Travel Calendar
Do you have a window of opportunity to travel at a particular time of year? A&K can help decide where best to go. Whether it be a festival, ballet or opera performance, sporting event or otherwise, A&K's recommendations come from those in the know. Use the A&K Travel Calendar to plan your next journey.
January |
India - Chaam religious dance festival held at Enchey Gompa monastery in Gangtok. A&K's Himalayan Sojourn (7 nights) |
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Vietnam - Tet Festival, week-long celebrations marking the new lunar year. Firecrackers in the streets, mass praying at Buddhist temples. A&K's Highlights of Vietnam (11 nights) |
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Tanzania - The Great Migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be found in the Serengeti's southern plains. A&K's Cradle of Mankind (7 nights) A&K's The Great East Africa Expedition (11 nights) |
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Italy - 6th January celebrate the festival of Befana in Rome's Piazza Navona with its traditional market of gifts and sweets. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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South Africa - The annual summer concert series with live music every Sunday from 5.30pm at Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens. A&K's Best of South Africa (7 nights) |
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Botswana - Witness the circle of life with the calving season. A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
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Ethiopia - Timket, the feast of Epiphany is the greatest Ethiopian festival. Most colourful in Gondar it is celebrated 18-19 January at the Royal Bath ruins. A&K's Ethiopia: The Historic Route (9 nights) |
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United Arab Emirates - Dubai Shopping Festival. Running from late January to late February, this month long annual shopping, entertainment, and cultural extravaganza draws people from around the world each year. A&K's Experience Dubai Extensions (3 nights) |
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United Arab Emirates - Dubai Desert Classic, this is an annual professional golf tournament. This event is noted for attracting some of the biggest stars in the world of golf. A&K's Experience Dubai Extensions (3 nights) |
February |
Bhutan - Losar Tibetan New Year Festival. A&K's Temples in the Sky (8 nights) A&K's Himalayan Explorer (7 nights) |
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Russia - Mercury Snow Polo Cup in Moscow. An international polo event, in -15 degree C weather. A traditional and glamorous occasion on the Russian events calendar. A&K's Jewels of Russia (7 nights) |
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Bhutan - Punakha Dromche Festival. Dancers wearing spectacular costumes made from rich brocades, colourful silks, and fascinating masks dance to traditional music and drums. A&K's Temples in the Sky (8 nights) A&K's Himalayan Explorer (7 nights) |
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Spain - The Jerez Flamenco Festival comes alive at the Villamarta Theatre. Expect to see singers, dancers and guitar players, as well as dance courses, concerts and exhibitions at specified venues around town. Celebrated from late February to mid March. A&K's Spanish Serenade (7 nights) |
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Brazil - Carnival! Brazil's most famous event held 40 days before Easter to mark the beginning of Lent. Particularly impressive in Rio where the city's major samba schools hold elaborate parades in the Sambadrome. Carnival balls and street parades are also a highlight. Bookings must be made well in advance. A&K's Best of Brazil (3 nights - Rio de Janeiro) |
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Easter Island, Chile - Tapati Festival Rapa Nui is a mix of carnival-type activities, sports, theatrical presentations and homage to the island. A&K's Easter Island Extension (4 nights) |
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Tanzania - The Great Migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be found in the Serengeti's southern plains. A&K's Cradle of Mankind (7 nights) A&K's The Great East African Expedition (11 nights) |
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Italy - Carnival Parade in Venice, held 10 days before Lent. Watch the 'volo dell'angelo' or flight of angels as an acrobat decends the bell tower of St. Mark's and glides over the sqaure to the Doge's Palace, finishign with fireworks over the lgaoon on Shrove Tuesday. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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South Africa - The annual summer concert series with live music every Sunday from 5.30pm at Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens. A&K's Best of South Africa (7 nights) |
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Botswana - Witness the circle of life with the calving season. A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
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United Arab Emirates - Dubai Shopping Festival. Running from late January to late February, this month long annual shopping, entertainment, and cultural extravaganza draws people from around the world each year. A&K's Experience Dubai Extensions (3 nights) |
