Some of the world’s most wonderful festivals
A destination really comes alive when there is a festival in full swing: streets filled with music, food stalls on every corner, locals in traditional dress, and that shared sense of joy you will remember long after you return home. However you do need to plan early to ensure you make the most of your time and your budget.
1. Holi: The Festival of Colours, India & Nepal
Holi is pure joy, it feels like stepping into a technicolour dream. Celebrated each spring, it marks the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of warmer days.
Where & when:Across India and Nepal, usually in March (dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar).Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi and Kathmandu are particularly atmospheric.
What you can experience:
Streets and squares filled with people playfully throwing brightly coloured powder and water.
Traditional drumming, dancing and singing that continues late into the day.
Special festive sweets and drinks served in homes and local cafés.
How I can help:
Arrange a hosted Holi experience in a safe environment such as a boutique hotel courtyard or private garden party.
Combine with a Golden Triangle or Rajasthan itinerary, adding heritage stays, private guides and chauffeur‑driven transfers.
Include time for wellness afterwards: a luxury spa stay in the Himalayas or a serene backwaters retreat in Kerala.
2. Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio Carnival is arguably the world’s most famous party: a dazzling explosion of samba, sequins and sound. It is ideal for clients who love high energy, spectacle and nightlife.
Where & when:
Held each year in February or early March, in the week leading up to Lent.
What you can experience:
Spectacular samba school parades in the Sambadrome, with elaborate floats and costumes.
Street “blocos” (block parties) that start in the morning and continue long into the night.
Live music on every corner and a buzzing beach atmosphere at Copacabana and Ipanema.
How I can help:
Secure grandstand or VIP box tickets for the Sambadrome parades.
Arrange guided favela tours with reputable local partners and extend the trip with a luxury add‑on to Iguazu Falls or a Brazilian beach hideaway.
3. Day of the Dead, Mexico
Far from being morbid, Día de los Muertos is a vibrant, heartfelt celebration of life and remembrance. Altars glow with candles, marigolds decorate streets and squares, and families gather to share food, stories and music.
Where & when:
Celebrated across Mexico, particularly evocative in Oaxaca, Mexico City and smaller traditional towns around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Main celebrations: 31 October to 2 November each year.
What you will experience:
Beautifully decorated altars in homes, cemeteries and public spaces.
Parades with skeletal makeup, traditional costumes and music.
Special breads, sugar skulls and seasonal dishes.
How I can make it special:
Arrange a private guide to explain the symbolism and ensure visits are respectful.
Include hands‑on experiences like traditional mask‑ or sugar‑skull painting, or a cooking class.
Combine with time in colonial cities like San Miguel de Allende and a few days in a coastal luxury resort to unwind.
4. Venice Carnival, Italy
Venice Carnival is elegance made visible: ornate masks, lavish costumes and candlelit palazzi. If you appreciate art, history and romance, it is a dream setting.
Where & when:
Usually held in February, leading up to Shrove Tuesday.
What you can enjoy:
Masked balls in historic palaces with live orchestras and period dress.
Costumed revellers gliding through misty piazzas and along the canals.
Themed concerts, theatre, and art events across the city.
How I can make it truly special:
Arrange tickets to an exclusive masquerade ball or gala dinner.
Book canal‑side suites or historic palazzo hotels with lagoon views.
Include private water taxi transfers, a guided tour of artisan mask‑makers, and extensions to the Veneto wine country or nearby cities like Verona or Florence.
5. Diwali: Festival of Lights, India
Diwali is one of the most important festivals in India: a glowing celebration of light, family and fresh beginnings. Streets are decorated with lamps and rangoli, and firework displays light up the night sky.
Where & when:
Across India, plus communities worldwide.Dates shift each year (usually October or November), following the Hindu lunar calendar.
What you can experience:
Cities and villages illuminated with oil lamps, fairy lights and candles.
Family gatherings, special sweets and festive meals.
Fireworks displays, temple visits and cultural performances.
How I can elevate your trip:
Coordinate with boutique hotels or heritage properties that host Diwali celebrations for guests.
Include private guiding to temples and historic quarters, timed around local festivities.
Build a wider itinerary around Rajasthan, Delhi, Agra or the beaches of Goa or Kerala for a blend of culture and relaxation.
6. Chinese New Year, Across Asia & Beyond
Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is a spectacular time to visit cities with large Chinese communities. Dragons twist through the streets, firecrackers crackle and lanterns sway overhead.
Where & when:
Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Taiwan, parts of Vietnam and Chinatowns globally.
Falls between late January and mid‑February, following the lunar calendar.
What you can experience:
Lion and dragon dances, lanterns and fireworks.
Special menus and family feasts in top restaurants.
Temple visits and cultural shows, plus lively night markets.
How I can make your trip truly special:
Secure harbour‑view rooms or suites to watch fireworks in cities like Hong Kong.
