• Dambulla Cave Temple

• The ancient capitals of Polonnaruwa

• The Sigiriya rock fortress

• Elephant back safari

• Galle fort

• Boat safari at Madu river

• Whale watching tour

• Beach stay

 

 

Day 01 : ARRIVE / COLOMBO

 

 

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International airport, we will welcome you with traditional orchid garlands placed around your necks and transferred to Colombo (Approx. 45 mins drive). On arrival in the hotel, spend the day at leisure relaxing and enjoying the hotel facilities.

Ranked the Best Five Star City Hotel by Sri Lanka Tourism twice over, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo is the epitome of indulgence and elegance. This luxury hotel overlooks the tranquil Beira Lake and offers rooms that have been completely refurbished. Awarded Best Luxury Hotel, Sri Lanka at the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2012, its inimitable blend of luxury, personal attention, sincerity and warmth gives you the opportunity to operate at your own pace and in your own space, regardless of whether you are visiting for a business luncheon or dropping in for a quick coffee; planning your dream wedding, organising a conference; attending to important business or on a well-deserved vacation.

Spend overnight at Cinnamon Lake side. Accommodation is in Superior City view rooms with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 02 : COLOMBO / KANDALAMA

After breakfast we drive to Kandalama (approx. 4 ½ hrs drive). En route visit the Cave temple of Dambulla - The 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 paintings 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 metres.

On arrival in Kandalama check in at Heritance Kandalama. A hotel that doesn’t sit on the landscape but is part of it. Where monkeys climb your balcony pillars as if they were trees, swifts nest in the corners of corridors as if they were cliffs, granite crags erupt into the sinuous white walkways. Where you can float in the infinity pool while gazing across at the Sigiriya rock fortress, the eighth wonder of the world. Welcome to Heritance Kandalama, one of the premier 5 Star hotels in Sri lanka.

Spend two overnights at Heritance Kandalama. Accommodation is in Standard rooms with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed & breakfast basis.

Day 03 : KANDALAMA / POLONNARUWA / SIGIRIYA / KANDALAMA

After breakfast we drive to Polonnaruwa (approx 2 hours drive) and visit the ancient city Polonnaruwa - The ancient heart of Sri Lanka. An important royal capital with its well-preserved 12th century ruins & impressive stone culture recalls an inspired past. Although nearly 1000 years old, it is much younger than Anuradhapura and generally in better repair. The monuments are arranged in a reasonably compact garden setting and their development is easier to follow.

Transfer from Polonnaruwa to Sigiriya (approx. 1 ½ hrs drive)

Spend the afternoon visiting the spectacular Sigiriya rock fortress with its rocky abode & water gardens. Sigiriya is famous for its toadstool of golden-hued granite, protruding into the searing blue sky from a hot, flat wilderness of scrubland, which is transformed in the rainy season to a water garden. In the 5th century King Kashyapa domesticated the Lions Rock, by building a palace atop its summit. Sigiriya commemorates some of the turbulence of Sri Lanka’s history.

Spend overnight at Heritance Kandalama

Day 04 : KANDALAMA / PINNAWALA/BENTOTA

After breakfast drive to Pinnawala (approx. 2 ½ hrs drive) and visit Millennium Elephant Foundation. This is a place where you can wash the elephants; take an elephant shower, journey on a bare back elephant safari around the estate (Various lengths of ride will affect entry price) and feed the elephant.

On completion of this safari you will be transferred to Bentota (approx. 4 hours drive).

Feel the golden sand between your toes and the warm sun on your skin, breathe in the fresh sea air and feel yourself come alive again… in paradise. Welcome to the AVANI Bentota Resort & Spa, designed by world-renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa, who took inspiration from an 18th Century Dutch village to create a romantic home-away-from-home with a spectacular beach-side setting.

Spend six overnights at Avani Bentota. Accommodation is in Superior rooms with ensuite facilities. Your stay is on bed & breakfast basis

Day 05 : BENTOTA

Spend the whole day at leisure relaxing and enjoying the hotel facilities and the beach.

Enjoy the New Year Eve at the hotel with a Gala Dinner.

Spend overnight at Avani Bentota

Day 06 : BENTOTA

Spend the whole day at leisure relaxing and enjoying the hotel facilities and the beach.

Spend overnight at Avani Bentota

Day 07 : BENTOTA/ BALAPITIYA/ BENTOTA

After breakfast, you will be driven to Balapitiya (approx. 20 minutes drive)

Balapitiya is famous for Madu river boat safari. It is located in Mangrove vegetation lines the riverbeds, and occasional islets emerge as the river flows into the sea. Further upstream, we see kraal-fishing constructions and fishermen making their way in rowing boats to collect their day's catch. The occasional blue kingfisher flits in the vicinity of the kraal, a pond heron stands tall in the water, and other wetland birds have arisen from their slumber. A relatively unspoiled lagoon, the Maduganga estuary is a 915-hectare complex coastal wetland ecosystem that opens to the Indian Ocean. 770 hectares of the total area consist of open water, while the remaining 145 hectares are the islands. The site is an ecological asset that harbours many wetland vegetation types as well as a variety of fauna, including a number of globally and nationally threatened or endangered species.

On completion, you will be driven to Galle (approx. 1 hour drive)

Galle is a town situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle was known as Gimhathiththa before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle Fort is the main attraction in Galle. Galle Fort was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

Spend overnight at Avani Bentota

Day 08 : BENTOTA /MIRISSA/BENTOTA

This morning an early breakfast, you head to Mirissa Fishery's Harbour where you board your small, specially adapted boat and head out off-shore to look for blue and sperm whales, found in these rich marine waters. This tour is designed to maximise your chances of seeing these incredible animals during their annual migration where blue whales in particular are seen relatively close to shore, as the continental shelf is narrow to the South of Dondra.

In addition to the whales, the area is also known to be home to dolphins and turtles and you will spend the morning searching for these fascinating creatures. Our operator here will not only offer you the chance for some fascinating marine encounters, but also follows a strict code of conduct set out by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. You then return to the lodge early afternoon, depending on sightings to relax on the beach.

Spend overnight at Avani Bentota

Day 09 : BENTOTA

Spend the day at leisure

In the Evening you can enjoy a special farewell dinner with 2 hours cocktail. Foreign liquor with 03 non- veg canopies (Bacardi / Red label / Smirnoff / wine)

Spend overnight at Avani Bentota

Day 10 :  BENTOTA / AIRPORT

Today after breakfast you will be transferred back to airport (Approx.2 ½ hours drive) for your flight back home