Sri Lanka Kandy Festival

29 JUL – 10 AUG, 2025

Overview

• Colombo ( The Kingsbury – 4.5 star hotel – Superior room )
• Dambulla ( Amaya Lake Resort – 4.5 star resort – Standard Villa )
• Kandy ( Amaya Hills – 4.5 star hotel – Deluxe room )
• Nuwara Eliya  ( The Grand Hotel – 4.5 star heritage hotel – Deluxe room )
• Yala National Park  ( Cinnamon Wild – 4 star resort – Jungle Chalets )
• Galle ( The Heritage Galle Fort – 4 star heritage hotel – Deluxe room )
• Negombo ( Jetwing Blue – Beach Resort – Day use room )

EXTENSION optional Pre or Post Tour
• Santani ( Santani Wellness Resort – Luxury resort )

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival / Colombo  Arrive in Colombo, the trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Check in. Enjoy the rest of your day and evening at your leisure to explore. Overnight at The Kingsbury.

Day 2

Colombo Arrive in Colombo, This morning enjoy a city sights tour including a visit to the former residence of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated architects, Geoffrey Bawa. Time to shop and lunch at a local textile and handicraft store. Late afternoon heritage walking tour, then followed by a very special Welcome dinner at one of the cities most celebrated seafood restaurants. Overnight at The Kingsbury.

Day 3

Colombo / Dambulla  Today drive to the Dambulla/Sigiriya region. Check in to your hotel. This afternoon embark on a game drive to Minneriya National park to spot herds of wild elephants and a variety of wildlife.  Overnight Amaya Lake Resort

Day 4

Dambulla / Sigiriya  Morning visit to Sigiriya to explore the Rock Fortress, a UNESCO world heritage site. Continue to a nearby lake for an exclusive Sri Lanka up close and personal Elephant experience, with an opportunity to feed and bathe one of these ‘gentle giants.’ Return to hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Overnight Amaya Lake Resort.

Day 5

Dambulla / Kandy  After breakfast drive towards Kandy. Visit Dambulla Cave temples, and stop in Matale, famous for its spice plantations. We will visit a private spice garden and enjoy a hands-on cooking class and eat a delicious Sri Lankan curry. Continue to Kandy, the former capital of Sri Lanka. Check in to hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure. Overnight Amaya Hills.

Day 6

Kandy (& Kandy Festival ) After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing in Kandy, including a visit to the famous Temple of the Tooth. Meet a dynamic local man with a passion for art and architecture and spend time with his family enjoying a home-cooked lunch in their garden. Return to hotel and time at your leisure. Early evening return to Kandy to witness one of the most colourful events in Sri Lanka, the ‘Kandy Esala Perahera’ Festival. In our reserved seats with unobstructed views of the procession, see the ornately adorned elephants, dancers and musicians parading past you. Snacks and mineral water will be served. Return to hotel. Overnight Amaya Hills.

Day 7

Kandy /Nuwara Eliya Enjoy breakfast followed by a visit to the impressive Royal Botanical Gardens. Afterwards, proceed to Kandy train station and board the famous ‘Blue train’ to Nuwara Eliya. Witness magical landscapes and views as you travel through tea plantations and past spectacular waterfalls. Transfer to your heritage hotel and have time at your leisure to stroll around ‘Little England’ with its British colonial influences of bungalows and cottages. Overnight at The Grand Hotel.

Day 8

Nuwara Eliya After breakfast, visit a local Tea plantation and Tea factory. Learn about the famous ‘Ceylon Tea’ making process and enjoy a tea tasting experience. Return to hotel for leisure time before enjoying the hotels famous ‘High Tea’. Overnight at The Grand Hotel.

Day 9

Nuwara Eliya / Yala  Breakfast time. Drive towards Yala National Park with stop at the Elephant Transit home, where orphaned elephant calves are cared for until they are independent and able to be releasted back to the wild. See the daily milk feeding before continuing to Yala. Upon arrival check in and rest of day at leisure. Overnight at the Cinnamon Wild.

