With its eleven joyous long weekends, the year 2017 is regarded as the year of travellers. But, 2018 is going to be a better year with 15 long weekends that are set to fill your year with travel and adventure. Long weekends are great as you get to take a break from work, get out of your comfort zone and explore the wonderful places too. No wonder everyone loves them, so start planning those epic vacations in advance. From the cultural medley of Rann Utsav in January to partying in Goa in the first week of February and enjoy summers in the chilly embrace of the Himalayas to get wet under the monsoon showers in the hill stations of Maharashtra, every month in India has its own specialty. To help you plan along, here’s a list of 2018’s long weekends and offbeat destinations that you can visit.
January
- January 13th – 15th January (Pongal / Sankranthi / Uttarayan)
- January 26th – 28th January (Republic Day)
Apart from the New Year weekend, January gifts two joyful long weekends. The first weekend comes on account of Pongal or Makar Sankranti while the second long weekend comes on account of Republic Day which falls on a Friday. The month of January means that the weather is extremely pleasant and favorable for sight-seeing in places like Rann of Kutch, Goa, Jaipur, Kerala, Khajuraho and Chennai. January seems perfect to enjoy snow in North Indian states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Visiting Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is another option as this is the time to witness the famous Desert Festival.
Where to go in January 2018: Rajasthan, Kerala, Himachal, Andaman, Rann of Kutch and Goa
February
- February 10th – 13th February (Mahashivratri)
In the second month of the year February, one can see a gradual decrease in the cold but it is still cool enough to plan to visit winter destinations like Shimla, Manali, Auli, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur and Udaipur over the long weekend. Like January, February 2018 also comes packed with one long weekend that is from 10th – 13th on account of Mahashivratri. This is the perfect chance to head out to a place like Goa where you can enjoy the popular Goa Carnival or Sula Fest in Nashik, Maharashtra during which you can eat, drink, and be merry. Thekkady & Alleppey are also among the best Places to visit in Kerala in February.
Where to go in February 2018: Goa, Alleppey, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora, Golden Triangle Tour and Kovalam
Reference: Rajasthan Tour Packages
March
- March 2nd – 4th March (Holi)
- March 30th – 1st April (Good Friday)
With two weekends spread across the month, March is the most promising month for holidaying with your loved ones. The first long weekend is in the beginning of the month on account of Holi and one towards the end. Vrindavan and Mathura are the top places for the people who are fond of Holi celebrations in India. Marks the start of summer season, March is the best time to hit the hill stations like Shimla, Nainital, Ooty and Coonoor. This is also a good time to go diving in the warm waters of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Where to go in March 2018: Mathura – Vrindavan, Andaman Islands, Shimla, Mount Abu and Alleppey
Reference: Kerala Tour Packages
April
- April 28th – 1st May (May Day)
Finish the month of April with a refreshing long weekend vacation in the Indian hill stations as the sun shines brighter and brings along the summer season. This is the holiday season for kids and also the perfect time to spend some quality time with family. Ooty, Coorg, Munnar, Chikmagalur and Kodaikanal will all make for ideal places to visit in April in South India while Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie, Nainital, Dalhousie and Dharamsala are the popular hill stations in North. This is also the best time to explore wildlife reserves in India like Bandhavgarh, Jim Corbett, Wayanad, Nagarhole and Ranthambore.
Where to go in April 2018: Ooty, Munnar, Coorg, Chikmagalur, Himachal and Uttarakhand
Reference : Munnar Tour Packages
June
- June 15th – 17th June (Ramadan)
The month of June is the time when the summer holidays in India reach its end and also the beginning of pleasant monsoon showers. And if you didn’t find time to take a break from work up until now, then June becomes the best time for family holiday packages in India. Monsoon season is not at its peak during this time and it is a great time to explore hill station as well as beaches in India. In June, Manali – Leh road opens up along with Rohtang Pass and this is also the time for celebrating the vibrant and colourful Hemis Festival in Ladakh. It is also a great time to visit the Ghats along river Ganga for the local festivals.
