The Kandy festival or The Festival of Tooth is known as The Esala Perahera in Sri Lanka. It is one of the most ancient and grandeur of all fairs and festivals there. The festival starts with planting of a purified jackfruit tree which is then blessed with sandalwood scented water and the main Priest of Vishnu Temple recites prayers. The first five days of the festival are celebrated dancing and drumming outside temples of Kandy.
Later on sixth evening onwards, pre-cessions take place from the Temples towards Temple of the Tooth. The highlight of the festival is procession of the last evening as an enormous elephant carrying a gold casket which has a relic of the Tooth and is followed by dancers, drummers, musicians and flag bearers mesmerizing the crowd on the street.
Day 1: Arrive Colombo
Arrive Colombo, meet assist at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Later, city tour of Colombo.
The trade and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of color. Visit impressive Parliament House, designed by celebrated architect, Geoffrey Bawa.
Overnight in Colombo.
Day 2: Colombo – Dambulla (155 Km / 4 Hours)
Arrival at Colombo airport and transfer to Dambulla. On arrival check in at the hotel. Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that king Valagam Bahu took refuge from invasions in 1st century B.C. and turned the rocks into a cave temple.
Late afternoon visit Golden Cave Temples in Dambulla. Few of its frescoes are over 2000 years old. Another attraction is a gigantic figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the living rock which is about 15 metres long. The caves have a combination of religious paintings and sculptures with ceiling frescoes depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life and Sinhalese history. The Temples contain some of the world’s finest ancient Buddhist art.
Overnight stay.
Day 3: Dambulla – Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Dambulla (140 Km / 3 Hours)
After breakfast go for tour of Sigiriya Rock fortress. Sigiriya is also considered to be The 8th wonder of the Ancient World. You will be fascinated setting your eyes upon this strange shaped rock with ruins of a palace and citadel hanging on to its sides. A rusty staircase leads you to a cave gallery that has frescoes of the famous Sigiriya Maidens.
Later drive to Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka between 11th and 14th Century. Visit the ruins of temples, palaces and stupas which till date remain in excellent state of preservation. Also visit The Gal Vihare with three huge rockcut images of Buddha. It is known as one of the world’s great masterpieces of sculpture. Enjoy a ride on elephant back in Habarana through the forests and villages. In the evening, return to Dambulla for overnight stay.
Day 4: Dambulla – Kandy (75 Km / 2 Hours)
Morning breakfast at the hotel and then visit a spice garden in Matale on the way to Kandy to see many different types of spices, Sri Lanka is famous for. Later leave for Kandy. Upon arrival check in at the hotel. KANDY, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a World Heritage Site which still retains an aura of grandeur. The town is encircled by hills and a serene lake in its centre, it is also site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens – considered to be home of one of the world’s best Orchids collection. In the evening, you will enjoy The Kandy festival or The Festival of Tooth which is celebrated for ten days.
It is believed to commemo- rate the first teachings given by Gautam Buddha after he was enlightened. The term “Perahera” means a procession in Sinhalese. During the festival, there is a huge procession of thousands of dancers, musicians, acrobats and other artists who participate in this gala event. The biggest attraction of the procession is also a large number of caparisoned Elephants who accompany these performers in the streets to celebrate this auspicious occasion. The main reason for this event is to receive blessings of God for good rain to ensure good harvest. Overnight stay.
Day 5: Kandy
Morning go for excursion to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and Peradeniya Gardens. Its Orchid Houses are special attraction. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is Sri Lanka’s unique tourist attraction. It is a wonderful experience to spend a couple of hours in the company of over 70 elephants, the largest herd in the entire world. You can come here for feeding the elephants at 9 am or enjoy see them bath in the Maha Oya River.
Then visit Peradeniya Gardens and Royal Botanical Gardens which are said to be one of the most spectacular gardens in South Asia. The most notable features of the gardens are the Orchid House which houses a collection of over 300 variety of Sri Lankan orchids and spice garden. In the evening get ready to enjoy the grandeur of Kandy festival which will leave you spellbound with its sound, music and rhythm. Overnight stay.
Day 6: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya (120 Km / 4 Hours)
Morning drive to Nuwara Eliya which is situated at an altitude of 1,868m. It was the original Hill Station of the British tea planters who came to Ceylon, as it was then known. It was built during 19th century and its architecture reminds that of an English country town, with red-brick walls. Blessed with salubrious climate, spectacular views of valleys, meadows and mountains; it’s difficult to believe that we are only 180 km away from the hot and humid Colombo.
There is a Grand Hotel, Hill Club and a Golf Course which is the oldest in Asia and even a Race Course – all of which are reminders of an English social life of bygone era which once thrived here. We later depart from Kandy and proceed towards Nuwara Eliya visiting a Tea plantation and Factory to give you an insight of the local tea manufacturing process as well as day to day routine life of local workers there. Arrive at Nuwara Eliya and check in at hotel for overnight stay.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya – Yala (200 Km / 5 Hours) + Train
After breakfast check out from hotel and depart for Nanu-oya Train station to board the train to Ella. The scenery en-route is wonderful and much better than travelling by road. You be provided pic-nic lunch on board. Reach Ella which is a small town blessed with some of the most stunning views. Ella is also used as a base for trekking trips to the neighboring countryside.
You will get a taste of its beauty by just walking into the Garden of the Grand Ella Motel (Formerly Ella Rest House), where you would feel that you are standing at the edge of the world. We later continue our journey towards Yala and after arrival check-in at hotel. Yala is an incredible destination that has been admired as an unparalleled testimony to the beauty of the wilderness, nature at its best. It is one of the best places in the world to spot leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and a wide range of birdlife.
Day 8: Yala – Galle – Colombo (290 Km / 6 Hours)
Morning enjoy exclusive jeep safari in the national park. Yala, the largest national park in Sri Lanka is very reminiscent of the African savannah and is the place where the greatest variety of wildlife can be observed. Herds of Spotted Deer, Sambar (Elk) and Wild Boar are common. Yala is now gaining an international reputation as the best place to watch Leopards in the world.
The aggressive Sloth Bear is also present but rarely seen. Yala also contains about 250 Elephants including some magnificent solitary cross-tuskers. Before reaching Colombo, en-route stop to visit the Old World Town of Galle which is known for a charming Old Dutch Fort (1640), one of the best preserved forts in Asia, whose ramparts enclose an Old Town of great historical and architectural value. Finally reach Colombo and overnight stay.
Day 9: Departure Colombo
Departure transfer to airport to catch flight for onward destination.
| Place | Night (s) | 5* Hotels |
| Colombo | 01 | The Kingsbury |
| Sigiriya | 02 | Elephant Corridor |
| Kandy | 02 | Grand Kandyan |
| Nuwara Eliya | 01 | The Grand |
| Yala | 01 | Jetwing Yala |
| Colombo | 01 | The Kingsbury |
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– Meet assist at the airport and hotels.
– 08 nights hotel accommodation.
– Daily breakfast and Dinners.
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions by private AC vehicle as per the program.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guides during city tour, sightseeing and excursions.
– Entrance fees to the monuments as per the program.
-Morning Jeep safari in National Park.
– Cultural dance show in Kandy.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.