2017 was an exciting year for all travel enthusiasts with glorious long weekends. Now that 2018 is knocking at the door, guess what, it is going to be spectacular. With 16 long weekends in 2018, you can either embark on a cultural expedition or plan your dream international vacation.
So, plan ahead, block your calendar, apply for leaves and go explore. Afterall, these experiences are all that you can cherish for a long time. Put your travel plans on paper and thanks us later for the cheap tickets and affordable hotels.
List of Long Weekends in 2018
To make your planning easier we have curated a list of getaways and how you can make the most out of these long weekends in 2018 that we have.
1. Basant Panchmi Weekend: 20th, 21st, and 22nd Jan’18
Long Weekends in January 2018
Kickstart the first of the many long weekends of 2018 in the company of renowned personalities from the world of art and literature at Jaipur Literature Festival. Along with this, you can unwind in the shopping streets of Jaipur.
While you are at it, you can also visit Bikaner for its Camel festival. It also offers a pleasant weather during this time. Or you can choose to welcome the year by enjoying the first holiday in Goa.
Read about 18 Tourist Places To Visit in Jaipur
2. Republic Day Weekend: 26th, 27th, and 28th Jan’18
The Rann Utsav in Gujarat is a vibrant and colorful depiction of the culture of Gujarat. If you are a person who likes to shop and explore the cultural heritage of various regions in India then these are the ideal getaways for you.
Other places you can visit during this weekend are Delhi, Ooty or Srinagar.
3. Shivratri Weekend: 10th, 11th, 12th (take a leave), and 13th Feb’18
Long Weekends in February 2018
Head out to Varanasi this weekend to celebrate Mahashivratri in the most glorious way possible. Considered to be the city of Lord Shiva himself, this city witnesses a majestic and extravagant procession to honor the Lord. Take a leave on 12th and 14th and there you have a great long weekend ahead of you to plan a perfect romantic getaway this February.
Other places you can explore during these long weekends in February are Desert Festival in Jaisalmer, Taj Mahotsav in Agra and Konark Dance Festival in Odisha.
4. Holi Weekend: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Mar’18
Long Weekends in March 2018
If you are planning to experience the Holi in India then head to Mathura or Pushkar to experience the riot of color. This unique festival to celebrate spring and its colors is a good way to add excitement to your travel plans.
Other places you can visit for this Holi long weekend are Barsana in Uttar Pradesh, Shantiniketan in West Bengal.
5. Good Friday Weekend: 29th, 30th, 31st March & 1st Apr’18
The Good Friday weekend can be reserved for offbeat destinations and Manali, Sikkim, and Coorg sound like amazing options. All the hill stations have a pleasant weather and it is a relief to take refuge in nature from the chaotic city life.
Other destinations for long weekends in March include Srinagar and Andaman.
6. Buddha Purnima/Labor Day Weekend: 28th, 29th, 30th Apr & 1st May’18
Long Weekends in April 2018
Indian summer is at its peak in April-May. Enjoy the beautiful flower show in Kodaikanal. If you want to experience the Aoleang Festival and bask in the glory of the North East, then Mon and Nagaland should be on your priority list.
Other beautiful places to visit in April are Panchgani, Auli, and Wayanad.
7. Eid al-Fitr Weekend: 15th, 16th, and 17th Jun’18
Long Weekends in June 2018
Monsoons are almost here. Make the most of this long weekend of 2018 by traveling to Kerala. This coastal state is at its best during monsoons with picturesque landscapes and Champakulam Moolam race in Kerala.
Other places you can visit in June are Meghalaya, Dharmashala, and Nainital.
8. Independence Day Weekend: 15th, 16th (take a leave), 17th, and 18th Aug’18
Long Weekends in August 2018
Don’t wait for the monsoon to end, instead, check out the offbeat destinations to visit in August and enjoy the mid-monsoon glory. You can also embark on the famous Golden Triangle tour to cover Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.
You can also enjoy the best of monsoon in Munnar, Agumbe, Tirthan Valley and Ooty.
You may also like: 27 Places in Delhi To enjoy Early Morning
9. Eid al-Adha/ Onam Weekend: 22nd, 23rd (take a leave), 24th, 25th, 26th Aug’18
This long weekend in August gives you the best opportunity to witness two cultural events. Either travel to Delhi or Hyderabad to experience the Eid extravaganza or head to Kerala to be a part of Onam celebration.
Other places to visit in India during August are Shillong, Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand.
10. Janmashtami Weekend: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sept’18
Long Weekends in September 2018
The festive season has just begun and you must visit Mathura, Vrindavan, Puri in Orissa, Dargah of Narhar in Jaipur, to be a part of the amazing celebrations of Janmashtami.
Other places to visit in September are Lachen in Sikkim, Mcleodganj, Lonavala in Maharashtra.
11. Ganesh Chaturthi Weekend: 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Sept’18
September is the perfect time to visit places like Mumbai, Pune, and Lonavala with the festival season just kicking in. These states gear up for the best carnival during Ganesh Chaturthi and you should experience it at least once.
Other places to go in September are Ziro Music Festival in Arunachal Pradesh, Khandala, and Kochi.
Read: 13 Best Irani Cafes in Mumbai
12. Gandhi Jayanti Weekend: 29th, 30th September, 1st (take a leave), and 2nd Oct’18
This first long weekend in October why not visit a trip to Ahmedabad and make a stop at all the historical landmarks.
Other places you can visit in October are Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, Hampi in Karnataka, Wayanad in Kerala, and Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
Long Weekends in October 2018
For those of you planning to spend the festive season away from family, a weekend trip to Mysore seems to be a perfect destination. Mysore celebrates the festival of Dussehra in a grand manner, with processions going out in the city.
Other than Mysore you can celebrate Dussehra at Delhi, Kolkata, Mahabaleshwar, and Hampi.
14. Diwali Weekend: 3rd, 4th, 5th Nov’18
Long Weekends in November 2018
Stop delaying your dream to travel overseas and make it happen during one of the best long weekends in 2018. Combine this weekend with the next one and you have a 9-day weekend for your dream vacation. You can head to Bangkok or Sri-Lanka, or whichever destination has been on your list forever now. Just tick it off already!
Even places close to home like Varanasi, Rishikesh, Jaisalmer, Amritsar are good for the enjoying this long weekend in November.
15. Bhai Duj Weekend: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th Nov’18
Another way to extend your Diwali celebrations is by taking a quick last solo trip to places like Pushkar in Rajasthan to witness the vibrant Pushkar Camel Fair. The Qutub Festival in Delhi is also a good way to lose yourself in the world of Sufi music and dance.
Other places you can explore in November are Bhutan, Dehradun, Mussoorie and so on.
16. Christmas Weekend: 22nd, 23rd, 24th (take a leave), and 25th Dec’18
Long Weekends in December 2018
If you want to end the year on a satisfying note chose offbeat destinations to spend your Christmas long weekend in 2018. For this, a jungle safari in Jim Corbett National Park or Ranthambore sounds exciting.
To be a part of the varied flavors of Christmas celebrations in India you can also visit places like Pondicherry, Manali, Bangalore, Kerala, Goa, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
Now, you have the list of long weekends in 2018 and a clear idea regarding what should be on your travel checklist. So, let us know how your travel plans look for 2018. We would love to hear the stories from you in the comment section below.
