Festivals & events

Festivals and events that shape a trip — celebrations, closures, peak prices and when to book ahead.

All Burma Burma Cambodia Cambodia Indonesia Indonesia Laos Laos Malaysia Malaysia Nepal Nepal Philippines Philippines Singapore Singapore Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Thailand Thailand Vietnam Vietnam
Nepal

Nepal

Holi

Celebration
Mar · approximate dates

The festival of colours, joyously messy in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Lunar date, usually March.

Full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna: in March, sometimes late February.

Bisket Jatra

Celebration
Apr

Bhaktapur's new-year chariot festival with a giant tug-of-war. Around mid-April.

Dashain

Closures
Sep–Oct · approximate dates

Nepal's longest festival (~15 days). Shops, offices and services close and transport is packed. Lunar dates, Sep–Oct.

Fifteen days of the Nepali month of Ashwin: from the day after the new moon to the full moon (September–October).

Indra Jatra

Celebration
Sep · approximate dates

Kathmandu's great street festival with masked dances and the Kumari chariot. Lunar date, usually September.

Eight days starting on the 12th day of the waxing moon of the Nepali month of Bhadra (September).

Tihar (Deepawali)

Celebration
Oct–Nov · approximate dates

Five-day festival of lights honouring animals and siblings. Lunar dates, usually October–November.

Five days around the new moon of the Nepali month of Kartik (October–November).