Srilanka Tours, Srilanka Tourism, Srilanka Tourist attractions, Srilanka Trvael Guide, Srilanka Travel Tours
World Heritage Sri Lanka -12 Days /11nights
Base cost for National Escort from 4 pax up.
Base costing on 3.4 -4 star hotels, concentrating on heritage style hotels.
All lunches must start between 1200-1330. Touring is to start early enough in the day to ensure lunch falls within the above time frame.
There is to no extra shopping stops at factories other than those listed in itinerary. Ample time must be given to walks through local markets and street shops as listed in the itinerary.
Must be one remote village stop somewhere during the itinerary so clients can experience rural life.
All buses are to carry chilled bottles of water for passengers to buy during the day.
Tour is based on full board from point of arrival in Sri Lanka to departure. Late checkout on day of departure required as flights back to Australia via Singapore leave late at night.
Can be added onto South India itinerary
DAY 01 : AIRPORT/COLOMBO (B,L,D)
Arrival at Airport & leave for Colombo
Lunch at Rajabojun
Dinner & Overnight stay at Grand Oriental Hotel.
DAY 02: COLOMBO (B,L,D)
After Breakfast do a 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.
Lunch at Ceynor Restaurant
Dinner & Overnight stay at Grand Oriental Hotel.
DAY 03: COLOMBO / PINNAWALA / SIGIRIYA (B,L,D)
After Breakfast leave for Sigiriya.
En route visit Pinnawala.
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.
Lunch at Gimanhala Restaurant
Dinner & Overnight stay at Sigiriya Village.
DAY 04: SIGIRIYA / ANURADHAPURA / SIGIRIYA (B,L,D)
After Breakfast excursion to Anuradhapura .
Visit Anuradhapura. It was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Ceylon. 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 2200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. The 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. Ruwanweliseya (2nd century B.C) is the most famous of all the Dagobas. It originally depicted the perfect 'bubble shape" that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. 'Samadhi' Buddha statue (4th century AD) is one of the most famous statues, depicting the Buddha in a state of 'Samadhi' or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd century B.C) is well known for its rock carvings.
Lunch at Galway Miridiya
Dinner & Overnight stay at Sigiriya Village.
DAY 05: SIGIRIYA / POLONNARUWA / SIGIRIYA (B,L,D)
After Breakfast 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. Visit 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.
Afternoon, 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.
Lunch at Giritale Hotel
Overnight stay at Sigiriya Village .
DAY 06: SIGIRIYA / DAMBULLA / KANDY (B.L.D)
After Breakfast visit Dambulla.
Dambulla rock temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. 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 metres.
Lunch at Senani Restaurant
Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel Suisse.
DAY 07: KANDY / PERADENIYA / KANDY (B,L,D)
After Breakfast visit Peradeniya Gardens
Peradeniya 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. Lunch at Bamboo Garden
Afternoon, visit Kandy City
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendour 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 and crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Also visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Thereafter witness a cultural show.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel Suisse.
DAY 08: KANDY / TEA PLANTATION / NUWARA ELIYA / KANDAPOLA (B,L,D)
After Breakfast leave for Kandapola.
En route visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.
Lunch at Galway Forest Lodge.
Visit Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lankas most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lankas tea country producing a significant share of the world s 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.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Tea Factory Hotel.
DAY 09: KANDAPOLA / TISSAMAHARAMA / YALA (B,L,D)
After Breakfast leave for Yala.
Lunch en route at Tissa Resort
Afternoon, Do a safari of the Yala National Park by jeep. Yala is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka which is the home for wild elephants, wild boars, wild buffaloes, leopards, bears, deers and crocodiles. Large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds are also found here.
Overnight stay at Yala Village.
DAY 10: YALA/RATNAPURA/SINHARAJA/GALLE(B,L,D)
After Breakfast leave for Ratnapura
Lunch at Chamber's Restaurant
Later visit the Singharajah Forest.
This is Sri Lanka's only remaining primeval rain forest. A single foot path cuts through the heart of its 50 sq. miles. The vegetation is many layered as in the Amazon or Congo. Rare orchids blossom and cicadas chirp. The only other sound is that of rain : 200 inches fall annually here, spread through the year.
Thereafter continuation to Galle
Overnight stay at Closenberg Hotel.
DAY 11 : GALLE / COLOMBO (B,L,D)
After Breakfast visit Galle City.
Galle was once the chief port of Ceylon. It is still well known for hand-made lace. You can also visit the Galle Fort (spanning 90 acres) which was originally built by the Portuguese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. This is a World Heritage Site.
Thereafter leave for Colombo
Do a 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.
Lunch at the Restaurant.
Day 12 COLOMBO AIRPORT (B,L,D)
After breakfast you will transfer to airport.