The Ultimate List Of Long Weekends In 2018

The onset of a new year is also an occasion of making resolutions. 2018 is going to give you even more reasons to pack your bags and go on an adventure given a lot of long weekends around the year. So, let’s start planning the itineraries right away!

 

January: New Year Weekend

Kickstart The Year With Some Amazing Snow Adventures

Duration: 3 Days

 

2018 can totally be the year to fulfill your distant travel wishes as it makes the start for a 3-day weekend. Crushing the Monday blues, add a thrilling experience skiing on cotton-like fresh snow. Auli will make for an unforgettable New Year celebration. As winters spell snow for mountains, there are many fun activities you can indulge in. You can also visit Gulmarg the coming season and step on the highest cable car not only of India but the entire world – the Gulmarg Gondola.

 

January: Republic Day Weekend

Live High And Mighty

Duration: 3 Days

 

Rise smoothly towards the clouds in a serene yet thrilling experience of hot air balloon over the beautiful state of Kings. With Republic Day falling on a Friday and a 3 day holiday, experience the breathtaking views from above of the town of Jaisalmer. Don’t  miss experiencing the beautiful hues in the desert safari in the dunes.

One can also catch beautiful views of Pushkar, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Ranthambore, and even cities of Mathura and Agra appreciating and absorbing its lively ambiance. To drive along these roads, take Ford Figo Sports Edition for a sportier expedition.

 

February: Maha Shivratri Weekend

Make It A Trip Of Unending Love

Duration: 5 Days

 

The Maha Shivratri falls on a Wednesday, February 14, which can be clubbed with first two days of the week to make it a 5-Day excursion. Turn this short break into a romantic getaway with that special someone because this is also the Valentine’s Week. Plan a lovely escapade to the sparsely inhabited yet the ultimate romantic destination- Lakshadweep islands. With its palm-tree-lined white-sand beaches overlooking the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea, this place will give you stolen moments of a lifetime. Crossing boundaries, one can find a perfect counterpart in Maldives where you can book yourselves a beautiful resort surrounded by azure water pools. Have a divine night at sea of stars Vaadhoo island with glowing blue waves lapping the sandy shore that looks like something out of a fantasy land!

 

March: Holi Weekend

Drown in the magic of salt deserts of White Gold with a twist

Duration: 3 Days

 

The end of February will be an ideal time to visit the salt marshes because the gaggles of tourists just start retreating and the major attractions are less crowded. With Holi on a Friday (2nd March), take an off on Friday and kick-start your trip from Greater Rann of Kutch experiencing the expanse of the salt deserts on one side and sea on the other. Treat yourself with the beauty of bird watching in the Kutch Wildlife sanctuary which preserves various species of flamingo birds and other animals like Indian porcupine, spiny-tailed lizard and Indian wild ass.

 

March-April: Mahavir Jayanti- Good Friday Long Weekend

Dare Yourself With the Winds

Duration: 5 Days

 

Although the monsoon is the most chosen weather to visit the Western Ghats but all the tourist locations are huddled during this time. Plan your escapade during this weekend in the month of March (29th March- 2nd April) to have an undisturbed experience of the most famous hill stations like Matheran and Lonavala. Apart from mellow hills, Lonavala gives you a chance to dare yourself by going for bungee jumping over the lush green carpet. Pick the Ford Aspire that delivers an extraordinary combination of style, comfort, and class for an amazing experience. Other locations for bungee jumping you can explore are Rishikesh, Bangalore, Jagdalpur, Chattisgarh or Goa.

 

August: Independence Day Weekend

Dive Into Exhilaration

Duration: 5 Days

 

Satiate your adventure-loving heart with the ultimate skydiving experience and tick it off during this 5 day clubbed weekend with Monday and Tuesday leaves taken with the Independence Day falling on Wednesday. Set your adrenaline pumping and heart racing when you dive from 10,000 feet above in the sky with nothing but a parachute strapped on. Nestled at the base of the Chamundi Hills, Mysore is one of the best places to have the ultimate skydiving experiences in India. Other locations to explore include Deesa, Gujarat; Puducherry, Tamil Nadu or Dhana, Madhya Pradesh.

