needn't be about jostling for space on some overcrowded Mediterranean beach. There's an incredible amount to see in Greece's Peloponnese peninsula, on the southern tip of the mainland. Even in August there are quiet beaches and coves to explore, and the interior has outstanding scenery. A fun way to see it is on the Diakofto to Kalavryta rack railway through the Vouraikos Gorge. If getting kids into Greek history is proving a problem, racing a few laps of the track at Ancient Olympia, the traditional home of the games, should do the trick. The haunting ruins of Mystras are another must-see, as is the Corinth Canal. Just driving around can be enjoyable - try to get an open-top off-roader for more of an adventurous feel. Specialist tour operator Filoxenia (01422 371796) offers a range of fly-drives.

· Legend has it that Skanda, the six-faced, 12-armed Hindu war god, rested on the mountain at Kataragama in Sri Lanka after defeating an army of demons. Thousands of devotees complete the pilgrimage to the ancient Kataragama shrine to make offerings to Skanda at the annual festival of esala poya (full moon) in late July or early August. Elephants parade, drummers drum. Vows are made and devotees seeking favours demonstrate their sincerity by performing extraordinary acts of penance and self-mortification. Some swing from hooks that pierce their skin, others roll half-naked over the hot sands, and some walk on fire. It all makes for an incredible festival in a country high on many must-see lists in 2003. See www.travelanka.com or telephone 020 7930 2627 for more on Sri Lanka.

Also in August
Perhaps the world's most famous way-out festival and food fight, La Tomatina, paints the town of Buñol in Spain red on 27 August; Laos marks its past with the remembrance of the long-gone at the Festival of the Dead 23-29 August; and the crazy dive in for the World Bog Snorkelling Championships on the 25th in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales - now in its eighteenth mucky year!

September

· This month is the holy grail of European travel - fewer crowds and cheaper prices but still with great weather. Once the refuge of the less-than-hygienic backpacker, Inter-Rail is now accessible and fantastic fun for all. There are lots of options available, from 12 days in one zone for £125 (£182 if you're over 26) to £265 (£379) for a month's unlimited train travel across Europe. With the freedom of the rails, and plenty of accommodation available, a gloriously unplanned trip (or a meticulously mapped one using the Thomas Cook Railway Timetable, if you prefer) can stretch out ahead of you. Some classic trips include 12 days in Spain and Portugal, Italy and Greece by train and boat and a few weeks taking in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Krakow and Berlin. More details and inspiration at www.inter-rail.co.uk or call Rail Europe (08705 848848).

· September is a great time to head to the Highlands of Scotland. There are fewer midges than in summer months, and the spectacular autumn colours are starting to show. There are gatherings in many Highland villages but the biggest and best known is Braemar's. Taking place on Saturday 6 September at a well-tended 12-acre site near the town centre, there's Highland dancing, pipers, tug-of-war, a race up Morrone Hill, caber tossing, hammer and stone throwing and the long jump.

Organised by the Braemar Royal Highland Society since 1817, this event is really worth the trip. Note: you need to get a ticket! Though the town of Braemar is pleasant, the surrounding countryside is the real star of the area. Take your boots, warm clothing and waterproof jacket, and head for the hills.

· There's the annual regatta at Henley-on-Todd - yes, that's right, Todd rather than Thames. This rowing event in Australia is different from the snooty British regatta in another way, too - there's no water. The lack of liquid on the Todd River means the boats, yachts, doubles and racing eights, are bottomless, and participants have to run the course.

Henley-on-Todd Regatta takes place on 20 September at Alice Springs in Northern Territory. The town, known as'The Alice', is just a stone's throw away from the outback and the launching pad for exploring the Red Centre and the world's largest monolith, Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock.

Also in September
Niger's Wodaabe tribe stages Gerewol, a colourful marriage market which sees eligible males donning flamboyant costumes and make-up for female judges; Munich's Oktoberfest kicks off for the iron-stomached on the 20th; and Toronto hosts one of the world's best film festivals on the 5th.

October

· Take one of the world's great train journeys, the TranzAlpine, across the Southern Alps on New Zealand's South Island. The breathtakingly spectacular day trip begins in Christchurch, on the Pacific Ocean, and ends in Greymouth by the Tasman Sea. The varied scenery takes in the Canterbury Plains, a labyrinth of gorges known as the Staircase and valleys encircled by dense beech forest. At the small alpine village of Arthur's Pass the train enters the 8.5km Otira tunnel and heads under the mountains to the West Coast. You'll also pass the trout-filled Lake Brunner fringed with cabbage trees. Why October? It's spring, there are fewer tourists and flights are cheaper. The New Zealand Tourist Board can tell you more (09069 101010).

· Europe's summer hot spots start to drift into hibernation in October, as drizzle replaces sunshine in much of the Med. The nights are drawing in but don't despair, there's always the warm welcome and fine food and drink of Belgium. You doubtless know about the country's great beers, but what else is there to drink? Every October, Hasselt plays host to the Jeneverfeesten, a two-day celebration of Belgian gin. Events include a waiters' race, tours of distilleries and a fountain that briefly flows with free alcohol. Still able to walk? Check out the town's National Jenever-Museum. Hasselt itself doesn't have a great deal else to interest visitors, so you might want to stop off in the happening and historic town of Antwerp on the way back. Tourism Flanders-Brussels (020 7458 0044) can give you more on this part of Belgium.

· An eclectic range of events blooms over Britain as the clocks go back. The Nottingham Goose Fair (0115 915 6970) - provisionally 1-4 October- is the largest travelling pleasure fair in Europe, dating back to at least 1284. Nowadays it has more than 150 state-of-the-art rides and 450 games and exhibitions, attracting half a million visitors to the Forest Recreation Ground every year.