Where to go in June 2018: Spiti, Ladakh, Wayanad, Dehradun, Varanasi, and Orchha
Reference : Uttarakhand Tour Packages
August
- August 15th – 19th August (Independence Day & Parsi New Year, Mumbai and Gujarat)
Monsoon is the best season to experience the nature and explore gorgeous waterfalls in India. After the burning heat of summer, the rains in August bring much needed relief to the human life and also offer breathtaking views of nature and full flowing streams. Experiencing monsoon in Maharashtra is a magical experience as it has many monsoon destinations like Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala & Khandala, Panchgani, Bhandardara and Satara. August is also the best time to visit Ladakh and Lahaul – Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. If you are planning to visit these monsoon destinations, the long weekend in August that comes on account of Independence Day is the best time.
Where to go in August 2018: Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Satara, Hampi, Konark and Shillong
Reference : Mahabaleshwar Tour Packages
September
- September 1st – 3rd September (Janmastami)
- September 13th – 16th September (Ganesh Chaturthi)
- September 29th – 2nd October (Gandhi Jayanti)
September marks the wet monsoon season of India starts to recede away, making way for clear skies and the arrival of autumn. The weather is just perfect and is the off-season for most tourist places in India. So, one can even get heavy price discounts on flights and hotels. With 3 weekends spread across the month, the idea of planning a vacation in September becomes a tempting one. Kerala, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are the top destinations to visit in September in India. If you want to witness the magnificent Ganesh Chaturthi festival, so head to Mumbai & Hyderabad.
Where to go in September 2018: Wayanad, Coorg, Mumbai, Udaipur and Mahabaleshwar
Reference: Coorg Tour Packages
October
- October 19th – 21st October (Dussehra)
Often referred as the month of celebrations, October is packed with famous festival Dessehra and national holiday on account of Gandhi Jayanti. October is the perfect time to visit most of the parts of India as the weather is pleasant and suitable for sightseeing. October changes a lot of places into paradises that would give you a unique experience. This is the prime season for tourism in India so it is recommended to book your flight tickets and hotels as early as possible. Kolkata and Mysore are the best places to witness the colourful Dussehra celebrations while Rishikesh and Dandeli are the top places to enjoy rafting. Other than these, Goa, Pondicherry, Hampi, Mysore and Jog Falls are the best places to visit in October.
Where to go in October 2018: Pondicherry, Rishikesh, Hampi, Mysore and Kovalam
Reference: Hampi Tour Packages
November
- November 7th – 11th November (Diwali)
Diwali, the festival of lights, gives you holiday on 7th October in 2018. Just take two more days off and what you have is a 5-day long weekend that can be used to travel to anywhere in India. Marks the arrival of winter in India, November is the time to witness the fresh snow fall in the north, birds flying down from the northern countries and fairs and festivals getting marked on its calendars. With its comfortable weather, travellers from all over the globe find November as the suitable time to travel to India. India is dotted with a number of winter destinations like Golden Triangle, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Goa, Pondicherry and Mahabalipuram.
Where to go in November 2018: Goa, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Pondicherry, Rajasthan and Khajuraho
Reference: Goa Packages
December
- December 22nd – 25th December (Christmas)
- December 29th – 1st January 2019 (New Year Day)
With favorable weather, December marks the peak of the holiday season in India. Finish the year 2018 with two refreshing long weekend vacations – one is on account of Christmas and another is on the New Year Day. There is no better combination than Christmas and snow, so better to plan a trip to someplace in the Indian Himalayas. The beaches of the west coast and south, be it Goa or Kovalam offer ideal setting for sunbathing and leisure activities in December. It is also the time for winter snow treks in Himalayas for the adventure enthusiasts. Goa, Gokarna, Gulmarg, Pondicherry, Jim Corbett, Kerala, Shimla, and Rajasthan top the list in December.
Where to go in December 2018: Goa, Pondicherry, Kerala, Himachal, and Rajasthan