Long Weekends in 2018: A Road Trip Holiday Calendar

It’s that time of the year again; when you start planning road trips for the next year! There are over 15 Long Weekends in 2018 (we counted 16 so far). Road trips usually need a few extra days, so this comes as a boon! Now you have 16 long weekend holidays in 2018 to plan the perfect road trip!

The calendar for long weekend holidays in 2018 is also downloadable. Click here to download

Long weekend holidays in 2018

Long weekends in 2018 – January

Can you believe it? The new year starts on a weekend. Yes! Just keep your boss happy a few weeks in advance and take a leave shamelessly on 1st January for one of your awaited long weekend holidays of 2018!

The first month of the year comes with lots of new year resolutions and long weekends you can start planning for immediately! It’s cold in most of North and Central India, so you might want to make the best of the winters  and visit popular hill stations, seek out places where you can see snow or go to places which are usually hot like Madhya Pradesh. Its always a pleasure to drive in cool weather and there are many places to see in India that it will make your long weekend vacations of 2018 seem just right!

 For a New Year Road Trip

December 30th, 2017
December 31st 2017
Jan 1st, 2018 – Please take a leave! 

January 20, Saturday: Weekend
January 21, Sunday: Weekend
January 22, Monday: Basant Panchami (Restricted Holiday)
January 26, Friday: Republic Day (Compulsory Holiday)
January 27, Saturday: Weekend
January 28, Sunday: Weekend

Places you can go to during the long weekends in 2018 January include

  1. Goa
  2. Darjeeling, West Bengal
  3. Shillong, Meghalaya
  4. Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir
  5. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
  6. Chadar Trek, Ladakh
  7. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
  8. Daman and Diu
  9. Kabini, Karnataka
  10. Chilka Lake, Orissa

Long weekends in 2018 – February

The second month of the year is sees a gradual decrease in the cold but it is still cool enough to plan road trips over the long weekends! This is also the month of the popular Sula Fest in Nashik, Maharashtra so you might want to plan in advance and get your tickets too.

 

February 10, Saturday: Weekend
February 11, Sunday: Weekend
February 12, Monday: Take a leave
February 13, Tuesday: Mahashivratri (Restricted Holiday)
February 16, Friday: Losar (Sikkim, Ladakh and Dharamshala only)
February 17, Saturday: Weekend
February 18, Sunday: Weekend

Places you can go to during the long weekends in 2018 February include

  1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
  2. Sula Fest, Maharashtra
  3. Agartala, Tripura
  4. Jaisalmer, Udaipur and other places in Rajasthan.
  5. Bir, Himachal Pradesh for the World Paragliding Championship
  6. The beaches of the west coast of India
  7. Konark, Orissa
  8. Thekkady, Kerala
  9. Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
  10. Coorg, Karnataka

Long weekends in 2018 – March

With two sets spread across the month, one in the beginning and one towards the end this promises to be a cracker. Imagine two long weekends of 2018 in the same month. The first long weekend also coincides with a popular biker festival called the Gaddha Mania which is hosted by clubs in Lonar, Maharashtra.

March 1, Thursday: Holika Dahan (Restricted Holiday)
March 2, Friday: Holi (Gazetted Holiday)
March 3, Saturday: Weekend
March 4, Sunday: Weekend
March 29, Thursday: Mahashivratri (Gazetted Holiday)
March 30, Friday: Good Friday (Compulsory Holiday)
March 31, Saturday: Weekend
April 1, Sunday: Weekend

Places you can go to during the long weekends in 2018 March include

  1. Lonar, Maharashtra
  2. Ranthambore, Rajasthan
  3. Hampi, Karnataka
  4. Sikkim
  5. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
  6. Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh
  7. Wayanad, Kerala
  8. Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu
  9. Udaipur, Rajasthan
  10. Shantiniketan, West Bengal

Long weekends in 2018 – April

Summers are here and we’re headed to the hills! You will notice that all the recommendations are hill stations in India, mostly also because the hills have eyes 🙂 Happy mountain hunting!

