Travel gives us the opportunity to learn about different places, people and cultures. When we return home, we bring with us not only memories but often new life lessons that we’ve learnt along the way. Incorporating your travel with a local festival or celebration is an incredible way to add a different experience and gain a greater insight into the cultures and traditions of a destination – it’s also a lot of fun!

Intrepid have a great range of festival trips (with some brand-new ones in 2020) which give you the joys of travelling to a destination, combined with the experience of a local festival. We’ve picked our Top 5 and highlighted them below for you.

Louisiana Mardi Gras

When: 19 – 27 February 2020 (10 February – 18 February 2021)
Where: New Orleans, USA

Perhaps one of the most colourful, musical, glitter filled celebrations in the US – Mardi Gras is a celebration for everyone and an important tradition in New Orleans. Beginning in Houston, Texas this 9-day comfort journey takes travellers through some lesser known parts of Louisiana and ends in New Orleans right in time for Fat Tuesday (the pinnacle of Mardi Gras celebrations). Travellers have the opportunity to ride a float and throw beads into the crowd in the parade at Lake Charles, spend Fat Monday in Jefferson Parish taking part in a traditional meeting of the royal courts of the krewes of Argus and Zulu (this gathering occurs each year the day before Mardi Gras) and then spend Fat Tuesday taking in the spectacular celebrations in Downtown New Orleans. Although Mardi Gras is the focus of this trip, there’s still plenty of Southern fun – go on swamp adventures, eat local southern cuisine, experience traditional jazz and blues and of course soak in that famous southern hospitality along the way!

View the Intrepid Louisiana Mardi Gras Festival trip.

Rio Carnival

When: 11 – 16 February 2021 (2020 is sold out)
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This epic annual celebration is arguably one of the biggest party’s on earth! Dancing, singing and elaborate costumes take over the magnificent city of Rio de Janeiro as the streets, squares and bars become one huge celebration. Travellers will learn the basic steps to perfect their Samba technique before a fun-filled five days of parades, street parties and soaking in all of the sites, beaches and wonder of this magnificent city!

View the Intrepid Rio Carnival Festival trip.

Day of the Dead

When: 30 October – 3 November 2020 (30 October – 3 November 2021)
Where: Mexico City, Mexico

The iconic Dia de los Muertos, or the annual Day of the Dead festival, in Mexico is a festival celebrating friends and family members who have died. People gather in traditional costumes and make-up and pray for and remember loved ones who have passed away, as a way of helping to support their spiritual journey. As well as dressing up, tradition calls for people to light candles and bring bouquets to the graves of family and friends. This 5-day trip is an in-depth cultural exploration of Mexico City, that takes in all of the colour and fiesta that the Day of the Dead brings to the city.

View the Intrepid Day of the Dead Festival trip.

Firedance Festival

When: 11 – 19 June 2020 AND 15 – 23 October 2020
Where: Papua New Guinea

Fire dancing ceremonies are a cultural tradition in local villages in Papua New Guinea. During this 9-day itinerary, travellers will venture deep into the country and experience local cultures, natural wonders and the spectacle that is island life in the South Pacific. Part of this special journey includes the spectacular Baining Firedance Festival in the Vunga Village, you’ll be welcomed into the village with a traditional Melanesian welcome and lunch and enjoy a homestay for two nights in the village to get to know the local villagers. The villagers will share the history of the festival, with a number of costumes, masked performances and of course dancing around the incredible bonfire until their feet put out the last of the flames. As well as incorporating the festival, this trip also includes fascinating military history, the wild beauty of the Duke of York Islands and resident wildlife encounters as you explore this fascinating destination.

View the Intrepid Firedance Festival trip.

Ysyakh Festival

When: 18 June – 2 July 2020
Where: Russia

Yakutsk is one of the coldest cities in the world – so naturally they celebrate the start of the Summer sun with a festival! The day is spent with locals dressing in traditional Genghis Khan-style armour and re-enacting a battle, followed by dancing, women in white dresses swatting people with horsehair for good luck, traditional sports and Yakut delicacies. On this 15 day adventure travellers will experience this unique city and festival as well as a unique expedition travelling into Russia’s Far East and deep into the rugged and remote Siberia on a rail riding adventure!

View the Intrepid Russia Expedition: Permafrost Railway & Ysyakh Festival trip.

As you can see, there are some incredibly fun, interesting and diverse festivals all over the world – and these are just a few of the many! You can view other festival trips here.If you’d like to know more about Intrepid festival tours contact us today. But hurry, these departures often fill up very quickly.

All images supplied by Intrepid Travel.