 

August: Eid-Onam Weekend

Find Yourself In Thrilling Backwaters & Sprawling Tea Gardens

Duration: 5 Days

 

Almost coinciding holidays of Bakrid, Onam and Raksha Bandhan (22nd August- 26th August) give you a golden opportunity to take days off to enjoy relaxing backwaters, exuberant waterfalls and Onam festivities. Find yourself in the sprawling backwaters where you must witness the unique snake boat races. When in Kerala, tick off Munnar’s zigzag roads with the ultimate cycling tour. Venture into Madupatty tea estates and admire the beautiful view of Kundala Dam and Anamudi Chola near the Anamudi National Park. Cycling in this location is the best ever experience you can have. To reach here gear in your Ford EcoSport that lets you challenge all the twist and turns you might face while driving in such terrains.

 

September: Muharram Weekend

Recall The Dazzling Past

Duration: 3 Days

 

Photography is one of the most inspiring elements of a travel plan. A place that combines flawless backgrounds, tranquility, and ancient culture, Hampi has to be included in your bucket-list right now for this 3 day weekend (September 21). Hampi gives a great account of India’s glorious past with forts and gigantic chariot wheels like none other. Tick off Hampi this year which is not only a paradise with natural filters of magnificent colors but also offers the amazing experience of a coracle ride and also a very popular Cliff Diving spot. Take a ride along the coast from Bangalore and Goa in your Ford Endeavour that is intuitive to your needs and effortless to maneuver and get lost in majestic vistas.

Other locations for cliff diving in India are Coconut Islands, Karnataka; Goa; Rishikesh; Pondicherry; Bedaghat, Jabalpur; Diu

 

October: Gandhi Jayanti Weekend

Beat The Waves

Duration: 4 Days

 

Challenge yourself by surfing in the immaculate waves by sitting on the surfs! Bumpy rides braving the extreme waves along the seashore is what makes surfing one of the most thrilling water adventures. Try a leg on the beaches of Goa or Odisha and keep the adrenaline flowing over this 4-day weekend in the month of October. With just the offset of monsoons, the environs all around are covered with green carpets making it another delightful experience in itself.

 

October: Dussehra Weekend

Celebrate Like Never Before

Duration: 3 Days

Dussehra is the time of festivities all around the country. With 3 days in hand, relish yourself with some never-witnessed-before festival celebrations. Attend the Mysore Dasara which is not just a day celebration but a 10 day-long mega festival attended by lakhs of people from around the world. One can witness colorful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels that form a part of the grand procession on the eve of Vijayadashami. You can also drive down to Kullu Valley in your Ford EcoSport that comes with cruise control that maintains the speed for you for such long drives.

 

November: Diwali Weekend

Experience A Unique Diwali In Purushwadi

Duration: 5 Days

   

Away from city pollution, if you want to know how a Diwali is revered without blingy lights and sounds of crackers, Purushwadi will tell you. An offbeat location to complement your travel bucket-list for this added weekend of 5 days, this small village located on Mumbai-Nashik highway keeps its ancient traditions intact. The locals gather at one place around a bonfire and relish local food together. The allure manifolds when the locals sing their cultural songs and the vibes around makes for an experience to behold.

 

December: Christmas Weekend

Dwell Into An Unwinding Experience

Duration: 4 Days

 

2018 will give you a unique opportunity to have a more authentic Christmas vacation and Pondicherry is just the place to be. The celebration by local people reflects classic moments with midnight masses and beautifully decorated churches depicting the unique way of celebrating Christmas with pomp and fervor. Walk through beautiful colonial streets drowned in the festive vibes, fulfill your stomach in Portuguese cafes, experience the beyond conventional nightlife, and enjoy pristine beaches free from hassle, just the perfect way to end the year.

 

Don’t wait now, start planning!

 

Other long-weekend opportunities:

  • Basant Panchami- 22 January, Monday
  • Buddha Purnima- 30 April, Monday
  • Eid- Ul fitr- 15 June, Friday
  • Ganesh Chaturthi- 12 September, Wednesday
  • Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti- 24 October, Wednesday
  • Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad- November 21, Wednesday
  • Guru Nanak Jayanti- 23 November, Friday

 

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