Diwali Holiday Destinations in India and Abroad
Where to spend the Diwali break – with the festival itself or far from the crackers – with flight times from Ahmedabad, honest budgets and the booking dates that decide what you pay.
For most Gujarati families the Diwali vacation is the one long holiday of the year that everyone can take together: schools close for about three weeks, offices and family businesses slow down after Dhanteras, and relatives who live abroad often fly home. That is also why picking Diwali holiday destinations is harder than it looks. Every family in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot is choosing at the same time, so airfares and hotel rates move week by week, and a place that is perfect in mid-November can be crowded or wet in the last week of October.
This guide is written to stay useful for two Diwalis. In 2026 Lakshmi Puja falls on Sunday 8 November and the Gujarat school break runs from 5 to 25 November. In 2027 Diwali comes almost ten days earlier, on Friday 29 October, which changes the weather in several destinations. Below you will find a comparison table with flight times from Ahmedabad and budget bands, the places where Diwali itself is the attraction, quieter picks for families who want to escape the noise, the Diwali-week price surge explained, a booking timeline, and how pure-veg and Jain meals work in each place. Festival and school dates are as of November 2026; we re-check them before every booking.
Updated November 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
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Diwali dates for 2026 and 2027, and what they mean for travel
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Dhanteras | Friday 6 November | Wednesday 27 October |
| Kali Chaudas / Narak Chaturdashi | Saturday 7 November | Thursday 28 October |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | Sunday 8 November | Friday 29 October |
| Gap day (dhoko) in most Gujarati calendars | Monday 9 November | Not expected |
| Govardhan Puja / Gujarati New Year (Bestu Varas) | Tuesday 10 November | About Saturday 30 October |
| Bhai Dooj | Wednesday 11 November | About Sunday 31 October |
| Labh Pancham | Saturday 14 November | About Wednesday 3 November |
| Dev Deepawali (Kartik Purnima) | Tuesday 24 November | About two weeks after Diwali; confirm in the 2027 panchang |
The practical reading: almost no Gujarati family flies on Diwali night or New Year's morning – puja, Chopda Pujan and New Year visits come first. So demand peaks twice: the two or three days before Dhanteras (families leaving early) and the Bhai Dooj to Labh Pancham stretch (families leaving after the festival). Labh Pancham, when many businesses reopen, falls on 14 November in 2026. The quieter, cheaper part of the break is the last ten days, roughly 15 to 25 November 2026. Some printed holiday lists show Govardhan Puja on 9 November 2026; the sunrise-based panchang used in Gujarat puts the New Year on 10 November, so check your family calendar. The 2027 dates after Diwali are provisional until the new panchang is out.
Diwali 2027 is early. With Lakshmi Puja on 29 October, the 2027 school break will probably start in the third week of October – the state circular usually comes out only a few weeks before, so treat any date before then as an estimate. Late October is still the tail of the monsoon in Phuket, Krabi and Sri Lanka's west coast, and Kashmir and Himachal are crisp rather than snowy. Dubai, Rajasthan, Goa and Singapore are less affected by the shift.
Diwali holiday destinations compared: flight time, budget and who each suits
Budgets are per person on twin sharing for a 4 to 6 night private trip including return economy flights from Ahmedabad (or a private car for drive-to places), hotels with breakfast, transfers and main sightseeing, at Diwali-period rates booked six to ten weeks ahead. Book later and expect the upper end or above.
