This Diwali, the suitcase is winning over the sofa. Fresh travel data released this week shows Indians are not just going home for the festival, they are turning the break into a proper holiday, and they are spending noticeably more while doing it. The average trip booked through community travel platform WanderOn cost Rs 56,000 in October 2026, up from Rs 49,000 in 2025 and Rs 35,000 in 2024, a rise of 60 percent in two years.
It is a sharp change in how the festival is spent. Diwali was once almost entirely about the journey back to family. This year, the booking patterns point to something different: group trips with friends, lakeside breaks, spiritual detours and short international escapes, all packed into the same festive window.
The big shift: from going home to going away
WanderOn’s Great Indian Diwali Festive Travel Report 2026, reported on Tuesday, puts community-led trips at the centre of the change. Such trips accounted for 65 percent of its bookings in October 2026, compared with 57 percent in the corresponding period of 2025 and 48 percent in October-November 2024. In other words, travelling together has moved from a niche choice to the default for a large share of its customers.
The spending jump fits that picture. A group itinerary, with stays, activities and transport bundled together, simply costs more than a train ticket home.
Where India is heading this Diwali
Booking.com search data for travel between 6 and 14 November 2026, released on 2 November, puts Udaipur at the top of the domestic list. The Rajasthan lake city leads ahead of Goa and Jaipur, with spiritual destinations close behind: Varanasi ranks fourth, Puri sixth and Rishikesh seventh in the top 10.
For international trips, the search list is dominated by short-haul Asia. Bangkok tops the list, followed by Dubai, Tokyo and Singapore, with Phuket, Phu Quoc and Hanoi also in the top 10. Travellers want a break that feels like an escape but does not eat up days in transit.
Budget hotels lead the booking surge
Cleartrip’s PeekABoo festive tracker tells a similar story from the hotel side. Leisure hotel bookings for Diwali are up 135 percent so far, and budget hotels have seen the sharpest rise of all, up 201 percent, ahead of luxury hotels at 162 percent. Travellers are spending more per trip overall, but they are also hunting for value on stays, which leaves more room in the budget for experiences.
Udaipur again stands out. Hotel bookings for the city are up 316 percent for Diwali, while Bengaluru is up 189 percent and Jaipur 174 percent. Smaller and less conventional destinations are gaining too. Domestic flight bookings to Agatti are up 130 percent, Gaya 98 percent and Dimapur 80 percent, with Udaipur flights up 59 percent.
Gen Z is driving the change
Younger travellers are behind much of the momentum. Cleartrip’s data shows flight bookings among travellers aged 15 to 24 up 60 percent, compared with just 6 percent growth among those aged 25 to 34. It is a generation that treats a festival break as a travel window first, and it is increasingly choosing offbeat towns and regional hubs over the usual metro holidays.
What this means for your Diwali plan
If you are still planning a festive trip, the data carries a few practical lessons:
- Book stays early in popular cities: Udaipur, Jaipur and Goa are seeing the strongest demand, so prices and availability will only tighten closer to the festival.
- Compare budget stays, not just luxury ones: budget hotels are seeing the fastest booking growth, which means good value options are being snapped up quickly.
- Consider a spiritual stop: Varanasi, Puri and Rishikesh are among the most searched destinations this year, and they pair well with a heritage city break.
- Keep international trips short-haul: Bangkok, Dubai, Tokyo and Singapore dominate searches for a reason, with flight times that suit a short festive break.
- Travel in a group if you can: community trips are the fastest growing format, and shared costs can make a longer itinerary affordable.
The overall picture is not one of cautious spending. Indians are choosing to spend more on Diwali travel, and they are choosing experiences, company and new places over simply getting from one city to another. The festival break, it seems, has become a holiday in its own right.
FAQs
Which is the most searched domestic destination for Diwali 2026?
Udaipur leads Booking.com searches for travel between 6 and 14 November 2026, followed by Goa and Jaipur.
How much is the average Diwali trip costing in 2026?
WanderOn reports an average ticket size of Rs 56,000 in October 2026, up from Rs 49,000 in 2025 and Rs 35,000 in 2024.
Which hotel category is growing fastest this Diwali?
Budget hotels, with bookings up 201 percent according to Cleartrip’s festive tracker, ahead of luxury hotels at 162 percent.
Which international destinations are most popular this Diwali?
Bangkok tops the international search list, followed by Dubai, Tokyo and Singapore.
Are younger travellers really driving Diwali travel growth?
Yes, Cleartrip data shows flight bookings among travellers aged 15 to 24 up 60 percent, far ahead of the 6 percent growth among those aged 25 to 34.
For now, one thing is certain: this Diwali, India is travelling further, spending more and, above all, travelling together.
