09 NIGHTS /10 DAYS.
Tour Itinerary
DAY 01 AIRPORT / NEGAMBO
Upon arrival at the Colombo International Airport, you will meet our representative and then proceed Colombo, Rest of the day leisure at the hotel.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 02 NEGAMBO / PINNAWALA / HABARANA
Breakfast at hotel
Morning visit to the Negambo Fish Market.
Located within a fairly close range to Bandaranaike International Airport, Negombo – the cinnamon hub of the Colonization of Dutch – offers some of the most exiting diving stretches in the country. With quite a pleasant beach and lagoon watch how Negombo dishes out some of the best lobsters, prawns and crabs found in the country, right on to your table or simply grab your kiteboards for an enthralling fly over crashing waves. Today Negombo also represents an ultimate nightlife featuring bars, disco bars and clubs. So, jazz up to the rhythm of the West, and be ready for a night of ‘fest’, because at Negombo everything is ‘best’.
Transfer from Negambo to Pinnawala.
Visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. The original
objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but is soon became a conservation and educational center. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawela 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 Pinnawela was born. The success story of Pinnawela has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawela have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawela herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
Transfer from Pinnawala to Habarana.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 03 HABARANA / SIGIRIYA / MINNERIYA / HABARANA
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Habarana to Sigiriya.
Climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Sigiriya, which 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. Wander into the well-fabricated museum downstairs for an epic journey of yesteryears to realize how the citadel floated above citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water right onto its summit with an ingenious hydraulic system describing a colossal masterpiece of the great king which remained a wonder in Asia for centuries.
Transfer from Sigiriya to Minneriya.
Proceed for a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park.
If you’re up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then Minneriya is your Colosseum! Spreading over 8800 hectares, this is a sanctuary for elephants. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, but its spotlight remains between swaying trunks & flapping ears. Park your jeep on the bank of the reservoir and switch off its engine. Watch carefully as herds of elephants – one by one – roll on to the grass-covered banks, to feed on tender shoots. In fact, this is the largest elephant gathering in the world – over 300 at a time – which has garnished the park to become a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe.
Transfer from Minneriya to Habarana.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 04 : HABARANA / HIRIWADUNNA VILLAGE / POLONNARUWA / KANDY
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Habarana to Hiriwadunna.
Proceed for a Village Trek at Hiriwadunna Village.
For a local countryside experience, take a ride in a bullock cart, enjoy a nature walk through a scrub jungle, wade through a local stream, cross a lake in an ‘oruwa’, the traditional mode of water transportation, spend time with a farmer harvesting crops and taste authentic village cuisine prepared by the framer’s family. There could be no better orientation to the Sri Lankan village life, other than this.
Transfer from Hiriwadunna to Polonnaruwa.
Visit to Polonnaruwa Ancient City.
Rising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa – medieval capital & crown jewel of King Parakramabahu I – remains superior proof of ancient culture & heritage blended with religious beliefs. Walk across its scattered walls of the World Heritage Site – blessed by stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures – while observing the relic house – Watadage – which boasts of beautiful stone carvings. Take a close glance and you will realize a subtle Hindu influence on architecture and statues found in Polonnaruwa. Or sit by the side of Galviharaya and observe the absolute beauty gushing out of every bend of its huge Buddhist statues. Nissankamalla Council Chamber is however, a head-spinning beauty to just sit back and observe with its swaying pillars reminding the aesthetics of a powerful kingdom which rests beside Parakrama Samudraya – sea of Parakramabahu & masterpiece of irrigation!
Transfer from Polonnaruwa to Habarana.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 05 HABARANA / DAMBULLA / MATALE / KANDY
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Habarana to Dambulla
Visit to Dambulla Cave Temple.
King Walagamba built Dambulla rock temple 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. 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 colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 metres.
Transfer from Dambulla to Matale
Visit to a Spice Garden in Matale.
Matale is situated in the central province in close proximity to Kandy. This area is very famous for its spices which are considered to be the best on the island. Gardens are open to visitors and its atmosphere is superb to stroll in fragrant greenery and learn more about the spices. The spice gardens attract tourists as well as locals who visit this area. These spices are used for culinary, cosmetic and indigenous medicinal purposes. Entrances to these gardens are free and children could learn to about the origin of spices and identify each spice by its individual fragrance.