| Destination | From Ahmedabad | Budget band (pp) | Best for | Diwali verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Udaipur and Mount Abu | 4½–5 h by car | ₹18,000 – 40,000 | Last-minute families, seniors | Lit lakes and palaces without a flight; book hotels early |
| Varanasi and Ayodhya | About 2 h non-stop | ₹28,000 – 55,000 | Parents, spiritual trips | Diwali and Dev Deepawali in one break; very crowded |
| Jaipur and Rajasthan circuit | About 1¼ h flight, or by road | ₹25,000 – 60,000 | Families, first-timers to Rajasthan | Best-dressed bazaars in India at Diwali |
| Goa | About 1½ h non-stop | ₹25,000 – 55,000 | Couples, friends, young families | Season opens; Narakasura night is a local spectacle |
| Kerala | 2½–3 h non-stop to Kochi | ₹30,000 – 60,000 | Families, honeymoon | Green and quiet; expect evening showers |
| Andaman Islands | 6–9 h, one stop | ₹45,000 – 85,000 | Families with older children | Seas calm by mid-November; ferries sell out |
| Kashmir | About 2¼ h non-stop | ₹35,000 – 65,000 | Seniors, couples | Chinar colours in early November; cold nights |
| Rann of Kutch (Rann Utsav) | About 400 km by car | ₹20,000 – 45,000 | Families wanting Gujarat | Tent city opens 1 November 2026 |
| Dubai | About 3 h non-stop | ₹65,000 – 1,10,000 | Shoppers, mixed-age families | Weather turns pleasant; Indian festive feel |
| Singapore | About 5¾ h non-stop | ₹85,000 – 1,40,000 | Families with children | Little India light-up plus Sentosa |
| Thailand | About 4–4½ h to Bangkok | ₹50,000 – 90,000 | Families, friends, first trip abroad | Visa-free 30 days; Pattaya is easiest |
| Mauritius | One stop, about 9–11 h | ₹1,00,000 – 1,60,000 | Honeymoon, families | Divali is a national holiday there |
| Sri Lanka | About 3 h non-stop (few days a week) | ₹60,000 – 95,000 | Parents, Ramayana trail | East coast drying out; west coast showery |
| Vietnam | 4–4½ h direct to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City | ₹65,000 – 1,00,000 | Couples, friends | North is excellent in November; centre is wet |
Flight times are approximate and schedules change by season; we confirm the operating flights for your exact dates before quoting.
Where Diwali itself is the reason to go (India)
Some families want to be somewhere the festival is bigger than at home. These are the places where that is genuinely true, with the catch for each.
- Ayodhya – Deepotsav. The 2026 edition runs from 5 to 7 November, with about 33 lakh diyas planned along Ram ki Paidi and the Saryu riverfront. It is moving to see, but roads near the ghats close, security is tight and hotels sell out months ahead. Our advice is to watch the lighting from a booked vantage point or a hotel terrace and do Ram Mandir darshan on a different day. See our Varanasi and Ayodhya trip from Ahmedabad for darshan rules and pacing.
- Varanasi – Diwali, then Dev Deepawali. The ghats glow on Diwali night, but the bigger event is Dev Deepawali on Kartik Purnima, 24 November 2026, when every ghat is lined with lamps. Because it falls inside the Gujarat school break, a family can travel after Labh Pancham and still catch it – the boat for the evening aarti must be booked well ahead.
- Jaipur. Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar and MI Road are lit end to end, and the old city's markets hold competitions for the best-decorated street. It is a shopping-and-lights trip rather than a sightseeing one; combine it with Amer, Pushkar or Ranthambore for the days after the festival.
- Amritsar – Bandi Chhor Divas. The Golden Temple is illuminated and fireworks light the sarovar on Diwali night. It is one of the most beautiful Diwali scenes in India and extremely crowded; go in the early evening and keep children close.
- Goa – Narakasura. On the night before Diwali, villages and towns build giant Narakasura effigies and burn them before dawn on Narak Chaturdashi. Panaji and Margao have the largest ones. It is a local tradition rather than a tourist show, so stay up late with a local driver who knows where to stand.
- Udaipur. City Palace, the ghats of Lake Pichola and the old-city havelis are lit, and it is only a drive from Ahmedabad. For last-minute travellers this is the closest "Diwali somewhere special" option.
Diwali abroad: where the festival travels with you
- Singapore. Deepavali is a public holiday (in 2026 it is observed on Monday 9 November, because Diwali falls on a Sunday). Serangoon Road in Little India carries a 2 km street light-up from early October, and a festival village of stalls at Campbell Lane runs until Deepavali itself. Indian vegetarian food is everywhere in Little India. Singapore needs a visa for Indians, filed through an authorised agent; read our Singapore visa guide and allow at least two to three weeks.
