Highlights of the Tour
- Sigiriya Lions Rock
- Polonnaruwa
- Dambulla Cave
- Cooking demonstration at Spice Garden
- Walk in the Tea Plantation in Nuwara Eliya
- Famous Kandy Dancers
- Visit of The Temple of Tooth
- Colombo City Tour
| Tour Itinerary | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive Colombo Airport / Negombo
Arrive at the airport & meet your guide at the Airport Lobby, there after proceed to Negombo. Rest, relax, unwind & spend the rest of the day at leisure by the pool side. Overnight stay in Negombo |
| Day 2 | Negombo/Dambulla / Habarana
After breakfast proceed to Dambulla. Dambulla lies a hub which has been treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C. Today, an icon in the face of Sri Lanka Dambulla Rock Temple houses some of the most unique drawings in magnificently constructed 5 cave temples flanking the golden temple of Dambulla. Observe how exquisitely cave paintings are done along walls that shelter 150 statues of Lord Buddha. As you enter the retreat look straight up to the gigantic Buddha statue glittering in gold over a land which today houses an important junction in the country's economic and cultural uplifting. There after proceed and check in at the hotel. Rest of the day leisure at the hotel. Optional visits in the afternoon: Minneriya National Park / Kaudulla National Park / Eco Park Visit If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then Minneriya is your Colosseum! Spreading over 8800 hectares, this is a sanctuary for elephants. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, but its spotlight remains between swaying trunks & flapping ears. Park your jeep on the bank of the reservoir and switch off its engine. Watch carefully as herds of elephants - one by one - roll on to the grass-covered banks, to feed on tender shoots. In fact, this is the largest elephant gathering in the world - over 700 at a time - which has garnished the park to become a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe. Hiriwadunna Village Experience Hiriwadunna is all about Sri Lankan village life. In other words, it is a tale garnished with chirps of birds, fishermen carrying their nets and rods praying for a fine catch as well as an occasional crocodile basking on a shore of the lake. Do not have doubts about ample birdlife and butterflies as blessing visitors with the ‘soft winged’ is a part of Hiriwadunna’s schedule. Roam around with a local farmer before you hand-pick vegetables and join the experts in preparing them. Or hop into a bullock cart and toss along the gravel road for a memorable sightseeing tour that will remain memories of a lifetime. Overnight stay in Habarana. |
| Day 3 | Habarana/ Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Habarana
After breakfast proceed to Sigiriya. (1hrs drive). Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka's single most dramatic sight. Near-vertical walls soar to a flat-topped summit that contains the ruins of an ancient civilisation, thought to be once the epicentre of the short-lived kingdom of Kassapa, and there are spellbinding vistas across mist-wrapped forests in the early morning. Sigiriya refuses to reveal its secrets easily, and you'll have to climb a series of vertiginous staircases attached to sheer walls to reach the top. On the way you'll pass a series of quite remarkable frescoes and a pair of colossal lion's paws carved into the bedrock. The surrounding landscape – lily-pad-covered moats, water gardens and quiet shrines – and the excellent site museum, only add to Sigiriya's rock-star appeal. There after proceed to Polonnaruwa. Raising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa - medieval capital & crown jewel of King Parakramabahu I - remains superior proof of ancient culture & heritage blended with religious beliefs. Walk across its scattered walls of the World Heritage Site - blessed by stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures - while observing the relic house - Watadage - which boasts of beautiful stone carvings. Take a close glance and you will realize a subtle Hindu influence on architecture and statues found in Polonnaruwa. Or sit by the side of Galviharaya and observe the absolute beauty gushing out of every bend of its huge Buddhist statues. Nissankamalla Council Chamber is however, a head- spinning beauty to just sit back and observe with its swaying pillars reminding the aesthetics of a powerful kingdom which rests beside Parakrama Samudraya - sea of Parakramabahu & masterpiece of irrigation! Overnight stay in Habarana |
| Day 4 | Dambulla/ Matale / Kandy (3hrs)
After breakfast proceed to Kandy via Matale. Stop by the side of a spice garden - into which you will be most welcome - and observe the therapeutic values of spices & processes over a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Or spend some time idling on the hardened streets if you mean a real town adventure filled with voices and colors. There after proceed to Kandy. Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings - crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe. Experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A stroll across this small lakeside town - cradled among the misty hills - will feature the Kandy City Centre - bundled with latest and world class brands, bazaar, an arts & crafts center, as well as a gem museum & lapidary. Fine tube your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music & drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka. Transfer from Kandy City to the Hotel. Overnight stay in Kandy |
| Day 5 | Kandy / Peradeniya / Nuwara Eliya (3.5hrs)
After early breakfast proceed to Peradeniya. First developed as a pleasure garden under royalty and later harmonized by the British, the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya - today bundled with the most welcoming facilities located just 4 miles off Kandy - is a flourishing national asset in the Wonder of Asia. Walk into this 147 acre bliss of an experience, passing well-tended lawns, pavilions & an octagon conservatory to be greeted by the vast expanse of a magnificently landscaped lush green turf which will encourage you for an exhilarating break. Towards the north of the entrance rests a cafeteria that one might come across before stepping into some of the highlights - the orchid house & giant Javan fig tree - of this place which overflow in grace. There after proceed to Nuwara Eliya via 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. Transfer from Tea Plantation to Nuwara Eliya. Visit Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lankas most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lankas tea country producing a significant share of the worlds’ best tea. Sri Lanka s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya |
| Day 6 | Nuwara Eliya / Colombo (5hrs)
Proceed to Colombo through a very scenic landscape. On the way you will pass Kitulgala – the place where the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed. In the late afternoon do a brief City tour of Colombo The throbbing metropolis, Colombo - located in the West - is not only the country's capital, but also the turbine that impels above 50% of the national GDP flanking Colombo's fancy urban development effort. Drive along the clean streets edging the crystal white Race Course - horse racing hub in 1893 & World War II airstrip - furnished today with lavish clothing, food & tea boutiques. Meanwhile, ride to Pettah & tune into the Floating Market - an offbeat shopping experience - or feel the buzz surrounding the upcoming inspiration, the Colombo Port City - an offshore city - featuring parks, commercial complexes & even an F1 track! Head along Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards 'Arcade' facing a historic waypost, the Independence Square. Every designer boutique, top-notch cuisine outlet and even the 'walk-over fish tank', have revamped this colonial masterpiece into one of the trendiest shopping and hangout zones in Sri Lanka. Overnight stay in Colombo. |
| Day 7 | Colombo / Airport or Beach Stay
After breakfast, proceed to Airport for the departure or transfer to the selected beach hotel. |
| General Info | |
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