10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS
DAY 01
Pinnawala / Sigiriya
Arrival at Colombo International Airport where you will be meet & welcome by our representative or Tour Guide and transfer to Sigiriya.
En route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage provides visitors with the best chance of seeing a large number of elephants at close quarters. The orphanage was established in 1975 and commenced with seven orphaned elephants. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their calfs born in the same location. Assisted by local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala commenced a successful captive breeding program and the first baby elephant was born in 1984. It is most interesting to visit at feeding time to see the baby elephants being bottle fed and the entire herd taken for a bath thereafter to the river nearby.
Thereafter transfer to Sigiriya and leisure in the evening…Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Sigiriya.
DAY 02
Sigiriya
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to Sigiriya rock fortress.
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress 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.
Enjoy an elephant back safari in the evening, indulge yourself with a couple’s journey Spa treatment relaxing your body and soul…. This romantic getaway for two is a nurturing and truly relaxing massage. The special Aphrodite mix of essential oils sets the mood, while chocolates, fruit and a bottle of Champagne complete the experience.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Sigiriya.
DAY 03
Sigiriya / Matale / Kandy
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to Kandy via Matale.
Visit a spice garden in Matale to see different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.
Thereafter transfer to Kandy. Do city tour of Kandy. 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 Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town, the bazaar, an arts & crafts centre and a gem museum / lapidary. Also visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
DAY 04
Kandy / Peradeniya / Nuwara eliya
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to Peradeniya Botanical Garden.
This beautiful garden is located 4 miles off Kandy. It was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It covers approximately 147 acres and is a walkers paradise with extensive well kept lawns, pavilions, an octagon conservatory, fernery, a giant Java fig tree and numerous flower beds. The best attraction is the orchid house.
Thereafter proceed to Nuwara Eliya by Train. Enjoy the picturesque journey from your observation carriage, the train snaking its way through the mountains through the tea country. The car will follow you to Nanu Oya, the last station before Nuwara Eliya. Proceed by the car to Nuwara Eliya.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Nuwara eliya.
DAY 05
Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed 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.
Thereafter do City tour in Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s 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.
Why not engage in some strawberry picking….. Visit a strawberry farm in Nuwara Eliya exploring the harvesting systems and indulge yourselves with some handpicked strawberries…
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Nuwara eliya.
DAY 06
Nuwara Eliya / Yala
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to Yala National Park.
Do Jeep safari in Yala National Park. The Yala National Park is approximately 1,259 sq. kms in extent and is the largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is located in the south eastern corner of the island and it has the added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage. The park is the home for wild elephants, wild boars, wild buffaloes, leopards, bears, deer and crocodiles. Large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds are also found here.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Yala.
DAY 07
Yala / Galle / Bentota
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to Galle Fort.
Do sightseeing in Galle Fort. Galle was once the chief port of Ceylon and is a town rich in history. It was the center of the Dutch regime in the 17th century and the majestic Galle Fort ( spanning 90 acres ) bears testimony to this fact. The city of Galle is one of the well preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia and has been declared a ‘World Heritage Site’. The Dutch museum & the Dutch church are two famous tourist attractions in Galle. The city is also known for its delicate handmade lace and ebony carvings.
Thereafter transfer to Bentota. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Bentota.
DAY 08
Bentota / Mirissa / Bentota
Rise early morning and leave for Mirissa, a small sandy tropical beach village which boasts some of Sri Lanka’s most stunning sunsets and sunrises. It is also on the worlds ‘Top Hot Spots’ for Sperm and Blue whale sightings. In the warm Indian Ocean you can see Blue whales,Sperm whales,Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and Striped dolphins. Take the boat from the fishery harbour out to sea. Blue Whales in concentrations not seen elsewhere in the world would be the highlight. After seeing the blue whales, your naturalist will take you further out to sea to look for sperm whales.
Rest of the day at leisure….
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Bentota.
DAY 09
Bentota / Madu River Safari / Colombo
Breakfast at the Hotel. Thereafter proceed to do boat ride in Madu River. The Madu river is a shallow water body in southwest Sri Lanka, which enters the sea at Balapitiya. During the river safari, visit uninhabited islands and a cinnamon plantation where you could get an insight into typical rural life.
Thereafter transfer to Colombo. Afternoon do a city tour of Colombo, like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar – where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH)- an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People’s Republic of China, and the Dutch Museum.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo.
DAY 10
Colombo / Airport or Beach Hotel
After Breakfast proceed to Airport for departure or Beach Hotel in Negombo.