Day 1 - Air-Port / Colombo
Arrival, welcome & assistance at the airport. Leave for Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital spreads along the shore of the Indian Ocean for some miles. It is a colourful and bustling place offering an array of sights, tastes and experiences. Tour will include visit to old Parliament, Independence Squire, Victoria Park, a Buddhist Temple built in the middle of a picturesque lake, Hindu Shrine, Hindu Temple and a Dutch Church.
The former capital Colombo, the only gateway to the splendid island and the commercial and business centre is the city of happening in Sri Lanka. Colombo is dotted with many interesting and important tourist attractions including colonial era buildings. The main shopping center for the locals is Pettah where the markets are busy and bustling. The main branch of Laksala, Sri Lanka’s largest handicrafts shop is at Fort. More up market shopping destinations are towards the south of the city center along the Galle Road. Majestic City, Liberty Plaza and Crescat are popular among the locals where you could find handicrafts, tea and garments. Odel at Lipton Circus offers good quality items such as clothes, shoes, tea, books and leather goods in a fashionable setting. Sri Lanka is one of the largest producers of garments.In the evening you are free to stroll along the one mile Galle Face enjoying the view of the sea with the setting sun on one side and the Colombo skyline on the other.
Dinner and overnight stay at the colonial retreat, Galle Face Hotel built by the British entrepreneurs in 1864. The hotel has been hailed as a masterpiece of Victorian Architecture. It resembles a stately home facing the Indian Ocean and has a charming hangover of colonial manners and services
Day 2 - Colombo / Pinnawela / Dambulla
Day 2 - Colombo / Pinnawela / Dambulla
After an early breakfast leave for Dambulla following the scenic drive passing small towns green, rural villages and coconut groves to discover the lush green vegetation in land. En-route stopover along the road to taste a king coconut drink, freshly cut pineapple, mangoes and a variety of other tropical fruits.
En-route visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, one of the popular attractions, established as a sanctuary covering 25 acres of lush forest by the Sri Lankan Government in 1975, is unique. Its purpose is to feed, nurse and house young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. Recently the sanctuary has also started a breeding program. Visitors are invited to observe and assist the baby elephants as they are fed from giant feeding bottles, before they plod down to the river for their daily bath.
After visit continue to Dambulla, visit Golden Rock Temple & Caves.
Dambulla Cave Temple – is a vast remote rock mass which is an archaeological treasure. It is a famous cave temple, 500 feet high and dating back to the 1st century BC when a king took refuge here. When the king regained his throne he converted the caves into a magnificent rock temple. With its series of spectacular caves and a painted area of cover 20,000 sq.ft. of Buddhist murals. Dambulla is an amazing place
Dinner & Overnight Stay in Dambulla
Day 3 - Dambulla / Sigiriya / Anuradhapura / Habarana
Day 3 - Dambulla / Sigiriya / Anuradhapura / Habarana
After breakfast proceed to Anuradhapura - the most extensive of the Sri Lankan ancient cities and a World Heritage site. It was the national capital for over 1300 years up to the 10th Century AD. Today the monuments of Anuradhapura’s heyday survive for you to visit surrounded by the solemn umbrage of trees and an ancient parkland. During the tour, you will visit an Archaeological museum, The sacred Bo Tree, Brazen Place, Royal Palace, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna, and more. – It is an essential viewing!.
After visit proceed to Sigiriya & climb the famous rock fortress. also view the ancient paintings “The Maidens of Sigiriya”
Sigiriya Rock Fortress – King Kassyappa (477-495 A.D) who shifted the Capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya made a fortress to surround his palace, which was constructed on the summit of a 500ft high rock, with necessary facilities. The Palace was surrounded by an outer-moat and wall and Inner – moat and wall pleasure garden, Mirror-wall, light colored and dark coloured damsel’s frescoes, to cover the western wall and a beautiful staircase through the body of a Crouching Lion are some of the attractions here.