- Mauritius. About half the population is of Indian origin and Divali is a national public holiday, with clay lamps on houses, sweets shared with neighbours and fireworks in the villages. The island's spring weather in late October and November is warm and mostly dry, and Indians need no visa in advance. See Mauritius tour packages.
- Dubai. The Indian community celebrates around the Meena Bazaar area of Bur Dubai, and malls run Diwali promotions. The real draw at Diwali is the weather turning from summer heat to pleasant evenings, plus non-stop flights of about three hours. The UAE tourist e-visa is applied for in advance; our Dubai visa page has the documents.
- Malaysia. Deepavali is a public holiday in most states, and Kuala Lumpur's Brickfields (Little India) is decorated for weeks. Malaysia is visa-free for Indians under a scheme currently valid until 31 December 2026, so check the position again for a 2027 trip.
- Thailand. Thailand does not celebrate Diwali, but Bangkok's Pahurat area has Indian temples and shops, and Loy Krathong – floating lamps on rivers and lakes – usually falls on the November full moon, the same night as Dev Deepawali. Indians enter visa-free for up to 30 days; see Thailand visa for Indians.
If the aim is simply a calm holiday away from crackers, the Maldives, Vietnam's north, Sri Lanka's east coast and Kashmir are the quietest options on the list.
Weather check: late October versus mid-November
Because Diwali moves by up to three weeks from year to year, the same destination can be a good or a poor pick. This is how the main options behave in each window.
| Destination | Late October (Diwali 2027) | Mid-November (Diwali 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi | End of the monsoon; some boat days cancelled | Seas usually settled; good |
| Bangkok, Pattaya | Showers easing, hot | Dry and comfortable |
| Dubai | Warm, 33–36°C by day | Pleasant, 28–32°C |
| Singapore, Kuala Lumpur | Afternoon thunderstorms | Wetter; most attractions covered |
| Bali | Last dry weeks | Wet season starting |
| Maldives | Changeable, good value | Improving, still below December rates |
| Mauritius | Warm, dry spring | Warm, mostly dry |
| Sri Lanka | Inter-monsoon rain on the west and south | North-east monsoon reaching the east |
| Kashmir | Golden chinars, cool | Cold nights, possible early snow at Gulmarg |
| Goa | Shacks still opening | Season in full swing |
| Kerala | North-east monsoon showers | Showers fading |
| Andaman | Patchy rain, rough crossings possible | Calmer seas |
| Rajasthan, Kutch | Warm days | Ideal |
The Diwali-week price surge, and how to dodge it
Fares from Ahmedabad to Goa, Dubai, Bangkok, Srinagar and Kochi on the two or three days before Dhanteras commonly run 40 to 80% above the same seat a fortnight later, and hotels in Udaipur, Goa, Jaipur and Kashmir often set two- or three-night minimum stays and festive gala-dinner supplements. In our experience the pattern repeats every year:
- Most expensive: outbound flights in the three days before Dhanteras, and return flights on the last Saturday and Sunday before schools reopen.
- Expensive: Bhai Dooj to Labh Pancham departures, when families who stayed home for puja leave together.
- Noticeably cheaper: departures from Labh Pancham onwards, returning midweek. For 2026 that means roughly 14 to 25 November.
Ways our clients cut the bill without cutting the holiday:
- Leave on Diwali night or Bestu Varas afternoon if the family puja is done early – seats on those flights are often the cheapest in the whole fortnight.
- Return on a Tuesday or Wednesday, not on the final weekend.
- Fly from Mumbai for international trips when the Ahmedabad fare is out of line; the saving can pay for the connecting ticket.
- Pick destinations whose own season has not started. The Maldives, Mauritius and Sri Lanka are still in shoulder rates in early November, while Goa and Rajasthan are at full Indian festive prices.
- Drive. Udaipur, Mount Abu, Saputara, Diu, Dwarka–Somnath and the Statue of Unity need no flight at all, which removes the most volatile line of the budget.
