So much in Asia depends on the calendar. In February in Beijing, more than 20 million people all set off fireworks to celebrate Chinese New Year. In Nagaland in India, tribes from all over the region meet to compete, dance, and celebrate. In Thailand, spectators look on as celebrants perform bizarre rituals at the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.
With an intimate and unique knowledge of Asian culture, Remote Lands knows the importance of experiencing culture the right way. Whether you want an up-close view of the Sing-Sing festival in the Asaro Valley of Papua New Guinea or a quiet walk through the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, Remote Lands can give travelers the best possible experience on their celebrations throughout Asia.
The 5th Melanesian Festival invites cultural groups from across the South Pacific to visit Papua New Guinea and participate in this vibrant two-week cultural and art exhibition. Port Moresby hosts the major events, with Kokopo, Alotau, Wewak and Mt. Hagen also joining in the fun with a series of performances and shows.
A month filled with performances, handicraft exhibitions, cultural displays and other activities comes to tropical Bali during June and July. Bringing the best of Indonesia’s art scene, Bali’s Arts Festival encourages locals and tourists to enjoy Balinese culture together.
This two-day festival is celebrated by the Bisaya people of Sarawak and attracts visitors from all over. The Bisaya honor their buffalos with a carnival featuring dance and music performances, traditional food and handmade crafts. The highlight is an exciting bareback buffalo race between teams from Limbang, Sabah and Brunei.
This popular, colorful one-day festival is followed by two public holidays, and is celebrated throughout China. Sticky dumplings and wine are traditionally shared among friends, and people flock to the river banks to watch exciting dragon boat races. There are also market fairs with games, music and dancing.
During Dragon Boat Festival, local teams race against each other in their fiercely decorated dragon boats with some of the biggest and most competitive in Stanley. Spectators can expect pounding drums and roaring crowds, alongside cold beers and live music on site.
This two-day event welcomes teams from across the world to compete in the ancient sport of Dragon Boat Racing. Families, sports fans and anyone craving a good dose of adrenalin flock to Bedok Reservoir to soak up the competitive atmosphere, which is fueled by roaring crowds and the relentless sound of beating drums.
Despite its name, the Dragon Boat (or Duanwu Festival) is not just about boats. Although you will find a whole host of adrenaline-filled races, there's much more to see and do. Other favorite activities on this one-day national holiday involve eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), drinking realgar wine and enjoying the big party.
This Formula One motor racing event was first held in the capital in 2017 on the Baku City Circuit which features a mixture of wide and open as well as tight and twisting stretches, with a long main straight along the Baku shoreline.
Held at India’s wealthiest monastery in Ladakh, this two-day festival celebrates the birthday of Guru Padamasambhava, and the triumph of good over evil. People dress up in brightly-colored clothes and wear unique masks, sing and dance, and a market is held where local handicrafts are sold.
Clambering inside a massive volcanic crater may sound a bit crazy, but on the island of Java, this means one thing – it’s the annual one-day Yadnya Kasada Festival. Hundreds of Indonesians climb inside the crater to deliver offerings to the gods. The religious festival takes place at the foot of Mount Bromo, which makes for an incredibly beautiful setting.
