What’s better than a chill weekend? A long weekend where you get an additional one or two days along with your usual Saturdays and Sundays off. Luckily, in 2025, there are multiple long weekends (yes, read that again) for those living in India. Even though more than half the year has gone by, there are still a few long weekends lined up. So, relax, bring out that calendar, and mark your dates for an awesome long weekend in 2025!
Long Weekend In 2025: How To Plan Leaves, Long Weekends In The Year, Important Dates, Travel Suggestions
How To Plan Leaves For A Long Weekend?
A long weekend is when a public holiday either falls right before a Saturday or right after a Sunday. A long weekend is also when a public holiday is just a day before/after a working day before the weekend, so you can technically enjoy a long weekend by dropping in a leave on that working day.
To better illustrate this, if a holiday falls on a Friday or a Monday, you automatically get a 3-day break (given your office has a Saturday off). Similarly, if a holiday falls on Thursday or Tuesday, you can take the Friday or Monday off – that way you’ll get four days off!
The trick is to be smart about your leave – do not apply for a leave on both the ends of the weekend, i. e. Friday and Monday, or else you might be subjected to a ‘sandwich leave’. Many offices deduct salaries when employees sandwich leaves, so be careful about that!
Plan your long weekend plans at least a month in advance, and apply for a leave at least a few months in advance to grab those long breaks before your colleagues do.
Long Weekends In 2025 (Post-August)
October 2025:
Thursday, October 2: Dussehra/Gandhi Jayanti
Saturday, October 4: Weekend
Sunday, October 5: Weekend
Take a leave on Friday, October 3 and enjoy the long weekend of a total of four days!
Saturday, October 18: Weekend
Sunday, October 19: Weekend
Monday, October 20: Diwali
You can enjoy a three-day off or even apply for a leave on Tuesday, October 21 for an extra day off!
If your office gives you the Diwali cluster of holidays, which is mostly for 5 days, you are even luckier than many others! Get in touch with your HR Department or refer to the annual calendar to plan your long weekend in advance!
December 2025:
Thursday, December 25: Christmas
Saturday, December 27: Weekend
Sunday, December 28: Weekend
Even as the year ends, you have a great opportunity to utilize the Christmas long weekend. All you need to do is take a day off on Friday, December 26!
How To Make The Most Of Your Long Weekend?
The key to making the most of your long weekend is to plan a destination where traveling to and fro from the destination takes less time compared to how many days you get to enjoy there. So, the best bet is to select a destination that is not far away, but not too close from your home base either!
Also, to save up on travel time, you can opt for overnight buses, overnight sleeper trains, or flights! However, if you are a family or a group of friends and there’s someone who can drive well, a good option would be to use your own vehicle or a rented one. Private or rented vehicles are a more comfortable and convenient way of getting around, especially when you have planned multiple stops in your trip.
Long Weekend Trip Suggestions
In October, almost the entire country experiences decent weather – with moderate heat, humidity, and temperature. Here are our top picks for a long weekend trip in October 2025:
- Udaipur/Jaipur/Jodhpur: Decent weather, sand dunes, pristine lakes, ancient temples and forts, vibrant markets, historical monuments, AND delicious Rajasthani food!
- Shimla/Manali: Pleasant weather and lesser crowd, ancient temples, nature trails, vibrant markets, churches, and the iconic Shimla-Kalka toy train!
- Kodaikanal: Pleasant weather, plenty of natural wonders like waterfalls, lakes, nature trails, hilltops, and viewpoints, authentic Tamil and Tibetan cuisine.
In December, bright Christmas lights and the year-end festive fervor fill the atmosphere with an undeniable charm. Here are the top destinations you must visit in this month:
- Goa: Christmas parties, vibrant carnivals, bustling street markets, Christmas-special delicacies, and a jolly atmosphere throughout the state!
- Shillong: Karaoke nights, Christmas celebrations, night markets, nature trails, and cascading waterfalls.
- Pondicherry: Colorful heritage buildings, quaint cafes, serene beaches, and of course, the interactive community of Auroville.
It is highly unlikely that you will get to enjoy much if you plan an international holiday during a long weekend, because just a few 3 to 4 days won’t really do justice! However, if you’re really keen on going abroad for a few days, here are some of our top suggestions:
- Sri Lanka: Mostly warm but can get wetter, however, there are plenty of adventure activities, temples, churches, monuments, tea estates to explore in Sri Lanka.
- Thailand: Select just a few cities like Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai instead of touring the entirety of Thailand in a few days. Visit the main tourist attractions in these cities, including the gorgeous temples, monuments, and markets!
- Nepal: Pleasant weather, historic temples, monasteries, nature trails, and delicious Nepali cuisine!
Summing Up
If you were worried about the next long weekend in 2025, now’s the time to mark your calendars and sort out your bookings! With long weekends in October and December 2025, there are plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy a mini vacation and take a short break from the hectic corporate life. Remember, plan in advance, book your tickets and accommodation, and select destinations that won’t eat out your travel time drastically. Happy long weekend-ing!
