Winter sun destinations: banish the cold with a trip to warmer climes, from Sri Lanka to the Sous Valley

There’s no need to wait for summer to come around again

Fort Lauderdale (Len Kaufman)

The short, dark days of winter have well and truly arrived. But there's no shortage of warm, exotic destinations to tempt you further south this season. Whether you want to take a shopping break amid the souks of Morocco or lounge on an Australian beach, there are deals and destinations to suit all winter sun persuasions.

Souk up the sun

Average temperatures for Taroudant – in the Sous Valley of southern Morocco – sit comfortably in the 20s at this time of year. Better still, the short flight time of less than four hours from the UK to nearby Agadir means you won't have to deal with jetlag. Known as the “Grandmother of Marrakech”, because it's a smaller, more manageable version of the bigger, brasher city, Taroudant has an atmospheric medina encircled by ramparts. There are several souks, selling everything from leather handbags to rugs.

Real Holidays (020 7359 3938; realholidays.co.uk) offers five nights' half-board at Dar Zitoune, a boutique 12-room riad with a spa, hammam and pool, from £530pp. The trip departs on 14 January, with easyJet flights from Gatwick to Agadir, and transfers.

Fly and flop

A sub-tropical climate, miles of golden beaches and upmarket resorts combine to make the Sunshine State a top choice for winter warmth. Appealing packages include Virgin Holidays' (0844 573 0088; virginholidays.co.uk) £984pp flit to Fort Lauderdale, during the coastal city's Taste Fort Lauderdale food festival, when celebrity chefs and restaurants host special events. Departing 24 February, the package includes four nights' room only at the Pelican Grand Beach Hotel, plus Virgin flights from Heathrow to Miami and car hire.

Rock on: beach in Margaret River (Alamy)

Alternatively, Hayes and Jarvis (01293 735 831; hayesandjarvis.co.uk) has a seven-night package to the Florida Keys – a string of tropical islands off the state's southern tip. It includes room-only accommodation in Key West and Key Largo, and American Airlines flights from Heathrow to Miami. You can depart either on 21 December for a Christmas break (£1,799) or wait until 26 January (£1,499pp) for a dose of new year heat.

Canary mellow

If the idea of Christmas at home doesn't appeal this year, then Western & Oriental (020 3553 0357; westernoriental.com) has a last-minute deal that might suit. The tour operator is offering the chance to turn the heat up on your festive celebrations, by letting a luxury hotel in Lanzarote do the work.

Departing on 19 December – and returning a week later on Boxing Day – the package includes accommodation at the five-star Princesa Yaiza resort, with a special gala dinner on 25 December, daily breakfast, private transfers and easyJet flights from Gatwick, for £1,109pp.

Down Under

For those willing to go the extra mile, Austravel (0800 988 4834; austravel.com) has an eight-night itinerary that takes in Perth, Western Australia, before heading to the state's Margaret River region and finally, the coastal city of Mandurah, known for its wildlife, including dolphins and pelicans. The package costs £1,169pp for a departure between 15 and 29 February, with four- and five-star accommodation, Emirates flights from Glasgow via Dubai and car hire. Flights are also available from Manchester and Gatwick.

Chill out in Chilaw

The coastal commune of Chilaw, on Sri Lanka's west coast, is an ideal base for beach bums. Functioning primarily as a fishing community, the laid-back settlement is flanked by long stretches of palm-fringed coast.

Departing on 17 February, Away Holidays (020 3308 9420; awayholidays.co.uk) has a 10-night half-board package staying at the four-star Anantaya Resort & Spa, with Emirates flights from Gatwick via Dubai, for £927pp.

If you're feeling energetic, possible day trips include a visit to the nearby Anawilundawa Sanctuary, a 3,500-acre wetland, known for its bird-watching and wildlife-viewing opportunities. The colonial town of Negombo, with its strong Dutch influences, is also a short drive away.