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The Most Spectacular Festival in Sri Lanka - Esala Perahera

10 days from £5,920 for 2025 per person

The Esala Perahera is one of the oldest and most extraordinary festivals in the world and it takes place every year in July/August in the old royal capital of Kandy. Snaking their way around Kandy Lake and the Temple of the Tooth thousands of dancers, drummers, whip-crackers and fire-eaters parade through the city accompanied by close to 100 caparisoned elephants the largest of which carries the sacred tooth relic taken from Buddha’s funeral pyre almost 2500 years ago. 

After your time in Kandy, explore the Cultural Triangle visiting Polonnaruwa, the Dambulla Cave Temples and the dramatic sky citadel of Sigiriya. After an action-packed few days, a couple of days relaxing is well deserved, so travel to the East Coast and stay in wonderful Trincomalee. Before your departure, your last night will be spent in Colombo, a bubbling and colourful city which is full of life.

This luxury holiday is purely a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your perfect tailor-made tour of Sri Lanka. If you would like to see similar trips, take a look at our collection of Festival and Party itineraries, as well as our Active and Family-Friendly holidays.


Itinerary details

10 days from £5,920 for 2025 per person

Heritance Kandalama Elephant Walk Ampersand Travel
Kandalama Sri Lanka 2
Kandalama Sri Lanka
SRI LANKA - Trincomalee
Chaaya Blu Trincomalee1
Chaaya Blu Trincomalee4
Chaaya Blu Trincomalee3
Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle And Beach Itinerary 2
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary 2
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary 1
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary 3
Hunas Falls Kandy Sri Lanka 1
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary
Sigiriya Sri Lanka 1
Sigiriya Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle And Beach Itinerary 2
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary 2
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary 1
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary 3
Hunas Falls Kandy Sri Lanka 1
The Most Spectacular Festival In Sri Lanka Esala Perahera Itinerary
Sigiriya Sri Lanka 1
Sigiriya Sri Lanka
SRI LANKA - Sigiriya Rock
Heritance Kandalama Elephant Walk Ampersand Travel
Kandalama Sri Lanka 2
Kandalama Sri Lanka
SRI LANKA - Trincomalee
Chaaya Blu Trincomalee1
Chaaya Blu Trincomalee4
Chaaya Blu Trincomalee3
I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson

Client Testimonials

We really enjoyed the trip and were happy that we squeezed so much into a few short days. The Burmese people were lovely and the sites were fantastic. We really enjoyed the balloon ride and would highly suggest it to others in the future. The trip went super smoothly and a good time plus learning happened for all. Yangon was nice as the Strand was quite amazing and we of course loved the giant gold temple. Many thanks for all of your help and look forward to future travel with you.
- Wallace Family, Burma
So many highlights to choose from! The hotels were amazing but Maya Villa was a highlight… I loved just hanging out in the hammock reading my book and watching the peacocks chase the cows!
- Krista Weir, Sri Lanka
We have just returned back from a wonderful trip. Thank you very much for organising everything. The transfer was excellent – for once they had perfect car seats. The villa was lovely, just what we needed and the hotel had helpfully put us as far away as possible from everyone else. The breakfast buffet was the best I have ever seen – and I am slightly obsessive over breakfast!! There was an incredible choice, something for everyone and so beautifully presented. A real highlight of the trip. Thank you again for sorting everything - and at such short notice!
- Redmayne family, Phuket

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