Travel For a Reason

Plan your visit to Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri with key dates, events, locations, and tips to experience the best of the festival across the city.

Beginners: Noosa, Wategos (Byron Bay), Bondi Intermediate: Manly, Crescent Head, Point Addis Advanced: Snapper Rocks, Kirra, Bells Beach, Margaret River Big wave / expert only: Cowaramup Bombora, Tasmanian slabs

Your ultimate guide to a Sydney New Years Eve. The best free and ticketed spots to see the fireworks, plus info on transport, hotels, and family events.

From folk-filled forests to bass-thumping stadiums, music festivals in Australia are as wild and varied as the country itself.

AfroFuture takes place in December at El-Wak Stadium in Accra, and stepping into it is like entering a living collage of colour. Everywhere you look, something demands your attention.   Whether it’s a dancer with braids swinging to the beat, a food vendor handing out trays of jollof that taste smoky and spicy, or a designer proudly showing off pieces you’ve never seen before. Then a beat drops, an Afrobeats icon walks onto the stage, and the crowd goes wild.   Every year, AfroFuture curates a lineup that blends Afrobeats giants, rising stars, diaspora artists, and DJs who keep the music flowing long after midnight. It’s the kind of lineup that doesn’t just entertain; it sets the tone for what African music will sound and feel like in the year ahead. Artists come to AfroFuture not just to perform, but to experiment, collaborate, and debut new music.

Restaurants remain accessible and welcoming throughout Dubai during Ramadan, especially for guests staying in ibis hotels, where affordability meets effortless dining and relaxation.   But at this time, indoor dining is thoughtfully arranged to provide comfort for guests while respecting those who are fasting in observance of the Holy Month. Many venues place subtle screens or create quiet, relaxed indoor spaces where travellers can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or coffee with ease. Malls also maintain a wide selection of cafés and many restaurants remain open throughout the day.   While travellers are not expected to fast, eating, drinking, or smoking in public areas during daylight hours is discouraged out of respect. Inside ibis hotels in Dubai, however, dining feels as effortless and welcoming as ever.   When sunset approaches, the mood shifts beautifully. Restaurants prepare for iftar, hotel chefs put the final touches on steaming dishes, and guests gather to experience one of the most beloved traditions of Ramadan in Dubai.

This is the best of Dubai's live music scene for those who love soulful sounds and international flavour, from Arabic hits to smooth jazz and indie pop.

Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates both the beginning of spring and the triumph of good over evil. There are two main Hindu mythologies explaining the origins of the Festival of Colours. The first is the divine love story of Krishna and Radha, and the second is the triumph of Vishnu over Hiranyakashipu.

For those preparing to embark on their first Umrah, knowing how to perform the rites is going to be the most essential part of the pilgrimage. The steps for Umrah begin with entering Ihram. Entering this state of spiritual purity and intention takes place before crossing into the sacred boundaries of Makkah. To learn more, read our detailed Ihram guide for first-time pilgrims.   First, pilgrims have to declare their intention to perform Umrah and enter a purified state before or at the Miqat, a designated boundary that differs depending on where you’re travelling from. Many pilgrims enter this state before or on their flight to Makkah from their respective countries. Most regional airlines will announce the approach to the Miqat, allowing pilgrims to prepare for the intention of Umrah.   Purification includes ghusl, or sacred washing, the trimming of any unwanted body hair, and other hygienic steps using non-perfumed materials. After that, men wear two seamless white clothes while women dress modestly in garments that cover the body and hair fully, and both dedicate their focus to worship. Both men and women must show their faces and hands at all times, so this means the burqa and niqab are not permitted.   Then, as the pilgrims approach the holy city, they start to recite the Talbiyah: "Labbayka Allahumma labbayk. Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, laa shareeka lak.” This iconic declaration of submission to Allah can be heard on the radio and televisions across the Muslim world, especially throughout Ramadan during the peak Umrah season. For many Muslims, it is an emotional and deeply moving call.   Upon entering Masjid al-Haram, pilgrims are drawn immediately to the Kaaba, the most sacred site in Islam. Here begins Tawaf, the act of circulating around the Kaaba seven times in a counter-clockwise direction, beginning at the Black Stone. Each circuit is filled with prayer, supplication, and sometimes tears, as pilgrims walk shoulder to shoulder with fellow Muslims from across the globe.   The journey then continues with Sa’i, which means hastening or pursuance in Arabic. This is a ritual that recalls the story of Lady Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (may Allah be pleased with her), when she ran in search of water for her son in Makkah. Pilgrims walk back and forth seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, following in her footsteps and reflecting on her perseverance and faith in God’s mercy and generosity.   Finally, the pilgrimage concludes with Tahallul, the symbolic act of shaving or trimming the hair. For men, this often means shaving the head entirely or cutting the hair short, while women usually trim a small, symbolic portion. This act represents self-renewal and the completion of the pilgrimage.