Rough Guides: 5 Reasons to Travel in May

Rough Guides has announced its list of recommended places to visit in May

Is your calendar looking depressingly empty? When there’s no getaway planned and the summer holidays are still month away, it’s the perfect time to squeeze in a mini escape – and what better to reason than to experience a different culture in all its glory? Local festivals and events often present us a link with the traditions of the past, and by taking part in a unique local event we can begin to appreciate the culture of a place and its people more deeply. And, of course, you’ll normally have a great time too. These five quirky May festivals – some close to home, some a little harder to get to – all offer great reasons to pack a bag and get out there this month.

The 5 May Festivals Worth Travelling For list compiled by Rough Guides comprises five of the most interesting and unusual festivals and events happening around the world.

Rough Guides hopes to inspire people to travel to places they wouldn’t have thought of before

● The travel brand wants to encourage travellers to be open to new experiences

● Watch this space for the Reasons to Travel in June list coming out next month

May 2019 – Rough Guides has announced its list of reasons to travel in May. The list is designed to highlight unusual festivals and events happening around the world this month and provide readers with inspiration for their next travel experience. It’s the first of a monthly recommendations list from Rough Guides, which the travel brand plans to run for the first few months of the summer.

This month’s reasons to travel are:

Cheung Chau bun festival in Hong Kong, a 5-day festival that includes grown adults climbing up a 60ft tower of steamed buns.

Land-Diving on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, an anxiety-inducing festival that features local men hurling themselves towards the ground from a great height attached by nothing but vines.

Cinco de Mayo in Puebla, Mexico, where there are month-long festivities including a parade, a food festival , and a state fair.

Maldon Mud Race in Essex, UK, a very messy event where participants must try to run through the thick sediment of the River Blackwater riverbed.

Snake Festival in Cocullo, Spain, where a life size statue of a saint is paraded through the town with a mass of live snakes writhing on its head.

Each festival has a unique history and origin story, which is explained in the article on the Rough Guides website.

Jenny Cahill-Jones, senior online editor at Rough Guides, says,

“At Rough Guides we're always looking for interesting travel experiences, and we've picked out some of the most interesting festivals and events happening around the world in May to inspire people to get out there and see the world in a new way. Festivals and events are normally a connection to the past, and only by experiencing a unique local event do we begin to appreciate the culture of a place and its people. And, of course, you’ll normally have a great time too.”

To read more about the Rough Guides recommendations about where to travel in May, visit https://www.roughguides.com/article/5-reasons-to-travel-in-may/

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About Rough Guides
Rough Guides is synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy “tell it like it is” ethos. The brand has been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, especially independent travellers seeking off-the-beaten-track experiences.

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