HIGHLIGHTS - DISCOVER SRI LANKA
- Relaxed arrival stay at Negombo Beach
- Visit Mineriya National Park by safari jeeps to witness Wild Elephants.
- A local village visit by jeep with lunch, Dambulla
- Cooking demonstration by local villagers
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress visit
- Dambulla Rock Cave Temple
- A tea factory visit & tea tasting
- The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy
- The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
- An evening Kandyan Dance Performance
- A train journey from Kandy to Nanu Oya
- Udawalawe National Park entrance and jeep safari
- Visit The Elephant Transit Home
- Relax with a 2 night stay in historic Galle
- A Madu River boat ride
- A Turtle hatchery visit
- The Gangarama Temple, Colombo
- Deluxe 4-5 star hotels
PRE TOUR STAY
Consider arriving a day before the tour starts or staying on after the tour ends. Some flights that arrive early on day 1 of the tour require a pre tour night of stay to guarantee morning check in. The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional costs.
DAY 1
Arrive to Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka. It’s arrival day and travellers will arrive on various flights. Mid afternoon, meet up with your fellow group members and tour director for a welcome drink and briefing at the hotel. This afternoon there’s a sightseeing tour of Negombo, visiting the fishing village and the local market. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at our lovely beachside hotel.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 3PM group meets for tour briefing
- Negombo sightseeing tour
- Hotel welcome dinner
DAY 2
Negombo to Dambulla
After breakfast we depart for Dambulla for the next three nights of stay.
Later in the day, visit Dambulla Rock Temple. We climb up to the temple which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 square metres of painted walls and the ceiling is the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 metres. Dinner is at our lovely hotel.
Meals: Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Travel Negombo to Dambulla, approximately 3.5 hours travel time
- Dambulla Rock Cave temple visit
- Relaxed in house dinner
DAY 3
Minneriya National Park
This morning take the option to join the outing to Polonnaruwa. Or, if you prefer, relax and enjoy the setting of the hotel.
HIGHLIGHT EXCURSION
This afternoon, visit Minneriya National Park by safari jeeps to witness Wild Elephants This park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka’s favourites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. However the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank built in the 3rd century AD by King Mahasena. This tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants that come to bathe and graze on the grasses as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in the shallow waters.
Dinner tonight is at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Minneriya National Park afternoon visit by safari jeeps
- Relaxed in house dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Optional Vist To Polonnaruwa | Cost USD25
Polonnaruwa, the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka, built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, is a world heritage site. It’s here that you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya; where four splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, king Parakramabahu’s statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Entry Fee paid directly to your tour leader.
DAY 4
Sigiriya and Village Visit
Today is a full day and we have an early start to make our way to Sigiriya, a 5th century rock fortress. Setting out early avoids the hotter part of the day. Sigiriya Rock Fortress is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres 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 stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster. There’s time at the rock to make the climb to the top and enjoy the bountiful views in all directions.
LOCAL EXPERIENCE
Afterwards, we take a jeep ride though the village paths up to the lake, then cross the lake by canoe. We take part in a cooking demonstration by the local women of the village and enjoy a locally prepared lunch. After lunch, a jeep or tuk tuk returns through the village paths before we make our way back to our hotel.
Tonight, there’s a group dinner at our hotel restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Highlight Sigiriya Rock Fortress visit
- Jeep and canoe ride to a local village
- Cooking demonstration by local village women
- Local village lunch
- Hotel dinner
DAY 05
Sigiriya - Matale - Kandy
Today we depart for Kandy and en route visit a local village in Matale to see the different spices & herbs, for which Sri Lanka is famous. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed, and lunch follows.
After lunch we visit a Temple in Matale * to have a discussion with a Buddhist monk to understand the philosophy of Buddhism, and way of life.
From here, we continue to Kandy and check into our hotel. There’s the option to visit Kandy town this afternoon, always enjoyed with leisurely strolls discovering on foot at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Visit a spice garden
- Local lunch
- Template visit and talk with a Buddhist monk
- Hotel dinner
DAY 06
Kandy
After breakfast, there’s a walking orientation tour of Kandy, including a visit to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. There afternoon is unplanned; make your own local discoveries or otherwise enjoy the hotel facilities.
This evening we visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and afterwards, witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. We then return to our hotel for a group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Walking orientation tour of Kandy
- Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens
- Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic
- Cultural show of Sri Lankan dancing
- Hotel dinner
DAY 7
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast is at our hotel and then we travel to Kandy Railway Station to board a train for a scenic journey through tea plantations and waterfalls up to Nanu Oya. On arrival into Nanu Oya railway station, we will be transferred to a tea estate. The train’s not luxurious but it’s a train journey sought out for its picturesque scenery.
