Head for North Cyprus if you fancy spotting turtles this July. Alagadi Beach, just a few kilometres east of Kyrenia, is a prime nesting spot for endangered Green and Loggerhead turtles. Time a visit just right and you could be lucky enough to see the turtles both nesting and hatching: nesting peaks are late June to early July, while the hatching season starts in mid-July. The Marine Turtle Research Group carries out daily nest excavations which anybody can observe. It is also possible to get up close and personal with the fascinating creatures by volunteering or arranging to participate in a hatchling release. Stay at the family-run Lapida Hotel with its delightful garden and tasty local food.

Unlike other Caribbean islands, Aruba is outside of the hurricane belt and the weather in July is as glorious as any other month of the year. With a balmy average temperate of 32C, cooling trade winds and only 20 inches of rainfall throughout the entire year (there is no rainy season), it is the perfect year-round destination. From the UK, Thomson Airways provides direct charter flights from London Gatwick on a weekly basis so access is easy and as it is considered low season on the island due to peak season being the winter months, hotel rates are slightly cheaper and the island is quieter. Stay at the boutique Boardwalk Small Hotel Aruba, just steps from the white sands of Palm Beach.

Visit Thailand in July and you can take advantage of low costs and fewer crowds than during the peak winter season. There is plenty of sunshine, but if it does rain, it only lasts an hour. Photographers love this time of year since Thailand is at its greenest. In Khao Lak, boutique beachfront resort Manathai promises an authentic local experience, pristine beaches and adventures including cave kayaking in Phang Nga Bay and trekking in Khao Sok National Park.

July is the perfect time to visit Sicily, with temperatures reaching highs of around 30C and a host of festivities which bring the rich history and culture of the island to life. The island has an abundance of food festivals throughout the summer including Stragusto, which takes place in Trapani and celebrates the delicious Sicilian, Tunisian and Italian street food famous in the area. Legume lovers will enjoy the Festa del Raccolto in Cianciana which celebrates the town’s local harvest of chickpeas and fava beans. Those in Palermo can enjoy the city’s festival dedicated to its Patron Saint at La Festa di Santa Rosalia, which includes lots of drinking, feasting and celebrating. Relax in luxury at Scent of Sicily's Villa Seabreeze, a modern Sicilian villa with direct access to a private beach that sleeps up to eight people.

Mediterranean harbour town Kalkan, on Turkey's Lycian Coast, is a wonderful place to visit in July when you can relax by day at one of the chichi beach clubs (Hotel Villa Mahal being the best of the bunch), which are ideal for water sports and chilling out. At night, wander in to the old town to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere, maze of cobbled alleys and traditional Ottoman-style buildings, and roof terrace restaurants that invite you to dine under twinkling fairy lights with panoramic views over the harbour. Stay at the boutique Kalkan Regency with Simpson Travel. It has Turkish Baths, a spa and gym, a large freshwater pool and roof terrace restaurant.

Visit South Africa's enticing, multi-cultural showpiece KwaZulu-Natal to experience its warm Indian Ocean waters and soaring peaks at their best. July is a lovely month to visit the glorious beaches for the guaranteed sunshine and no crowds, coupled with the current excellent value of the rand. A region ideal for thrill-seekers looking for adventures, there is hiking, kayaking and cycling in the Drakensburg Mountains, and animal lovers keen to see the sardine run spectacular will not be disappointed. Stay at the stylish Amanzi Beach House, a five-bedroom beachfront property with magnificent Indian Ocean views and direct access to the beach.

July is the perfect month for trekking in Peru as it is the height of the dry season, which means glorious sunny days and not a drop of rain, so you can enjoy the Andes in all their splendour. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu sells out pretty fast for July but if you fancy taking in views that are just as spectacular and escaping the crowds, you can head further north to the snow-capped peaks, glacial lakes and wildflower meadows of the Cordillera Huayhuash. This is one of the last comparatively under-explored parts of Peru and offers possibly the best high-altitude trekking in the world. Only the top Himalayan treks like the Annapurna circuit are any kind of competition, but the Huayhuash comes with added llamas. RealWorld Holidays offers eight-day trekking holidays in the Huayhuash.

Be transported back to the time of the ancient Greeks at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival (until 20 August), a celebration of theatre, music and culture. During the festival, Epidaurus' ancient amphitheatre holds performances of Greek tragedies, in a perfectly preserved crescent structure that has welcomed theatre-goers since the 4th century BC. In July, expect sizzling temperatures, warm sea waters and great value for money if you book a package, too. Stay nearby in Tolon at the Hotel Romvi with Sunvil Holidays. The small and friendly hotel boasts a prime beachfront location, well-placed for exploring the Peloponnese’s many ancient sites, including Ancient Mycenae and Nemea.

July is a really good time to visit Weymouth when the beaches offer safe swimming and soft golden sand, making them perfect for a traditional bucket and spade family holiday in the UK. What’s more, the award-winning Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival takes place on 9 and 10 July and it is also the month that visitors can enjoy the Dorset Sports and Wellbeing Festival, with the opportunity to try water sports and a range of beach sports. Chesil Vista Holiday Park offers holiday homes and caravans just three miles from Weymouth town centre.

Visit Kenya in July to witness the great migration of wildebeest, zebras and the big cats that prey on them in the magnificent Maasai Mara National Reserve. The spectacular natural wonder is regarded as the greatest animal migration on the planet and takes place until October. After calving in the Serengeti, over 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra slowly mass into a charging herd to migrate to the green pastures of the Maasai Mara. During the migration, the deep, rumbling of thundering hooves and low grunts can be heard and felt from miles away providing a dramatic, sensory safari experience. On their journey, the wildebeest and zebra are targeted by packs of hyena, huge crocodiles and big cats. Angama Mara is a high design lodge from where you can watch the great migration. Set right up on the edge of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, it overlooks the expansive plains of the Maasai Mara some 300 meters below.

Hiking enthusiasts looking for a new challenge should head to Bhutan this July as many treks are best experienced during at this time. Summer is the best time of year to take on the Snowman Trek, despite its name. Ideal for seasoned hikers, it is a testing trail which lasts around 25 days passing through remote areas. For those simply looking to escape the crowds and unwind, Bhutan offers visitors a combination of adventure and rejuvenation set against dramatic mountain scenery.