Keep it short

Short breaks are ideal for a workaholic. A weekend trip to a new place is easy on the wallet, allows for creative inspiration and increases your productivity (before the vacation, that is). Our pick of offbeat and must-visit places:

Holy deal

In a first of sorts, Daiwik Hotels Private Limited has introduced the concept of specialty pilgrimage hospitality in South India, with the launch of its first property in Rameswaram. The hotel is also planning an exclusive 3D/3N package, ‘In the Footsteps of Lord Rama’, which explores a 7,000-year-old sacred trail. The trip has been vouched for by Subhadra Sengupta, an author on Indian pilgrimages  (Let’s Go Time Travelling, Ashoka, The Great and Compassionate King, etc). Priced at Rs 22,500.

Details: daiwikhotels.com

Lava land

How about a climb up a volcano? India’s only active Barren Island volcano (351m high) is situated among the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It remained dormant almost two centuries, till it erupted in 1991. The island can be visited with the permission of the Forest Department. Cox & Kings offers a 4D/3N package to Port Blair, priced from Rs 8,409 onwards.

Details: coxandkings.com

Walk the talk

Trekking aficionados can head for Munnar, Kerala, with its British bungalows and cardamom plantations. You could sign up with Nature Unseen, a conservation outfit. Siby Munnar, a historian and naturalist, organises treks to the mountains, which offer a 360 degree view. Ezeego1.com offers 3D/4N trips to Munnar and Kumarakom, priced at Rs 8,644.

Details: ezeego1.com

Off the cliff

Thailand has always been a big draw for tourists, but the free Wi-Fi access in over 1,600 hotspots in tourist destinations nationwide, gives us another reason to visit the island. Visit Krabi and its 140+ islands and you will recognise landscapes from movies like The Beach, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and the Jackie Chan remake, Around the World in 80 Days. A Cox & Kings package is priced at Rs 16,803.

Details: coxandkings.com