8 Nights - Magical Sri Lanka

8 Nights - Magical Sri Lanka

Explore this magical island through these Sri Lanka cultural tours. More relaxed than a shorter tour and providing a better understanding on historical values these tour packages Sri Lanka proudly offers are made to please. Other than Ancient Sites and Hill Country this has a great focus on Wild Life with valuable time spent in Yala Sri Lanka or in Maldives in various types of fabulous resorts.

Holiday Highlights

• Unforgettable elephant back safari
• - Tuk Tuk ride in Kandy
• - Wonderful journey in a local train towards hill country
• - Visit to a Tea Plantation & Factory while tasting high grades of tea
• - Discover the colonial city of Nuwara Eliya
• - Stop at Rawana Falls in Ella
• - Buduruvagala complex of Buddha statues
• - Guided 4 x 4 jeep safari to Yala National Park
• - Galle Fort and a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda

• Visit to Aukana, an architectural marvel
• Discover the first capital of Ceylon, Anuradhapura
• - Climbing the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• - Explore the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa
• - Dambulla's serene Buddhist cave temples
• - Temple of the Tooth in honour of Lord Buddha
• - Kandyan dancing and drum beats
• - Visit to Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya
• - Elephant bathing bottle feeding of baby elephants in Pinnawala
• - Brief city of tour of Colombo

Day 1 - Day 3

1^st Day - Arrival at the Colombo International Airport ...

Arrival at the Colombo International Airport. You will be met by our English speaking / other language speaking depending on availability Chauffeur Guide. Thereafter transfer direct to Sigiriya or Habarana or Dambulla according to the category of hotels selected with a comfort stop en route in Kurunagala.All 3 locations are conveniently located for all the ancient city sites and have a hotel complex principally for package tourists; also many better-heeled independent visitors also use it. At 1630hrs: One hour elephant back safari through the jungles of Habarana. Brief stop in the jungle and taste some delicious seasonal fruits served with mineral water or soft drinks. You will be awarded a certificate for your brave adventure. Overnight at selected category of hotel.

 

2^nd Day - Breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter visit to Aukana ...

morning after breakfast visit to Aukana, What may be called one of the wonders of the world is the tall, standing statue of the Buddha at Aukana, another architectural marvel of the ancient Sinhalese. The rock cut statue which stands 39 feet above its decorated lotus plinth and 10 feet across the shoulders, belongs to the period of King Dhatusena (459-477 AD), PM: Excursion to Anuradhapura Sri Lanka's first capital, founded in the 5th century B.C. is situated 206 km. from Colombo. Attractions worth seeing are:- The Sacred Bo Tree, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanaramaya, Brazen Palace, Thuparama Dagaba, Samadhi Buddha, Kuttam Pokuna and Mirisavati Dagaba. Overnight at selected category of hotel.

 

3^rd Day - After breakfast visit the Rock fortress of Sigiriya ...

after breakfast, visit the Rock fortress of Sigiriya ,One of Sri Lanka's most fascinating UNESCO world heritage sites - A mighty 600 ft high rock-fortress of a 5th century King is famous for its entrancingly beautiful frescoes. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a huge crouching lion, carved from the rock- today only the paws remain. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit. PM: Proceed to Polonnaruwa a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stop at a village house to witness the rural life style and to enjoy a friendly chat with some villages. Visit of Polonnaruwa - The 11th to 13th Century capital of Polonnaruwa has more to see and less to conjecture than the older metropolis of Anuradhapura. With its comparatively brief and uncomplicated history two centuries and a dozen rulers, in contrast with 1,400 years and 123 kings of Anuradhapura) and its far more completely preserved ruins, much more recently exposed to the ravages of time. Return to your reserved hotel and overnight

Day 4 - Day 5

4^th Day - After breakfast leave for Kandy visiting the Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla .. .

