BEAUTIFUL SRI LANKA

Day 01 : Colomobo - Dambulla / Habarana (- / - / D)

Arrive at Colombo International Airport where the group is greeted by  the English-speaking guide. Departure to Dambulla / Habarana with a transfer of about 4 hours (Km 150). 

On the way to the hotel you will have tropical refreshments with Coconut drink. 

Free day or optional excursions with an extra charge : 60/- Per person  

Jeep safari to Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park based on the chance to spot the large number of Sri Lankan elephants on the day that clients do the jeep safari. Kaudulla has its own dry season, with the gathering at Kaudulla Reservoir.  

MINNERIYA : Located between Habarana and POLONNARUWA, the 8890 hectares of MINNERIYA National Park is an ideal eco-tourism location in Sri Lanka. The park consists of a mix of green forests and scrubbled areas and is home to Sri Lankan favorites such as sambar deer, leopards, and elephants. However, the main feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in the 3rd century BC by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an amazing place to observe the elephants that have come to graze on the grasses and swim as well as the huge flocks of birds.

Dinner and overnight in Dambulla / Habarana.  

Day 02 : Dambulla / Habarana (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Departure  to Sigiriya to visit the Sigiriya Fortress Fortress, famous for its frescoes, reachable by a 45-minute transfer (23 Km). 

FORTRESS FORTRESS OF SIGIRIYA (UNESCO) :

It is a World Heritage Site, built by King Kashyapa (473 – 491 A.D.). The Rocca del Leone is a citadel of unusual beauty that reaches 200 meters above the forest. It is the innermost fortress of a 70-hectare fortified city. The base of the fortress is surrounded by a moat, a bastion and an immense garden including the new water garden. The world-famous frescoes depicting 500 women (now 19 remain) are located in a protected area of the fortress near a spiral staircase and are the main attraction. Many of these frescoes were lost because they were erased when the fortress became a monastery, in order not to disturb meditation. The frescoes are painted with earth pigments, on the plaster. 

The important thing about Sigiriya  : Sigiriya is not a "difficult and impossible" climb, but it is certainly a hike that requires some activity and a minimum of physical endurance. Obviously, if there are people with physical problems or disabilities, pregnant women for example, it is therefore necessary to inform them well and perhaps in some cases it is advisable not to do it. You have to take into account that there are 1200 (one thousand two hundred) steps to the top, so slowly, perhaps making intermediate stops.  In principle it takes 2/3 hours, it is subjective because it is based on the physical endurance of each one. The site opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 5:30 p.m. The best time to go up is definitely in the morning or late afternoon, when the number of people is minimal and the temperatures are less heavy and cooler.  We recommend light, comfortable clothes and definitely sneakers! Not an excursion to do in flip-flops!! 

After getting off Sigiriya, customers will enjoy King Coconut. After visiting the Rock, visit Sri Lanka's second ancient capital, Polonnaruwa. 

Lunch at local restaurant (PRIYAMALI GEDARA). Meals are cooked in the traditional way with a fire and lunch is served in the shade of a pergola and on wooden tables with a view of the surrounding nature.  

POLONUWA (UNESCO) :

Polonnaruwa is the second capital of Sri Lanka, built between the 11th and 12th centuries A.D. and a World Heritage Site. Here you can visit the ruins of the Royal Palace, the "Gal Viharaya" (3 beautiful statues of the Buddha standing, sitting and reclining, carved into the rock). Also wonderful are the audience hall, the lotus bath, the statue of Polonnaruwa (12th century) and the "Parakrama Samudra" Lake built by King Parakramabahu the Great. There are also ruins of famous places of worship such as Shiva Temple, Lankatileka, Watadage, Galpotha, Kiri Vihare Dagoba, and the remains of what was originally the Temple of the Tooth. During the visit, there will also be a stop at a wood inlay center. 

After the visit of Polonnaruwa, transfer to Dambulla / Habarana, about 1 hour and a half (Km 55). 

Dinner and overnight at Dambulla / Habarana.   

Day 03 : Kandy (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure  for Kandy and during the journey, stop for a visit to the Temples in the Rock of Dambulla which can be reached in 15 minutes (Km 23). Also visit the Spice Garden. 

DAMBULLA ROCK TEMPLE (UNESCO) :

It was built by King Walagambahu in the first century B.C. Dambulla is a World Heritage Site and is the most impressive of the cave temples. The complex of 5 caves with over 2000 square meters of painted walls and ceilings, is the largest painting area in the world. The caves contain over 150 Buddha images of which the largest is the Buddha figure carved into the rock of about 14 meters. 

After the visit to the Temple of Dambulla, departure for Kandy which can be reached with a transfer of about 2 and a half hours (Km 80). During the journey, stop in Matale where you visit  the Spice Garden to see the spices growing in their natural habitat. The Garden guide teaches the uses of spices in the local cuisine.  

