The Esala Perahera known as the best unpaid procession in Asia in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals featuring dancers, jugglers, musicians, fire-breathers, and about 100 decorated elephants. The procession lasts for ten days with the presence of thousands of locals. The Sinhalese term ‘Perahera’ means a parade of musicians, dancers, singers and acrobats. The Esala Perahera is an annual event held to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha housed in the temple of the tooth in Kandy where the procession begins.
The festival starts on the 16th of Aug 2018 & finishes on the 25th of Aug. You get the chance to see the procession on our tours below.
England Cricket team will visit Sri Lanka in October to play 3 tests, 5 one day internationals & one T 20. The games are played very close to prime tourist destinations.
Every year, through August and September, up to 300 Asian elephants gather at Minneriya Lake. They are not having a party! These guys are looking for food and water, and Minneriya Lake offers the best chance for them in their search. August and September is the dry season. The Lake is man-made, meaning it is a reliable source of water. Thus, they come back every year. Witness the natural phenomenon that opens up the mysteries of these big animals’ behaviour.
We would recommend anyone wanting to see the Sloth Bear to let us know as June usually offers the best time of year to spot these shy, retiring mammals. They have a passion for the fruit of the Palu tree which comes at this time and as the fruits are mildly intoxicating, the bears tend to saunter around without fear. As well as Sloth Bears you may also spot leopards in Yala – with the National Park boasting one of the highest leopard populations anywhere in the world.
The native people of a country can make or break a holiday, as talking to the locals, visiting villages and markets, walking the locals walk and talking the locals talk, is very much part of an interactive holiday.
Sri Lanka is one of the friendliest nations in the world. The laid-back lifestyle of the locals, their willingness to help and the smiles on their faces will make your holiday unforgettable and memorable.
The Sri Lankans have so much time to spare and they can afford to stop and talk to strangers and welcome them to their land. They are such a gentle and courteous bunch of people.
Having over 35 Public Holidays a year helps the people to live a very relaxed life. The influence of Buddhism has turned the people of this Island into calm, generous and helpful people.
The traditions too, encourage the locals to receive and accommodate their guests. As a result, you will experience hospitality at its best in this country.
For more information please click on the link below.
The North-east monsoon will be active in Sri lanka around November. This is not nearly as heavy as the South-West monsoon in May and June.
During the North-east monsoon the dark clouds gather in the afternoon and usually the showers come down in the late afternoon.
If you are planning your holiday during the monsoon, you will still have dry mornings and the early afternoons to do things and visit sites. You can start and finish the days early and watch the downpour over a bottle of beer.
These heavy rains are welcome by the local farmers, the animals & the vegetation. The farmers start their work in the fields, the animals tend to come out to the water wholes and trees turn dark green.
his is a very pleasant sight which could only be seen during the monsoon, a bit like your spring. People think that during the monsoon it rains all day and all night which is furthest from the truth.
On the other hand Rainfall in Sri Lanka has multiple origins. Monsoonal and Convectional rain accounts for a major share of the annual rainfall along with depressions in the bay of Bengal. The main annual rainfall varies from under 900mm in the driest parts (south-eastern and North-western) to over 5000mm in the wettest parts (western slopes of the central highlands). The conventional rains occur in the hill country and the depressions could happen at any time of the year.
Sri Lanka is stamping its mark as one of the prime family holiday destinations. It offers something for everyone keeping the parents, as well as the children happy.
The children love the random wild life they come across on their day to day excursions such as monkeys, Monitor Lizards, Mongooses, Palm squirrels and sometimes even wild Elephants standing by the busy main roads. The adults are focused on the safaris to try and find The Leopard or the Sloth bear. The big storks, Hornbills and Kingfishes too draw the visitor’s attention.
The activities such as the bike ride through the rice paddy fields and the little villages, Climbing the Lion rock, Walking through the tea plantations, White water rafting, Village tours drinking coconuts and eating rice and curry keep the children on their toes. The parents like to walk in the quiet ancient cities and the calm temples absorbing the slow peaceful walk of life of this Island nation.
The families that like to be adventurers and go off the beaten track have so much to explore. The Knuckles Mountain range is an amazing place for trekking and hiking. You could experience all the different climatic zones in Sri lanka within the knuckles range. You could walk in isolation and feel the real tropical jungles.
Climbing up Ella rock too is a great experience, seeing the southern plains and sometimes even the sea which is about 80 miles away.
After a busy tour the adults and the children will be ready to lie down on the golden beaches of Sri Lanka. Water sports such as surfing, Scuba diving and snorkelling can be very easily arranged locally.
Most of all the Sri Lankan people are very friendly and welcoming. The families will feel very safe blending with these gentle and helpful people.
