Discover Sri Lanka

Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights Tour 1400 US$ per person

Tour Highlights 

• Colombo City Tour – Kelaniya Temple
• Anuradhapura Ancient Kingdom-UNESCO World Heritage Site ∙ Aukene Buddha Statue
• Ritigala Forest ancient Buddhist Monastery
• Sigiriya Rock Fortress -UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Polonnaruwa Ancient Kingdom-UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Dambulla cave Temple -UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Kandy Tooth Relic Temple
• Pinnewele Elephant Orphanage
• Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniye
• Visit Tea Factory & Tea Gardens
• Huggala Botanical garden
• Train Drive in Hill Country
• Overnight stay at Panoramic Elle
• Buduruwegele Buddha Image
• Wild Safari in Yale National Park
• Galle Dutch Fort – UNESCO World Heritage Site ∙ Turtle Hatchery

Day 01: Air Port to Negambo

Arrival at Bandaranaike International Ari Port and transfer to Hotel in Negambo for two nights.

Dinner & overnight stay at a Hotel in Negambo

Day 02: Negambo / Colombo / Negambo 

After breakfast visit, Negambo Fish market and Afterward leave for the Colombo city excursion. Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, is a fascinating city with a blend of East & West as well as a cozy mixture of past & present; the city is dotted with numerous interesting and important tourist attractions including colonial-era buildings. The City Tour will include places of Tourist interest such as Colombo National Museum, Old Parliament, Independent Square, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Buddhist, Hindu Temples, and Town Hall. 

En route visit Keleniye Rajamaha Viharaye; one of the most sacred worshipping places of the Buddhists  of Sri Lanka since it is a site made hallowed by the visit of Lord Buddha. The Chronicles records that the  original Dagoba at the temple enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha sat and preached.  This temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and paintings, which depict important events in the life of the Buddha and the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Negambo

Day 03: Negambo to Anuradhapura 

After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Sri Lanka’s first capital, the greatest monastic city of the ancient world, dates back from the 4thc.BC to 11th c AD,  ruled by more than 100 Sri Lankan kings. The World Heritage Site of  Anuradhapura consists of a large number of sacred Buddhist sites  including dagobas (gigantic dome-like structures), monasteries,  palaces, and the ancient Bo Tree, grown from the original tree in Budda  Gaya under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Anuradhapura

Day 04: Anuradhapure / Aukene / Dambulle 

After breakfast leave for Dambulla for two nights. En route visit Aukana  Buddha: One of Sri Lanka’s most perfect and elegant Buddha statues, lies  to the west of the large Kala Wewa tank. The creation of both the temple and  the tank (reservoir) is attributed to King Dhatusena in the 5th  century. The statue stands 12m high, carved from a single rock, and is considered to be a masterpiece of Sri Lankan ancient sculptors

And next visit The Ritigala ancient Buddhist monastery; nestles deep inside the Ritigala Strict Nature  Reserve, is a partially excavated ruins of an extensive Buddhist Monastery. It was abandoned following  invasions in the 10th and 11th centuries and today holds special appeal with its curious blend of nano-safari  and archaeology. Walking around the beautiful ruins certainly gives you a feeling of adventure in  search of mythical pasts; it is easy to imagine yourself as Indiana Jones whilst clambering over the overgrown relics of a forgotten time.

Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla

Day 05: Dambulle / Polonnaruwe / Dambulle 

After breakfast visit, Polonnaruwa ruined city- UNESCO World  Heritage site, the second kingdom of Ancient Sinhalese, became Sri  Lanka’s royal medieval capital in 10th c AD and remained the capital until  the late 13th century. Today, the ancient city’s ruins remain in remarkably  good nick; huge Palaces, Monastic complexes, Giant Stupas,  Hospitals, Image Houses, etc. The most impressive are the ancient  sculptures of the Buddha at the Gal Vihara cut into Granite stone dating  back to the middle of the 12th century.

Afterward, visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya; the lion rock, a rock fortress-cum royal palace  complex of 5thc AD, was created by king Kashyape who committed patricide and made the rock his hideout in  order to stay away from his half-brother who sought vengeance. This king not only fortified his stronghold  but also added to it artistic beauty with water gardens, pavilions, courtyards, summer houses, etc. About two hours can happily be spent walking through its water gardens, and then up the steep steps – either hewn out of the rock or on circular iron staircases – past the frescoes. You will be in no rush to abandon the spectacular views at the summit.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the same hotel in Dambulla

Day 06: Dambulla to Kandy 

After breakfast leave for Kandy for two nights. En-route visit the Cave Temple  at Dambulla where a large number of Buddha statues are housed in 5 caves,  including a 14-meter-long, colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved  out of the rock, the caves’ rock ceiling is covered in one large sweep of  colorful frescoes. It is the best place to see the classical Buddhist  paintings & murals of the island. Next visit an Ayurvedic herbal & Spices garden at Matale, where spices & herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and  medication are grown.

