Budget Sri Lanka


Destination: Negombo, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Ambalangoda

From US$ 712 to US$ 1,015 11 days excluding flights

Day 01  AIRPORT/NEGOMBO – C NEGOMBO
Upon your arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by a Representative of Teleki Travel. You will then be escorted to your vehicle and introduced to your Guide and transferred to Negombo.
Check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 02  NEGOMBO/ANURADHAPURA – HERITAGE HOTEL
Breakfast in the hotel.
After Breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Anuradhapura.
En route visit the Ruins of Anuradhapura, Anuradhapura, aptly appointed the heart of the Sri Lankan history and Buddhism, is the largest and oldest of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities and dates back to the 6th century BC.  It was made capital in 377 BC and remained an important center of power till the 12th century AD. Most memorable are its gleaming white dagoba – large bell-like structures some 60 meters high which house Buddhist relics. However, it is best known for the Sri Maha Bodhi, which is the oldest documented tree in the world (2200 years). This was grown from a cutting of the Bo tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment. The tour of the ancient kingdoms is very enlightening.  To best enjoy it, remember to take a hat along, with a bottle of water and some sun-lotion…!  Check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 03  ANURADHAPURA/WILPATTU/ANURADHAPURA – HERITAGE HOTEL

Proceed for a safe jeep safari at the Wilpattu National Park with a packed breakfast in the morning. Occupying a vast swathe of land stretching all the way up to the border of the Northern Province, Wilpattu National Park is the largest in Sri Lanka, and was formerly the most popular until the onset of the civil war, when its position straddling the frontline between Sinhalese and Tamil areas led to the widespread destruction of local infrastructure and killing of wildlife. The park finally reopened in 2009 and its wildlife is now gradually recovering, although the effects of long-term poaching mean that the overall density of wildlife remains significantly lower than in parks such as Yala, Uda Walawa and Minneriya, although there’s a small but significant chance of spotting the leopards and sloth bears for which the park was once famous, not to mention elephants, deer, and many types of bird. Equally, the lack of visitors and the size of the area open to visitors (around eight times larger than that at Yala, for instance) means that it’s also supremely peaceful compared too many other parks. An unusual feature of Wilpattu’s topography is its numerous villus. These look like lakes (indeed the park’s name derives from villu-pattu, “Land of Lakes”), though they’re actually just depressions filled with rainwater which expand and contract with the seasons, attracting a range of water-birds and wildlife. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04 ANURADHAPURA/ROCK/SIGIRIYA– SIGIRIYA VILLAGE
Breakfast in the hotel.
After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Sigiriya.
En route, proceed to climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.You’ll need two or three hours to explore Sigiriya Rock; it’s best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon, when the crowds are less dense and the temperature is cooler – late afternoon also brings out the rock’s extraordinary ochre coloration, like a kind of Asian Ayers Rock. The site is best avoided at weekends (especially Sun) and on public holidays, when its narrow staircases and walkways can become unbearably congested. The ascent of the rock is a stiff climb but less grueling than you might imagine when standing at the bottom of the towering cliff-face, and sufferers from vertigo might find some sections unpleasant. The site divides into two sections: the rock itself, on whose summit Kassapa established his principal palace; and the area around the base of the rock, home to elaborate royal pleasure gardens as well as various monastic remains pre-dating Kassapa’s era. The entire site is a compelling combination of wild nature and high artifice – exemplified by the delicate paintings of the Sigiriya damsels which cling to the rock’s rugged flanks. Interestingly, unlike Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, there’s no sign here of large-scale monasteries or religious structures – Kassapa’s Sigiriya appears to have been an almost entirely secular affair, perhaps a reflection of its unhallowed origins.

Check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 05  SIGIRIYA/POLONNARUWA/MINNERIYA/SIGIRIYA– SIGIRIYA VILLAGE
Breakfast in the hotel.
Proceed to visit Polonnaruwa Ruins. Visit the Medieval Capital of Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa was the island's medieval capital between the 11th and 13th century. Built alongside a large ancient artificial lake there are well-preserved ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas and exquisite rock sculptures of Buddha at the Gal Vihara. Start with a visit to the museum which, although small, is excellent. Proceed to visit Minneriya National Park by jeep in the afternoon. Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8,890 hectares of Minneriya National Park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to favorites such as Sāmbhar deer and elephants.  However the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3 rd. century AD by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze, as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in the shallow waters. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 06 SIGIRIYA/DAMBULLA/KANDY –TRAVELLERS NEST
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel. Check out from the hotel and travel to Kandy.
En route, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla’s cave temples are cut out of an enormous granite outcrop that rises more than 160m above the surrounding countryside and offers majestic views across the plains of the dry zone as far as Sigiriya, over 20km distant. Note that it’s best to visit the caves in reverse order, starting at the end (cave 5) and working backwards – this way you get to see the caves in gradually increasing degrees of magnificence, culminating in the wonderful cave 2. Check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 07 KANDY/TRAIN/NUWARA ELIYA –HEAVEN SEAVEN
Breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast check out from the hotel & proceed to Nuwara Eliya. You have the opportunity to enjoy a brief train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya station. Travel the rest by car. Arrive in and check in to the hotel for Lunch, Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 08 NUWARA ELIYA/AMBALANGODA –JUCE
Breakfast in the hotel.
After Breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Ambalangoda.
Check into the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 09 AMBALANGODA –JUCE
Breakfast in the hotel.
The day is free to relax.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 10 AMBALANGODA –JUCE
Breakfast in the hotel.
The day is free to relax.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 11 AMABALANGODA/AIRPORT - DEPATURE
Checkout from the hotel and proceed to the airport in time for your departure

ID: LK-2-02-001