5 nights / 6 days Sri Lanka Highlights

DAY01
Upon arrival, when you leave the airport terminal please look for Lanka Holidays Net tour guide displaying a signboard with your name. Transfer to your hotel in Colombo.
In the afternoon commence a city tour of Colombo.

Colombo - A drive through the city will take you to the Fort and Pettah - the commercial area of the city and tree-lined Colombo - 07 Cinnamon Gardens. The Hindu Temple at Sea Street, lined with goldsmith's shops, the Dutch Church at Wolfendhal, dating back to 1749. The Independence Hall, B.M.I.C.H, see the replica of Avukana Buddha, the Independence Square and Gangarama Temple.  .

Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Dinner & overnight stay in Colombo

DAY 02
After early breakfast pickup from the hotel at 0630 hrs. and proceed to visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
Which is home for about 90 elephants, out of which some are baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. The best time to visit is during the feeding time at 9.15 a.m or 1.15 p.m.

Thereafter proceed up to Dambulla.

Dinner & overnight stay in Dambulla, Sigiriya or Habarana
 

DAY 03
After breakfast transfer to Polonnaruwa and proceed on a sightseeing tour. En-route visit a wood carving factory. 

Polonnaruwa which was the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka - the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Century, contains some splendid and spectacular status.  Lankatilake, Thivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest shrine ruins and Thivanka has the best example of frescoes of 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 Sri Lankan artists and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic

Thereafter Experience the thrill of an elephant back safari in Habarana. Once you mount the Elephant, you will be taken deep in to the jungle, accompanied by a Mahout. During the journey, you will be able to spot occasionally a herd of wild elephants. A truly adventurous journey!!

In the afternoon return to Sigiriya and climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Afterwards visit a Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints.

Sigiriya is home to the 5th Century ‘Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD).  It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress.  Within it 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 swimming pool.  On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color. These Frescos painted in earth pigments on plaster.

Return back to the hotel in the evening.
Dinner & overnight stay in Dambulla, Sigiriya or Habarana

DAY 04
After breakfast proceed to Kandy. En route visit the Dambulla cave temples and a spice garden in Matale.

Dambulla -  is famous for the five cave Temples on a rock which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. The first 03 caves are better, older and larger than the other two.  All the 5 cave walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and there are more than 130 Buddha statues, statues of Gods and Kings are also found here.

Spice Garden at Matale and see the luscious Cinnamons, Cardamons, Pepper plants etc. You can also purchase your requirements of spices. You can have Srilankan style home made lunch at the Spice Garden if interested.

Thereafter proceed to Kandy.

In the afternoon visit Temple of The Tooth Relic and proceed on a sightseeing tour of Kandy including visit a gem factory where you will see gems of all types that are found in Sri Lanka .Finally you will see artisans in a  workroom where you will see several people who are cutting and polishing the gems. You will also visit the Kandy Garrison cemetery  - this beautifully kept garden cemetery was founded in 1817 for the internment of British-era colonists and is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Thereafter witness a cultural show which is a real entertainer and parts of it take you by surprise as you wouldn’t have seen anything like that before.

Dinner & overnight stay in Kandy

DAY 05
After breakfast proceed to visit Royal botanical gardens in Peradneiya .

* Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic  - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Lord Buddha’s sacred Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession. 

Thereafter take a luxury train ride from Peradeniya to Nanu Oya. (Complementary lunch, wifi on board). (1225 hrs /1630 hrs) Pickup from Nanu Oya station and proceed on a city tour of Nuwara Eliya.

* Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations.  It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence.  Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia. 

Return back to the hotel in the evening.

Dinner & overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya .

DAY 06 
After breakfast transfer up to the Airport or down south beach in Bentota.

-----------------------------end of tour--------------------------------------------------