Best places to visit in May 2027

The plains bake and the mountains open up. Ladakh and Spiti's passes reopen, Kashmir hits its best weather of the year, and the northern hills are perfect. Coasts stay hot but quiet and cheap.

225 destinations in season18 hand-picked belowchecked 16 Oct 2026

Long weekend this month: Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) · 3 days

In season in May 2027

Flagship picks first, filtered to destinations whose season covers May — every card opens a full guide.

Himachal

Manali, Dharamshala, Spiti — the workation capital of India.

₹15k–28k (7 days)5–7 daysBest: Apr–Jun, Sep–DecMountains

Leh–Ladakh

High-desert solitude and brilliant monasteries.

₹22k–40k (7 days)5–7 daysBest: May–Jul, Jan–FebCold

Uttarakhand

Rishikesh for the soul, Nainital for the family.

₹10k–22k (5 days)5–7 daysBest: Mar–JunMountains

Spiti Valley

Cold deserts, ancient monasteries and Himalayan silence.

₹18k–32k (6 days)6–8 daysBest: May–OctCold

Tawang

World's largest Buddhist monastery

3–4 daysBest: Mar–OctCold

Bum La Pass

Border pass of 1962 history

1 dayBest: May–OctAdventure

Sela Pass

4,170m pass of frozen lakes

Half dayBest: May–OctAdventure

Shimla

The Mall Road, toy train and colonial summer capital

2–3 daysBest: Mar–Jun, Sep–DecMountains

Srinagar

Dal Lake shikaras, houseboats and Mughal gardens

3 daysBest: Apr–OctLakes

Gulmarg

Meadow of flowers with India's highest gondola

3–4 daysBest: Dec–Mar (snow), May–Sep (green)Cold

Pahalgam

Lidder river valley and Amarnath base

2 daysBest: Apr–OctNatural Landscapes

Leh

High-desert capital of Ladakh

3–4 daysBest: May–SepCold

Thiksey

Hilltop monastery of gompas and giant Buddha

1 dayBest: May–SepPilgrimage

Agatti Island

The only island in Lakshadweep with an airport — a 2.7 km² coral atoll of turquoise lagoon, white sandspits and living reef, and the gateway to Bangaram and Thinnakara

3 nights minimum · flights are daily but ships are slow and weather-dependentBest: October–May — calm seas and clear lagoons; peak season November–February · June–September monsoon shuts the sea routesIslands