Lunch at a local restaurant.  

After lunch, depart for Kandy. 

KANDY :

Kandy is surrounded by green hills and is embellished with a beautiful lake that makes it one of the most relaxing and romantic cities in Sri Lanka. Its pleasant atmosphere and quiet location make many people choose to visit Kandy. In addition to being a fascinating place, the city of Kandy is considered the cultural capital of Sri Lanka.Here is one of the holiest temples in the country: the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. The highlight of the year is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic's basin is taken in process accompanied by the exotically costumed dancers, drummers and elephants during the ten brilliant evenings in July/August. Visit Kalapuraya in the beautiful Dumbara Valley. There are many shrines and temples, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings. 

In the afternoon visit to the Temple of the Golden Tooth (Dalada Maligawa).Afterwards, sightseeing, dancing and Kandy shows and free time for shopping.  

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH (UNESCO) :

The Temple of the Tooth is the most important attraction of the city and the place of greatest interest for those who decide to visit Kandy. The temple is located north of the lake and its importance is due to the fact that it houses one of the most precious relics for Sri Lankan Buddhists. In fact, Sri Dalada Maligawa houses a Buddha's tooth: hence the name Sacred Temple of the Tooth. 

According to legend, the tooth was caught in the flames of Buddha's funeral pyre and then brought to Sri Lanka in the fourth century AD. The relic was first taken to Anuradhapura, then to Polonnaruwa and finally to Kandy. In 1200 an invading army took it to India, but then it returned to Sri Lanka.With the passage of time, Buddha's tooth took on an extremely important role: in fact, in addition to being a sacred relic, it was thought that anyone in possession of it had the legitimate right to rule the island. The Portuguese tried to destroy it during their rule, trying to throw it into the flames. But it turned out that what they had burned was actually just a copy. The Temple houses one of the most important relics, the Buddha's Tooth, preserved in the 6 caskets inserted one inside the other. This temple has always attracted many visitors.  

Check-in at the hotel in Kandy. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. 

Day 04 : Nuwara Eliya (B / L / D)

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Departure to Nuwara Eliya visiting the tea plantation where the procedures for the production of this typical Sri Lankan drink will be explained. Walk along the tea plantations. You will visit  a tea plantation and a tea factory. Here we would give a demonstration on how the tea leaves are harvested every day. 

Kandy - Nuwaraeliya: 3 hours / 100 km  

NUWARA ELIYA :

It is the heart of the hilly area of Sri Lanka. It is the home of the world-famous Ceylon Tea and the hills are covered with a carpet of tea plantations interspersed with streams and small waterfalls. The area is characterized by a healthy and cool climate, different from the rest of Sri Lanka where the climate is warmer and more humid. The atmosphere is delicately English and feels like a small country within a country that attracts many visitors because of its uniqueness. 

Lunch at a local restaurant. 

Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. 

In the afternoon, visit of the city. 

Dinner and overnight in Nuwaraeliya. 

Day 05 : Colombo (B / L / D)

After breakfast, depart for Colombo.  

Nuwaraeliya – Colombo : 5 hours / 200 Km  

Lunch at the local restaurant. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit of the city. 

COLOMBO :

Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka and the country's largest city with a population of about 3 million people. Colombo is the best city in sri lanka, where I can try the best street food in Sri Lanka, try the tuk tuk ride, visit markets, shopping malls, of course and for a modern experience Colombo is definitely the best city from the point of view of nightlife in Sri Lanka.  Tenamo, City for night life in sri lanka.  Some of the best hotels include Cinnamon Grand Colombo, Cinnamon Lakeside (our hotel chain), and the international hotel chains Galadari Hotel, Shangri la, Ozo, Fairway, Movenpick, Taj Samudra Colombo, Hilton Colombo and Galle Face, all located in the heart of the city and right downtown.

Colombo is a live city and the heart of the country and you can't stay in Sri Lanka without spending at least one evening in Colombo. It concentrates all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign countries and is characterized by a mix of sounds, scents and is truly a kaleidoscope of colors. The merchants and those who settled in the country (Arabs, Portuguese, Danes and British) left traces of their culture such as churches and monuments, names and religions, traditions and food, as well as linguistic influences that entered the common language of the Sri Lankan people.

Today Colombo is a fascinating city, a happy mix of east and west, past and present that gives it charm.  Colombo, although not everyone knows it, offers a wide choice of top-notch restaurants offering food from all over the world, as well as one of the largest shopping opportunities in the Asian world. In the vicinity of Colombo is Pettah which is a local area of bazaars and commerce. Other places of interest include the Buddhist temples, the Columbus Museum and the New Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Dinner and overnight in Colombo.  

Day 06 : Departure (B / - / -)

After breakfast, transfer to Colombo airport. 40 Km / 40 minutes  

End of the Tour