The Pearly Harvest Festival Service (6 October) is for those who fancy having something to tell their'China Plates' down the'Battle Cruiser'. The original Pearly Kings and Queens gather in their distinguished buttoned suits for the annual Harvest Festival Service, held on the first Sunday in October at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London.

The Cheltenham Festival of Literature (01242 522878) is now one of the hottest dates in the literary calendar (10-19 October). Europe's largest pagan festival is the International Halloween Festival at Queen Mary College, Mile End, 18-19 October (020 8539 3569) offering lectures and workshops, folk and rock music, entertainment, witchcraft and Halloween rituals.

The birth of England's greatest mariner and explorer is celebrated with a week of family fun, music and songs of the sea at his birthplace, Redcar, in the Captain Cook Festival 17-26 October (01642 245432).

Also in October
This is the month to head into forests and backroads all over the east coast of North America to become a leaf-peeper admiring the Fall colours; French Polynesia stages the Hawaikinui Va'a longboat races (normally takes place 15-18 October); and Egypt's Abu Simbel festival celebrates the illumination of the temple's huge statues on 22 October.

November

· Berlin is great at any time of year. Choose November to coincide with the Berlin Jazz Festival: cool jazz in a hip town. It also offers world-class museums and galleries, rapidly changing cityscapes, vigorous and varied culture and a gripping history. What more could you ask for? How about frequent inexpensive flights from the UK (www.buzzaway.com and www.airberlin.com)? As you may expect, the weather may be getting a little chilly but pack warm clothes and in exchange you'll get short queues and good value rooms.

· Ever fancied going lemur-spotting? The Reserve Forestière d'Ampijoroa in Madagascar is home to seven species.

In November the lemurs have tiny babies clinging to their backs. Set up camp and you'll be entertained for hours watching these cute creatures.

Dawn and dusk is the best time to see them. Ampijoroa is also excellent for birdwatching with 101 recorded species and there are at least 32 different reptiles, including large iguanas and the rhinoceros chameleon. There is also a centre which is preserving two rare breeds of tortoises. Flights to Madagascar cost around £850; book through Africa Travel Centre (020 7387 1211).

· Once a year in the cold, miserable month of November, the Santon Bridge Inn of Wasdale in Cumbria tries to find the Biggest Liar in the World. The event has been going for over a quarter of a century and was inspired by a local landlord who was renowned for his unbelievable statements.

Entrants have to try to convince judges that they are naturally gifted liars and regale listeners with obscure and bizarre stories. Each year the lies get more preposterous - from turnips the size of sheep-sheds to the role played by moles and eels in the formation of the Lake District. Wasdale is a particularly beautiful part of the Lakes, and, though the weather may be against you, if you're lucky you can get some time on the fells to stretch those legs. It'll make that pint of local brew in front of a roaring fire all the sweeter.

Also in November
The Brotherhood of Goats' Cheese eaters assemble in Bellegarde-en-Marche, France (30 November); Mexico marks its Day of the Dead on 1 and 2 November with graveside picnics, displays of skeletons and other macabre pastimes; and thousands of traders and visitors flock to Rajasthan for the Pushkar camel fair (5-8).

December

· If you desire a true escape from traditional UK festivities, Marrakesh could be just what you're looking for. Flights can be had for under £300, but book early for Christmas (www.cheapflights.co.uk).

A microcosm of Morocco, Marrakesh is the country's fourthlargest city and draws in merchants and traders from the surrounding plains, High Atlas mountains and the Sahara.

The city has a distinct red hue and the earth walls surrounding the medina turn a bright crimson at dusk. The hyperactivity of the Djemaa el-Fna square with its exotic smells, noises and entertainment will keep you mesmerised for hours. Berber acrobats, jugglers, storytellers, snake charmers, magicians, fire-eaters and musicians come out to perform after dusk. You can find a herbal cure for just about anything and even have your teeth pulled out by an old-style dentist. Relax after all the action with glass of fresh mint tea on the balcony a cafe overlooking the square or head one of the hammams for a good scrub down. Look at www.ilove-marrakesh.com and you will too.

· Humbuggers safely sent to Morocco, festive spirits can happily rise on both sides of the Channel in December.

Paris is the place to pick up some instant popularity points with wonderful shops - you'll find something for everyone and all with a very French tweak of the cheek. Close to Madeleine Metro, Au Nain Bleu is Paris's finest toy emporium, while nearby Fauchon is the place for luxury food items. For something different, buy the love of your life a piece of meteorite from Galerie Alain Carion on the Ile St Louis (00 33 143 260116). It'll cost about £500 for one the size of a potato - where did I put my wallet? London to Paris starts at £59 return by Eurostar (0870 518 6186).

Make sure you book up early as hotels in Paris go fast whatever time of year you're there.

· If you've decided to spend Christmas and the New Year in Britain, good for you. There's a huge selection of things going on, allowing you to combine shopping and carousing with a healthy dose of fun.

Many cities put on music festivals, host ice-rinks (the Ice Cube in Leeds is one example) and provide a friendly atmosphere. Malton in North Yorkshire's Midwinter Beer Festival and Belfast's annual lamplight parade are among the many seasonal events. See www.visitbritain.com for full listings and details.

Also in December
Christmas markets kick off all over Europe, find the best ones in Belgium and Germany; and 10-17 December, Konya's Mevlana Festival honours the founder of the Whirling Dervishes in Turkey - expect much whirling.

· Additional research by Mel Capper and Maya Catsanis.