For
good weather and festivals, early January:
Sri
Lanka [Colombo] Duruthu Perahera, at full moon.
India
[Ahmedabad] Kite Festival
[Kerala] Elephant March | India Tours
Thailand
[Chaiyaphum] Elephant Roundup, Jan 10-12. Thailand
Pictures | Thailand Tours
Mexico
[Chiapas State] January Fiesta, 14 days from 9th. Mexico
Pictures | Mexico Tours
For
good weather and festivals, late
January:
India [all Tamil Nadu] Karnataka Pongal harvest festival, 3 days
[Madurai] Float festival, late Jan/early Feb.
[Jaisalmer, Rajastan] Desert Festival. Touristy but terrific location,
under the full moon. Dance, music and camel riding if you must.
Nearest airport is at Jodhpur, 280kms away. India
Pictures | India Tours
Vietnam [Nationwide] Tet [new year] Jan/Feb 1 month. Vietnam
Pictures | Vietnam Tours
Malaysia [Kuala Lumpur] Thaipusam [masochism fest]
[Penang] Chor Soo Kong [snakes], 6 days after Chinese new year. Malaysia
Pictures
Philippines
[Panay Island] Ati-Atihan, kind of Mardi Gras, 1 week
Guatemala [Esquipulas] El Cristo, 1 week around 15th. Guatemala
Pictures | Guatemala Tours
Canada,
Quebec City, Carnaval de Québec, 10 days of parades, themed
parties, ice sculptures and winter sports of every description,
in a pretty Francophile city. Late Jan- mid Feb. Canada
Pictures
Or go for
festivals only, not the weather! i.e. this is not the best season:
Turkey [Selcuk, Ephesus] Camel Wrestling, 3rd weekend of January every
year. One day only. Turkey
Pictures | Turkey Tours
Bolivia
[Copacabana] Candlemas. Late Jan-Feb
Peru [Puno, Cuzco+] Candlemas. Late Jan/early Feb. 2 weeks.
[Cusco] Dia de los Reyes, Jan 6. Peru
Pictures
China [Harbin] Ice Lantern fest. All Jan & Feb. Very cold! China
Pictures | China Tours
Ecuador [San
Lorenzo] Santos Reyes, painted kids. Jan 6.
[Cuenca] New Year, up to Jan 6.
Nepal [Khatmandu Valley] Basant Pancha festival, 1 day. Nepal
Pictures | Nepal Tours
Japan [Osaka] Toka Ebisu, Jan 9-11. Japan
Pictures | Japan Tours
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