Wondering when you’ll be able to satiate your wanderlust this year? We delve into your sun sign’s travel personality and with numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani chart out your travel horoscope for 2016.
2016 promises to be a great year for travelling, especially for those born under the signs of Scorpio, Aries, Pisces, Sagittarius, Taurus and Libra. However, a word of caution for all signs—avoid dates adding up to 4 (4th, 13th, 22nd, 31st) or 8 (8th, 17th, 26th). Ruled by the planets of trial, these dates have seen major calamities and airline disasters. Avoid wearing black or red while travelling, or atleast at your journey’s onset, as their governing planets make them accident-prone.
AQUARIUS
What the stars say about you: You’re outgoing, friendly and make great travel companions. As an air sign, you have wheels on your feet and are happy to travel at a moment’s notice. You prefer flying to taking the road.
Predicted travel months: May, June, September, October
Customised to fly: Landing amidst sub-alpine mountains and river Paro Chhu, your trip to Bhutan starts with a visual treat. It also has sub-tropical forests in the south. Visit anytime from summer to early winter and partake in its numerous festivals. You can even checkup up Sikkim Tourism for some similar stunning landscape views within the country. The people there are friendly, the food delicious and you will probably bring home a tonne of travel stories from them. Wish to travel farther? Even if you’ve watched Madagascar, nothing can prepare you for its delightful rainforests, desert canyons, flora and lemurs, yes lemurs. Visa is on arrival. Beach bums, you’ll reach Seychelles islands quicker now thanks to new direct flights. Bhutan and Seychelles won’t ask you for a visa. For island-hopping closer home, go to the Andamans. Dive, relax and don’t miss South Asia’s only active volcano, Barren Island.
PISCES
What the stars say about you: Unpredictable like your symbol (two fishes moving in opposite directions), it’s impossible to know which direction you’ll take. But as a water sign, broad expanses of water always appeal to you.
Predicted travel months: February, March, June, July, October, November
Customised for water babies: Norway maybe the highlight of 2016 for you, due to its weakened currency. Ferry across its magnificent fjords, explore its Viking past, or post August, catch the midnight sun and take a Northern Lights’ cruise. That said, Croatia’s coastal city, Zadar has one of the world’s best sunsets. But if sunsets don’t excite you, tour the Game of Thrones shooting spots. India, obviously has no dearth of coastlines with each region offering a distinct experience, but for amazing coral, Lakshadweep is the best pick. If you’re into water sports, Odisha hosts India’s only surfing festival, in winter, and around March and April, Olive Ridley turtles throng its beaches to hatch eggs.
ARIES
What the stars say about you: True foodies, you won’t mind travelling the globe for your passion. And you’ll also probably carry your kitchen with you!
Predicted travel months: March, April, July, August, November, December
Customised for food-trotters: MasterChef Australia may prompt you to go to well, Australia to sate your palate, but Tokyo remains the food capital for connoisseurs right alongside Paris that has the most number of Michelin three-star restaurants. Prefer something more earthy? The tapas bars of Barcelona and its Catalan cuisine should be right up your alley, as should Switzerland’s gourmet scene that’s picking up pace. In winter, pick strawberries at farms in Mahabaleshwar or go on an apple trail to Kashmir’s apple-growing cousin, Himachal. Start your trail at Thanedar, where Himachal’s first red apples were cultivated a century ago.
TAURUS
What the stars say about you: Ruled by Venus, you have a penchant for luxuries and a refined taste in travel and accommodation. With the ‘bull’ as your symbol, you can be obstinate, but can be tamed by love. Travel to get pampered.
Predicted travel months: February, March, April, May, September, October
Customised for luxury: Confused between Davos and St Moritz? James Bond, chose the latter for his exclusive ski-resort experience on the Swiss Alps. If that’s too mainstream for you, Aspen in Colorado, United States, with its high-end ski resorts and restaurants is just as great. For an aqua escapade, book a private beach villa in Monaco, tour the city in your personal, luxury yacht (or get invited to a yacht party) and catch the Formula One race there, in May. Bora Bora, in French Polynesia, also has some fantastic water villas and if you time it right, you’ll bump into Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Anniston and the Kardashians. If you’re yet to explore the Thar in India, nothing speaks royalty like Rajasthan with its opulent palace hotets.
GEMINI
What the stars say about you: The most flirtatious of the twelve signs, you make friends easily. With Mercury as your ruler, your love for travel is assured and your passport will always be brimming with immigration stamps.
Predicted travel months: January, February, May, June, September, October
Customised for romance: You’re bound to like the ‘gondolas of Venice’ experience, at the Amalfi coast, of course. Lined with boutique hotels, beautiful sunscapes and more, it will be a trip to remember. A new favourite among couples is Turkey for hot-air ballooning across Cappadocia, natural hot springs in Pamukkale and plenty of beaches.Sensational Istanbul attracts history buffs and party animals alike. To travel more, you may want to save. So try Ukraine, its exchange rate has weakened. The capital Kiev is eclectic, has rich architecture and shares more similarities with Asia than you’d imagine. Garhwal in Uttarakhand is relaxing, romantic and exciting all at same time. You can do nothing, or go trekking to the Valley of flowers, rafting in Rishikesh or skiing at Auli.
CANCER
What the stars say about you: As a water sign, you have an innate desire to move around. You can easily mix work with pleasure. But the crab’s walk shows your inconsistent nature. You’re also sensitive, so choose your travel partners well.
Predicted travel months: February, March, June, July, October, November
Customised for aqua activity: Hong Kong maybe just the place for you with easy Wi-Fi access for work, exciting local food and gourmet restaurants, party places, shopping haunts, theme parks and islands nearby, including Macau. Dubai too offers action-packed, aqua-adventure vacations with Wild Wadi Waterpark and dolphin-swims at Atlantis. The new Monarch cruise is all set to sail off Mumbai’s coast for Colombo and Singapore, combining cricket, entertainment and Sanjeev Kapoor’s kitchen. For the far seas, try National Geographic Explorer voyages to Iceland and Greenland.
