Sri Lanka is the land of festivals and traditions… one of the most magnificent of these festivals is the Kandy Esala Perahera. This is a religious festival and one of the biggest Buddhist celebrations of the year, during which devotees pray for good rains to cultivate the crops. One of Buddhism’s most sacred relics, the Sacred Tooth is taken from the Temple of the Tooth and paraded through the streets in a golden bejeweled casket that sits on top of the majestic ‘Maligawa” (temple) elephant. Following the parade many more festive events take centre stage and visitors can expect to see a lively cast of Kandyan dancers and drummers in colorful traditional costumes. Kandyan Chieftains in medieval court dress, gaily caparisoned elephants numbering almost one hundred, country dancers, acrobats, whip crackers, torch bearers etc., make it an unforgettable experience for any traveler……
Tour Plan – 12 Nights , 13 Days Tour
Sri Lanka Tour Itinerary
Day1
Arrival at Colombo Airport.
Day 1 – Arrival / Colombo
Arrival in Sri Lanka.Meeting and assistance at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Colombo.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – COLOMBO (STANDARD ROOM)
Day 2 – Colombo
Sri Lanka tour Colombo Late morning, a city tour of Colombo – a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree lined residential Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarter in Pettah, the bazaar area, a Hindu Temple, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1794, the historical Davatagaha Mosque. Also visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara (Buddhist Temple) believed to be the site visited by Lord Buddha 2500 years ago.
Evening at leisure.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – COLOMBO (STANDARD ROOM)
Day 3 – Colombo / Pinnawala / Sigiriya
Sri Lanka festival tour kandy Morning visit the elephant orphanage at Pinnawala. The bathing time at the river is 1000 – 1400 hours.
In the evening, leave for Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to climb the 5th century A.D. Rock Fortress. The vision of a patricidal king named Kasyapa transformed an awesome monolith into a cloud swept city. The mirror wall, which, protects a series of exquisite murals (frescoes of celestial maidens using natural pigments) and the Lion’s Paw entrance to the ruined palace on the summit are well worth the effort of the ascent.
Sri Lanka tour sigiriya rock sri lanka tour sigiriya murals
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – SIGIRIYA (CLASSIC ROOM)
Day 4 – Sigiriya / Anuradhapura / Aukana / Sigiriya
Sri Lanka tour anuradhapura.After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura, the capital of Sri Lanka, 3rd century B.C, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the city of stupas and monasteries, steeped in antiquity. Visit the oldest historically documented tree in the world. This is a branch from the Original peepul or Bo tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The tree continues to be venerated today after an unbroken period of 23 centuries. The ruins of the “Brazen Palace”, the twin ponds, the queens’ baths and other relics of a bygone age speak of an ancient grandeur that is almost tangible even today.
Sri Lanka tour aukana Visit Aukana, which is one hour’s drive from Anuradhapura is famed for its magnificent 39 foot rock-cut statue of Lord Buddha, considered one of the finest ancient stone sculpture in Asia.
Evening return to Sigiriya.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – SIGIRIYA (CLASSIC ROOM)
Day 5 – Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Minneriya / Sigiriya
Sri Lanka tour polonnaruwa.After b’fast leave for Polonnaruwa, a former capital of Sri Lanka 11th to 12th century. A.D. and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, an obvious South Indian influence on the architecture is noticeable. The Gal Vihare comprises of four colossal statues of the Buddha carved out of the living rock stand testimony to the skill of master craftsmen. Visit also the Tivanka Pilimage with its priceless murals and the vast man-made lake that is the Sea of Parakrama – a feat of ancient engineering.
Evening leave for the Minneriya National Park to see “The Gathering’ where this phenomenon of over 100 elephants converge towards the Minneriya Reservoir in search of water during the dry season.
Evening return to Sigiriya
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – SIGIRIYA (CLASSIC ROOM)
Day 6 – Sigiriya / Matale / Kandy
Sri Lanka festival tour dambulla.Morning leave for Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to visit the rock cave temple, which is comprised of a series of 5 caverns with ceilings of natural rock covered with intricate paintings. The natural folds of the rock have been skillfully used to given the illusion of cloth. Forty eight statues of the Buddha and images of the various deities can be seen inside the cave.
