Culture / Beach / Wild Tour - 12 Days
12 11
01
Airport / Negombo
On arrival you will be met by our representative and Transfer you from Airport to Negombo. Overnight stay at Negambo.
02
Negombo / Pinnawala / Sigiriya
Breakfast at Hotel in Colombo. Transfer from Colombo to Pinnawala. Established in 1975, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, started with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the chance of seeing their grandchildren born in the same place. The original aim of establishing the orphanage tending more towards tourism, but is soon became a protection and educational centre Transfer from Pinnawala to Sigiriya. Climb Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, constructed by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD) in the 5th century. The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. Overnight stay at Sigiriya /Dambulla/Kandalama.
03
Sigiriya / Anuradhapura / Sigiriya
Breakfast at Hotel Sigiriya / Dambulla /Kandalama. Transfer from Sigiriya to Anuradhapura. Trip to Anuradhapura. It was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Ceylon. It is the home of two World Heritage Sites. Many places of historical and archaeological interest could be visited. ‘Samadhi’ Buddha statue (4th century AD) is one of the most famous statues, inaugurating the Buddha in a state of ‘Samadhi’ or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd century B.C) is famous for its rock carvings. Overnight stay at Sigiriya /Dambulla/Kandalama.
04
Sigiriya / Minneriya / Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya
Breakfast at Hotel Sigiriya / Dambulla /Kandalama. Transfer from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa. Trip to 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 wonderful statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock could be seen, Make a safari of the Minneriya National Park by jeep. The extent of the Minneriya National Park is about 8,889 hectares. There are wetlands in this National Park, which have international importance, animal and plant species, which are abundance in dry zone, are found in this park. Transfer from Minneriya to Sigiriya again via Polonnaruwa Overnight stay at Sigiriya /Dambulla/Kandalama.
05
Sigiriya / Dambulla / Matale / Kandy
Breakfast at Hotel in Sigiriya / Dambulla / Kandalama. Transfer from Sigiriya to Dambulla. Dambulla rock temple was constructed by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. It is the most remarkable of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the gigantic figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and across 14 metres. Transfer from Dambulla to Matale. Visit a spice garden in Matale to see different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. Here, clients can see different spices and how some of these spices are grown and processed. Also, Visitors can have a sight of some good Cookery show. Transfer from Matale to Kandy. Overnight stay at Kandy.
06
Kandy / Peradeniya / Kandy
Breakfast at Hotel in Kandy. Transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya. Peradeniya botanical garden was first built as an enjoyment garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides a wonderful greenish variety of trees, plants and flowers. Transfer from Peradeniya to Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site. The name “Kandy” conjures visions of magnificence and brilliance. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. The Kandy Lake was constructed by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Also visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Thereafter witness a cultural show. Overnight stay at Kandy.
07
Kandy / Tea Plantation / Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at Hotel in Kandy. Transfer from Kandy to Tea Plantation. Trip to tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is being produced. Here you can watch 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 stimulating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lankas is one of the most well known hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lankas tea country producing a major share of the world s 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 at Nuwara Eliya.
08
Nuwaraeliya Eliya / Bandarawela / Katarag
Breakfast at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya. Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Kataragama through Bandarawela Tissamaharama road. According to this basic symbolic framework, a number of themes are woven in depending on the point of view – whether it be Buddhism, where Kataragama is the bodhisattva or Buddha to be or Hinduism where according to history, Skanda, the Hindu God of War arrived in Sri Lanka and received two gifts from the Sinhalese – a house of leaves and a beautiful wife. It is the passionate union of Skanda and his wife that is commemorated annually. Transfer from Kataragama. Overnight stay at Kataragama.
09
Kataragama / Galle / Bentota
Breakfast at Hotel in Kataragama. Transfer from Hambantota to 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 initially constructed by the Portuguese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. This is a World Heritage Site Overnight stay at Bentota /Ahungalla.
10
Bentota
Breakfast at a Hotel in Bentota /Ahungalla. Whole day at leisure (No transport). Overnight stay at Bentota /Ahungalla.
11
Bentota / Colombo
Breakfast at Hotel in Bentota /Ahungalla Transfer from Bentota /Ahungalla to Colombo. Make a city tour of Colombo. Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries as fast as changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world beauty is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several colonial buildings during the Briish Period. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar – where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the rich, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) – an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People’s Republic of China. Overnight stay at Colombo.
12
Colombo / Airport
Breakfast at Hotel in Colombo. Transfer from Colombo to Airport to board the flight for your onward journey.