First Destination

SRI LANKA TOUR

Day 01 : ARRIVAL TRANSFER / HABARANA

You will be met by a Representative at the Bandaranaike International Airport and leave to Habarana – Check in at selected Hotel - Rest of the day at leisure - Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 02 : HABARANA / SIGIRIYA / POLONNARUWA / HABARANA

Breakfast at Hotel - Morning proceed to Sigiriya.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory. Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site.
Afternoon proceed on a sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa.
This medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rose to fame as the capital (10th - 12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour. The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past.
Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite - a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Some of the best examples of the Hindu influence – the Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Buddhist temples, the Lankathilake and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus bath, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights.
On completion return to the hotel – Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03 : HABARANA / MINNERIYA / HABARANA

Breakfast at Hotel – Morning at leisure.
Evening proceed to visit the Minneriya National park.
As the drought in the Sri Lankan dry zone heightens every year in June and most national parks in the area are parched; there remains only one oasis - "Minneriya National Park". Here too the magnificent Minneriya lake reduces in size by more than half giving rise to fresh grassland. Abundant grazing land and water draw many herds from the surrounding forests, which converge at Minneriya National Park during July, August and September the months prior to the rains which are expected at the end of September, resulting in an amazing gathering of over 300 elephants. An incredible experience..... Smaller numbers of elephants are seen throughout the year. While this park is special for elephant, over 160 species of birds, 09 amphibian, 25 reptile, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species have been recorded in this area.
On completion return to the hotel – Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 04 : HABARANA / DAMBULLA / MATALE / KANDY

Breakfast at Hotel – Leave to Kandy - En route visit the Dambulla Rock Temple - Which were donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and ceiling is one of the largest extents of cave paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 metres
On completion leave for Kandy – En route visit a Spice garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.
Continue to Kandy – Check in at selected Hotel - Rest of the day at leisure – Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 05 : KANDY / PINNAWELA / PERADENIYA / KANDY

Breakfast at hotel – Morning proceed to visit the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela.
Set amongst the verdant hills of Kegalle is a unique orphanage, where the babies weigh 60 kg or more. This is the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established to feed, nurse and house young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. Other occupants are elephants displaced from their natural by development projects or those found wounded. Visitors could see the baby elephants being fed milk from large feeding bottles or bathed in the river which flows nearby – an unforgettable sight! Established in 1975, by the Wildlife Department and National Zoological gardens which subsequently led to a breeding programme through which more than twenty five elephants have been born since 1984
Afternoon visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden for a queen and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. City tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive.
Afternoon proceed on City tour of Kandy.
A lovely exotic city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which retains an aura of grandeur, time has not affected. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its centre, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens – home to one of the world’s best collections of Orchids. A cultural sanctuary where many legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive, Kandy and its satellite villages are the centre of the islands handicraft industry (items of wood, brass & silver) exquisite silver or gold jewellery and precious gems of many varieties including the world’s best blue and star sapphires.
In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 06 : KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA

Breakfast at hotel – Leave for Nuwara Eliya – En-route visit a Tea plantation and a Tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told 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.
Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate, Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country, producing some of the world’s best tea. The mountain slopes and valleys are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. Red or green roofed plantation bungalows, English country style homes and hotels with lovely flower gardens, a fine 18 hole golf course and a racecourse gives Nuwara Eliya a decidedly British character - Check in at selected Hotel – Evening leave on a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya – Drive through "Little England” Return to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 07 : NUWARA ELIYA / YALA

Breakfast at hotel – Leave for Yala - Check in at selected Hotel – Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 08 : YALA

Morning proceed on a Jeep Safari to visit the Yala National Park - This Park is famous for its high density of leopards, perhaps the highest in the world. You are also sure to see elephants – grumpy loan males during the dry months and large herds in the wet season. Sloth bears are also a big draw. You will also see mammal such as wild boars, several species of deer and wild buffalo. There is a plethora of reptilian species and platoons of crocodiles. As is common in Sri Lanka there is a huge diversity of stunning birdlife including migratory species such as the flamingo. It is also one of the few places in the world where the severely endangered black necked stork can still be seen. The uniqueness of the park is the sheer diversity of the habitat: dense jungles suddenly give way to lagoons and open plain areas and the park has a simply beautiful sea front. Huge, stark boulders dominate the horizon and the elegant, languorous leopard can often be seen basking atop the sun baked rock.
On completion return to the hotel – Rest of the day at leisure – Overnight stay at the hotel.