12 Days
ITINERARY
DAY 01 -NEGOMBO
On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be met and assisted by our Airport Representative, who will direct you to your very own Chauffeur to transfer you to Negombo.
Once you check in at your hotel relax and recover from any jet lag. If you have spare time your chauffeur will introduce you to the sights and sounds of Negombo.
Overnight Stay in Negombo.
DAY 02 – NEGOMBO TO ANURADHAPURA
After breakfast set off to Anuradhapura and check in to your hotel on. After a short rest, visit the sacred ancient city of Anuradhapura founded in the 04th century B.C and named as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982. It has the largest number of ancient monuments of the great Sinhala civilization which flourished in this region.
You will see some of the most famous as well as the tallest Stupas of Sri Lanka and the Ruins of ancient royal palaces. Another amazing site would be the “Sri Maha Bodhi” or the sacred Bo tree, which is over 2200 years old, grown from a branch of the very tree under which “The Buddha” attained enlightenment; it is also the oldest historically documented tree in the world.
Then you Visit the ancient remains of Mihintale, a sacred place which is regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The rock is dotted with shrines and rock dwellings. A grand stairway of 1840 steps made of granite slabs, 5 meters wide leads to the summit with its splendid views of the surrounding countryside.
Overnight Stay in Anuradhapura
DAY 03 – ANURADHAPURA TO HABARANA
After breakfast leave for Aukana to see the statue of the Aukana Buddha. This is undoubtedly the most magnificent undamaged ancient image in the island. The 5th century statue ascribed to King Dhatusena is 13 meters high standing beneath a recently constructed brick shelter.
After sightseeing, we will be leaving for Habarana – a small green village with excellent hotel accommodation, and spectacular views on greenery. Apart from that Habarana is also a central location for all the ancient city sites. Check in at your hotel on arrival and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight Stay in Habarana
DAY 04 – SIGIRIYA, POLONNARUWA & BACK IN HABARANA
Day four begins with a hearty breakfast, and a tour to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Built by the young king Kashyapa, this 5th century fortress in the sky was a royal citadel for more than 18 years. Combining baffling architectural feats and sensual artistic values, the lion rock is a UNESCO world heritage site as well as nominated to be the eighth wonder of the world.
Then journey continues to one of the ruins of ancient Ceylon – the UNESCO World Heritage City of Polonnaruwa, which was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th to 13th century. A well-planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls (around 5 km. which remain), graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds, and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation. The “Gal Vihara” which consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha have been cut from a single granite wall and rank among the true masterpieces of Sri Lankan Art.
Overnight Stay in Habarana
DAY 05 -HABARANA TO KANDY VIA DAMBULLA & MATALE
After breakfast head for Dambulla and explore the famous Golden Rock cave temple which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recognized as a sacred pilgrimage site for approximately 22 centuries, this cave monastery is the largest best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.
The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 sq. meters) are of particular importance as are the 157 statues including a 47-foot-long statue of the recumbent Buddha.
Continue to Kandy. En route you will visit a spice garden in Matale. You will check in at your hotel on arrival and once you are rested, continue to your tour of Kandy!
Kandy, the bustling hill country capital is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Lord Buddha.
The day entails a Kandyan Cultural show at the Kandyan Arts and Cultural Centre, which features the graceful and rhythmic dancers and drummers culminating in an impressive fire walking display.
Overnight Stay in Kandy.
DAY 06 -KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA
After breakfast visit the ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDEN of Peradeniya which was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century, later made it into a Botanical Garden during the British regime. This garden: one of the best in Asia, is a place of beauty and a popular haunt for bird watchers. It is bounded on three sides by the Mahaweli River, which snakes around the 60-hectare gardens. Peradeniya is the second largest botanical garden in Asia. It has an orchid house which botanists should visit. In 1905 an avenue of palms was planted and now is one of the most photographed places in the garden. The oldest tree here is a 150-year-old double coconut tree. The Giant Fig tree on the Great Lawn is another notable tree. During World War II, it served as a base for Lord Mountebatten. Today it is a popular haunt for day trippers, botanists, and birdwatchers.
On completion leave for Nuwara Eliya En route visit the Tea factory & Rabboda waterfall.
The beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya, set in the heart of Tea country and situated 1890 meters above sea level, is where the British succeeded in creating an English countryside with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne.
Overnight Stay in Nuwara Eliya.
DAY 07 – NYWARAELIYA TO ELLA
After an early breakfast at the hotel, leave for Horton plains, the highest plateau in the country. Named as a national park, Horton Plains homes unique vegetation and is well known to be a perfect ground to observe many rare and endemic highland birds. The most awesome physical feature of the Horton Plains is the escarpment that falls 880 meters to the lowlands of the southern region of the island. Aptly known as the “World’s End” the view from the precipice of the countryside below towards the south coast is spectacular.