The evening sees the Cultural Show in Kandy. Kandy- UNESCO World Heritage Site, the capital of the hill  country, was the last seat of Sinhalese kings who ceded power to the British in1815 after many battles with  the western colonial forces, still remains much of its old world charm and traditions of the Sri Lankan lifestyle, At the Cultural Show, can enjoy the Dancers & Drums of Traditional Artist with their magical Firewalking.

Dinner & overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy

Day 07: Kandy

After breakfast visit, the Temple of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha  in Kandy, the most venerated place of Buddhists of Sri Lanka, was built in the 14th Century A.D. solely for the purpose of housing the tooth relic of  the Buddha. Afterward, leave for Pinnewele to visit Elephant Orphanage was abandoned and disabled elephants get a lot of love, care, and protection and can  enjoy the bathing, feeding & playing of dignified elderly matriarchs to the  cutest of babies.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the same hotel in Kandy

Day 08: Kandy to Nuwere Eliye 

After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya. In the morning further sightseeing in Kandy city; including Upper Lake Drive, the picturesque  premises of the University of Peradeniya, Royal Botanical Gardens, and Observing the glorious Architecture of that period..experiencing  the tranquility of the atmosphere. Visiting Art and Craft Centers, and Gem Factory to see the rich skills of Kandian Traditional Craftsmen & Artists. Next visit a Tea Factory with rolling tea gardens via crashing waterfalls and reach Nuwere Eliye in the evening: Nuwara Eliya also known as Little England is where the homesick British (The Tea Planters) built themselves a home away from home.

Dinner & overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya

Day 09: Nuwere Eliye to Elle 

After breakfast visits the beautifully landscaped Hakgala Botanical  Gardens, at an elevation of 1,670m with magnificent views of the  surrounding hills and the jungles of the Hakgala Nature Reserve. The gardens are filled with roses and orchids, eucalyptus, pine and camphor, fruit and scented herbs, and rare ferns – an array of flowers  and foliage from Sri Lanka and different parts of the world. An eminent British Botanist founded the Hakgala Botanical Gardens in 1860.

Afternoon leaves for Elle by a train passing densely covered tea plantations, remote  villages, and spectacular waterfalls, the train journey from Nuwara Eliya to Elle often stands out as one of Sri Lanka’s most unforgettable journeys. Ella is a beautiful small village in Sri Lanka’s hill country with little more than a handful of shops, hotels, and guesthouses, but it has an almost perfect climate and occupies a very scenic vantage point, with views on a fine day stretching right across the South Coast of Sri Lanka. 

Dinner & overnight stay at a hotel in Elle

Day 10: Elle to Yale 

After breakfast leave for Tissamaharama/Yala and en route visit Buduruwagele Buddha statues. The ancient rock sculptures at Buduruwagala are fascinating and are carved into a 70ft granite cliff. The sculptures are said to date back to  the 8th century and consist of seven gigantic Buddhist figures from the Mahayana Buddhist doctrine. A  short walk amidst the rock sculptures takes you to an awe-inspiring, tranquil wilderness and a peaceful lake  setting filled with birds.

Afternoon game drive in Yale National Park in search of Leopard, Sloth Bear, and Asian Elephant. Yale ; Sri Lanka’s one of the best National Parks to see a wide variety of Sri Lanka’s wildlife because of its scrub plains, lagoons, and rocky sections.

Dinner & overnight stay at a hotel in Tissemaharama or Yala

Day 11: Yale to Galle 

After breakfast leave for beach stay and evening remains Leisure on the  Beach.

Dinner & overnight stay at a hotel in Kogalle or Unawatuna

Day 12: Beach Stay – Koggale or Unewatune 

The whole day remains Leisure on the Beach.

Dinner & overnight stay at the same hotel in Koggale or Unawatuna

Day 13: Galle to Colombo 

After Breakfast leave for Colombo. En route visit Galle Dutch Fortress UNESCO World Heritage site, originally built by the Portuguese and then  further developed by the Dutch and the British covers nearly four sq km,  This small walled city with about 300 homes and an old-world feel, still  remain with its well-preserved bastions, public buildings, churches,  and lighthouse. Hours can be spent exploring the maze of narrow streets  lined with quaint houses, Dutch and British period buildings still in use, and the growing collection of art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants.

Afterword visit to a Turtle Hatchery; Turtle Hatchery Projects have been launched to conserve the  population of turtles that are reaching extinction and such projects are found along the southern coast of Sri  Lanka where turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Those hatcheries pay local fishermen or poachers for  eggs that they collect at night along the sandy beach. You can see huge tanks filled with newborn turtle hatchlings. After being fed, the baby turtles are taken to the sea and released when they are 2-4  days old, usually during the safer hours of darkness.

Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo

Day 14: Departure – Colombo to Airport 

After breakfast, transfer to International Airport- Katunayake.