April 27, Friday: Take leave
April 28, Saturday: Weekend
April 29, Sunday: Weekend
April 30, Monday: Buddha Purnima (Compulsory Holiday)

Places you can go to during the long weekends in 2018 April include

  1. Hill stations in Himachal Pradesh like Manali, Dalhousie, Kasauli, Dharamshala etc.
  2. Hill stations in Uttarakhand like Auli, Mussoorie, Nainital, Bhimtal etc.
  3. Gangtok, Sikkim
  4. Masinagudi, Tamil Nadu
  5. Ooty, Tamil Nadu
  6. Coorg, Karnataka
  7. Srinagar, Kashmir
  8. Panchmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
  9. Darjeeling, West Bengal
  10. Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Long weekends in 2018 – May

Sorry folks! No long weekends here. This is the month to redeem your leaves and live your dream of the must-do-atleast-once-in-your-lifetime Ladakh Road Trip. So forget about the long weekends in 2018, just hit the road and head to the mountains. After all, the mountains are calling!!

May 1, Tuesday: Maharashtra Day (Maharashtra only)

Long weekend holidays in 2018 May

  1. Hit the home run and head to Ladakh!

Long weekends in 2018 – June

Our favorite month of the year because we would be headed to the mountains of Spiti, much before the tourists wake up to smell the mountains! It’s also a great time to visit the Ghats along river Ganga for the local festivals or the festival at Lamayuru Monastery. Check our post on the festivals in June.

June 15, Friday: Idul’ Fitr (Compulsory Holiday)
June 16, Saturday: Weekend
June 17, Sunday: Weekend

Long weekend holidays in 2018 June

  1. The Spiti Circuit, Himachal
  2. Hill Stations of Uttaranchal / Uttarakhand and Himachal
  3. Kudremukh, Karnataka
  4. Madhumalai National Park, Tamil Nadu
  5. Lamayuru Monastery in Ladakh
  6. Hemkunth Sahib
  7. Sikkim
  8. McLeodganj
  9. Puri, Odisha
  10. Orchha & Panna, Madhya Pradesh

Long weekends in 2018 – July

Sorry, folks. We need to wait for the next year! But if watching a month calendar makes you happy, here you go!

P.S. You could still do day trips and quick getaways on weekends, or prepare for the amazing trips you will go on in August.

Long weekends in 2018 – August

With a dud July, we know you are rearing to go for August. Worry not, this month promises to be one of the most unproductive in corporate history but the most fulfilling for travelers. You could attempt a little coup and pretty much be traveling the whole month. We already did the Ladakh road trip and the road trip on the Spiti circuit in May-June. So we are all set to explore some new places. Hope you are planning it too!

August 15, Wednesday: Independence Day (Compulsory Holiday)
August 16, Thursday: Take leave
August 17, Friday: Parsi New Year (Gujarat and Mumbai only)
August 22, Wednesday: Idul’ Zuha (Compulsory Holiday)
August 23, Thursday: Take the day off.
August 24, Friday: First day of Onam (Kerala only)
August 25, Saturday: Weekend
August 26, Sunday: Weekend/ Raksha Bandhan

Long weekend holidays in 2018 August

  1. Munnar, Kerala
  2. Cherapunji, Meghalaya
  3. The Maharashtrian Country Side
  4. Pondicherry,
  5. Mahabaleshwar/Panchgani or Tapola, Maharashtra (All three are in the same vicinity)
  6. Valley of Flowers, Uttarakhand
  7. Khajurao group of temples, Madhya Pradesh
  8. Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
  9. Goa (Avoid all the tourists and enjoy a rain soaked beach state!)
  10. Kumarakom, Kerela

Long weekends in 2018 – September

Blooming flowers and lush green sceneries everywhere, specially up north and in the west. It’s time to head out on the best monsoon drives. But before you take the car out on the highway, please ensure you are fully prepared with the vehicle check list.