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United Arab Emirates - Skywards Dubai International jazz Festival. Offering quality music and spectacular performances this International Jazz Festival attracts over 25,000 visitors every year. A&K's Experience Dubai Extensions (3 nights) |
March |
India - Elephant Festival Jaipur. Ornately decorated elephants enthral the audience with ceremonial processions, races and polo matches. A&K's Splendours of Rajasthan (13 nights) |
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Japan - Cherry blossom season across the country when the Japanese flock to the parks and temple gardens to see the trees in flower. One of the busiest times to visit Japan so bookings must be made well in advance. A&K's Japan Ancient & Modern (9 nights) |
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Spain - The Jerez Flamenco Festival comes alive at the Villamarta Theatre. Expect to see singers, dancers and guitar players, as well as dance courses, concerts and exhibitions at specified venues around town. Celebrated from late February to mid March. |
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India - Holi. Celebrating the arrival of spring, this ‘Festival of Colours’ is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu Festivals. A&K's Splendours of Rajasthan (13 nights) A&K's Festival of Colours (14 nights) |
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Italy - Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart). Every year on the same day perfectly sane Florentine citizens gather in the Piazza del Duomo to watch a dove-shaped rocket, called the 'Colombina', fly out of the famous Duomo and ignite a huge wooden cart-structure in the square outside. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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Tanzania - The Great Migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be found in the Serengeti's southern plains. A&K's Cradle of Mankind (7 nights) A&K's The Great East African Expedition (11 nights) |
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South Africa - The annual summer concert series with live music every Sunday from 5.30pm at Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens. |
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United Arab Emirates - The running of the world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse Dubai. A&K's Experience Dubai Extensions (3 nights) |
April |
Italy - Venezia Imagine. This huge photography fair attracts dealers, gallery owners, photographers and buyers from around the world. Located in the Giardini di Castello, walking distance from Venice's San Marco square, hundreds of photographs are offered for sale over three days. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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Austria - Schonbrunn Easter Fair. The beautiful Baroque palace and gardens of Schönbrunn Palace welcome this colourful Easter fair, selling a plethora of eggs in all shapes and sizes. The stalls are laden with mini-masterpieces made from chocolate, marzipan, fondant and praline, a colourful eggstravaganza tempting visitors to indulge. Countless other novel Easter specialities include tin toys, religious carvings and wreaths. A&K's Tale of 3 Cities (8 nights) |
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South Africa - Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Brings together 40 jazz and jazz related musical groups under its banner. A&K's Best of South Africa (7 nights) |
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Chile - Join in the harvest (vendimia) at vineyards in Chile’s Central Valley. Tools for the day's work are provided before taking horse-drawn transport to the designated work area (March-May). |
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Turkey - Istanbul Tulip Festival. 18 million bulbs across the city are in full bloom with a variety of events held in public parks. The tulip is the indigenous flower of Turkey and has been embraced by Istanbul as its symbol. A&K's Treasures of Turkey (4 nights - Istanbul) |
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Myanmar - Thingyan Festival. This water festival ushers in the New Year. The young throw water on each other symbolising the washing away of sins. Height of summer, high temperatures, blue skies. A&K's Essence of Myanmar (7 nights) |
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Zambia - Royal Kuomboka Ceramony. Every year towards the end of the rainy season as the flood plain of the upper Zambezi valley rises, the Lozi King makes a ceremonial move to higher ground. This ceremony dates back more than 300 years when the Lozi people broke away from the great Lunda Empire to settle in the upper regions of the Zambezi. A&K's Wings over Zambia (6 nights) |
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Rwanda - Time of Mourning. Every year Rwanda put aside a week of morning to remember and pay respect to those lost in the genocide. During this time there are many events based around the genocide and at the memorial museums. A&K's Gorillas of Rwanda (3 nights) |
May |
Chile - Patagonia and Atacama Desert, avoid the crowds and find the best weather. In Patagonia days are crisp and clear without the winds that normally buffet the area. Atacama also enjoys warm days with cool nights and clear skies for stargazing. A&K's Inside Chile (4 nights - Patagonia) & A&K's Atacama Extension (4 nights) |