Book premium dinner reservations well in advance for festive banquets.
Combine a city stay with a luxury beach or countryside retreat once the celebrations quieten.
7. Songkran: Thai New Year Water Festival, Thailand
Songkran is joyful, refreshing and perfect for fun‑loving clients: a giant nationwide water fight combined with acts of respect and renewal.
Where & when:
Across Thailand, especially lively in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Typically 13 to 15 April each year.
What you can experience:
Water fights in the streets, with locals and visitors alike joining in.
Merit‑making at temples, traditional ceremonies and parades.
Street food stalls, music and an uplifting sense of celebration.
How to make truly special memories:
Choose a stylish hotel that gives easy access to the action but offers a calm retreat.
Arrange guided temple visits during quieter hours for cultural context.
Add a post‑festival escape to a luxury island resort for a relaxing finish.
8. Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Oktoberfest is more than just beer tents. It is Bavarian culture at full volume: lively music, traditional costumes, hearty food and fairground fun.
Where & when:
Munich, Germany.
Typically late September to the first weekend in October.
What immersive fun you can experience:
Traditional beer halls and tents with live bands.
Locals and visitors in dirndls and lederhosen.
Funfairs, parades and hearty Bavarian cuisine.
How I can add to the fun:
Reserve tables in the more traditional tents and suggest quieter sessions during the day.
Select quality central hotels or luxury properties slightly out of the centre, with easy transport in and out.
Combine Munich with scenic rail journeys through Bavaria, visits to castles, or a post‑festival spa retreat in the Alps.
9. Summer Solstice in Sweden
Midsummer in Sweden is one of Europe’s most enchanting celebrations: long, lavender blue evenings, wildflower crowns, lakeside picnics and the gentle glow of the midnight sun. It is ideal for clients who love the outdoors, Scandinavian style and authentic local traditions.
Where & when:
Celebrated across Sweden, especially magical in the countryside and archipelagos, as well as smaller towns like Dalarna and coastal villages
Midsummer’s Eve falls on the Friday between 19 and 25 June each year, with celebrations typically starting that afternoon and continuing into the night.
What you can experience:
Maypole dancing: Locals gather to decorate the maypole with birch leaves and flowers, then dance traditional ring dances accompanied by fiddles and folk music.
Flower crowns and folklore: It is customary to make midsommarkrans (flower crowns), and many Swedes wear light summer dresses or linen shirts in soft, natural colours.
Traditional feast: A classic Midsummer table includes pickled herring, new potatoes with dill, gravadlax, cheeses, crispbread and plenty of fresh strawberries and cream, often enjoyed outdoors.
Light-filled nights: In much of Sweden it never gets properly dark, so you can enjoy golden-hour light late into the evening, walks by the lake, or a dip in the water under a sky that never quite turns black.
How I can make it memorable:
Choose the right setting: For a classic, storybook feel: traditional countryside regions such as Dalarna, where celebrations are especially picturesque.
For easy access with style: chic hotels or waterside stays in the Stockholm archipelago, combining city and nature.
I can suggest charming lakeside lodges, boutique countryside inns, or stylish island hotels with saunas and jetty access for evening swims.
Blend with soft adventure: Add gentle hiking, cycling or kayaking through forest and lake landscapes, plus time in Stockholm for designer shopping and museums either before or after the festival.Add wellness touches: Private saunas, hot tubs overlooking the water, and slow breakfasts on the terrace help create that relaxed, Nordic sense of balance.
10. La Feria de Abril, Seville, Spain
La Feria de Abril (Seville Spring Fair) is a week‑long celebration of Andalusian culture: flamenco, horses, sherry, colourful lanterns and ornate traditional dress. It is a brilliant option if you want authentic Spanish flair with a touch of glamour.
Where & when:
Seville, southern Spain.
Usually held two weeks after Easter, running for around six days.
What you can experience:
An entire fairground district transformed with rows of striped casetas (tented pavilions), lanterns and arches lit at night.
Sevillanas dancing, live music and elegantly dressed locals in flamenco dresses and tailored suits.
Horse‑drawn carriages and beautifully groomed horses parading through the fairground during the day.
Tapas, Andalusian cuisine and local drinks such as fino sherry and rebujito enjoyed into the early hours.
How I can make it extra special:
Reserve a stylish central hotel or characterful boutique property within easy reach of the fairground but calm enough for a good night’s sleep.
Include access to one or more casetas through trusted partners so clients can experience the fair as locals do, in an intimate, hosted setting.
Add private guided tours of Seville’s highlights, such as the Alcázar, Cathedral and Santa Cruz quarter, timed for cooler parts of the day.
Create a twin‑centre itinerary combining Seville with a luxury stay on the Costa de la Luz, the Costa del Sol, or in a countryside cortijo for relaxation after the festivities.
If any of these appeal then do get in touch so we can start planning and making your trip truly special.
