As the Eid holidays are around the corner, it is time to take advantage of the long weekend to travel. We always like to use these breaks to explore new places that are doable in 4-5 days. With many new destinations added to the local airlines’ routes, the choices are plenty, whether you are after sunny beaches, historical sites, or nature and adventure.
Here is our selection of the best 5 amazing destinations you should check out if you are planning to travel the coming Eid holidays.
Georgia
We visited Georgia during one of the recent Eid holidays and loved it. The country has so much to offer for both city breaks and nature lovers. Spend a couple of days in the capital, Tbilisi, exploring the old town with colourful buildings, mosques and churches. Try the sulphur baths for a unique experience (remember to book in advance) and take the cable car to the Narikala fortress. The peace bridge makes for a great photo stop too.
You can also take day trips to explore the country-side. Among the many options, we visited the fortified cathedral of Svetitskhoveli, the Stone city of Uplistsikhe, and Kazbegi national park.
Sri Lanka
We have been to Sri Lanka a couple of times as it’s a budget friendly destination with a lot to offer! Our advice is to skip the capital city Colombo and instead head to the natural parks in the north and the sandy beaches in the south.
Our most recent stay was in Unawatuna, a small coastal town in the south of the island. While it’s a great base if you want to spend your time at the beach, you can also do a day trip to a tea plantation, visit the old fort of Galle, join a whale watching trip or visit a turtle nursery.
If you want to avoid the monsoon rains, head inland and visit the famous hill stations and Ceylon tea plantations around Nuwara Eliya and Kandy or try white water rafting on Kitulgala river. Then go further north and stop by the Dambulla cave Temple and hike up to the Sigiriya Rock before doing a safari drive through Minneriya to spot wild elephants.
Maldives
One of our favourite beach destinations, we have been to the Maldives three times already and we haven’t got tired of it yet. We love the island colours, the gorgeous sunsets but also the resorts’ extraordinary service.
We usually do snorkelling and scuba diving while in Maldives and on some bigger resort islands you can also join the local biologist to learn more about the ecosystem.
There are resorts for all pockets, but most resorts in Maldives are luxury and might be expensive. Checking for promotions online can help. We stayed at the gorgeous Pullman Maldives at a discounted price thanks to a deal we found on Emirates Holidays.
Cyprus
Although you might need more than an Eid break to visit Cyprus, a few days in Paphos is a great place to start if you are into history. There are many Roman villas with extraordinary mosaics at the Archaeological park, and the Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa church is a must visit. You can also check out the old fort in the port or go tomb hopping at Tombs of the Kings.
Limassol is a great stop for a more dynamic stay. There is a bit of history, the beautiful beaches and also an active nightlife with live music and great restaurants.
A must visit is Aphrodite’s rock, where Greek mythology says the goddess of beauty was born.
Kenya
Masaai Mara national park is a great Eid gateway destination, especially during the great wildebeests migration, when hundreds of thousands of animals fill the park. We booked a private guide to take us from Nairobi to the Masaai Mara and then to drive us in the reserve every morning and afternoon. In little more than three days we managed to see all kinds of animals, including the big 5!
Stay in a tented camp on the Mara river banks for an incredible experience to hear the hippos at night time!