Return to Nuwara Eliya upon completion. After lunch and at your convenience commence a sightseeing tour of the city. Visit the Nuwara Eliya Town, Market place, Golf Course, (one of the finest 18 holes Golf courses in Asia) the Hill club, and drive around this hill station viewing Lake Gregory. At 3.01pm You’ll be taking train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella.
Overnight Stay in Ella
DAY 08 – ELLA TO YALA
After Breakfast visit the Nine Arches Bridge also called (The Bridge in the sky) is one of the most iconic bridges in Sri Lanka and is one of the best examples of British railway constructions when Ceylon was yet a colony of the British Empire. It is located in Demodara, between Ella and Demodara railway stations. As of the past decade the surrounding area has seen a steady increase of tourism due to the bridge’s architectural ingenuity and the profuse greenery in the nearby hillsides. It is often likened to the countryside through which the fictional Hogwarts express passes through in the Harry Potter world.
Ravana waterfalls is at Ella. Ravana falls is very high waterfalls, and a lot of legend stories are hidden at this waterfalls. Ravana waterfalls is at between Ella and Wallawaya. There are 5km to Ravana waterfalls from Ella town.
Buduruwagala
The beautiful, 1000-year-old, rock-cut Buddha figures of Buduruwagala are the region’s biggest attraction. The gigantic standing Buddha (at 15m, it is the tallest on the island) here still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe, and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted. It’s surrounded by smaller carved figures. This remote site is located 9km south of Wellawaya, accessed by a scenic side road.
Overnight Stay in Yala
DAY 09 – YALA TO MIRISSA
After early breakfast In the morning commence a jeep safari in the Yala National Park by private jeep accompanied by a tracker. Yala National Park one of Sri Lanka’s premier eco tourist Destinations and is renowned for its variety of wildlife notably its many elephants. It is also home to the spotted deer, sambar, wild buffalo, sloth bear, jackal, mongoose, and crocodiles. The peacock is easily the most famous of the birds in this park. Yala has a high concentration of Leopards although seeing these nocturnal carnivores still requires some luck. After safari you’ll be checking out from the hotel and heading towards for Mirissa via Udawalawa.
Udawalawa.
Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home is a refuge for baby elephants, the majority of which have been affected by the tragic elephant – human conflict (when mothers are often separated from their young or even killed). This incredible project provides food, medical care, and anything else a baby elephant need. When the elephants are big and strong enough, they are released back into the wilderness to start living a ‘normal’ elephant life. Easily accessible from Udawalawe National Park itself, visitors can go to the Elephant Transit Centre at specific times in the day to enjoy the feeding hour, when the small elephants rush to drink milk and play with their mates. Like any other babies, elephants like showing off, especially when spectators are around so the event can become a great source of entertainment.
Overnight Stay in Mirissa
DAY 10 – MIRISSA TO HIKKADUWA
After early breakfast you are heading to Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa is one of the most exciting water activities you can do in Sri Lanka during your holiday.
In warm Indian ocean you can see blue whales, Sperm whales, Fin whales, sometimes Killer whales, and Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and striped dolphins. Sometimes you can see turtles and various fish species, for example Bluefin tuna and flying fish. Whale watching season starts in November and ends in April. Ocean is warm and calm during these months. boat leaves from Mirissa harbor at 7:00 O´clock in the morning. You should be in the harbor at 6:30-6:45am.
The duration of the tour is 3-5 hours (depends on spotting of whales and wish of our passengers). Afternoons is the ocean usually rough and not suitable for whale watching.
Still Fishing in Ahangama
The beautiful sight of fishermen perched branched poles as they fish skillfully during dawn, noon and dusk; can now be commonly along the southern coast in towns such as Koggala, Kaththaluwa and Ahangama. Occasional stilt fishermen can also be seen amongst the waters of Madu River, etc. Though stilt fishermen
Galle City tour & etc
Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (although Ibn Batuta in the 14th century refers to it as Qali before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century, when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century, during the Dutch colonial period. Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by the Portuguese in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. The city was extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.
Hikkaduwa’s beach and night life make it a popular tourist destination. It is a well-known international destination for board-surfing. The town was featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s television show No Reservations.
Overnight Stay in Hikkaduwa
DAY 11 – HIKKADUWA
Blissfully spend your time as you wish whether it be indulging in fine spa treatment or relaxing by the beautiful Indian Ocean.
Overnight Stay in Hikkaduwa.
DAY 12 – AIRPORT
Airport.
Now that you are at the end of your journey with us, after breakfast, your chauffeur will comfortably take you to the international airport in time for your departure flight.
We hope your adventure with us was enjoyable and wish you a safe and pleasant flight home!
