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Sri Lanka Highlights and Events

Travel in Sri Lanka with Intrepid

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Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka offers travellers palm-studded beaches, rolling plantations and sacred sights steeped in spirituality. With charming people, mysterious ruins and some of the best cuisine in the world, Sri Lanka’s hypnotic essence will remain with you long after you come home.
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Experience Sri Lanka's highlights on these trips

Circle Sri Lanka

sri-lanka_mihintale_buddha_white-statue_monkey
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15 days
Original
  • USD $1,580
    CAD $1,504
    AUD $1,436
    EUR €1,144
    GBP £920
    NZD $1,864
    ZAR R12,000
    CHF FR1,408
    *     Total price tool tip

Cycle the Backroads of Sri Lanka

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14 days
Original
  • USD $2,280
    CAD $2,280
    AUD $2,280
    EUR €1,720
    GBP £1,299
    NZD $2,860
    ZAR R16,660
    CHF FR1,930
    *     Total price tool tip

Family - Secrets of Sri Lanka

sri lanka bentota smiling mother child local family
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8 days
Original
  • USD $1,365
    CAD $1,365
    AUD $1,325
    EUR €1,075
    GBP £829
    NZD $1,740
    ZAR R12,435
    CHF FR1,325
    *     Total price tool tip

Sri Lanka Family - Elephant Paradise

Elephants in Sri Lanka
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15 days
Original
  • USD $1,980
    CAD $1,980
    AUD $1,920
    EUR €1,560
    GBP £1,199
    NZD $2,515
    ZAR R17,985
    CHF FR1,920
    *     Total price tool tip
* Refer to booking conditions

Highlights


Festivals and Events

Vesak Festival

  • Vesak Festival

  • People all over Sri Lanka commemorate Buddha’s birthday by visiting temples, giving alms and singing devotional songs. Simple, luminous paper lanterns are hung outside homes and food is freely distributed to the public via roadside stalls.
* Disclaimer

Intrepid has no control over changes made to festival and event dates and activities. Note that some Intrepid trips which include an event as part of their itinerary, may be surcharged. Where festivals or events are not included as part of an Intrepid trip, all costs associated with the event will need to be paid for by the client. Please check before booking your Intrepid trip that it does match up with key festival or event dates.

Sri Lanka's Top Picks

Locals gather infront of the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka
 
Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon up until 1972
 

Top 10 Spiritual Spots in Sri Lanka

  1. Bodhi Tree: Located at the ancient site of Anuradhapura, this sacred fig tree is said to have grown from a sapling of the Bodhi Tree that Buddha was sitting under when he became enlightened. This holy spot has long been a pilgrimage site for Sri Lankans and is now becoming a place of spiritual interest for visitors too.
  2. Dewatagaha Mosque: One of the oldest mosques in Sri Lanka, this prayer place for worshippers of Islam has stood in Colombo for hundreds of years. The striking domes and minarets stand out in the Colombo skyline and provide a spiritual epicentre for Sri Lanka’s Muslims.
  3. Temple of the Tooth: This Buddhist temple, located in Kandy, is named for the holy relic (said to be Buddha’s tooth) that is housed inside. It's a World Heritage site that has survived bombings and the ravages of time - visit here to see worshippers deep in prayer under the elaborate golden roof.
  4. Dambulla Cave Temple: This well-preserved series of cave temples is brimming with paintings and statues that date all the way back to the 1st century. With colourful depictions of Buddha, Sri Lankan kings and various Hindu gods and goddesses, this is one of the most elaborate cave complexes in Asia.
  5. Adam’s Peak: Sacred to Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, Adam’s Peak is arguably Sri Lanka’s most popular pilgrimage spot. Surrounded by wildlife reserves, the walking trail leading to the mountain is a stunning walk regardless of religious persuasion. Watching a stirring sunrise from the holy summit is nothing short of magnificent.
  6. Polonnaruwa Ruins: These impressive ruins of an ancient kingdom are home to massive palaces, huge statues, imposing temples and an artificial lake. Although historically and culturally important, witnessing orange-robed monks praying at Gal Vihara (a Buddhist rock temple) is a spiritual moment you won’t soon forget.
  7. Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock): This magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site was once a mountain monastery many centuries ago. The rock inscriptions, paintings and ancient ‘graffiti’ show insight into the lives of the monks who lived within the caves and grottoes before King Kasyapa took to the throne and established a capital there.
  8. Anuradhapura: The ancient ruins of Anuradhapura are a significant holy place for Sri Lanka’s Buddhists. As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, there are many monasteries surrounding this area of supreme veneration.
  9. Munneswaram Temple: This elaborate Hindu temple complex is known for its vibrant festivals in celebration of Navaratri and Sivaratri. During this time, the complex is filled with the buzz of devotees who come to attend daily pujas and bath in the nearby holy river.
  10. Mihintale: If you choose to climb the thousand or so steps to the top of Mihintale’s hill, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views and a deeper understanding of Buddhism, as this is the site where Buddhism is said to have originated in Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka at a glance

  • 4
  • Colombo (population 2 million)
  • 21.5 million
  • Sinhalese, Tamil
  • LKR
  • (GMT+05:30) Sri Jayawardenepura
  • Type D (Old British 3-pin), Type G (Irish/British 3-pin)
  • +94

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