5 trips to take during the Eid Al...

From long weekend breaks to week-long escapes, here are our pick of June destinations for Gulf travellers

One of the most significant holidays in the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Adha, is predicted to begin with Arafat Day on Thursday 5 or Friday 6 June in 2025, and run until Sunday 8 or Monday 9 June, depending on moon sightings. The three- to four-day public holiday provides an opportunity for Gulf-based travel advisors to book last-minute trips for their clients, spanning an extended long weekend or adding a little annual leave to take a full week away.

Here's our pick of places to book.

1 Istanbul, Türkiye
Heading to Istanbul during early June guarantees warm temperatures, though cooler than Dubai, and visitors will be comfortable exploring Istanbul’s Grand Souk, the ultimate Aladdin’s Cave, and historic monuments, from the Byzantine masterpiece of Hagia Sophia to the glittering Blue Mosque and the opulent Topkapi Palace.

Istanbul has 85 accessible beaches or bathing spots, many of them no more than 30 or 40 minutes on the metro from the city centre, including the suburbs of Beylikdüzü, known for its Black Sea beaches. Or, visitors can hop on one of the public ferries that ply the Bosphoruus.

Situated just steps from the Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque, the recently opened Marriott Sanasaryan Han, A Luxury Collection Hotel, is conveniently located and hosts cultural evenings in its library bar, including poetry nights.

Eight new Michelin stars were awarded in the city in December 2024, giving good reason for gourmands to visit. Set among gardens, one-Michelin-starred Casa Lavanda fuses the classic flavours of Turkey and Italy with vegetables sourced from the restaurant garden.

Vaccines not needed for Turkey travel this summer Istanbul skyline

2 Salalah, Oman
Less than a two-hour flight from the UAE, Salalah in Oman’s southern region of Dhofar offers a refreshing getaway at this time of year. While much of the Arabian Peninsula is hot and dry in June, Salalah starts to cool, as Khareef (monsoon) season kicks in. This shift in weather brings mist from the Indian Ocean, covering the hills and mountains in fog and turning the usually dry landscape green. Waterfalls start to flow and the air feels fresher, a welcome change coming from Dubai’s heat.

The scenery is the main draw, from banana groves and coconut palms to lush forests, mountains and waterfalls such as Ayn Athum and Ayn Khor, which can be explored via hiking trails in areas such as Jebel Samhan Nature Reserve and Wadi Darbat, where there are boat rides and kayaking on lakes.

As well as long quiet stretches of white-sand beaches, Salalah city offers various cultural and historical attractions, including the Frankincense Land Museum, where the region’s ancient heritage is brought to life, and the lively Haffa Souq with stalls selling local crafts. For a luxury stay, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is a beachfront property with private pool villas along a stretch of golden sand.

Khareef season, Salalah

3 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi (pictured) is a compact, walkable city where old-world charm meets a youthful creative buzz, and is especially inviting in June, with warm days and long evenings, plus a calendar of open-air events.

The Old Town features winding cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches and brutalist architecture, and from here, a quick cable car ride leads to the Narikala Fortress, perched above the city with sweeping views. The leafy slopes of Mtatsminda Mountain are a big draw too, with a sprawling park, complete with funicular rides and panoramic vistas.

Modern Tbilisi is never far away, and across the striking Bridge of Peace, visitors can discover contemporary art at Fabrika and the Museum of Modern Art, or sit in outdoor cafes that spill onto lively squares. For relaxation, there are plenty of places to swim in and around the city, including Lisi Lake, while the city’s famed sulphur bathhouses in the neighbourhood of Abanotubani provide a spa-like retreat with hot and freezing pools, some offering saunas and hammams.

Recently opened in the heart of the city, Swissôtel Tbilisi is a 130-key hotel situated close to Rustaveli Avenue and surrounded by theatres, museums and shopping districts.

Tbilisi in Georgia

4 Central highlands, Sri Lanka
Unlike some Indian Ocean hotspots that revolve around beaches, Sri Lanka also delivers a rich blend of culture and history, with the island’s inland hillsides offering consistent warmth and lots of sunshine, though cooler temperatures than the coastal areas in June. From Colombo, just a four-and-a-half flight from the UAE, visitors can take the train to Sri Lanka’s cultural capital Kandy, a two hour 30-minute journey through tea plantations that is among the most scenic in the world. Kandy is home to the country’s most holy Buddhist relic, plus botanical gardens, temples and a lake.

From here, the train climbs higher still into the country’s historic central tea trails highlands to Hatton, where lush greenery stretches as far as the eye and trails lead through tea plantations. Many of the tea bungalows here run guided walks through tea fields, where visitors can study the delicate art of picking the buds and enjoy tastings.

The latest hotel to open in Hatton, Uga Halloowella is a six-suite restored heritage property positioned on a hillside within a 252-acre tea estate and on the doorstep of some of the region’s must-visit attractions, including the Pekoe Trail, a hiking route that winds past landmarks including the Singamalai Lake. Guest experiences include Sri Lankan cooking classes, a cycling tour through tea estates and a sunrise kayaking excursion on the waters of Castlereagh Reservoir.

Uga Halloowella in Hatton, Sri Lanka

5 Mahé, Seychelles
The Seychelles is always a good idea, but June is especially attractive for UAE travellers, given that Etihad and Air Seychelles will start six flights per week between Abu Dhabi and Mahé from May 2025. Just a four-and-a-half hour flight away from UAE airports, and with warm but comfortable temperatures averaging 27 degrees, main island Mahé is home to a plethora of fly-and-flop five-star resorts, including recently opened Maison Cheval Blanc. Think luxurious villas lining the the white-sand beach or sprinkled among the green hills behind, each with their own pool.

Maison Cheval Blanc, Anse Intendance beach

Expect sugar-sand beaches, crystalline seas and vibrant coral reefs teeming with hawksbill sea turtles and manta rays, but also waterfalls, jungle trails and botanical and spice gardens bursting with native palms, tortoises and sweeping hilltops views.

Recommend island hopping, such as a catamaran cruise between sandy coves and islets or sailing the inner islands of the Seychelles, with a stop-off at Curieuse Island, a breeding site of hawksbill turtles. Just a 30-minute flight via light aircraft from Mahé, Bird Island is a nature reserve for turtles and Aldabra giant tortoises and visitors can kayak in the surrounding seas.

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