Read: Things to do in Dubai
LEO
What the stars say about you: You make friends easily, but like your symbol ‘the lion’, enemies as well, as you’re ferocious and dominating. More comfortable in a position of authority, it’s best you travel with good followers for an enjoyable trip.
Predicted travel months: March, April, July, August, November, December
Customised for groups: Wouldn’t it be lovely to see the Northern Lights (soon to be elusive), swim with sharks and go tizzy at Copenhagen’s antique amusement park, Tivoli Gardens with friends or family? If you go in July, you can celebrate early Christmas with the biggest Santa Clause Congress. Also trending among the youth is Prague for budget-stay options, nightlife and culture spilling on cobblestone streets. Want something for everyone? South Africa offers glamping and safaris at Kruger National Park, table mountains and culture at Cape Town and Johannesburg. Though Hampi is known for its heritage, it has unique topography and a bohemian side catered by world music shops, cycles on rent, boulder-climbing tours and guest houses overlooking paddy fields.
VIRGO
What the stars say about you: You’re an Earth sign, grounded and indifferent to travel. However with Mercury ruling, you’ll get to globe-trot and chances are you’ll enjoy it. Likely to travel for both work and pleasure, you prefer to stay put in a place for a while. Packing and unpacking is not really your thing.
Predicted travel months: January, May, June, August, September, December
Customised for reluctant travellers: Try out ‘slow travel’ in Rome, and once there, do as the Romans do. The city of history and museums, it’s a cultural extravaganza… you won’t notice how days fly past. In eastern Europe, Budapest’s quaint ruinpubs, relaxing open-air baths, street food and cobblestone paths may charm their way to your heart, but it is the people who’ll truly make you feel at ease. For a friendly welcome in our own country, head to Sikkim to meet Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutias; try their cuisine, visit Buddhist temples and explore wildlife parks, glaciers and lakes.
LIBRA
What the stars say about you: As an air sign, travel is in your blood and with Venus as your ruler, luxury is more your thing. Likely to listen more to your heart than your head, you’re impulsive and enjoy being surrounded by those younger than you.
Predicted travel months: January, February, May, June, September, October
Customised for those who like it hip: With great music and vibrant nightlife, Mykonos and Ibiza will awaken the party animal in you like no other. Stay young, stay carefree! Closer to home, Bali’s party scene is quite cool like its beaches, well-priced hotels and plethora of activities. Keen on luxury? Stay at hotels on the French Riviera and ferry or fly to the fabulous Corsica, where Ranbir Kapoor met Deepika Padukone in Tamasha. Others hotspots this year will be Brazil, the 2016 Olympics host and Trinidad and Tobago—SRK bought its cricket team, visa is on arrival and carnivals are crazy!
SCORPIO
What the stars say about you: A unique water sign with Mars as the ruler, you are a travel foodie with a temper. It gives you plenty of energy, which translates into readiness for travel risks and a thirst for adventure.
Predicted travel months: February, March, June, July, October, November
Customised for adventurers and foodies: Tarifa in Spain is one of the world’s best kite-surfing places and for food lovers, there’s Catalan cuisine in Barcelona and an amalgum of cuisines (thanks to Spain’s location and history of invasions) in Madrid. Steeped in poverty till 5 years ago, South Korea now boasts dazzling skylines. And, Korean food is the new Thai. Thanks to the kimchi revolution, everyone’s talking about it! Also add to your list, Meghalaya, a unique, cosmopolitan culture pot, home to cherry blossoms, living root bridges, rock bands, and in November, the wine festival and Mei Ramew, which showcases indigenous cuisines of all north-eastern states and others too.
SAGGITARIUS
What the stars say about you: As the archer, you’re straight forward and expect the same of others. A fire sign foodie and lavish traveller, you prefer boutique hotels to resorts. Your sign ensures you’re never cash crunched.
Predicted travel months: March, April, July, August, November, December
Customised for quirky luxury: With lovely islands, boutique hotels, museums, Mediterannean cuisine, Greece offers myriad experiences. And with its weakened economy, now you’ll get more bang for your buck. For food, Japan has more to offer than sushi; try a typical robatayaki dinner in Tokyo. The city is on the Michelin list for amazing culinary experiences. From the tiny capsules to ryokan (inns with communal baths) and robot-run hotels, your stay here can be luxe yet different. In India, nothing spells ’boutique hotels’ like Goa, which has them with infinity pools overlooking the sea, themed around art, placed amidst forests, or housed in 500-year-old Portugese homes.
CAPRICORN
What the stars say about you: Your Earth sign makes you grounded and a bit reserved, so you’re likely to enjoy travelling solo or venture out with a select few.
Predicted travel months: March, May, June, August, September
Customised for rarity: Antartica with its legendary landscapes and wildlife encounters requires minimal companionship and this year it will host the 1st Antarctic Biennale of Contemporary Art. For the cold averse, exotic Ecuador has highlands, rare marine life, Amazonian rainforests and food to die for. If you’re US-bound, build a city, only to have it burnt down and experience a gift economy during the Burning Man festival, in Nevada. Myanmar and Rwanda, after years of civil war, are now safe. Though not for the masses, a sign known to recognise the prince in the frog, you’ll appreciate the beautiful temples of Bagan and Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. From India’s gems, try the the floating islands of Manipur, a state that shares the mainland’s love for Bollywood.
This article written by us was originally published in DNA on 10.01.2016 with additional destination inputs by Pooja Bhula and numerological insights by Sanjay Jumani.