Thereafter leave for Kandy enroute visiting the Spice Gardens at Matale.
Kandy was the seat of the Kandyan Kings from the 14th century A.D. and is a repository of Sinhala culture.
Sri Lanka tour kandy perahera festival tour After early dinner view the Kandy Perahera, the annual pageant of gaily caparisoned Elephants, dancers, drummers, torch bearers, whip crackers, torch spinners. The Maligawa Tusker carries the bejeweled, golden relic casket; stepping gracefully on the yards of white cloth laid on the road.
PERAHERA VIEWING – QUEENS HOTEL CORRIDOR
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – Kandy (DELUXE ROOM)
Day 7 – Kandy
Morning visit the Temple of the tooth or the Dalada Maligawa as it is called is a UNESCO World Heritage site
Then enjoy a city tour of Kandy – drive around the beautiful lake and the upper lake drive. Visit the Arts and Crafts centre where you can buy Kandyan silver and brass ware, Metal work, Lacquer work, Wood and bone carvings, Pottery and Hand woven fabrics. Demonstrations of artisans at work.
In the afternoon visit the Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and the Embekke Temples belonging to the 14th century. Gadaladeniya is built of stone and reminds us of the South Indian influence of the period. Lankatilaka temple is a magnificent brick building in white and in the shrine room is found a superb seated image of the Buddha. Embekke temple is famed for its carved wooden pillars with intricate designs.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – Hotel in Kandy (DELUXE ROOM)
Day 8 – Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
Morning leave for the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, a formerly the pleasure gardens of the Sinhala Queens. The gardens contain over 4000 species of plants. The avenue of the Royal Palms, the bamboo fringed Riverside drive, the Bat drive with a vast collection of flying foxes who spend the daylight hours hanging upside down, are some of the special features of this lovely garden. There is also an Orchid house, a Spice garden, a Herb garden and Glass house of Anthuriums, Begonias, African Violets and other greenhouse plants.
Sri Lanka festival tour nuwara Eliya tea plucker Then leave for Nuwara Eliya in the heart of the tea country, which was established by the British as a replica of a little English village reminiscent of the Lake District. Even today Tudor and Victorian style houses with trim English gardens speak of a gentler age. An 18 hole golf course and the picturesque lake are a year round attraction. Tour this unusual little city and en route visit a tea factory where you can see the intricacies that go into the manufacture of the world’s best loved brew.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – Nuwara Eliya -Hotel
Day 9 – Nuwara Eliya / Yala / Tissamaharama
In the morning leave for Yala.
Sri Lanka tour yala sri lanka tour yala
Evening, a half day safari at the Yala National Park or the Ruhunu National Park which is a sanctuary for a variety of wild life. The Ceylon elephant roams freely here and close encounters are not uncommon. Leopards, deer, sambhur, wild buffalo, crocodiles and monitor lizards are among the larger mammals that can be observed in their natural habitat.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – Hotel in Yala (STANDARD ROOM)
Day 10 – Tissamaharama / Galle / Ahungalla
Sri Lanka festival tour galle Morning, leave for Galle, the seafarer’s capital to visit the natural harbor and the Dutch Fortress with its towering ramparts and the medieval Dutch buildings.
Then proceed to the beach en route visiting the Mask carving center at Ambalangoda.
Evening at leisure.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – AHUNGALLA Hotel(DELUXE OCEAN FRONT ROOM)
Day 11 – Ahungalla
Sri Lanka festival tour beach At leisure – free to enjoy the beach or explore local villages.
OVERNIGHT WITH BREAKFAST – AHUNGALLA Hotel (DELUXE OCEAN ROOM)
Day 12 – Ahungalla / Colombo
Morning leave for Colombo en route visiting the turtle hatcheries at Balapitiya.
Afternoon shopping at the Malls and the handicrafts centers.
Evening proceed to Colombo.
Day13
Colombo-Airport.
Today visit Parliament Complex, Dutch Home Museum,War Memorial, Public Library, National Museum, Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo Town Hall, and many more…
Departure
Departure to the airport
END OF SRI LANKA TOUR – KANDY PERAHERA FESTIVAL / OUR SERVICES
*Itinerary is subject to change due to changes in local conditions or for circumstances beyond our control.
RELAX & SHOPPING…GOODBYE TO SRI LANKA
