Family travel, spiritual journeys and festive getaways take centre stage: Diwali travel trends report
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Travellers are choosing destinations like Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Andamans as well as spiritual circuits like Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar, Ayodhya-Prayagraj and Varanasi.
Diwali 2025 marks a vibrant shift in the way Indians celebrate — moving beyond traditional home gatherings to immersive travel experiences that reflect celebration, discovery, and togetherness. Thomas Cook (India) Limited, and its group company, SOTC Travel, have witnessed a growing trend in consumer preferences, with families — including multigenerational groups, group of friends, couples — increasingly choosing to make travel an integral part of their Diwali celebrations.
Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “There is a growing trend where families, including multi-generations, are choosing to celebrate special occasions and festivals like Diwali – for bonding time and celebrations, while exploring favourite/new destinations. What’s particularly interesting is the increase in average spends, with travellers opting for longer stays—moving from traditional 3-day breaks to 6–12 day holidays. Multigenerational families are maximising school vacations for Diwali, while millennials and working professionals are combining weekends with festive holidays for extended getaways. Top international favourites include Europe’s Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Spain and Portugal. Australia and New Zealand remain popular for their outdoor experiences and wildlife encounters, while Japan and South Korea appeal to younger travellers with their blend of tradition and pop culture. Short-haul favourites include Vietnam, Oman, Maldives, Bali and Cambodia emerging strongly. Visa-free and easy visa destinations like Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Indonesia and the Philippines continue to drive demand.
On the domestic front, travellers are choosing destinations like Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Andamans as well as spiritual circuits like Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar, Ayodhya-Prayagraj and Varanasi. Based on the growing appetite from young India’s millennials for outdoor adventure, we have created unique ‘Pilgrimage Plus’ portfolio that blends darshans with adventure— river rafting in Rishikesh, trekking in Uttarakhand, paragliding in Bir and ziplining over the Ganges.
Given the rising popularity of festival travel, there’s understandably an expected increase in rates. As a result, we have observed a trend where travellers are securing airfares by booking well in advance. At Thomas Cook, we’ve curated festive portfolios that blend tradition with exploration including our regional group tours with on-tour pujas and curated vegetarian meals. With travellers seeking meaningful and memorable experiences, our focus remains on crafting journeys that celebrate the spirit of the season.”
S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel, shared, “Traditionally, Indian festivals have been centred around home rituals and family gatherings. However, we are witnessing a strong shift—families are increasingly celebrating by travelling, blending tradition with exploration, relaxation and quality time. We have designed our Diwali festive packages curated specially for families and multi-generational groups. We are seeing interest not only from India’s metros but also from regional India’s tier 2 and 3 markets, reflecting a strong, nationwide aspiration to travel.
A growing trend among young migrant professionals is extending their weekend, travelling back home to spend quality time with family and celebrate the festive season together for a 5–6 day break. Cruises are also gaining popularity and to elevate this experience, we’ve partnered with Disney Cruise Line for exclusive sailings from Australia–New Zealand, bringing the magic of Disney closer to home; also domestic sailings like Cordelia’s festive sailings are seeing strong interest from Young India’s millennials and Gen Z, couples and working professionals looking for a quick break.
Spiritual Tourism is a strong trend this festive season and we are witnessing interest in spiritual circuits like Char Dham, Kashi, Ayodhya, Rameswaram, Tirupati, Amritsar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Dwarka and Sri Lanka, with special themed tours such as ‘Ramayan Anant Yatra’ and ‘Ramayan Trails’—offering a deeper connection with faith and culture during the festive season.
What is noteworthy is that Indians being value-seekers are smart planners — most having booked their holidays well in advance, recognising surge festive fares and the risk of last-minute disappointment; also coupled with BOGO offers and discounts, travellers are now maximizing their holidays.”
