On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be received by our representative and transferred to Kandy. On the way, visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage has grown to be a big family today. A unique experience never to be missed. You have the rest of the day free to rest at the hotel or explore the wonderful city of Kandy at your leisure. After breakfast join us on a tour of Kandy, the hill capital! The hill city is the venue of the annual Perahera and was the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhist influence in present-day Sri Lanka. Temple shrines and monasteries keep the Buddhist influence alive. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya – sixty seven hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more than 4000 species, this is a precious haven not only for scientists but also for a common nature lover. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Tooth has been in Sri Lanka since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to the island nation, hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orison princess’ hair. The Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world to an extent that it is now considered by many as Sri Lanka’s most prized possession. In the evening, experience a cultural show featuring many timeless varieties of Sri Lanka’s traditional dance styles. Overnight stay at HILL TOP OR CINNAMON CITADEL, Kandy.

The following morning, leave for Nuwara Eliya and visit a tea plantation en-route. Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867 a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on an 8 hectares of forestland, in the Loolcondura Estate. Nuwara Eliya is known as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka. It is set against a breathtaking backdrop of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and rolling tea plantations. It’s supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but in truth a day in Newara Eliya really feels just like an England spring day, though the temperature does drop at night. Explore the clear British influence all around Nuwara Eliya with country cottage houses or Queen Ann-esque mansions. Visit the Seethaeliya – a little Kovil (temple) dedicated to Seetha with a statue each of Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman. Spend the night at the Galway Forest Lodge Or Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya Next morning, after an early breakfast, embark upon an afternoon tryst with the Yala National Park. Yala is a haven for Fauna both indigenous and migrant. The bird concentrations are dense and plentiful by the lagoons/salvers. Spot a few thousands of Flamingoes, countless assemblies of spotted Billed Pelicans, Spoonbills, Cormorants and various species of Herons. Pheasants, Pea Fowl, Peacocks and the Wild Fowl are also found in hundreds. Wild Buffalo and herds of wild Elephants are a common sight. The safari culminates in an overnight stay at the Elephant Reach in Yala.

Leave for Bentota on the following morning. On the way, visit one of Sri Lanka’s most charming towns – Galle. Built on a premonitory rock in the south of the Island, Galle was a major port until about 100 years ago; today though its importance as a port has dipped, it still handles shipping and sailing boats in the natural harbour. Stroll around the Light House and harbour or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and carvers and purchase some of the finest shell-craft souvenirs in the world. Reach Bentota in the evening and check in to your hotel for the night.

After a good night’s sleep, embark upon a journey to the capital city of Colombo. A drive through the city will take you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit the Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where there’s also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square. Overnight stay at RAMADA OR CINNOMAN GRAND HOTEL, Colombo. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure OR transfer to the preferred beach resort.

On arrival in Sri Lanka, you will be received by our representative and transferred to Negombo. You have the rest of the day free to rest at the hotel or explore the city at your leisure. Overnight stay at PARADISE BEACH OR JETWING BLUE, Negombo.

The following day, leave for Sigriya after breakfast. En route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage has grown to be a big family today. A unique experience never to be missed. On completion transfer to Sigiriya via Dambulla, a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a mile around the base. Here, visit the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found on the Island. Sigiriya 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 a swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survives in the form of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original colour. Spend the night at KASSAPA LION ROCK OR SIGIRIYA VILLAGE, Sigiriya.

The next morning, leave for Polonnaruwa after breakfast. Polonnaruwa, which was Sri Lanka’s Capital from 11th - 13th Century, is home to some splendid and spectacular scultpures. Visit Lankatileke, Tivanka and Thuparama – three of the largest, and most beauiful shrine ruins. At Tivanka, you will find the best specimens of frescoes from the Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists. On completion, transfer to Anuradapura and overnight stay at HERITAGE HOTEL OR PALM GARDEN VILLAGE, Anuradapura. Anuradhapura is the most celebrated of Sri Lanka’s ancient ruined cities. The city’s greatest treasures are its dagabas constructed out of small sun-dried bricks and hemispherical in shape. The most notable of these dagabas is the Ruvanveli which dates back to the 2nd Century BC and is 300ft in diameter, the Jetawanarama which is 370ft and the Thuparama which enshrines the collarbone of the Buddha. The city’s most renowned relic is the sacred Bo-Tree which is said to have grown from a branch of the tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. It was planted 2250 years ago and is the oldest historic tree in the world.

After experiencing the strong presence of history and civilization in Anuradhapura, depart for Kandy. On the way, visit a spice garden at Matale. Stroll amidst the enthralling aromas of cinnamons, cardamons, pepper plants etc. You can also purchase your requirements of spices. Shortly after, visit the batik factory nearby, whre you can interact with the artisans and witness the creation of the beautiful Batik prints – the attached shop is a wonderful place to add to your bag of local handicrafts to take back home. Overnight stay at HILL TOP OR CINNAMON CITADEL, Kandy. The next morning, embark upon a city tour of Kandy, The hill city is the venue of the annual Perahera and was the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings, finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhist influence in present-day Sri Lanka. Temple shrines and monasteries keep the Buddhist influence alive. Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya – sixty seven hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more than 4000 species, this is a precious haven not only for scientists but also for a common nature lover. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The Tooth has been in Sri Lanka since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to the island nation, hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orison princess’ hair. The Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world to an extent that it is now considered by many as Sri Lanka’s most prized possession. Reach Bentota in the evening and check in to your hotel for the night.

After breakfast, visit one of Sri Lanka’s most charming towns – Galle. Built on a premonitory rock in the south of the Island, Galle was a major port until about 100 years ago; today though its importance as a port has dipped, it still handles shipping and sailing boats in the natural harbor. Stroll around the Light House and harbor or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and carvers and purchase some of the finest shell-craft souvenirs in the world. On completion return to Colombo in the afternoon and embark upon a city tour of the capital. A drive through the city will take you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit the Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where there’s also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square. Overnight stay at RAMADA OR CINNOMAN GRAND, Colombo. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure OR transfer to the preferred beach resort.