Oct 24, 2024
A Round up of The Best Worldwide Music Festivals we Visit on our Tours
Kudu Travel offers an extraordinary blend of cultural immersion and scenic exploration through our carefully curated music tours. From the enchanting operas at the Savonlinna Festival and the intimate chamber performances at Kuhmo to the open-air splendour of Santa Fe Opera and the alpine magic of the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, each holiday is a perfect harmony of world-class music and stunning landscapes.
Here’s a handy round-up of some of the must-see music festivals that we visit on our cultural music and walking holidays – that all feature on our tour dates calendar next year:
Finland: Savonlinna Opera and the Kuhmo Festival
18 – 25 July 2025
This is one of our original tours, which first ran in 1999, and combines two very different but special festivals.
The Savonlinna Opera Festival has recently been awarded the International Opera Award in the Festival category.
The midsummer Opera Festival at Savonlinna in Finland is internationally famed, not just for the calibre of the performances, but also for its magical setting in the covered courtyard of the 15th century mediaeval castle rising dramatically out of the lake.This renowned event attracts opera lovers from across the globe, with high calibre performances. We will attend two performances here. Click here to view the programme.
Further north, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival is less well known and more intimate, yet still attracts artists and audiences from all over the world and has been ranked consistently amongst the world’s top music festivals. Kudu’s cultural walking holiday to Kuhmo allows you to experience the festival’s serene atmosphere, alongside leisurely walks through Finland’s unspoilt wilderness.
Our itinerary features short, gentle walks to explore this idyllic region of pine and silver birch forest and tranquil lakes; a boat trip in search of the unique Saimaa Seal and soaring ospreys; three chamber music concerts of the Kuhmo Festival and two performances at the Savonlinna opera festival.
Switzerland: Walks and Music at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival
18 - 24 August 2025
Each summer the Swiss Alpine town of Gstaad is the setting for the Menuhin Festival, the inspirational legacy of one of the world’s greatest violinists, Yehudi Menuhin. The festival, synonymous with musical excellence, is mostly held in the frescoed churches of the Saanenland region of the Swiss Bernese Oberland.
On our walking holiday to Gstaad, you’ll attend four concerts, each featuring world-class musicians and orchestras. The combination of exquisite music and the breathtaking alpine scenery makes the Gstaad Menuhin Festival an unforgettable cultural experience, perfectly blending musical excellence with guided walking trips in the Swiss Alps.
Santa Fe Opera, Georgia O’Keeffe and Walks in the Southwest
9 - 21 August 2025
The Santa Fe Opera Festival is a new addition to Kudu Travel’s music tours, set against the dramatic backdrop of New Mexico’s desert landscapes. This world-renowned festival is celebrated for its innovative productions and the striking opera house, where performances unfold under the vast night sky and audiences gaze out to the desert landscape through the unobstructed open sides. On this cultural walking holiday, you'll not only enjoy the finest opera but also explore the breathtaking scenery of Santa Fe’s red rock canyons and the rich cultural heritage of this vibrant region that inspired America's painter, Georgia O’Keeffe.
We will attend Verdi’s Rigoletto and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, plus we will attend a concert of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. We also will take a backstage tour of the theatre, where you will discover how an opera production comes together.
Norway: Walking in the Fjords, with the Bergen Music Festival and Opera in Oslo
24 – 31 May 2025
Our walking holiday to Norway offers a unique combination of walking in Norway’s Fjords with two performances – one at the Bergen International Music Festival, in the beautiful setting of the 13th century Håkonshallen, built for the wedding and coronation of King Magnus Lagabøte in 1261, and the second –a performance of Puccini’s Tosca at the acclaimed Oslo Opera.
The Bergen Music festival features a dazzling array of music, dance, and theatre performances, set against the charming backdrop of Bergen’s historic waterfront.
These cultural walking holidays invite you to immerse yourself in the beauty of timeless performances, enhanced by the backdrop of stunning landscapes and guided walking by our expert leaders.