Later proceed to inland hotel, Chaaya Village and relax by the pool side, take a nature walk or enjoy many of the hotel facilities
Dinner & Overnight Stay in Habarana.
Day 5 - Habarana / Polonnaruwa / Habarana
Day 5 - Habarana / Polonnaruwa / Habarana
After Breakfats Sightseeing of 2nd Ancient capital and Archaeological monuments in Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa…. was the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka; another World Heritage Site built from 11th to 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular ancient monuments. “Lankathilake”, “Tivanka” and “Thuparama” are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and “Tivanka” has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. “Rankoth Vehera” and “Kiri Vehera” are well preserved large stupas, and “Gal Vihare” a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carvings. The “Vata-da-ge” is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists. The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. The “Parakrama Samudra” lake built by King Parakramabahu the great is on the western side of the city. The “Royal Palace”, Audience Hall and other buildings in the inner city were enclosed by another tall wall.
After visit continue to Minneriya ([3.30pm] ½ day Jeep safari at Minneriya national park)
Minneriya National Park….. this area covers the former Minneriya – Giritale sanctuary. About 200 wild Elephants, wild Buffaloes, wild Boars, spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Jackals & 160 species of Birds, are recorded from the Minneriya National sanctuary.
After safari return to hotel, Dinner & overnight in Habarana
Day 6 - Habarana / Matale / Kandy
After breakfast visit proceed to Kandy.
En-route stop herbal and spice garden in Matale.
Matale…. Visit a spice garden in Matale to see different Spices for which Sri Lanka is famous. Here, clients could see different spices and how some of these spices are grown and processed. Witness a Cookery demonstration.
Arrive in Kandy and check in at the hotel and relax
Kandy – the hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement.
To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.
Temple of the Tooth Relic is the magnificent golden roofed temple, Dalada Maligawa Temple, which houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – the sacred tooth of Buddha. The temple has a constant flow of worshippers and visitors in awe of the spectacular golden architecture and energetic Kandyan drummers who signal the start and finish of the daily pujas
In the evening you will be driven around the lake to observe the lake’s night lights and to visit the Kandyan Cultural Dance show, where dancers and drummers display their skills including fire walking.
Dinner & Overnight Stay in Kandy
Day 7 - Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
Day 7 - Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast Leave for Nuwara Eliya En-route visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens and Ramboda pass waterfalls & visit a Tea Factory.
Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya was originally the pleasure gardens of the Royalty. Nearly 4000 species of plants are found in this garden and it is encircled by the Mahaweli River. This garden is one of the best of its kind in the world.
Leave for Nuwara Eliya. En route view beautiful waterfall –Ramboda Pass waterfalls
Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
Tea Plantation Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best Tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the Factory.
Evening walk around Nuwara Eliya town also Bail Bazaar,
Dinner & overnight in Nuwara Eliya
Day 8 - Nuwara Eliya / Kithulagala / Negombo
Day 8 - Nuwara Eliya / Kithulagala / Negombo
After breakfast proceed to Negombo via Kithulgala En-rout stop at St Claris and Devon water falls.
Kithulagala is a riverside town surrounded by lush jungle that has two claims to fame: being the location for the Oscar-winning epic Bridge on the River Kwai and the main white-water rafting centre in Sri Lanka. When you eventually arrive in Kitulgala you will check into the Plantation Hotel.
Optional Enjoy a high adrenaline pumping “White Water Rafting” in Kelani River, one of the longest rivers in Sri Lankan, which is a graded 2-3 rapid. You could experience the fascinating view of the surrounding forest while rafting and when you are in the calm waters you could let yourself float while enjoying the scenic beauty. End the rafting and have a river bath.
Then Proceed to Negombo, 92 km relaxing drive. Camelot Hotel is found on a mile of golden sands at Negombo, and just 12 kilometres from Colombo and just 20 minutes drive from the airport. An ideal place to unwind at the end of your tour.
Dinner & Overnight Stay in Negombo
Day 9 - Negombo / Air-Port
Transfer to the airport on time for the flight
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