Sri Lanka Festival - "Nawam Maha" Perahera
Sri Lanka festivals! Nawam Maha Perahera is similar to the famous Kandy Perahera festival and is held in Colombo. This colorful and exotic Sri Lankan festival comprises of almost 100 elephants, over 5,000 artistes with dancers, acrobats, drummers, torch bearers and more... The Nawam Maha Perahera is officially inaugurated when the sacred relics are paraded in a gilded casket placed on a majestic tusker, which is elegantly caparisoned and walks calmly amidst the hive of activity. The Sri Lanka festival tour includes other highlights of Sri Lanka with its myriad of attractions.
Sri Lanka Land Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival / Colombo - Sri Lanka
Arrival in Sri Lanka. Meeting and assistance at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Colombo.
Overnight with Breakfast – Cinnamon Grand Hotel (Courtyard Rm)
Day 2 Colombo (B/D)
Late morning undertake 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, experience a Sri Lankan festival called Nawam Perahera or pageant, a significant event in Colombo. The Nawam Maha Perahera festival comprises of nearly 100 elephants and more than 5000 artistes and wends its way along the route of the Beira Lake similar to the Kandy or Esala perahera. This Sri Lanka festival is officially inaugurated when the sacred relics are paraded in a gilded casket placed on a majestic tusker, which is elegantly caparisoned and walks calmly amidst the hive of activity.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast – Cinnamon Grand Hotel (Courtyard Rm)
Day 3 Colombo / Sigiriya / Dambulla (B/D)
Morning leave for Dambulla (Cultural Triangle).
In the evening, leave for Sigiriya 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.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Kandalama Hotel (Standard)
Day 4 Dambulla / Anuradhapura / Aukana / Dambulla (B/D)
After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura, the capital of Sri Lanka, 3rd century B.C. 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 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 Dambulla.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Kandalama Hotel (Standard)
Day 5 Dambulla / Polonnaruwa / Habarana / Dambulla (B/D)
After b’fast leave for Polonnaruwa, a former capital of Sri Lanka 11th to 12th century. A.D., 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.
Afternoon undertake an elephant back safari in the Habarana jungles.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Kandalama Hotel (Standard)
Day 6 Dambulla / Matale / Kandy (B/D)
Morning leave for Dambulla, 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.
Afternoon undertake 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.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Mahaweli Reach Hotel (Standard)
Day 7 Kandy (B/D)
Morning, leave for the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala. The feeding of the baby elephants is at 0910 hours. Thereafter the elephants are herded to the river for bathing.
Evening, visit the Temple of the tooth or the Dalada Maligawa and then view a Cultural dance performance by Kandyan dancers.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Mahaweli Reach Hotel (Standard)
Day 8 Kandy (B/D)
Morning visit 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.
In the evening 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.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Mahaweli Reach Hotel (Standard)
Day 9 Kandy / Nuwara Eliya (B/D)
In the morning leave for Nuwara Eliya in the heart of the tea country, 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.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Grand Hotel (Deluxe Wing)
Day 10 Nuwara Eliya / Yala (B/D)
In the morning leave for Yala.
Evening, undertake 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.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Yala Village (Beach Chalet)
Day 11 Yala / Galle / Ahungalla Beach (B/D)
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.
Then leave for Ahungalla en route visiting the Mask carving centre at Ambalangoda.
Rest of the day at leisure by the beach.
Dinner / Overnight with Breakfast - Heritance Hotel (Deluxe Ocean Front Room)
Day 12 Bentota / Colombo / Seeduwa (B/D) Departure
Morning, leave for Colombo en route visiting the turtle hatcheries at Balapitiya.
Optional: Enjoy any last minute shopping in Colombo.
Then proceed to Seeduwa (near the International airport)
Dinner / Day Use of Room at Taj Airport Garden Hotel (Standard)
Departure
Departure to the airport.
END OF SRI LANKA FESTIVAL TOUR / OUR SERVICES
*Note: Itinerary may be revised in the event of such changes or any circumstance beyond our control.
Quotation Per Itinerary
Group Tour Costs - 12 Days- Land & Air ex LAX
Superior & Deluxe Hotels
| 1) Land tour - per person, sharing twin | TBA |
| 2) Int'l airfare - LA-Singapore-Colombo r/t Singapore Airlines |
TBA |
| Total Cost -per person, sharing dbl/twin -Land / Air | TBA |
| 3) Single Room Supplement | TBA |
*Excludes airport taxes/fuel surcharge of approx. $700-$800* subject to change.
Airfare and taxes subject to change.
Sri Lanka Festival Tour Price Includes
- Economy airfare on Singapore Airlines, from Los Angeles to Colombo (return), Sri Lanka
- Round trip transfers and tours in an air-conditioned car/coach with an English speaking Tour Escort/Guide
- Porterage for two standard suitcases
- Accommodation at superior/deluxe hotels, with breakfast & dinner daily (B/D)
- All entrance fees, permits, reserved ticket to view the "Nawam Perahera" festival
- All service charges and local taxes
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicle
Sri Lanka Festival Tour Price Excludes
- Personal expenses such as laundry, personal tipping, telephone, room service, extra meals and beverages.
- Passport/visa fees (A visa is not required for a stay of up to 30 days in Sri Lanka)
- Trip Protection Insurance (Highly recommended)
- Airport taxes/fuel surcharges levied by the Airline. (approximately $500-$600)
- Optional excursions/extensions & any items not specifically mentioned
Completed booking forms must be sent in with your tour deposit of $500 per person to reserve space on this Sri Lanka festival tour.
Click here to download our Booking Form / Credit Card Authorization Form / Terms & Conditions.
We offer low cost add-on airfares from your home city. Call 714-964-6896 / 800-423-9566 for more details.
Extensiont tours to South India, Maldives & Other S.E. Asian Countries available on request.
Please contact us for bookings and information.
714-964-6896 / 800-423-9566
714-968-4296