Updated 22 October 2026 · Best Versions team · استخدمها بالعربية
In short: the December winter break suits Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket and Krabi); the January and February mid-year breaks suit Malaysia in its driest months; Eid al-Fitr 2027 (expected Tue 9 or Wed 10 March) suits Langkawi or Phuket, but avoid Bali because of Nyepi; and Eid al-Adha (expected Sun 16 or Mon 17 May) suits Bali in its dry season.
How to read it: "Official" means a government has announced it. "Reported, awaiting confirmation" means news outlets or calendar sites have published it but we haven't seen it from the primary source yet. "Expected, moon-sighting dependent" is an astronomical estimate that can move by a day. Ramadan, both Eids and the Eid holidays will be updated here after the official announcements.
Send the calendar to your family
Holidays are a family decision. Send your country's holiday calendar to the family WhatsApp group, with the best destination for each break.
When to book
- Winter break: book nowBooking for the UAE and Qatar break is already open, and it is the Christmas and New Year peak.
- Eid al-Fitr: by early JanuaryDemand for a mid-March Eid builds about 10 weeks ahead.
- Spring break: don't leave it latePrices can stay high after Eid through March and April.
- Eid al-Adha: in March and AprilGulf News advised booking in April for Eid al-Adha 2026.
- Eid al-Fitr fares run at roughly double off-season levels: in March 2026, fares from the UAE had nearly doubled since February and were 15 to 20% higher than the previous Eid. For example, return economy fares from Dubai for travel between 19 and 30 March 2026 were about AED 4,005 to Bangkok and AED 4,855 to Phuket (Gulf News, 20 February 2026).
- Demand for the mid-March 2026 Eid had been building since early January, about 10 weeks ahead, and Musafir.com's COO said last-minute bookings would be costly and it is better to pre-plan (same source). So book Eid al-Fitr 2027 trips by early January 2027.
- At Eid 2025, hotel prices rose 20 to 30% at the peak (Khaleej Times, March 2025).
- Because Eid depends on the moon sighting, more travellers prefer refundable or flexible fares (Khaleej Times, June 2026).
- In 2027, Eid al-Fitr (about 9 March) does not overlap with the UAE spring break (5 to 11 April), so there are two separate demand peaks.
Weather at a glance for each break
How our three destinations look in each holiday window, from best to weakest:
| Window | Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) | Langkawi and Penang | Bali |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late November and early December 2026: Saudi autumn break, Oman and UAE national days | Good: the season is opening, and late November can still bring showers | Langkawi in a wet transition until early December; Penang wet in November | Wet season starting |
| Mid-December 2026 to early January 2027: UAE and Qatar winter break | Excellent, but peak season with Christmas and New Year pricing | Langkawi's dry season starting, good. Penang fair | Wet, plus the Christmas and New Year peak |
| Mid-January (Saudi mid-year) and late January to early February (Egypt mid-year) | Excellent | Excellent, the driest months. Chinese New Year on 6 and 7 February | The wettest months |
| Eid al-Fitr, about 8 to 13 March 2027 | Very good, but hot | Langkawi very good, Penang OK. Hari Raya on 10 and 11 March | Wet transition, plus Nyepi on 8 March and Indonesia's holiday peak |
| UAE spring break, 5 to 11 April 2027 | Good, but very hot. Songkran comes right after (13 to 15 April) | Showers starting | Dry season begins, good |
| Eid al-Adha, about 15 to 20 May 2027 | Monsoon starting, rougher seas | Inter-monsoon showers | Dry season, the best fit |
Green dot: excellent or best fit. Amber: good or fair. Red: weak. Weather changes from year to year; these are general patterns, not guarantees. Month-by-month detail is in our guide to the best time to visit Thailand, Malaysia and Bali.
Frequently asked questions
When is Eid al-Fitr 2027?
Eid al-Fitr 1448 is expected on Tuesday 9 or Wednesday 10 March 2027, depending on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent, after an expected start of Ramadan on Monday 8 February 2027. Malaysia and Indonesia expect Eid on Wednesday 10 March. Moon-sighting committees announce the official date.
When is the 2027 mid-year school break in Saudi Arabia?
According to the 1448 calendar as reported by school-calendar sites, the mid-year break runs from Friday 8 to Saturday 16 January 2027 (9 days). The Eid al-Fitr school break is expected from Friday 26 February to Saturday 13 March 2027 (16 days). Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Taif follow a separate schedule.
Is Bali a good choice for Eid al-Fitr 2027?
Not the best one. On Nyepi (the Day of Silence), Monday 8 March 2027, Bali airport closes for 24 hours and tourists must stay in their hotels; March is wet and unpredictable; and Indonesia has a possible 10-day national holiday from 6 to 15 March. Bali is a much better fit for Eid al-Adha (about 16 or 17 May 2027), in the dry season.
What is the best destination for the UAE winter break?
The unified UAE winter school break runs from Monday 14 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. The best pick is Thailand's Andaman coast (Phuket and Krabi) in its dry season, at Christmas and New Year peak prices, with Langkawi as the alternative as its dry season starts. Avoid Koh Samui, which is in its rainy season, and Bali, which is wet at this time.
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Sources
Ramadan and the two Eids in 2027
- Khaleej Times: likely dates for Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha 2027
- Gulf News: UAE astronomers' forecasts for Ramadan 2027
- HR Online: Malaysia's 2027 public holidays
- Indonesia State Secretariat: 2027 national holidays and Nyepi
Eid holidays in 2026 (the precedent we use)
- Khaleej Times: Eid al-Fitr 2026 holidays in the Gulf
- Khaleej Times: Eid al-Adha 2026 holidays in the Gulf
- Gulf News: Saudi private-sector Eid al-Fitr 2026 holiday
- Gulf News: Qatar's 7-day Eid al-Fitr 2026 holiday
- Kerala Kaumudi: Oman and Kuwait 2026 holidays
- Al Ain: Egypt's Eid al-Fitr 2026 holiday
- Gulf News: UAE public holidays 2027
School calendars and national days
- UAE Ministry of Education: academic calendar 2026 to 2028
- Gulf News: UAE school calendar 2026/27
- Gulf News: UAE National Day holidays 2026
- Okaz: the 1448 school-year holidays
- Mdares: Saudi school calendar and Miqatona: Saudi school calendar
- Al Raya: Qatar school calendar 2026/27 and Arabian Business: Qatar school calendar to 2028
- Gulf News: Kuwait National and Liberation Day holiday 2026
- Arabian Business: Oman's 2026 public holidays
- Masrawy: Egypt's 2026/27 school-year timeline and Egypt Telegraph: school-year map and holidays
Weather and events at the destinations
- Wego: Thailand's monsoon season
- NASA Earth Observatory: smoke over northern Thailand
- Time Out Bangkok: Thailand's 2027 public holidays
- Travelfish: Langkawi weather
- Penang weather month by month
- Bali.com: Bali weather
- Business Today: Bali airport's 24-hour Nyepi closure in 2026
- Merah Putih: Indonesia's Nyepi and Lebaran 2027 holiday
Travel demand and prices
Dates compiled from the sources above up to 22 October 2026. Ramadan, both Eids and the Eid holidays are estimates that can move by a day; we'll update this page after the official announcements. Check your children's school calendar before you book.