DAY 1: COLOMBO – DAMBULLAH ( 155 KM, 4 hrs)
Arrival at Colombo airport, you will be met and assisted by our representative. Leave straight for Dambullah. On arrival check in at the hotel. Late afternoon visit the Golden Cave Temples in Dambullah. Golden Cave Temples contain some of the world’s finest examples of ancient Buddhist art. Many of the frescoes and sculptures are in fact well over 2000 years old. Overnight stay
DAY 2: DAMBULLAH – POLONNARUWA – DAMBULLAH (140 KMS, 3 HOURS )
After breakfast drive to Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka from 11th to 14th Century. Visit the ruins of stupas, temples and palaces which are still in excellent state of preservation. The Gal Vihare with 3 huge rock-cut images of the Buddha which is considered to be one of the world’s great masterpieces of sculpture is another interesting spot to visit. Enjoy an elephant back ride in Habarana through the villages and forests. Evening drive back to Dambullah for overnight stay.
DAY 3: DAMBULLAH – KANDY (75 KM, 2 HOURS)
After breakfast drive to Sigriya. Many consider Sigiriya to be the 8th Wonder Of The Ancient World. It is difficult not to be awe-struck upon setting your eyes upon this strange shaped rock with ruins of a palace and citadel hanging on to its sides. A rusty staircase takes you to a cave gallery containing frescoes of the famous Sigiriya Maidens. Further on are the giant Lions Paws leading to a dizzy climb to the top from where superb views of the jungles and distant hills are seen. From here proceed to Kandy. It is the centre of the island’s indigenous culture, with many surrounding villages producing good quality arts and crafts. The UNESCO protected Old Town area is a lovely place for an afternoon walk along a maze of streets leading to the Temple Of The Buddha’s Tooth and the Kandy Lake, magnificently framed against forest clad hills in the background. Evening visit The Temple of Tooth. Overnight stay.
DAY 4: KANDY
Morning visit to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and Peradeniya Gardens and its Orchid Houses are the highlights of the day. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is Sri Lanka’s number one tourist attraction. It is a wonderful place to spend a couple of hours in the company of over 70 elephants, the largest herd in the entire world. You can turn up for feeding time at 9 am or watch them bathe in the Maha Oya River for the rest of the day. Peradeniya Gardens and Its Orchid Houses are the finest botanical gardens in the East including an Orchid House with 300 varieties of orchids. Overnight stay.
DAY 5: KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA (120 KM, 4 HOURS)
Morning drive to Nuwara Eliya. Nuware Eliya was the original Hill Station of the British tea planters who came to Ceylon, as it was then known. There is a Hill Club, Grand Hotel, a Golf Course that is the oldest in Asia and even a Race Course - all of which are bygone reminders of an English social life which once thrived here. En route visit Labookellie Tea Estate at the top of Ramboda Pass for a guided tour and a cup of tea. Overnight stay.
DAY 6: NUWARA ELIYA - YALA (200 KM, 5 HOURS)
Morning leave for. After arrival check in at the hotel. Afternoon go for an exclusive jeep safari in the national park. Yala, the largest national park in Sri Lanka is very reminiscent of the African savannah and is where the greatest variety of wildlife can be observed.Herds of Spotted Deer, solitary Sambar (Elk) and Wild Boar are common. Yala is now gaining an international reputation as the best place to watch Leopards in the world. The aggressive Sloth Bear is also present but rarely seen.Yala also contains about 250 Elephants including some magnificent solitary cross-tuskers. Overnight stay.
DAY 7: YALA - COLOMBO (290 KM, 6 HOURS)
After breakfast, you will be dropped to Colombo airport to catch your onward flight or to the resort for your beach holidaying. En-route visit the The Old World Town Of Galle. Galle has a charming old Dutch Fort (1640) itself the best preserved in Asia,
whose ramparts enclose an Old Town of great historical and architectural value. Finally reach Colombo airport to catch flight for onward destination. |