After breakfast depart to Kandy visiting the Rock cave temples of Dambulla another protected UNESCO world heritage site. The caves at first came into use as a refuge for King Valagambahu in 1st century BC. Concealed by the local monks, upon returning from exile to his throne at Anuradhapura, he had the magnificent cave temple built for them. The cave temple consists of a complex of Buddhist image houses. Its rock ceiling is one large sweep of colourful frescoes, some of which dates back to over 2,000 years, which depicts Buddhist mythology, and the tales of the Buddha's previous births. This cave temple has the largest number of Buddha statues all housed in one place, including a 14m-long figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock. Continue the journey up to Kandy through roads in sharp curves and looking down are the deep valleys, abysses, rocks, waterfalls and streams glittering in the sun and patterned in emerald with terraced rice fields. The city of Kandy, lies in a triangular valley surrounded by mountains. Sightseeing of Kandy city in the evening including a visit to the Temple of the much revered Temple of the Tooth relic. Also witness a Cultural Performance. Temple of the Tooth Relic. Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world. Built in the 16th century this temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga province in ancient India in the 4th century AD. Several buildings have been added to the temple complex by successive rulers. Return to hotel and overnight at selected category of hotel

 

5^th Day - visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens after breakfast ...

visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens after breakfast, the most beautiful in the world and begun as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala King. Every variety tropical and temperate tree and flower is cultivated here and special houses with orchids and e cacti are too beautiful to be true. Thereafter proceed to Pinnawala to Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in time to witness the bathing and bottle feeding of the baby elephants. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Among the green hills of Kegalle, about 50 miles (85km) from Colombo on the road to Kandy in the hill country, a herd of about 60 elephants roam free in the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. This popular attraction, established as a sanctuary covering 25 acres of lush forest by the Sri Lankan Government in 1975, is unique. Its purpose is to feed, nurse and house young elephants lost or abandoned by their mothers. Recently the sanctuary has also started a breeding program. The sights of herds of elephants splashing and playing in a river and bottle feeding of baby elephants have charmed countless tourists. Return to Kandy and leisure walk in the Kandy city with free time for shopping. Fabulous options to buy souvenirs in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony, and bronze are available. Ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and rush and reed-ware can also be purchased. Return to hotel and overnight at selected category of hotel.

Day 6 - Day 7

6^th Day - After breakfast transfer in decorated Tuk Tuk .. .

After breakfast transfer in decorated Tuk Tuk to Kandy Railway Station for an amazing 30mnts journey in a local train from Kandy to Gampola. It's a wonderful travelling experience mingled with local people with a warm smile & it's the perfect set up for a friendly chat while enjoying stunning sceneries passing by. Meet your driver guide at Gampola station and continue the journey up to Nuwara Eliya via Ramboda Falls. Numerous photo stops en route to capture magnificent sceneries while enjoying and tasting some seasonal fresh fruits. Stop at a Tea factory and Plantation. A guided tour around will allow you to experience the whole process of tea production. It also provides an opportunity to buy the best grades of tea. Arrive in Nuwara Eliya and City tour with free time for shopping. Nuwara Eliya, this town seems like a piece of English district. Tudor-style and Victorian homes look across the blue lake. These buildings are the other architectural monuments to the English, the Post Office, the English country house like Hill Club with its hunting pictures, mounted hunting trophies and fish, Anglican Church and private residence. The Golf course here is one of the best in Asia. Overnight at selected category of hotel

 

7^th Day - after an early breakfast leave towards Yala ...

after an early breakfast leave towards Yala with en route stop at Rawana Falls in Ella Thereafter proceed towards Buduruvagala, literally it means images of Buddha. The complex consists of seven statues and belongs to the Mahayana school of thought. The statues date back to 10 century AD. The gigantic Buddha statue still bears traces of its original stuccoed robe and a long streak of orange suggests it was once brightly painted. The central of the three figures to the Buddha's right is thought to be the Buddhist mythological figure-the Bodhisattva Avalokithesvara. To the left of this white painted figure is a female figure in the thrice-bent posture, which is thought to be his consort-Tara. Arrival in Yala Around 1530hrs - jeep safari to the Yala National Park - Sri Lanka's best known national park is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. More than three times larger than Undawalawe at 97,800 hectares, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka's national parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world's highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. This park is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and fresh water lagoons. The areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide. Return to hotel overnight at selected category of hotel

Day 8 - Day 9

8^th Day - After breakfast leave for Colombo .. .

After breakfast leave for Colombo with following visits & stops en route, Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and South-east Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle fort is an UNESCO world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island. City tour of Galle & thereafter further proceed to Colombo with an en route stop in Kosgoda to visit a turtle hatchery. Arrive in Colombo & overnight at a hotel near airport or in Colombo city.

 

9^th Day -Early breakfast at the hotel ...

Early breakfast at the hotel and transfer to airport for the flight leaving to your destination of origin or to Male as a beach stay extension.