NEXT YEAR 2017 (PLAN YOUR HOLIDAYS ) is packed with 14 long weekends, including two nine-day bonanzas—one in August and the other in October. Get prepping, folks! Are you still wondering where to travel? Then, we have just the right planning for you. Check out our top picks for travel in 2017 and start your travel planning!
The Himalayas offer great options for skiing
1. Long Weekend – January
Thu, 26 Jan: Republic Day
Fri, 27 Jan: Take leave
Sat, 28 Jan
Sun, 29 Jan
Consider: Gulmarg or Auli for skiing; Jawai in Rajasthan to spot leopards. This is the place for new, experiential travel, which we believe will shape the face of travel in 2017. Jawai is the heart of an untrammeled wilderness, where leopards roam free, and where we hope you will roam happily as well.
2. Long Weekend – February
Fri, 24 Feb: Mahashivratri
Sat, 25 Feb
Sun, 26 Feb
Consider: Agra for the Taj Mahotsav (18–27 Feb); the Andaman Islands for diving; Goa for the Goan Carnival (25–28 Feb).
Head to Mathura for Holi celebrations!
3. Long Weekend – March
Sat, 11 Mar
Sun, 12 Mar
Mon, 13 Mar: Holi
Consider: Mathura for Holi; Coorg to catch the white coffee flowers in bloom; Jaipur before summer kicks in.
Sat, 25 Mar
Sun, 26 Mar
Mon, 27 Mar: Take leave
Tue, 28 Mar: Gudi Padva
Consider: Rishikesh for white-water rafting.
Head to Srinagar for a date with these lovelies
4. Long Weekend – April
April seems to be one long month of travel!
Sat, 1 Apr
Sun, 2 Apr
Mon, 3 Apr: Take leave
Tue, 4 Apr: Ram Navami
Consider: Srinagar for the tulip flowers in bloom. Yes, you don’t have to travel to the Netherlands to watch these beautiful flowers radiate their beauty.
Thu, 13 Apr: Vaisakhi
Fri, 14 Apr: Dr Ambedkar Jayanti, Good Friday
Sat, 15 Apr
Sun, 16 Apr: Easter
Consider: Amritsar for Baisakhi (14 Apr) Mahabaleshwar for the Mapro Strawberry Festival (Easter weekend).
Sat, 29 Apr
Sun, 30 Apr
Mon, 1 May: May Day
Consider: Shillong, Mashobra or Landour to beat the heat; Tadoba or Ranthambore to spot the big cats; Tawang for adventure.
Tea and serenity in Munnar
5. Long Weekend – June
Sat, 24 Jun
Sun, 25 Jun
Mon, 26 Jun: Ramzan Eid
Consider: Hyderabad or Lucknow for Ramzan Eid; Munnar in Kerala for the monsoon; Dharamshala for camping/trekking.
Ladakh continues to be a magnet for the Indian traveler
6. Long Weekend – August
The first of the 9-day bonanzas!
Sat, 12 Aug
Sun, 13 Aug
Mon, 14 Aug: Janmashtami or take leave
Tue, 15 Aug: Independence Day
Wed, 16 Aug: Take leave
Thu, 17 Aug: Parsi New Year
Fri, 18 Aug: Take leave
Sat, 19 Aug
Sun, 20 Aug
Consider: Ladakh for adventure; Uttarakhand for trekking and the Valley of Flowers. Why not join us on our tailormade tour of Ladakh? It’s offbeat, it’s different, and you give back to the local community.
Fri, 25 Aug: Ganesh Chaturthi
Sat, 26 Aug
Sun, 27 Aug
Consider: Pune for Ganesh Chaturthi; Coonoor for cheese-making; Agumbe, Karnataka for a monsoon drive; Bali for a beach break.
Find culture in the Land of Happiness
7. Long Weekend – September
Sat, 30 Sep
Sun, 1 Oct
Mon, 2 Oct: Gandhi Jayanti
Consider: Bhutan for the Thimphu Tshechu festival (30 Sep–2 Oct); Bandhavgarh for wildlife season; Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh for the pleasant weather.
The capital of Shillong has some surprises in store for you
8. Long Weekend – October
Sat, 14 Oct
Sun, 15 Oct
Mon, 16 Oct: Dhanteras or take leave
Tue, 17 Oct: Naraka Chaturdashi or take leave
Wed, 18 Oct: Diwali
Thu, 19 Oct: Balipratipada
Fri, 20 Oct: Bhaiduj
Sat, 21 Oct
Sun, 22 Oct
Consider: Gangtok for clear views of the Kanchenjunga; Rajasthan for Diwali; Birand Billing for paragliding.
Wildlife in Orissa
9. Long Weekend – December
Fri, 1 Dec: Eid-e-Milad
Sat, 2 Dec
Sun, 3 Dec
Consider: Nagaland for the Hornbill Festival; Periyar for wildlife; Bharatpur or Odisha for spotting migratory birds.
Sat, 23 Dec
Sun, 24 Dec
Mon, 25 Dec
Consider: Christmas @ Manali for the snow; Puducherry or Alappuzha for a winter break…..