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China - Shanghai World Expo opens and continues through until 31 October 2010. A&K's Highlights of China (11 nights) |
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China - Horse festival in Shangri-la, Yunnan. Tibetan people from villages near and far meet up for an exhilarating programme of races and shows of horsemanship, topped of by much singing, dancing and local colour. A&K's Roof of the World (12 nights) |
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Italy - Early May, open-air art show in Via Margutta in Rome's Old Quarter of Campi Marzio. Explore the art galleries and meet with local painters, sulptors and artists. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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Botswana - Spectacular full floods of the Okavango Delta with herds of animals of birds migrating to the waterways, explore them by mokoro (local canoe). A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
June |
Poland - Wianki the floating of magical wreaths on the River Vistula, is a wonderful example of how the inhabitants of Krakow celebrate age-old myths, in a paean to midsummer. A&K's Poland Extension (5 nights) |
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France - Loire Valley Wine Festival. Every summer at the Parc des Mini-Châteaux, the wines of the Loire Valley are laid out for visitors to sample and enjoy. A&K's Simply French (8 nights) |
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France - Fete de la musique. Held on the longest day of the year, during the Fête de la Musique musicians from all over the world perform free concerts in venues across Paris. A&K's Simply French (8 nights) |
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Botswana - Spectacular full floods of the Okavango Delta with herds of animals of birds migrating to the waterways, explore them by mokoro (local canoe). A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
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Rwanda - Kwita Izina is the gorilla naming ceremony, where gorillas that were born the previous year are named. This two day ceremony includes dancing, feasting and the Kinigi/ Ruhengera area comes alive with festivity. A&K's Gorillas of Rwanda (3 nights) |
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Morocco - Attend the great musical event, the Fes Musiques Sacrees du Monde or the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. A&K's Imperial Cities (7 nights) A&K's Morocco in Style (10 nights) |
July |
Peru - Clear skies and warm days make this an excellent time to visit the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu and Cusco. A&K's Classic Peru (12 nights) |
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Kenya - The Great Migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be found on the the plains of the Masai Mara. A&K's Plains of the Masai (7 nights) A&K's The Great East Africa Expedition (11 nights) |
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Easter Island, Chile - Solar Eclipse lasting 4 minutes 39 seconds. A&K's Easter Island Extension (4 nights) |
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Botswana - Spectacular full floods of the Okavango Delta with herds of animals of birds migrating to the waterways, explore them by mokoro (local canoe). A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
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Oman - Salalah - In July and August the city hosts the Khareef festival, which provides weeks of interesting cultural events featuring traditional music, dancing, and costumes, all interspersed with fireworks and merry-making. A&K's Salalah Extension (2 nights) |
August |
India - Phang Lhabsol Mask Dance, statewide. A&K's Himalayan Sojourn (7 nights) |
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Laos - Boat Racing Festival Luang Prabang. Boat races on the Mekong River and a trade fair in Luang Prabang city. During the festival, citizens visit local temples to make offerings to the dead in order to share merit with them. A&K's Jewel of the Mekong (4 nights) |
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Kenya - The Great Migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be found on the the plains of the Masai Mara. A&K's Plains of the Masai (7 nights) A&K's The Great East Africa Expedition (11 nights) |
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Czech Republic - Verdi Festival Prague. The Czech State Opera celebrates the life and works of Verdi with an annual 3 week end-of-summer season devoted solely to the giant of 19th century Italian opera. Not surprisingly it concentrates on three of his most popular works: Rigoletto, Aida and La traviata. A&K's Tale of 3 Cities (8 nights) |
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Italy - 10th August Feast of St. Lawrence, the Patron Saint of the Quarter of San Lorenzo. Celebrated in Florence and throughout Italy as a night of shooting stars and wine tastings. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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Botswana - Spectacular full floods of the Okavango Delta with herds of animals of birds migrating to the waterways, explore them by mokoro (local canoe). A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
