Grand Tour of Sri Lanka

Fly to Colombo.

On arrival you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel Cinnamon Lake. Then the afternoon is free for your own leisure and other activities.

Morning we commence a city & shopping tour. Colombo is fast changing and developing to the modern city preserving the old charm to its splendour. Here visit the 100 years old clock tower, elegant historical building and many places like Pettah Bazaar, Buddhist Temple and Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall on your Colombo tour. Enjoy shopping in the colorful bazaars to take home lots of souvenirs, artifacts and Sri Lanka delights.

This morning drive into the cultural centre of Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura, which was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two World Heritage sites. Many places of historical and archaeological interest could be visited. Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo-Tree) was brought as a sapling of the tree under which prince Siddhartha attained to enlightenment and it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. At Brazen Palace (2nd century B.C), the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. Then we check in at Dambale Boutique Chalets.

After breakfast, we visit the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya with a magnificent view of the surroundings .It is also famous for its frescoes, such as the frescoes of the Demoiselles, dream creatures between goddesses and princesses. Thereafter proceed to Polonnaruwa for sightseeing. En route stopover in Habarana for a short elephant back ride. On completion proceed to Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa the second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 to reunite the country once more under a local leader. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site.

After breakfast, we visit the Dambulla Cave temple. The city is home to one of Sri Lankas seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites; the richly painted cave temple complex, is the islands largest and best preserved. Though there are more than 80 documented caves in the area, the most significant are spread over 5 caves, which comprise of statues and paintings related to Lord Buddha and his life. Then we leave for Kandy. En route visit the Matale Spice gardens.On arrival Kandy check in at hotel Theva Residency.

Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts center, a gem museum, a lapidary and Batik factory. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. Evening enjoy the cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing.

After breakfast, this morning you take a train south to the tea country, where sat in the observation carriage you have fantastic views out over the tea plantations and pickers working the harvest. On arrival we check in at hotel Tea Factory.

Morning is free for your own leisure and other activities. In the afternoon you visit one of the wonderful tea estates with your guide, on an educational (and taste-testing!) experience.

Enjoy an early morning excursion to the Horton Plains, a windswept saddle at 7,000 feet above sea level which has an interesting array of wildlife. We walk to the well known local sites of Baker’s Falls and World’s End.

After breakfast, we take another scenic train ride to Ella. This train journeys has incredible views across the southern Sri Lankan hill country as the train passes in and out of numerous mountain tunnels through tea plantations, eucalyptus forests and nearby villages. The low lying clouds add to the beautiful scenery. On arrival Ella train station you will be welcomed and transferred to hotel 98 acres resort.

After breakfast transfer to the starting point of the trek. The day’s trek will give you an amazing insight into the lifestyle of people who live and farm in this scenic mountainous region. You will walk past a small village and gradually venture into the Ella agricultural area where paddy is grown on mountain terraces and irrigated by small streams. You will have the opportunity of visiting a village home to meet a farmer who will be delighted to show you around his home and, if it is the season, treat you to a drink of coconut water from his garden. Bidding farewell to the farmer you trek through dense jungle to a scenic stream which leads through small villages, where you can watch the daily routine of village life.

After breakfast, we will drive down to Yala, a national park where you have a couple of nights to maximise your chances of seeing the leopard and sloth bear of the area. It is also a beautiful area, and your hotel Cinnamon wild overlooks the coast with a beautiful stretch of deserted beach. It is a long drive but there is plenty to see en route and you can ask your guide to stop for any photo opportunities.

In the morning and late afternoon you will join safaris into the Yala National Park. These are interesting safaris and you are likely to see spotted deer, wild boar and wild elephant in addition to a wide variety of birds. If you are really lucky you may also spot sloth bear and leopard! (With on average one Leopard per square kilometre Yala has the highest density of leopard in Asia!).

After breakfast transfer to Beruwala and check in at Cinnamon Bey.

The day is free for your own leisure to relax on the beach.

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