Sri Lanka, Kandy Perahera Festival

Depart the USA:
International airfare is not included in the tour price, as many wish to use air miles and favorite airlines. You may book your individual air transportation to Sri Lanka or if you wish, we will be happy to assist with your air bookings.

Day 1 - August 2017(Sun)  -  Arrival in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Upon arrival you will be met and welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Colombo.
Overnight in Colombo 

Accommodations for the Tour:  Please note there are two options for hotels on this tour a 4 & 5 star, and a 3 & 4 star facilities.  These are all listed at the end of the itinerary under Tour Details and Tour Price.

Day 2 - August  (Mon)  -  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 in Colombo     B
 

Day 3 - August  -   Colombo / Pinnawala / Sigiriya 
This morning visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala in time for the bathing hours.  Watch as the elephants are herded to the river for their daily bath. 

In the afternoon, 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.
Overnight in Sigiriya   B

Day 4 - August  (Wed) - Sigiriya/Anuradhapura/Aukana/Sigiriya
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.

Visit Aukana, which is one hour's drive, from Anuradhapura and 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 in Sigiriya.  B 

Day 5 - Aug     Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Minneriya / Sigiriya
After breakfast 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 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 in Sigiriya 

Day 6 -  Aug     Sigiriya / Matale / Kandy
This 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 give the illusion of cloth.  Forty-eight statues of the Buddha and images of the various deities can be seen inside the cave.

Next leave for Kandy enroute visiting the Spice Gardens at Matale.    Sri Lanka has long been renowned for its spices. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka brought their native cuisines to the island, resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Here you will learn about fragrant clove, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace and pepper, and many other favorites such as chocolate and vanilla.  Sri Lankan people use spices liberally in their dishes.
 
Continue on to Kandy.   Kandy was the seat of the Kandyan Kings from the 14th century A.D. and is a repository of Sinhala culture.  Enjoy a city tour of Kandy, the second largest city in the country.  You will drive around the beautiful lake and the upper lake drive.  Visit the Arts and Crafts Center where you can buy Kandyan silver and brassware, metal work, lacquer work, wood and bone carvings, pottery and hand-woven fabrics. See demonstrations of artisans at work.
Overnight in Kandy   B

Day 7 - 13 Aug       Kandy & the Kandy Perahera Festival
In the morning visit the Temple of the Tooth or the Dalada Maligawa as it is called is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After an 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 bejewelled, golden relic casket; stepping gracefully on the yards of white cloth laid on the road
Overnight in Kandy   B

Day 8 - 14 Aug        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.

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 in Eliya   B

Day 9 - August      -  Nuwara Eliya / Yala/ Tissamaharama
In the morning leave for Yala National Park.

Later in the day, 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 in Yala   B

Day 10 -  August      Tissamaharama / Galle / Ahungalla
This morning, leave for Galle, the seafarer’s capital to visit the natural harbour and the Dutch Fortress with its towering ramparts and the mediaeval Dutch buildings. Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by the Portuguese (17th century) in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. Plus the shopping in Galle is great too.

Then proceed to the beach en route visiting the Mask Carving Center at Ambalangoda.  The city is known for its fine mask carvers. Evening at leisure.  Try a stroll on the beach! 
Overnight in Ahungalla   B

Day 11 - August   -  Ahungalla
At leisure today to enjoy the golden sandy beaches and explore the local villages (on your own – no guide).

Overnight in Ahungalla   B

Day 12 - August -  Southern Beach / Colombo / Seeduwa 
This morning we say good bye to the beach and leave heading for Colombo.  En route visit the Turtle Hatcheries at Balapitiya. Here the tiny turtles are protected and then they return to the sea.  Time is available for your last minute shopping in Colombo.

After picking up those last minute gifts or a last look at Colombo, you will  proceed to Seeduwa, near the International airport.  Here you will have day use of a hotel room until your departure.  Bid your travel companions farewell.  
Day Room until departure.    B