How Gujarati families usually plan the Diwali vacation
Twenty-one days is long enough for one big trip and a family visit, and most of the families we plan for split the break that way. The pattern we see most often:
- Puja at home, then travel. Dhanteras, Kali Chaudas, Lakshmi Puja and the New Year darshan at home or the family temple, then departure on Bhai Dooj or a day or two later.
- Extended families together. Two or three related households – often 10 to 20 people with grandparents – travel as a private group on their own dates, with a Tempo Traveller or two cars, hotels with interconnected rooms and one person on our side handling everyone's documents. There is no fixed itinerary or shared coach with strangers.
- Seniors' pace. For parents above 70 we keep one major outing a day, prefer non-stop flights and hotels with lifts, and avoid festival crowds on the main night. Varanasi on Dev Deepawali, for example, is far easier from a boat than on the ghat steps.
- Business families. Shops and offices reopen on Labh Pancham, so trips for those families are usually five or six nights either before Dhanteras or straight after Labh Pancham, rarely across both.
Booking timeline for a Diwali trip
| When | What to lock |
|---|---|
| 5–6 months ahead (May–June for an early-November Diwali) | Flights for the peak days; Andaman ferries and Havelock resorts; Ayodhya and Varanasi hotels near the ghats; large family groups needing many rooms |
| 3–4 months ahead | International trips that need a visa filed in advance (Singapore, Dubai, Vietnam e-visa), Mauritius and Maldives resorts, Kashmir houseboats |
| 6–8 weeks ahead | Visa-free trips such as Thailand, Sri Lanka (free ETA) and Nepal; Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan for post-Labh Pancham dates |
| Under 3 weeks | Drive-to trips from Ahmedabad; city hotels in Dubai or Bangkok outside the peak days; whatever flights remain at sensible fares |
For Diwali 2027 (29 October), add about ten days to every deadline in the opposite direction – everything has to be locked earlier. Visa rules quoted on this page are as of November 2026; rules change – we check before you book. Where a visa is needed, we prepare and submit the application; approval is at the embassy's or authority's discretion.
Pure-veg and Jain food over Diwali, place by place
Diwali is a time of fasts and festive cooking, and many Jain families mark it as the day of Bhagwan Mahavir's nirvana, so food matters even more than usual on a Diwali trip. Here is what to expect.
- Easiest: Udaipur, Mount Abu, Jaipur, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Kutch – Gujarati and Marwari thalis, Jain bhojanalayas and hotels used to no-onion, no-garlic cooking.
- Easy with notice: Goa, Kerala, Kashmir, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Pattaya – plenty of Indian vegetarian restaurants; Jain meals need a day's notice to the hotel or restaurant.
- Needs planning: Andaman's Havelock and Neil islands, Phuket outside Patong, Krabi, Vietnam outside the big cities, and single-resort islands in the Maldives, where you cannot walk to another kitchen. We send the Jain request in writing with the booking and get it confirmed.
- Festival meals: hotels in Indian destinations often serve a Diwali buffet; ask us to confirm it is vegetarian or has a separate veg counter. Families who keep an early dinner (chauvihar) should tell us, so hotels can serve before sunset.
- Carry a little from home: mathiya, chorafali, theplas and khakhra travel well and are welcome comfort on day four of any trip.
Still planning for this Diwali? Last-minute options from Ahmedabad
If you are reading this in the first week of November 2026, the peak-day flights are mostly gone or expensive, but the second half of the school break is still open. Realistic choices now:
- By road: a 3–4 night loop to Udaipur and Mount Abu, the Rann Utsav tent city at Dhordo, Saputara, or Statue of Unity with Pavagadh. See Udaipur and Mount Abu from Ahmedabad, Rann Utsav packages and weekend getaways from Ahmedabad.
- Short flights after Labh Pancham: Goa, Kochi for Kerala, and Varanasi in time for Dev Deepawali on 24 November.
- Visa-free abroad: Thailand needs only the free online arrival card, so a Bangkok–Pattaya trip can still be put together in a few days. Compare what it costs on our Thailand packages page.
Why plan your Diwali holiday with Vibrant Holidays
- 11 years of Diwali seasons from Ahmedabad: we know which flights fill first, which hotels add festive supplements and which weeks are quieter, and we tell you plainly.