Day 10

Yala Early rise this morning as you head off fo an exciting game drive to Yala National Park, which boasts the highest density of leopards in Asia and is home to a diversity of wildlife. Return to hotel for a late breakfast and some leisure time to enjoy your surroundings. Mid-afternoon head off on another exhilarating game drive. Return to hotel. Overnight at the Cinnamon Wild.

Day 11

Yala / Galle  This morning after breakfast drive to the coastal Fort town of Galle. Along the way, see the famous Sri Lankan ‘Fisherman on stilts’. Check in to your hotel. This afternoon, explore Galle fort and town, with a local guide who brings alive the history and stories of this charming coastal town, also an UNESCO world heritage site. Overnight at the Heritage Galle Fort Hotel.

Day 12

Galle  Optional early morning cycling tour to local villages and paddy fields. Breakfast time. This morning visit a Cinnamon Plantation and learn about the story of Ceylon Cinnamon, known to be the finest in the world. Return to hotel. Rest of day at your leisure to explore the fort town and shop in the local boutiques. Farewell dinner at one of the towns most loved heritage hotels.  Overnight at the Heritage Galle Fort Hotel.

Day 13

Galle  / Negombo / Departure Breakfast. Drive to Negombo and check in to the Beach Resort for a day use room and time to unwind. Later, transfer to airport for your international departure flight.

LUXURY SANTANI RESORT & SPA post tour EXTENSION
5 Days /4 Nights

Werapitiya, Kandy Santani Wellness Resort is the first and only purpose-built wellness resort offering its guests luxury experiences beyond compare in Sri Lanka. Located within one of the world’s lushest environments, one hour north-west of Kandy in misty mountains on private river frontage. Named for the Sanskrit word meaning “in harmony with,” to bring oneself into balance with nature. Santani Wellness Programs specialise in Ayurveda, detox, yoga and spa, offering you a bespoke menu, pampering and rejuvenation with enlightened learning for a healthy living lifestyle long after you leave.

Prepare for your trip

 Sri Lanka’s aromatic past

Sri Lanka is the capital of a rich variety of spices that determined its history, being the cause of many an invasion. Fragrant Clove, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Mace, Pepper, Cocoa and Vanilla amongst others account for a diversity of cooking styles and applications.  

Given that it's such a lush country, it's no surprise that Sri Lanka grows many of its best goods. Tea is an obvious purchase; all manner of spices are another. In addition there are various handicrafts and a growing range of designer items.

Colombo is full of stylish designer boutiques, galleries and markets galore sell just about anything, with plenty of surprises on offer.

The island may be small, but the animals are big, especially the herds of Asian elephants that live inside and outside the national parks. Leopards and water buffaloes are just some of the other creatures you might spot.

‘Ayubowan’ is the word used in Sri Lanka to greet someone. It means ‘Long Life’. One is Generally greeted by joining two hands in prayer-like manner and saying ‘Ayubowan’. This phrase can be used any time of the day. However, in the city it is more common to be greeted with a hand shake, while the village folks still greet you in the traditional way. Thank you very much is ‘Bohoma Istuti’ and Please is ‘Karunakara’.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Accommodation, most meals included, private air-conditioned mini-coach transportation with refreshments, sightseeing entrance fees, special tour events and activities, local Sri Lankan accompanying guide, all-inclusive tipping (includes: baggage at airport, bell boys at hotel, any activities, paid meals, driver and his assistant and accompanying local guide). Prices may be subject to currency fluctuation or surcharges. Sri Lanka visa required.

As part of a conscious initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles, TIKKA TOURS ground operator now provides alternatives to plastic bottled water. Re-usable metal water bottles with re-filling facility are part of our guest’s vehicles.

TOUR PRICE

13 Days /12 Nights
From $9,999 (twin share per person)*
From $3,440 (single supplement)*
Fully escorted small group
( Based on 10 passengers )

SANTANI WELLNESS post tour EXTENSION
5 Days /4 Nights
On request ( twin share per person )
On request ( single supplement )