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As television programs and articles feature exciting far flung locations, so adventure travel companies extend their range of destinations. It has become much easier to access remote locations compared to when I made my first long haul trip to the Galápagos in 1972. Nonetheless, if you are traveling half way around the world, you still need to check out the best place and the best time. Here I have selected 12 locations – one for each month – which offer a special wilderness experience. Search the web for specialist tours.

January – Japan (Jigokudani Monkey Park, Nagano, Honshu)

Snow Monkeys: Live in a thermal valley and bathe in a hot pool.

February – Baja California & the Sea of Cortez

Whale Watching: Capture the graceful beauty of gray and blue whales.

March – Magdalen Islands, Canada

 Harp Seal Pups: Mother pup on ice floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

April – India

Tigers: Can be seen in first and last few months of the year.

May – Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador

Giant tortoises, marine & land iguanas, seabirds and plenty of lava.

June – Iceland

Atlantic Puffins: In the land of ice and fire, explore the Puffin capital of the world and a host of waterfalls.

July – Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei Sand Dunes, Namibia

Game congregates at waterholes, shadows sculpt the dunes.

August – Rwanda

The best time for gorilla trekking.

September – Katmai National Park, Alaska

Brown Bears: Feast on salmon running up Brooks River with a backdrop of fall colors.

October – Churchill, Canada

Polar Bears: Work from elevated tundra buggies.

November – Indian Rhino, Kaziranga NP in Assam

Rhino viewing from an elephant back.

December – Penguins and Icebergs in Antarctica

Penguins and Icebergs: The birds appear cleaner if snow still present