Festival holidays and school vacations are when most Indian families can travel, which is exactly why flights and hotels are busiest and most expensive. A little planning makes a big difference.
The peak periods
- Summer school holidays (April to June): hill stations, Singapore, Malaysia, Europe and Kashmir are busiest.
- Puja and Dussehra (September or October): East Indian travellers head everywhere; Sikkim, Darjeeling and Thailand are popular.
- Diwali (October or November): short breaks to Goa, Rajasthan, Thailand, Dubai and Singapore.
- Christmas and New Year: Goa, Kerala, the Andamans, Rajasthan, Dubai and Europe peak, and prices are at their highest.
- Pongal and Sankranti (mid-January): long weekends for South Indian families.
How early to book
- Christmas and New Year: four to six months ahead.
- Diwali and Puja: three to four months ahead.
- Summer holidays abroad: three to five months ahead, longer for Europe if you need a visa.
- Long weekends: six to eight weeks for domestic trips.
How to get better value
- Travel a few days before or after the peak. Leaving a day earlier can cut costs significantly.
- Choose destinations in their off-peak season. In December, Koh Samui or Langkawi may be cheaper than Goa.
- Fly mid-week where you can.
- Consider less obvious places: Gokarna instead of North Goa, Pondicherry instead of Ooty, or Sri Lanka instead of Bali.
Celebrating abroad
Singapore's Little India lights up for Deepavali, which is a public holiday there and in Malaysia. Dubai has a strong Indian community and Diwali celebrations.
Celebrating in India
Plan around festival travel: Durga Puja in Kolkata, Diwali in Varanasi and Ayodhya, Christmas in Goa and Kerala.
See Festival and seasonal trips and Short breaks.
When to go
When to go
When to go
When to go