Duration: 13 Days 1N Colombo / 2N Sigiriya / 2N Kandy / 1N Nuwara Eliya / 1N Udawalawa / 1N Negombo / 4N Maldives
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport to begin the Sri Lanka Maldives tour, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality; our Representative will Welcome you and transfer to Colombo.
In the afternoon do the city tour of Colombo.
Colombo, like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People's Republic of China.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Colombo.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Sigiriya. Check in to the hotel and relax.
In the evening visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya.
Breakfast at the hotel and start the Hiriwaduna Village Trekk.
Village Lunch with Tracking at Hiriwaduna
Take a ride in a bullock cart swaying from side to side on an unpaved trail, enjoy a nature walk through a scrub jungle, wade through a local stream with low hanging branches, cross a lake in an 'oruwa', the traditional mode of over water transport, spend time with a farmer harvesting crops under his guidance and taste authentic village cuisine prepared by the framer's family with freshly picked produce and local herbs cooked in clay pots over an open hearth fuelled by firewood. Visitors to Habarana are afforded the opportunity of experiencing Sri Lanka's dry zone and village life in the region through a trek to the Hiriwaduna hamlet that showcases the ecological setting of the area and provides a snapshot of village life as it unfolds. An excellent way to catch bits of village life as the inhabitants go about their daily chores, it also throws light on traditional methods of farming and life in a farming community such as the tree house where the farmer spends his nights to protect his crops from elephants and other nocturnal marauders.
There after visit Polonnaruwa, which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and which is a world heritage site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in 'Upright', 'Sedentary' and 'Recumbent' postures carved out of rock could be seen, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of king Parakramabahu, and the Parakrama Samudraya - a lake built by King Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.
On your way back to hotel you could also witness a wood carving shop where you will be shown all the types of timber and hardwood available in Sri Lanka and all the creative furniture made by our master craftsmen.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Sigiriya.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Kandy. En route visit Dambulla Rock Temple.
Dambulla Rock Temple
Dambulla rock temple has been built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a world heritage site. Also, it is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters.
Thereafter visit a Spice Garden in Matale.
Continue the journey to Kandy and do the city tour of Kandy.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which 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 Bazaar area, Arts & crafts centre, a Gem museum and a lapidary etc
In the evening visit Temple of the Tooth Relic. Late evening witness the Cultural Show.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage,established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but is soon became a conservation and educational centre. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawela started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants. The free movement of the herd enhanced the chances for respective individuals of both sexes to get together and mate. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard, and in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawela was born. The success story of Pinnawela has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawela have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawela herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
In the afternoon visit Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden
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.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Nuwara Eliya.
Enroute visit Tea Plantation and Tea Factory.
Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka s tea country producing a significant share of the world best tea. Sri Lanka s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Udawalawa.
In the evening do safari in Udawalawa National Park.
Sri Lankas Udawalawe National Park is renowned for its outstanding scenic beauty and wealth of faunal species, particularly mammals and birds. It is a famous tourist attraction throughout the year for its unique fauna and flora. The Park is situated in the dry zone and conditions of the physical features are characterized by an annual drought coinciding with the southwest monsoon. The predominant ecosystem of the park area is the forest area with scattered grasslands and thorny shrubs. There are herds of elephants while populations of sambhar, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar and water buffalo are gradually re-establishing themselves.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Udawalawa.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Negombo.
Enroute visit Galle.
Galle was once the chief port of Sri Lanka. It is still well known for hand-made lace. You can also visit the Galle Fort (spanning 90acres) which was originally built by the Portuguese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. This is also a World Heritage Site.
Proceed to Negombo and check-in to the hotel.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Negombo.
Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to Airport for the Departure flight to Maldives.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Maldives.
Breakfast at the hotel and days spent at leisure.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Maldives.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the Male Airport for the Departure Flight to your Home Country.
