Sri Lanka

Day 1 : Arrive Sri Lanka
On arrival you will be blessed to get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality. A representative will welcome you at the Airport and will guide you to the transportation arranged for you for transfer to your hotel. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – Approx. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo – Kandy road is Pinnawela. Here an orphanage was started in 1975 to house abandoned and wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well more than 25 babies born as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0915-0945 hrs and 1415-1445 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-11.00 hrs and 1500-1600 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Dambulla.

Day 2 : Dambulla – Sigiriya Rock Fortress – Dambulla
After Breakfast proceed to Sigiriya Rock, after you will enjoy a nice trip in the Jungle while riding the Elephant. Sigiriya Rock Fortress is home to the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Within its triple- moated defence the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original colour.

Overnight stay at the hotel in Dambulla. (B)

Day 3 : Dambulla – Kandy
Today after breakfast proceed to Kandy, en route visit the Spice Garden in Matale.. (Optional) Spice Garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum & Temple of Tooth Relic. Kandy the hill capital, venue of the annual Perahera The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple’s shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.

Overnight at the hotel in Kandy. (B)

Day 4 : Kandy
This morning after breakfast proceed for a city tour in Kandy, visit the Temple of Tooth Relic and Peradeniya Botanical Garden, in the evening enjoy Cultural Show. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic – ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession. By the night experience a colourful show where you will be taken to mind blowing Sri Lankan culture extravaganza… Get ready for Heavy drumbeat and acrobatic act. (Optional) Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya This majestic botanical garden is 147 acres in extent and was started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some which are rare and endemic, as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. The Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists.There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest, Royal Palm Avenue, was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world, is one such avenue.

Overnight at the hotel in Kandy. (B)

Day 5 : Kandy – Bentota
Today after breakfast proceed to Bentota, en route go for rafting in Kithulgala. (optional) Kithulgala is one of the most famous places for White Water Rafting adventures. However there are many more reasons why this spot, just 100 kms from the capital Colombo, is well worth visiting. Chief among these are the historic Beli Lena Caves where the pre-historic Balangoda Man supposed to have lived. The caves are reached after a short 10km drive from the main road through the Kitulgala tea estate. David Lean’s epic war film “Bridge on the River Kwai” was filmed in this area of the Kelani River, which runs through Kitulgala, and the ruins of the bridge still remains.

Overnight at the hotel in Bentota. (B)

Day 6 : Bentota
Today the day is at leisure , you can opt for the below tours. (optional) Madu River Boat Ride in the 915 hectare Maadu Ganga Estuary is connected by two narrow channels to the Randombe Lake, forming a complex wetland system encompassing 64 mangrove islets. In the year 2000, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) undertook a detailed biodiversity survey of the region & revealed the existence of no less than 10 major wetland vegetation types supporting over 300 plant species & 248 species of vertebrates. This remarkable diversity has led to its being classified under RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands in 2003. (Optional) Marine Turtle Conservation in Kosgoda… Globally, all seven species of marine turtles are endangered. Of these seven, five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. The process of marine turtles nesting, hatchlings being born, and swimming back to sea is fascinating to observe. The Kosgoda Conservation Project is an ideal way to learn and observe this endangered species. Garden Beach Hotel, on the edge of Turtle Beach, offers responsible night-time expeditions to its guests if turtles are lying.

Overnight at the hotel in Bentota. (B)

Day 7 : Depart Bentota
Today transfer to the airport to connect with the departure fight with wonderful memories. (B)