14 Nights 15 Days – City Tours, Urban

Proceed to  Anuradhapura, Evening Anuradhapura city tour.

Anuradhapura is the first capital of Sri Lanka from 5th C.B.C to 10th C.A.D the remains of 15 centuries as capital is found in a vast area. From smaller monuments such as Thuparama and Lankarama to gigantic, 400-foot high Jetawana Dagaba, Abhayagiriya and Ruwanweliseya and the most sacred Bo-tree, (Ficus Religious) well guarded up to this day, are found here.

There are statues; remains of Palaces, Ponds, Temples, Shrines, Almsgiving Halls, Meditation Centers, Old statues, Monasteries, Pleasure gardens and a large number of other monuments are found at Anuradhapura

Overnight stay in Anuradhapura .

After breakfast Proceed Nilaveli Visit Dutch fort in Trincomalee and Koneshwaran Hindu temple Overnight stay in Nilaweli

Breakfast at the hotel Proceed to Nilaveli beach Snorkelling, Surfing or relax at the beach Dinner and overnight stay in Nilaveli / Trincomalee

Breakfast at the hotel Relax by the seaside or Water sports / Surfing 

Sigiriya Village tour. Ride on a Bullock Cart to the Old Village in Sigiriya area, observe the traditional lifestyle, enjoy a traditional Srilankan lunch on a banana leaf or a lotus leaf, ride on a Catamaran in the lake, Tuk Tuk (small vehicle with 3 wheels – normal taxies in Srilanka) ride back to the starting point etc.

After Lunch - Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park

Minneriya National Park is a National Park in North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The area was designed as a National Park on 12 August 1997, having been originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. The reason for declaring the area as protected is to protect the catchments of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is of historical importance, having been built by King Mahasen in third century AD. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa, and Trincomalee districts.

Overnight stay in the same Hotel in Habarana

After breakfast proceed Sigiriya, to climb the rock

Sigiriya - King Kassapa (477-495 A.D) who shifted the Capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya made a fortress to surround his palace, which was constructed on the summit of a 500ft high rock, with necessary facilities.

The Palace was surrounded by an outer-moat and wall and Inner - moat and Wall, pleasure garden, Mirror-wall, light coloured and dark coloured damsel's frescos, to cover the western wall and a beautiful staircase through the body of Crouching Lion are some of the attractions here.

The boulder garden consists of caves where Buddhist Bhikkus lived and meditated. After Kassapa Sigiriya was given back once again to the Bhikkus

Dambulla Rock Cave Temple

Dambulla is famous for the five cave Temples on a rock. The first 3 caves are better, older and larger than the other two. Some caves date to 1st C.B.C. All the 5 cave walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and three are more than 130 Buddha statues, statues of Gods and Kings are also found here

En-route visit a Spice Garden at Matale and see the luscious, Cinnamons, Cardamoms, Pepper plants etc. You can also purchase your requirements of spices

KANDY

The city of Kandy lies at an elevation of 465 meters (1,526 ft) above sea level. Its plan developed around two open spaces: an elongated square, at the end of which are the administration buildings of the old capital, and an artificial lake that is quadrangular in form. A public garden adds to the openness of the city's spatial organization.

On the north shore of the lake, which is enclosed by a parapet of white stone dating to the beginning of the 19th century, are the city's official religious monuments, including the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth, known as the Dalada Maligawa. Reconstructed in the 18th century, the Dalada Maligawa is built on a base of granite that was inspired by the temples of Sri Lanka's former capital city, Anuradhapura. An array of materials (limestone, marble, sculpted wood, ivory, etc.) contribute to the richness of this temple. Throughout this small holy city, a number of recent Buddhist monasteries can be found.

Overnight stay in Kandy

After breakfast proceeds to Pinnawala. (The Elephant Orphanage)

Pinnawala - App. 90Kms from Colombo, off Colombo-Kandy road, is Pinnawala, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased now, including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well as the babies born, as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by.

The Old Suspension Bridge, Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue, The Gem Studio, Upper Lake Drive (The View Point), The Batik Factory, & in the evening view the cultural dance festival & visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)

Dinner & overnight stay in a Hotel in Kandy

After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya (Little England)

The Royal Botanical Gardens

147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Kandy. There are more than 5000 species of trees and plants. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists.

En-route stops at Hanuman Hindu Temple & visit a Tea plantation & factory (also you may observe some breathtaking waterfalls)

Nuwaraeliya

180Kms from Colombo, 6200ft. above sea level. In 1826 some British Officers 1828 a road constructed over the ridge at Ramboda Pass and a station for convalescent Soldiers was established was Sir Samuel Baker who fell under the spell of Nuwaraeliya, brought hounds, horses, cattle, sheep etc; and started a typical English farm here. Flowers and vegetable were brought from England and planted.

