Tour Highlights
- City Tour of Negombo
- Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
- Dambulla Rock Temple
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Polonnaruwa
- Spice Garden in Matale
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya
- Udawalawe
- Galle Fort
Day 01 – Negombo
Arrival and transfer from Airport to Negombo. In the afternoon do a city tour of Negombo.
Negombo is in the heart of Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. The sea and catamarans are the backdrop of the Negombo scenery. Visit the Negombo lagoon and fish action. Also visit the Dutch Fort and Catholic Church. Dinner and overnight stay at Negombo Beach Hotel.
Day 02 – Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage / Dambulla
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphaned elephants. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their calfs born in the same location. Assisted by local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala commenced a successful captive program and the first baby elephant was born in 1984. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants. The free movement of the herd enhanced the chances for respective individuals of both sexes to get together and mate. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard, and in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawala was born. The success story of Pinnawala has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research on Pinnawala have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawala herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
Transfer from Pinnawala to Dambulla.
Dambulla Rock Temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. It is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings, is the largest area of painting found in the world. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters.
Then transfer to Sigiriya. Overnight stay hotel at Sigiriya or Dambulla.
Day 03 – Sigiriya / Hiriwadunna Village / Polonnaruwa
After breakfast transfer to Sigirya and climb the 5th century Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is a World Heritage Site, built by king Kashyapa (477 – 495 A.D.). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairways.
Transfer to Habarana. Hiriwadunna village tour in Habarana.
Afternoon visit Polonnaruwa, which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD and which is a World Heritage Site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock could be seen, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of king Parakramabahu and the Parakrama Samudraya – a lake built by king Parakramabahu the great. There are alsomonuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Vatadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic. Dinner and overnight stay hotel at Sigiriya or Dambulla.
Day 04 – Matale / Kandy
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Matale. Visit a Spice Garden in Matale to see different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. Here, clients could see different spices and how some of these spices are grown processed. Witness a Cookery Demonstration.
Transfer from Matale to Kandy.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lanka kings and is a World Heritage Site. The name ‘Kandy’ conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town, the bazar, an arts & crafts center and a gem museum / lapidary. Also visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show. Overnight stay hotel at Kandy.
Day 05 – Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.
Transfer from Peradeniya to Nuwara Eliya. Visit a tea plantation on the way to Nuwara Eliya. Visit Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the world best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 ft) is located here. Nuwara Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia. Overnight at hotel at Nuwara Eliya.
Day 06 – Udawalawe
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Udawalawe. At Udawalawe do the nature trail.
Tour around Chandrika Wewa (Chandrika Tank) to view natural beauty around the banks of the tank. Possibility of sighting most of the migrant birds as well as the local fishing and the fish market. Also this includes visit to the Udawalawe village to explre the farming done by the village people.
Late in the afternoon optional safari Udawalawe National Park. Dinner and overnight stay hotel at Udawalawe.
Day 07 – Galle
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning transfer to Galle and visit the historical town Galle. Galle was once the chief port of Ceylon. It is still well known for hand-made lace. You can also visit the Galle Fort (spanning 90 acres) which was originally built by the Portuguese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. Thi is a World Heritage Site. Dinner and overnight stay hotel at Koggala.
Day 08 – Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer from Koggala to Airport to connect the departure flight.
— Tour End —