Transfer from Matale to Kandy.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 06 KANDY /PERADENIYA / KANDY CITY
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya.
Visit to Peradeniya Botanical Garden.
Peradeniya Botanical Garden is situated in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and visited approximately 02 million people annually. The unusual name is Sinhalese translation of guava plain. The garden is notable for its collection of a variety of Orchids. It is home to various species of plants, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. It is also one of the largest botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, an artificial lake with water plants including giant water lily and papyrus seeds is found in the centre of the garden.
Transfer from Peradeniya to Kandy
Visit to the Kandy City.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site. The name “Kandy” conjures visions of splendour 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 Ranasinghe 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, and in the evening, you can witness a cultural show.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 07 KANDY / TEA PLANTATION / NUWARA ELIYA
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Kandy to Tea Plantation
Visit a Tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe 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 to Nuwara Eliya City.
Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lankas most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lankas tea country producing a significant 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 hotel.
DAY 08 NUWARA ELIYA / HORTON PLAINS / NUWARA ELIYA
Take Picnic Breakfast from hotel & transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Horton Plains.
Proceed for a Trek at Horton Plains.
Horton Plains, UNESCO World Heritage Site, trekking paradise & Eco-tourism hideout in the heart of the isle, painted with unending stretches of green pastures marks one of the healthiest wet montane evergreen forests in Sri Lanka. With an altitude above 7000ft, the plateau sweeps to a robust 3169 hectares sheltering flora and fauna varieties that may be found nowhere else on earth. As the tributary of Belihul Oya – Bakers Falls – thunders down rocks head along the 9km trekking path – across frost-covered grass – to feel the icy-cold wind against your face. You may even gaze down World’s End, a head-spinning 3700ft drop towards the Southern end or drive carefully through herds of sambar deer, shy to human touch & birdlife chirping across the plains. If you’re cautious enough you may be greeted by the sights of a grunting wild boar, a pouncing fishing cat, otters or even the ‘Spotted-Ghost that haunts the plains’, the Sri Lankan Leopard!
Transfer from Horton Plains to Nuwara Eliya.
Rest of the day leisure at the hotel
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 09 NUWARA ELIYA / YALA
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Yala
Evening Proceed for a Jeep Safari at Yala National Park.
Spreading into a vast 1259 Km2 Yala – with its glory spinning around vast grasslands, shrubs, tanks and dunes – rightfully is the heartland of wildlife in Sri Lanka. As your jeep rumble through the giant gates of Yala, you are not only stepping into the most visited national park in the
country, but also the lands of a civilization which thrived during the reign of Sri Lankan kings. You name it, and Yala has it! Its usual inmates cover herds of elephant, sloth bear, spotted dear, jackal, extensively populated birdlife as well as the highest density of leopards in the world that garnish the park to be one of the finest destinations in the country. Feel the rough track as your jeep thunders over rocks and swish passing narrow bends for an exhilarating experience blended with the cries of wilderness under the tropical sun.
Overnight Stay at hotel
DAY 10 YALA / GALLE / DEPURTURE
Breakfast at hotel
Transfer from Yala to Airport.
En- Route doing city tour in Gall.
Visit to Galle City.
Galle the beautiful colonial town along the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka is a city that cannot be missed. Galle is popular for the 300 year old fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 36 hectare fort was built by the Dutch in 1663, surrounded on three sides by the ocean. The streets within the fort are crammed with colonial remnants from the Dutch clock tower, Reformed church and the commander’s house to the British coat of arms on the outer wall. You can enjoy the beautiful colonial architecture; visit the Galle Maritime Museum, the Galle lighthouse, Bodhi tree and the reclining Buddha Statue in the temple. It is also home to one of the most popular cricket stadium in the world.
As your holiday in Sri Lanka comes to an end, check out from your hotel in Colombo and head to Colombo International Airport for your departure flight. Cherish the memories of your unforgettable journey in this island paradise, and feel free to reach out to us for assistance with planning your next Sri Lankan adventure!
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