After lunch, take a tea factory and tea estate tour. The The tour will take you through the process of turning the tender green tea leaf buds to dark brown finished tea products. After, take a freshly brewed cup of tea right from the estate.
We then transfer to Nuwara Eliya for our overnight stay. Nuwara Eliya has many characteristics that will remind you of a colonial English scene and this is the spot for our high tea later in the afternoon.
Meal: Breakfast, High Tea
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Scenic train journey, Kandy to Nanu Oya
- Local restaurant lunch
- Tea estate plantation tour
- Local Lunch
- High tea
DAY 08
Nuwara Eliya to Udawalawe
After breakfast, we travel to Udawalawe via Elle and Wellawaya. In the afternoon we visit the Elephant Transit Home at the Udawalawe National Park. The elephant transit home was set up in 1995 as a pilot project by the Department of Wildlife Conservation to look after the abandoned baby elephants until they are able to take care of themselves and be returned to their natural habitats.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Afternoon visit of the Elephant Transit Home
- Hotel dinner
DAY 09
Udawalawe
An early start, breakfast first then out for our dawn Jeep Safari to visit the Udawalawe National Park.
Udawalawe National Park was established in 1972 and this park has some fascinating characteristics that make it well worth a visit. Not least of these is the large elephant population. Udawalawe is the most reliable place to see elephants in their wild habitat year round. Some 400-500 elephants live in the park and herds of up to 50 are commonly seen. The open plains are covered in thick manna grass up to the borders of the large reservoir in the centre and the Walawe River. The park is also covered by some abandoned teak plantation and dense scrub jungle. This variety in habitat makes for a rich variety of wildlife and game. As well as elephants, leopards live in the park (though you will be very lucky to spot one), toque monkeys, grey langur, spotted deer, wild pig and sambar. There are numerous bird species of course and Udawalawe is particularly rich in raptor species, among them the white bellied sea eagle and the crested serpent eagle.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Jeep safari, Udawalawe National Park
- Hotel dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Afternoon optional return visit to Udawalawe National Park | Cost USD45
DAY 10
Udawalawe - Weligama - Galle
Breakfast is at our hotel and then we leave for Galle, on the south coast. En route we visit the stilt fishing at Weligama. On arrival to Galle we check into our hotel and the rest of your day is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the resort facilities.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Depart Udawalawe for Galle, about 3.5 hours travel time
- Stop at Weligama to see the ‘stilt fishing’
DAY 11
Galle
This morning, a sightseeing visit of the Galle Dutch fortress. There will be time at leisure to explore the old fort city plus time for some browsing and shopping. At the end of the afternoon there’s the option to make your own way back to the hotel or meet the group transfer. Tonight, opt for dinner in house or head back to town for dinner at one of the many local restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Galle Dutch Fortress visit
- Free time in Galle
- Transfer option Galle Fort area back to the hotel
SHOPPING TIP:
Galle is an easy spot for finding locally made items for you or for gifts. You may like to visit: Barefoot. Look out for the Spa Ceylon range of personal care items including body lotions, perfumes and bathroom items.
DAY 12
Galle - Balapitiya - Colombo
We leave Galle for Colombo. En route, we stop to enjoy a scenic cruise along the Madhu River, a relaxing trip with plenty of interesting stops. We cruise in a canopied, outboard motor-powered boat; pausing to view a 200-year-old temple & to watch the locals cultivating cinnamon. We cruise past dozens of islets forested with mangroves, and the scene of rural life. While making our way to Colombo we visit a Turtle Hatchery at Kosgoda. At the end of the day, we check in to our hotel in Colombo. Tonight, come together for a highlight dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Highlight Farewell Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A scenic cruise along the Madu River
- Visit the Turtle Hatchery,Kosgoda
- Total travel time by road today is around 3.5 hours
- Farewell dinner at our hotel
DAY 13
Colombo
This morning we take a sightseeing tour of Colombo city. We drive through the Commercial area of the “Fort” so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a Fort at this point. We drive past “Pettah”; a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques & temples. There’s a visit to a Hindu temple and we continue the tour through the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall. We also visit Gangaramaya Temple. After our sightseeing tour we return to the hotel for check out. The rest of the day is at your leisure until you need to transfer to the airport or make plans for an onward journey.
Meal: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Morning sightseeing tour, Colombo city
SPECIAL NOTES:
- Extend hotel check out for a fee to suit travellers with evening departures.
- For travellers with morning flight departures you may prefer to add an additional night of stay in order not to forfeit the morning city tour.
Itineraries may be subject to change, due to circumstances outside of our control. If there is any itinerary change prior to departure of significance we aim to inform you prior to travel. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
