Long weekends in 2017 and how to enjoy them

Let’s admit, 2016 has not been an eventful year as far as holidays were concerned. A lot of public holidays like Gandhi Jayanti, Diwali and Christmas fell on a Sunday. Not fair no?  But you know what 2017 has in store for you? 14 Long Weekends! This means the holiday opportunities that you missed in 2016 can be grabbed on in 2017. For the love of holidays, we are rolling out the list of long weekends in 2017 along with the amazing ideas on how to make the most of these precious long weekends.

Long Weekends in 2017

January

You can attend the most extravagant shopping festival in Dubai during this 4 days long weekend. If an international holiday is not on the cards, you can also plan a trip to Gulmarg.

February

This weekend is your perfect opportunity to attend Taj Mahotsav (18th to 27^thFeb), where you can enjoy delightful performances by well-known artists and incredible craftsmanship by the most brilliant artists from all across India.

Looking for exotic options? Head to Andaman for crazy water sports or indulge in the vibrant Goa Carnival. It’s also a great time to enjoy snowboarding and skiing in Gulmarg.

March

Weekend – 1

Head to Coorg to experience the valley shrouded in white flowers. Another amazing option is the Pink City – Jaipur when it’s abuzz with Elephant Festival (13 March). You can also celebrate Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan where the festival celebrated with utmost zeal.

Weekend – 2

March is the best time to learn surfing in Sri Lanka and bask in the beauty of its pristine beaches, wildlife and tea plantations. In India, it’s the perfect time to try your hand at white water rafting in Rishikesh.

April

Weekend – 1

Save this extended weekend for Cappadocia (Turkey) and enjoy the most beautiful experience of soaring high in the sky with a hot-air balloon ride.

You can also head to Tokyo to marvel the beautiful pink flowers blanket the country in soft, colourful splendour.

Best time to enjoy tulip bloom in the largest tulip garden in Asia.

Weekend –  2

Consider Amritsar for Baisakhi – Enjoy Nagar kirtans, traditional martial arts (Gatka), and take a dip in the holy waters of Golden Temple.

Consider Phuket Biking Week (11^{th to} 17^th April) which attracts over 10,000 motorcyclists from 30 countries.

Mapro Strawberry Festival: Eat and see over the Easter weekend.

Weekend – 3

Beat the summer heat by planning a trip to Shillong. This is the best time to enjoy sightseeing and adventure activities. Don’t miss out on the Mawlynnong, the cleanest village in Asia.

Spot the big cats and explore the wildlife activities in Ranthambore, Rajasthan. This is also the best season to spot the big cats in Tadoba, Maharashtra.

June

This weekend will be a delight for foodies if they plan a trip to Hyderabad or Lucknow to celebrate Ramzan Eid.

Adventure junkies can head to Dharamshala for camping or trekking.

If you want a peaceful vacation, head to Munnar and rejoice the lush green foliage due to Monsoon.

August

Weekend 1 and 2

Yes, you have the whole week off. Grab this opportunity to plan an adventure trip to Ladakh. Like trekking? Climb one of the best treks in India – Valley of Flowers in Uttrakhand.

Suggested Read : 10 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Uttarakhand

Attend one of the most prominent festivals of music and drama in Austria – Salzburg Festival (21 July to 31 August).

This also the best season to visit Alaska well-known for its abundant wildlife, open spaces, mountains and forests. This is also the best season to do a Europe trip.

Weekend – 3

This weekend would be appropriate to celebrate Ganesh Chathurti in Pune. You can also enjoy a peaceful holiday in Coonoor, Karnataka. It’s your chance to learn organic cheese-making in Acres Wild.

You can also experience monsoon in Agumbe, Karnataka or in Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. Or consider Bali for a beach break.

September

Make it an extended weekend to attend the craziest beer festival in the world – Oktoberfest in Munich (16 Sept to 30 Sept). You can also consider Bhutan for Thimphu Tshechu Festival (Sept 30 to Oct 2).

In India, you can enjoy the tranquillity of backwaters in Kerala. This is also an ideal period to visit Bandhavgarh National Park, as monsoon rejuvenates all the nature & vegetation.

October

These two weekends will be ideal to marvel the magnificent views of Kanchenjunga in Gangtok. You can also celebrate Diwali in the land of Maharajas, Rajasthan.

For an international holiday, spend a super cool summer on beaches of Sydney. Revel the fall season in Vancouver and New York.

Vancouver and New York are the best destinations to cover in the month of October. This is the perfect time to bask in the beauty of colourful foliage in and around these cities.

December

Weekend – 1

You can consider Nagaland for its famous Hornbill festival. You could also plan for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala or Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur for spotting migratory birds.

Weekend – 2

Now this will be last long weekends in 2017; so why not celebrate it in the party capital of India – Goa. You can also consider Pondicherry for Christmas or Manali for New Year’s Eve.

Now that you have a complete list of the long weekends in 2017, how about planning your trips in advance; at least for the first quarter.