- Private, customised trips only: your dates around your puja, your own car and driver, extended families travelling together as a private group.
- Veg and Jain meals confirmed in writing on hotel vouchers, with an honest note where choices are thin.
- Every line priced: flights, hotels by name, transfers, visa and festive supplements shown separately.
- C G Road office, Monday to Saturday, plus WhatsApp and phone from anywhere and 24×7 support on tour. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Also useful: family holiday destinations in India, international trips under ₹1 lakh and visa-free countries for Indians.
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Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Diwali Holiday Destinations: FAQs
When is Diwali in 2026 and 2027?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday 8 November 2026, with Dhanteras on 6 November, the Gujarati New Year on 10 November and Bhai Dooj on 11 November. In 2027 it comes earlier, on Friday 29 October, with Dhanteras on 27 October. Dev Deepawali in Varanasi is on 24 November 2026.
When is the Diwali vacation in Gujarat schools in 2026?
As of November 2026, Gujarat schools have a 21-day Diwali vacation from 5 to 25 November 2026, and the second term starts on 26 November. Private and CBSE schools may differ by a few days, so check your own school's circular before booking any non-refundable flights.
Which is the best place to visit during Diwali in India?
For the festival itself, Ayodhya's Deepotsav, Varanasi and Jaipur's lit bazaars are the most memorable. For a holiday away from crowds, Kerala, Kashmir, Goa after Labh Pancham and the Rann of Kutch work well. From Ahmedabad, Udaipur and Mount Abu are the easiest because you can drive.
Which international destination is best for Diwali from India?
Dubai for a short trip with pleasant weather and a three-hour flight, Thailand for value and visa-free entry, Singapore for families who want Little India's Deepavali lights and Sentosa, and Mauritius for a festive island where Divali is a national holiday. The Maldives suits couples wanting quiet.
Why are flights so expensive during Diwali?
Millions of families travel in the same few days, many to visit relatives, and airlines price the seats on those dates accordingly. Fares on the days before Dhanteras and on the last weekend of the school break are usually the highest. Flying from Labh Pancham onwards and returning midweek is typically much cheaper.
How early should I book a Diwali holiday?
Five to six months ahead for peak-day flights, Andaman, Ayodhya and large family groups; three to four months for trips needing a visa or a Maldives or Mauritius resort; six to eight weeks for visa-free trips after the festival. For the early Diwali in 2027, start planning by May 2027.
Is Thailand good to visit during Diwali?
Yes, especially Bangkok and Pattaya, which are dry by November. Phuket and Krabi are usually fine for a mid-November Diwali like 2026, but late October in 2027 is the end of their monsoon, so keep island boat days flexible. Indians currently get 30 days visa-free with the online arrival card.
Where can we see the best Diwali celebrations in India?
Ayodhya's Deepotsav on the Saryu ghats, Varanasi on Diwali and again on Dev Deepawali, the Golden Temple in Amritsar for Bandi Chhor Divas, Jaipur's decorated markets, Goa's Narakasura effigies before dawn, and Kolkata's Kali Puja. All are very crowded on the main nights, so plan vantage points.
Is Jain food available on a Diwali holiday?
Yes in most places with notice. Rajasthan, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Kutch are easiest. Goa, Kerala, Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok have Indian vegetarian restaurants that cook Jain meals if told a day ahead. Island resorts and smaller towns need the request in writing before arrival, which we arrange.
Can a large family travel together over Diwali?
Yes. Extended families of 10 to 20 people travel as a private group on their own dates, with a Tempo Traveller or several cars, interconnected rooms where possible and one planner handling documents. For Diwali this needs booking earlier than for a couple, because many rooms on the same dates are harder to find.
What are good Diwali trips from Ahmedabad by road?
Udaipur and Mount Abu (4 to 5 hours), Saputara, Diu, Dwarka and Somnath, the Statue of Unity with Pavagadh, and the Rann Utsav tent city at Dhordo in Kutch, which opens on 1 November 2026. Road trips avoid the Diwali airfare surge and suit grandparents who dislike flying.