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India - Snakeboat Races (Nehru Cup) are held each year on the second Saturday in August in Alleppy. A&K's Backwaters of Kerala (7 nights) |
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Oman - Salalah - In July and August the city hosts the Khareef festival, which provides weeks of interesting cultural events featuring traditional music, dancing, and costumes, all interspersed with fireworks and merry-making. A&K's Salalah Extension (2 nights) |
September |
Myanmar - Inle Lake Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival with boat races on the lake, held to mark the end of the rainy season. Buddha statues housed in the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda during the year travel around the lake for 3 weeks staying in each village for one night to chase away the spirits. A&K's Essence of Myanmar (2 nights - Inle Lake) |
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Spain - Barcelona Book Fair. Held annually every September, the wonderful Barcelona Book Fair takes over the Passeig de Grácia with many stalls selling new, second hand and antique books. A&K's Spanish Serenade (7 nights) |
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Croatia - International Puppet Festival. Adults and children will be equally fascinated as more than 20 European ensembles demonstrate their skills in venues around Zagreb. Suitable for adults and children alike, the festival is a colourful and fascinating demonstration of a perennially popular art form. A&K's Delights of the Adriatic (9 nights) |
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Kenya - The Great Migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be found on the the plains of the Masai Mara. A&K's Plains of the Masai (7 nights) A&K's The Great East Africa Expedition (11 nights) |
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Botswana - Spectacular full floods of the Okavango Delta with herds of animals of birds migrating to the waterways, explore them by mokoro (local canoe). A&K's African Waterways (8 nights) |
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Ethiopia - Enkutatash (New Year). The Ethiopian New year is not only a religious holiday but also a day for celebrations. The best place to witness this festival is in northern Ethiopia. |
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Ethiopia - Meskel (Finding of the True Cross). Meskel commemorates the finding of the True Cross in the forth century when Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Ggreat, discovered the true cross on which Christ ws crucified. Meskel is celebrated by dancing, feasting and lighting a massive bonfire. The best place to witness this festival is Addis Ababa. A&K's Ethiopia: This Historic Route (9 nights) |
October |
Bhutan - Thimpu Drupchen and Thimphu Tshechu, Thimphu. A&K's Temples in the Sky (8 nights) A&K's Himalayan Explorer (7 nights) |
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China - Autumn is in full swing, temperatures throughout the country are reasonable, rain limited and humidity low. Avoid China's national day holiday in the first week of the month. A&K's Highlights of China (11 nights) |
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India - Diwali the 'Festival of Lights' celebrating renewal of life and the start of the winter crop. A&K's Festival of Lights (14 nights) A&K's Splendours of Rajasthan (13 nights) |
November |
Egypt - Travel without the crowds when the weather is starting to cool down. Red Sea beaches and the Mediterranean are pleasant and the conditions perfect for Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan and overland adventures to the desert oasis of Siwa. A&K's Nile in Style (8 nights) & A&K's Land of the Pharaohs (11 nights) Extend both journeys with: A&K's Alexandria & Siwa Extension (4 nights) |
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Cambodia - The perfect time to visit the ruins of Angkor. The weather is ideal with the rains past, humidity is at its lowest, and the waters of Lake Tonle Sap high for excellent boat trips. A&K's Temples of Angkor (4 nights) |
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South Africa - The annual summer concert series with live music every Sunday from 5.30pm at Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens. A&K's Best of South Africa (7 nights) |
December |
Italy - Heidelberg Christmas Market held in Florence's Piazza Santa Croce. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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Italy - 24th December Holy Night Mass at San Marco, Venice 11.30pm. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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Italy - Christmas in the Lagoon. Venice's Santo Stefano Square becomes a Christmas Village during this festive annual event. Over 30 miniature wooden Alpine stalls are set up in the historic, bustling square near the Accademia and the Palazzo Grassi. The goods on sale are carefully selected by Confartigianato Venezia and include typical hand-made Venetian products such as glass, lace, paper, soap and perfumes, toys, cribs, frames and leather objects. A&K's Inside Italy (7 nights) |
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South Africa - The annual summer concert series with live music every Sunday from 5.30pm at Cape Town's Kirstenbosch Botantical Gardens. A&K's Best of South Africa (7 nights) |