September 1, Saturday: Weekend
September 2, Sunday: Weekend
September 3, Monday: Janamashtami (Restricted Holiday)
September 13, Thursday: Ganesh Chaturthi (Gazetted Holiday)
September 14, Friday: Take the day off.
September 15, Saturday: Weekend
September 16, Sunday: Weekend
September 29, Saturday: Weekend
September 30, Sunday: Weekend
October 1, Monday: Take the day off.
October 2, Tuesday: Gandhi Jayanti (Compulsory Holiday)

Long weekend holidays in 2018 September

  1. Kaas Plateau, Maharashtra
  2. Amritsar, Punjab
  3. Kochi, Kerala
  4. Thirthahalli, Karnataka
  5. Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir
  6. Bhedaghat, Madhya Pradesh
  7. Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh (For the Ziro Music Festival)
  8. Dooars, West Bengal
  9. Bhimtal, Uttarakhand

Long weekend holidays in 2018 – October

It’s that time of the year again. You can smell it in the air that the festive season is here. Do something different this year and spend time with your loved ones on a family road trip. Explore India on the two long weekends in October. After all, a family that road trips together, stays together. 🙂

October 1, Monday: Take the day off.
October 2, Tuesday: Gandhi Jayanti (Compulsory Holiday)
October 18, Thursday: Ram Navami (Gazetted Holiday)
October 19, Friday: Dussera (Compulsory Holiday)
October 20, Saturday: Weekend
October 21, Sunday: Weekend

Long weekend holidays in 2018 October

  1. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
  2. Jodhpur, Rajasthan
  3. Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
  4. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh
  5. Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
  6. Hampi, Karnataka
  7. Mysore, Karnataka
  8. Rajgir, Bihar
  9. Manas National Park, Assam
  10. Kolkata, West Bengal

Long weekends in 2018 – November

Keeps getting better doesn’t it? We’d suggest you plan for the Rann of Kutch in this month. You would get better deals and will be able to avoid all the crowds. Save money and save yourselves a headache.

November 3, Saturday: Weekend
November 4, Sunday: Weekend
November 5, Monday: Dhanteras/ Take the day off.
November 6, Tuesday: Take the day off.
November 7, Wednesday: Diwali (Compulsory Holiday)
November 8, Thursday: Gowardhan Puja/ Take the day off.
November 9, Friday: Bhai Duj (Restricted Holiday)
November 10, Saturday: Weekend
November 11, Sunday: Weekend

Long weekends in 2018 November

  1. Rann of Kutch, Gujarat (Avoid the major tourist crowd, and better rates)
  2. The Western Rajasthan Belt
  3. Tarkarli, Maharashtra
  4. Bodh Gaya, Bihar
  5. Shantiniketan, West Bengal
  6. Sanasar, Jammu and Kashmir
  7. Sundarbans, West Bengal
  8. Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
  9. Pushkar, Rajasthan
  10. Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
  11. Kohima, Nagaland
  12. Gir, Gujarat

Long weekends in 2018 – December

The month could definitely do with more long weekends, but Christmas to the rescue. Head to places which are usually hot during rest of the year and ring in 2019 in style!

December 22, Saturday: Weekend
December 23, Sunday: Weekend
December 24, Monday: Take the day off.
December 25, Tuesday: Christmas Day (Compulsory Holiday)

Recommended Long weekend holidays in 2018 December

  1. Konark, Odisha
  2. Rajasthan
  3. Murudeshwar, Karnataka
  4. Thrissur, Kerala
  5. Coastal Karnataka
  6. Goa (Anytime of the year will do!)
  7. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
  8. Kutch, Gujarat
  9. North East

So these are the list of Long Weekends in 2018. There is a lot you can do long weekends in India, and if you are looking for ideas, head to our handy guide.  Long weekends in 2018 will also offer a time for you to road trip with kids, or pets. We say its always a good time to plan a road trip, so might as well start now!  Don’t forget to tag us on your instagram pictures to get featured on our wall!

Think our calendar of long weekends in 2018 was useful? You can download it too! 

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