Visit a Tea Plantation & a Tea Factory. When in Sri Lanka, it is a must to see a tea plantation as it is the home of world-renowned Ceylon Tea. Walkthrough the Tea Estate and experience what it is like to be in the middle of a tea plantation, enjoy a walk around the stepped tea valley, watch the tea - pluckers at work, and discover beautiful gardens and the smiles of the gentlefolk of the hills.

Evening at leisure or entertainment at the Lake Gregory such as pony riding, (little horse) paddling boats, Jet Ski rides, family motor boat rides etc, & visit the Seetha Amman Kovil (Ashok Vatikar) in Hakgala

Overnight stay in a Hotel in Nuwaraeliya

After breakfast leave for Horton Plains. Visit Horton Plains & World's End (3-4 hour walk in the plain)

World's End - Sri Lanka's highest plateau at an elevation of 7,000ft in the central mountains. A pre-dawn departure by jeep to visit the World's End before 10am (mist obscure the view thereafter). This incredible view the aptly - named World's End is considered to be the finest in Sri Lanka. The terrific escarpment drops vertically for about 1,000ft and falls away almost as steeply for another 4,000ft. In the morning a crescent of silver of the Indian Ocean, rims the horizon some 50 miles to the south.

Take the scenic train journey from Nuwara eliya to Ella  Overnight stay in Hotel in Ella

After breakfast Proceed to Thissamaharamaya ( Yala ) En route stop at Ravana Water Falls in Ella Relax at the hotel in Yala Evening visit Murugan temple ( Hindu temple ) Katharagama Dinner & overnight stay in a Hotel in Yala

Take a packed breakfast and visit Yala National park Yala National Park - is an important National Park in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka

This popular reserve has more than 400 wild Asian Elephants, which are relatively easy to see in this open habit. Yala also has a dozen or so Leopards, although seeing this largely nocturnal carnivore requires considerable luck. There are good numbers of Crocodiles, Golden Jackals, Water Buffalo and Grey langurs amongst other large animals. The open parkland attracts birds - pf prey such as White-bellied Sea Eagle Crested Serpent Eagle, Fish Eagle Booted Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle and the wetlands have waders and Painted Storks. Land birds are in abundance and include Indian Roller, Indian Peafowl, and Malabar Pied Hornbill.

Overnight stay in  Hotel Mirissa

After having a packed breakfast Proceed to the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour early morning around 6.30 am for the Whales & Dolphins watching

By having a Boat Ride in Mirissa Ocean, you can see Blue whales, Bryde´s whales, Sperm whales, Fin whales, sometimes Killer whales, and Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins and Striped dolphins. Sometimes you can see turtles and various fish species, for example, Bluefin tuna and flying fish

Relax by the sea side Visit Galle fort

Have a relaxed walk on the top pathways of the Galle Fort by viewing the old buildings & monuments built in the Dutch colonial period

Overnight stay in a Hotel in Bentota

After breakfast proceed to Balapitiya In Balapitiya (Boat ride on the Madu River);

The estuary of the Madu Ganga River is a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands. It may be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka.

A boat trip is a wonderful way of seeing some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals - monkeys eat fruit in the trees, a water monitor lizard glides slowly through the water, and cormorants, egrets and kingfishers wait patiently on the banks, eyeing the water for prey.

There are around 64 islands in the river and lagoon, from a tiny speck housing a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families connected to the mainland with a very long footbridge.

You can visit an island with a Buddhist monastery, where the friendly young monks will show you a 150-year-old book made of palm leaves and how they cook on cinnamon wood on an open fire.

The main occupations of the local inhabitants are producing cinnamon and prawn fishing - if you take the trip in the early evening you will see the fishermen in their canoes lighting lanterns to attract the shellfish into their traps.

Visit the Turtle Hatchery;

Turtle Hatchery - operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles from extinction. The hatchery pays fishermen for eggs that they collect at night along the sandy beach. Visitors can see huge tanks filled with new born turtle hatchlings. After being fed, the baby turtles are taken to the sea and released when they are 2-4 days old, usually during the safer hours of darkness. Although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year.

You can see; The Loggerhead Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Green Turtle, Olive Ridley Turtle & the Leatherback Turtle in here.

Overnight stay in the same Hotel in Bentota

After breakfast proceed to Colombo Commence a City Tour by visiting;

The Old Parliament, The Galle Face, Gangarama Temple, Seema Malakaya & shopping at ODEL or House of Fashions & Laksala (for souvenirs) if necessary

Overnight stay in Colombo

Breakfast at the hotel proceed to the Airport for the departure

• Dambulla Cave Temple - 10 USD
• Daladhamaligawa ( tooth relic temple ) - 10 USD
• Culture show - 7 USD
• Village tour - 20 USD ( With Lunch )
• Minnariya National Park - 45 USD, Including Jeep Hire,
• Yala National Park - 45 USD (Including jeep hire)
• Horton Plans - 20 USD
• Anuradhapura - 25 USD
• Sigiriya - 30 USD
• Whale watching - 45 USD per person
• Pinnawala - 20 USD
• Kandy Botanical Gardens  - 12 USD