Plan by season · 5 min read
Retreats for the 2026–27 long weekends
Every long weekend in India's 2026–27 holiday calendar, which ones one day of leave stretches to four days, and how many weekend-friendly retreats are at their best for each, from our listings.
Written by RetreatAdvisors editors · Updated October 2026
Quick answers
- When are the long weekends in 2026–27?
- We count 11 long weekends from Sat 21 Nov – Tue 24 Nov 2026 to Fri 29 Oct – Sun 31 Oct 2027, based on the Government of India's holiday lists for its offices. 5 of them become four-day breaks with one day of leave.
- Which long weekends need only one day of leave?
- Guru Nanak's Birthday (Sat 21 Nov – Tue 24 Nov 2026), Republic Day (Sat 23 Jan – Tue 26 Jan 2027), Holi (Sat 20 Mar – Tue 23 Mar 2027), Ram Navami (Thu 15 Apr – Sun 18 Apr 2027) and Buddha Purnima (Thu 20 May – Sun 23 May 2027). Take the bridging day off and you get four days.
- What kind of retreat fits a long weekend?
- One that takes stays of two nights or fewer and lets you arrive on any day. 85 of the retreats we list do. Pick one within a few hours of home so the journey doesn't eat the break.
- Which long weekend has the most retreats in season?
- Guru Nanak's Birthday (Sat 21 Nov – Tue 24 Nov 2026), with 80 weekend-friendly retreats at their best that month, most of them in the Deccan around Bengaluru and Hyderabad and Kerala.
On this page
The long weekends, with retreat ideas
Dates come from the Department of Personnel and Training's holiday lists for central government offices. Your employer or state may differ, and festivals that follow the moon can move by a day. For each weekend, we count the weekend-friendly retreats at their best that month.
| Long weekend | Dates | Days | Leave needed | Retreats in season | Where most are |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guru Nanak's Birthday | Sat 21 Nov – Tue 24 Nov 2026 | 4 | 1 day | 80 in November | The Deccan around Bengaluru and Hyderabad · Kerala |
| Christmas | Fri 25 Dec – Sun 27 Dec 2026 | 3 | None | 76 in December | The Deccan around Bengaluru and Hyderabad · Kerala |
| New Year's Day | Fri 1 Jan – Sun 3 Jan 2027 | 3 | None | 69 in January | The Deccan around Bengaluru and Hyderabad · Kerala |
| Republic Day | Sat 23 Jan – Tue 26 Jan 2027 | 4 | 1 day | 69 in January | The Deccan around Bengaluru and Hyderabad · Kerala |
| Holi | Sat 20 Mar – Tue 23 Mar 2027 | 4 | 1 day | 58 in March | Around Rishikesh · Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| Good Friday | Fri 26 Mar – Sun 28 Mar 2027 | 3 | None | 58 in March | Around Rishikesh · Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| Ram Navami | Thu 15 Apr – Sun 18 Apr 2027 | 4 | 1 day | 18 in April | Around Rishikesh · The Himalayas |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Sat 17 Apr – Mon 19 Apr 2027 | 3 | None | 18 in April | Around Rishikesh · The Himalayas |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Sat 15 May – Mon 17 May 2027 | 3 | None | 8 in May | The Himalayas · Around Rishikesh |
| Buddha Purnima | Thu 20 May – Sun 23 May 2027 | 4 | 1 day | 8 in May | The Himalayas · Around Rishikesh |
| Diwali | Fri 29 Oct – Sun 31 Oct 2027 | 3 | None | 59 in October | The Deccan around Bengaluru and Hyderabad · Around Rishikesh |
Turning three days into four
With one day of leave, 5 of the 11 long weekends become four days: Guru Nanak's Birthday, Republic Day, Holi, Ram Navami and Buddha Purnima. Each holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, so taking the Monday or Friday off joins it to the weekend.
Four days changes what's possible. Two nights at a retreat plus travel either side becomes three nights, enough for a short Ayurveda programme, a silent weekend with a day to land, or a hill retreat a long drive away.
Choosing a retreat for a long weekend
- Short minimum stay. Look for two nights or fewer: see weekend retreats.
- Any-day arrival. Places that only run fixed courses (most Vipassana centres, for example) rarely fit a weekend.
- Close to home. A three-hour drive leaves you more retreat than road. Start from retreats near your city, or our planning guides for Mumbai and Pune, Bengaluru and Delhi.
- In season. The table above counts only retreats at their best that month.
What each season is like
- November
- Post-monsoon: clear, green and comfortable almost everywhere.
- December–January
- The south, Goa and the Rishikesh foothills are at their best; hill stations are cold, and the north has fog. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and priciest weekends of the year.
- March–April
- Spring in the Himalayan hills; the plains warm up fast after Holi.
- May
- Hot on the plains. Head for the hills: see hill retreats for April to June.
- October
- After the monsoon, and Diwali: travel is busy and fares are high.
Booking and travel
- Book early. Long weekends sell out. Four to eight weeks ahead is sensible, more for Christmas, New Year and Diwali.
- Train tickets open about two months ahead on IRCTC, and popular routes fill on the first day.
- Leave the evening before the long weekend starts, or at dawn, to miss the worst traffic out of the city.
- Come back early on the last day, or add a night, to avoid the evening rush back in.
- Fares rise for flights and cabs on these dates. Compare with the train.
Weekend-friendly retreats
Chosen from our listings by what this guide covers: 6 of 85. Nobody pays to appear here.
Spiritual
YogaSamne Ghat, Uttar Pradesh
Best Oct–Mar
Typically
Typically ₹3k–10k / night
SpiritualVallikavu, Kerala
Best Nov–Mar
Typically
Typically Under ₹3k / night
Adventure
Yoga
Spiritual
Common questions
Are retreats busy on long weekends?
The popular ones near big cities are, especially resorts with short stays. Ashrams and centres further away are usually calmer. Book early, or pick a weekend that needs a day of leave: fewer people take it.
What if my office doesn't give the holiday?
These dates follow the central government's holiday lists. States and private employers set their own, so check yours before you book.
Is a three-day weekend long enough for a retreat?
Yes, if you go somewhere close. Two nights is enough to rest, practise and switch off. Longer programmes, such as Panchakarma or a 10-day Vipassana course, need proper leave.
Will this list be updated for 2028?
Yes. We update it each year when the government publishes the next holiday list, and the retreat counts update with our listings.
Ask people who've been
Real answers from the community, not the retreats' marketing.
Planning & getting there forumBrowse next
Sources
- Holiday lists for central government offices, 2026 and 2027 (opens in a new tab) · Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India
- Train reservations (opens in a new tab) · IRCTC (Indian Railways)
- Weather forecasts and warnings (opens in a new tab) · India Meteorological Department
We wrote this guide in our own words from the sources above and our research on each retreat's official site. Nothing here is medical advice: talk to your own doctor about your health. Retreats change their rules, dates and prices, so confirm with them before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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