The Galle Literary Festival (GLF) is a cultural extravaganza not to be missed. Set in the historic Galle Fort, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the location is just the icing on the cake. The programme is varied, from book launches, poetry slams, panel discussions, film screenings, jazz performances and even a fantastic children’s programme. There is something to suit all tastes, and over the years both local and international authors have graced this event. Don’t take our word for it, in 2011 the world famous Harper’s Bazaar Magazine dubbed the GLF the ‘No. 1 Literary Festival in the world’!

If you have the pleasure of being in Sri Lanka in February, make sure you time your trip to be in Colombo for the Navam Perahera. This incredible cultural pageant takes place on the Navam Full Moon (Poya), which normally happens in February/March. Held since 1979, it is organised by the famous Gangaramaya Temple, located in the centre of the city and celebrates the traditional art and culture. The streets are beautifully lit up and the Perahera consists of masked dancers, Buddhist monks and costumed elephants slowly parade through the city. Here at Avant Adventure we can ensure you experience the best of the Navam Perahera.

The best time to go whale watching in Mirissa is from November to April. This is the time when the Indian Ocean is calm and whales migrate from the Southern hemisphere to the Northern hemisphere. From May to October is considered ‘off-season’. During this time the chances of spotting whales is low and the probability of getting seasickness is high! We do not recommend booking whale watching off season.

As with all wildlife, there is never any form of guarantee of spotting them. That said, the probability of seeing whales in season, between November and April are high. Sri Lanka is blessed with blue whales, which are the most often spotted, but our waters are also home to other types of whales and pods of curious and intelligent dolphins!

A whale watching adventure in Mirissa usually takes between 3-5 hours, so we could say that on average 4 hours. It is an early start, and we meet at the Mirissa harbour between 6-6:30am, and then you can enjoy a cup of hot tea before we embark on our voyage. On board we will serve you a packed breakfast, and we have a washroom on board, so all you’ll have to do is keep your eyes peeled for some of nature's giants!

Kalpitiya has become a world renowned destination for dolphin watching. Seeing these beautiful, sociable and intelligent animals swim alongside your boat is a memory that will last a lifetime. The dolphins, out of sheer joy, jump, spin and twirl out of the water showing off one of nature's true miracles.

The best season for Dolphin watching in Kalpitiya is from Mid-October to May. The best months, where you also stand a chance of seeing whales as well, are between February and April. Make sure you take plenty of sunblock and hold onto your phones or cameras tightly, but even better take mental pictures and soak up this once in a lifetime experience

In May, Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist Festivals in the year, and falls on the full moon, usually in the month of May. It is said to celebrate the birth of Lord Buddha, and for some it also marks his enlightenment.

Vesak is known as the festival of lights, and this name makes so much sense when you witness the twinkling lanterns that dot the country in person. Most households make paper lanterns at home, and it is a time when families get together, young and old and work together to create something beautiful.

Something which you have likely never seen before are ‘pandols’, which are another way people pay homage to Lord Buddha. These huge structures tell a story, usually a moral one, and are illuminated with hundreds of lights. Interestingly, in recent years ‘digital pandols’ have been emerging, which promote a more environmentally friendly option.

Sri Lanka has been blessed with an enviable abundance of wildlife. One of the rarest but also incredible animals is the sloth bear, which can be spotted in the Yala and Wilpattu National Parks. This black bear, with shaggy fur and a strut you will never forget, is found exclusively in South Asia. Despite the sloth-like, unhurried way these animals amble along they can actually run faster than humans, and don’t let their almost comically clumsy appearance fool you. These creatures are great at climbing trees and primarily eat termites, beehives and fruit.

These normally nocturnal animals tend to shy away from humans, however in May and June you have the best chance of spotting them! The reason being that they climb large ‘palu’ trees to feed on their sweet fruit, and due to how fermented this fruit can be they may appear happily drunk!

As with all wildlife, the preservation and conservation of the sloth bear habitat is vital, as these unique endemic sloth bears are truly precious.

Sri Lanka has recently been gaining global recognition for being a world class kitesurfing destination. Not only are the winds in Kalpitiya some of the best in Asia, but the icing on the cake is that Sri Lanka is blessed with 2 kitesurfing seasons. With an average of 9 months a year, the two seasons run from December to March and May to October, making it an almost year round destination for this exciting sport. Whether you are keen to learn or an experienced kitesurfer, Sri Lanka is the place for you!

The Kandy Perahera is one of the most compelling reasons to travel to Sri Lanka in July or August. This annual procession pays homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic, which normally resides in the Temple, by being taken around the town in a Sacred Casket. Often aboard a very elaborately lit elephant, known as the Maligawa Elephant! This is the opportunity to witness the famous Kandan dancers performing some truly head-spinning traditional dances.

Not only can your eyes feast on the dancers, but your ears will also have an unforgettable experience. The procession features traditional Sri Lankan drummers, with a total of 10 different types of drums being played with precision! The Kandy Perahera is extremely popular, usually lasting 10 days, and tickets need to be booked in advance, and at Avant Adventure we can get you the best seats.

Minneriya National Park, set in the middle of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, is world renowned for an annual gathering. This is no ordinary gathering, it is one of Asia’s finest wildlife experiences where as many as 300 elephants congregate between June and September. The ancient Minneriya tank (a man-made lake) dates back to the third century and the elephants flock to it during the dry season. Not only can you marvel at these majestic beasts in their natural habitats but it is also a haven for bird lovers, over 170 bird species have been recorded here - how many will you spot?

This phenomena is not only a migration of these animals, but also a meeting, as many elephants have walked miles around Sri Lanka’s elephant corridors to sate their third in the tank. Sitting in your jeep, watching these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is better than anything you could see on television. September is when you are most likely to see baby elephants in the herds, watch as they frolic, play and learn!

This is a unique opportunity to encounter so many of these powerful and majestic animals in the wild, and an experience that you will never forget.

If you are a bird enthusiast, you have most likely heard of Bundala National Park, which is recognised worldwide as a wintering paradise for migratory water birds. If you aren’t such a keen birder, well then maybe you would have seen those beautiful photos of flamingos in Sri Lanka. That is what this national park is truly famous for, its huge flocks of flamingos making a pitstop in Sri Lanka on their annual migration. Their colour and sheer numbers is a sight to behold!

Of course, Sri Lanka is so abundant in flora and fauna, there are more than 170 species of bird at Bundala National Park but that is not all. You can also spot elephants, crocodiles and plenty more surprises which await you at this nature lover's paradise.

If you are looking to experience Sri Lanka from a whole new perspective, white water rafting is for you! Kitulgala in Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful places in which to experience this exhilarating experience.

Of course, at Avant Adventure we ensure to use the best suppliers so all the necessary essentials are covered, life jackets and helmets are a must! But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a gym bunny to enjoy this experience, as long as you are ready to get a bit splashed you can help steer yourself down the world famous Kitulgala River. Did you know that the epic war film, Bridge on the River Kwai, was actually filmed here in 1957!

While Winter rages in the Northern hemisphere, escape to the Tropics and explore the underwater treasures Unawatuna has to offer! Whether you are a beginner looking to complete a PADI course, or an experienced diver ready to explore a shipwreck, you’ll find your niche in Unawatuna. The dive sites closer to the beach are calm enough for scuba diving lessons or for beginning divers. Slightly deeper dives include a number of wrecks and underwater rock formations that are teeming with larger fish and aquatic animals such as turtles. Make sure you always use licensed service providers, here at Avant Adventure we are happy to help you with this.