Festival Colours & Living Traditions
Nine days of temples, drums, dancers, markets and festivals, timed around the celebration you most want to see.
- Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
- Route: Sri Lanka
- Travel style: Culture & Festivals
- Best time: Depends on the festival (for example Vesak in May, Esala Perahera in July or August, Thai Pongal in January)
- Page last updated: 14 October 2026
Overview
Sri Lanka's calendar is full of festivals, from lantern-lit Vesak to the great processions of Kandy, and its temples, mosques and markets are colourful all year. This journey is built around the religious and cultural life of the island.
Festival dates move each year, mostly with the lunar calendar, so tell us when you can travel or which festival you want to see and we will build the route around it.
Price
Price: on request. Request a quotation with your dates, group size and preferences.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Day 1: Arrival and Negombo
Meet your driver-guide at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Negombo, where fishing boats and churches line the shore.
Places: Negombo
Day 2: Day 2: Negombo to Anuradhapura
Drive north to the ancient capital and watch pilgrims in white bring flowers and light lamps at the sacred bodhi tree and the great stupas.
Places: Anuradhapura
Day 3: Day 3: Anuradhapura to Sigiriya
Visit Mihintale, where Buddhism is said to have first reached the island, then travel on to Dambulla's painted cave temple and Sigiriya.
Places: Mihintale, Dambulla, Sigiriya
Day 4: Day 4: Sigiriya to Kandy
Drive to Kandy via Matale, stopping at the Sri Muthumariamman Temple, a Hindu temple with a richly painted tower.
Places: Matale, Kandy
Day 5: Day 5: Kandy
See a Kandyan dance performance in the afternoon, then the evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, with its drumming and offerings. If your dates match, this is the day to see a festival procession.
Places: Kandy
Day 6: Day 6: Kandy to Colombo
Descend to the coast to Colombo, stopping at a roadside fruit stall or a spice and craft shop on the way.
Places: Kandy, Colombo
Day 7: Day 7: Colombo markets and temples
Walk Pettah's crowded market streets, past the red-and-white striped Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque and Hindu temples. Visit the Gangaramaya temple and the Seema Malaka on Beira Lake.
Places: Colombo
Day 8: Day 8: Colombo to Galle
Drive down the southern coast to Galle, walking the old fort at sunset to hear the call to prayer, church bells and temple drums in a single small town.
Places: Galle
Day 9: Day 9: Departure
Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight.
Places: Colombo, Airport
Package Inclusions
- Accommodation at selected hotels on the specified meal plan
- Private transportation throughout the tour
- Airport arrival and departure transfers
- English-speaking chauffeur / guide
- Meet & greet assistance at the airport
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary
- All transfers and transportation mentioned in the itinerary
- Highway tolls, parking fees and driver-related expenses
- Fuel charges
- Government taxes and service charges applicable to included services
- Complimentary bottled drinking water during transfers and sightseeing
- All services specifically mentioned under the package inclusions
- 24/7 assistance from our local team during the tour
Package Excludes
- International Air Tickets
- Sri Lanka Visa / ETA Fees
- Entrance Fees to Attractions
- Optional Excursions & Activities
- Lunches, Beverages & Personal Meals
- Personal Expenses (shopping, laundry, telephone, minibar, tips, etc.)
- Airport / Hotel Porterage
- Travel Insurance
- Camera & Video Charges / Permits, where applicable
- Alcoholic Beverages & Other Drinks
- Early Check-in / Late Check-out, unless specifically mentioned
- Expenses arising from delays, natural disasters, closures, disturbances, or circumstances beyond our control
- Chauffeur-Guide Tips / Gratuities
- Any Services Not Mentioned in the Package Inclusions
General Booking Conditions
These conditions apply to every booking made through Figo Holidays. They cover booking and confirmation, prices and inclusions, payment terms, amendments to bookings, cancellation by the client, cancellation or changes by Figo Holidays and more.
Experiences
- The evening puja at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy
- A Kandyan dance and drumming performance
- The brightly painted gopuram of a Hindu temple at Matale
- Anuradhapura's pilgrims in white at the sacred bodhi tree
- Colombo's Pettah market and its candy-striped Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque
- Colombo's Gangaramaya temple and the Seema Malaka on the lake
Plan this trip
Send an enquiry or message us on WhatsApp from the page to adjust dates, hotels and pace. All journeys can be tailored.