DESTINATIONS FESTIVALS | WINTER SUN
Best Rest
OF THE
Venice Carnival, Italy The celebrations feature
Baroque-inspired masquerade outfits – think glittering gowns and gaudy jester masks, which clients can hire.
Hanami, Japan
A time to get together under the fresh blooms of cherry blossoms. They flower in mid-January in subtropical
Okinawa, then late March and early April in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Junkanoo, Bahamas
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Songkran water festival marks Thailand’s New Year; lighting candles next to a rangoli pattern as part of Diwali; colourful dancers parade in the Rio Carnival Sambadrome PICTURES: Shutterstock/Toa55; Rio Tourist Board
The main burning event takes place on March 19 – suggest clients head to the square in the early evening to
get a good vantage point. Book it: EasyJet holidays sells a three-night room-only stay at Vincci Palace for £685 per person, including flights departing Gatwick on March 17.
easyjet.com/holidays
DIVINE DIWALI Jaipur is recognisable for its pink- terracotta-hued palaces, but visit during Diwali (October 20) and clients will find the city awash with even more colour – plus the chance to get away from the UK in favour of sunny skies and fantastic food. Exoticca’s Golden Triangle tours
feature special departures taking in Diwali. Landing in Delhi, visitors can settle into the rhythms of India before transferring to Jaipur. There’s plenty of time to explore the city – both with the group and independently – and see all the Diwali decor, from street illuminations to intricate
travelweekly.co.uk
rangoli (coloured powder) patterns on the floor of its markets. There’s also an opportunity to spend the Diwali evening itself with a Rajasthani family, taking part in their household rituals and
watching the fireworks together. Book it: Exoticca sells the eight-night Golden Triangle and Indian Festivals tour from £1,349 per person, based on two sharing. Includes transport, breakfast, listed activities and flights departing October 16.
exoticca.com
STREET DANCE The world’s biggest carnival in Rio de Janeiro, from late March to early April, is an experience like no other. In the purpose-built Sambadrome, parades are led by groups of samba dancers. Each group has 75 minutes to make its way through the stadium, giving clients plenty of time to admire the eye-boggling floats, sparkly costumes and intricate choreography.
When not sipping caipirinhas, clients can explore Brazilian culture on a self-guided itinerary. Journey Latin America’s 10-day Rio Carnival Holiday spends the first couple of days seeing the city’s sights, from Sugarloaf Mountain to Christ the Redeemer, before watching the first night’s parade at the Sambadrome. Then, it’s two recovery days in Rio before spending the final part of the trip relaxing at the low-key beach
resort of Búzios. Book it: Journey Latin America sells the tour from £5,030 per person, based on two sharing. Includes breakfast, land transport and listed excursions, but excludes flights, based on a departure date of February 27.
journeylatinamerica.com
WATER WORLD The Thai New Year festival, known as Songkran and marked from April 13-15 this year, is a wet and wild celebration that brings the country’s culture to life. Sprinkling
This colourful event unites the Bahamas each Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Expect drums, cowbells and West African-inspired costumes.
water over others is the traditional way to wash off the year’s misfortunes, but it’s far from a light touch – think buckets and water pistols that offer not only a respite from the heat but also a fun way to get involved in the revelry. Chiang Mai kick-starts the party a day earlier than the rest of the country, and clients can incorporate visits to Buddhist temples, waterfalls and Elephant Nature Park – an ethical home for rescued elephants. Many operators can build itineraries that include Songkran in Chiang Mai, before transferring to the resorts of Thailand’s tropical coastline to
unwind after the festivities. Book it: Bamboo Travel can arrange a bespoke itinerary featuring four nights in Chiang Mai and seven in Khao Lak from £3,490 per person, based on two sharing. Includes breakfast, a Chiang Mai tour, a visit to Elephant Nature Park, all in-destination transport, plus flights departing April 11.
bambootravel.co.uk
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