Indians aren’t waiting for the year-end to pack their bags. Thrillophilia’s newly released Festive Travel Pulse 2025 shows the country’s holiday calendar exploding with momentum, an 18% jump in demand compared to last year. Between Navratri and Diwali, over 4.2 million travellers searched and booked through the platform, revealing a clear pattern: short flights, curated experiences, and a taste for luxury that doesn’t tip into extravagance.
India’s Festive Travel 2025: 18% Surge in Holiday Bookings
Long-haul vacations are on the back burner. Instead, Indians are flocking to Asia-Pacific hubs where flights are shorter and experiences feel just as rewarding. The UAE leads the pack; Dubai alone commands 16% of outbound demand, with Abu Dhabi at another 6–7%. Not far behind are Thailand (15%), Singapore (14%), Vietnam (10%), and Bali (8%).
Even Hong Kong, which had slipped in recent years, has roared back in the festive travel list with 25% YoY growth, powered by Disneyland crowds, Victoria Peak selfies, and a buzzing food scene.
Top Domestic Hotspots: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal, And Kerala
Domestic travel hasn’t lost steam either. Rajasthan’s Jaipur-Udaipur-Jaisalmer triangle (16%) still pulls the largest festive crowds, while Himachal and Uttarakhand’s hill circuits (12%), Goa (10%), and Kerala (9%) keep their loyalists.
An interesting twist: Gujarat is clocking a post-Navratri boom in the festive travel list, with families extending celebrations into Rajasthan road trips or hopping on quick international breaks to the Gulf and Southeast Asia. What’s fuelling this surge isn’t just metros; travellers from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities like Surat, Coimbatore, Indore, Nagpur, Vizag, and Vadodara are driving a 6-8% point rise in festive traffic.
Smart Luxury Takes Over Festive Travel
The big shift this year is what Thrillophilia calls “smart luxury,” which is premium, handpicked travel that feels special but stays within reach. Travellers are swapping budget hotels for boutique stays and branded properties and filling itineraries with experience-first choices: sunset desert safaris in Dubai, evening cruises across Singapore’s bay, ziplining in Vietnam, or city passes that cut queues in half.
The wallets match the intent: ₹25,000-₹45,000 per person on domestic trips, ₹60,000–₹95,000 for short-haul international escapes.
Another change is timing. Indians aren’t booking months ahead anymore; the sweet spot is 9-12 days before departure, a mix of last-minute spontaneity and careful juggling of long weekends.
The biggest spenders fall in the 25-39 and 40-55 age brackets, while older travellers are branching into more niche routes such as Kenya’s lodge safaris and Japan’s autumn tours, which is proof that travel appetite spans generations.
Newest Trends Of Festive Travel
Alongside the usual hotspots, quieter Indian corners are quietly booming. Gandikota (+22%), Pachmarhi (+18%), Hampi–Anegundi (+16%), Binsar (+14%), and the Meghalaya–Ziro belt (+13%) are drawing culture-seekers who want serenity instead of classic festival crowds.
At the other extreme, Africa’s luxury safaris are pulling India’s affluent set; Tanzania (+21%) and Botswana (+17%) are now on the radar, with week-long lodge escapes priced at ₹1.6-2.5 lakh per person. Europe hasn’t disappeared from the festive travel list either; compact shoulder-season circuits across Italy, Austria, and Portugal are popular with those seeking lighter crowds and better value.
Also Read: 8 Best Navratri Thalis In Dubai That Will Satisfy Your Festive Cravings
Thrillophilia predicts Diwali week will smash records, with last-minute bookings pushing the festive travel demand even higher. If the numbers hold, shorter flights, cosy stays, and “smart luxury” escapes won’t just define this festive season; they’ll shape how India travels well into 2026.
Cover Image Courtesy: joshuageo/CanvaPro
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