Duration : 9 Days / 8 Nights
Dates :
Tour Itinerary
Day 01 - Airport / Pinnawala / Kandalama
Arrival and transfer to Pinnawala.
Visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala established in 1975 and 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 soon it became a conservation and an educational centre. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants. The free movement of the herd enhanced the chances for 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 Pinnawala was born.
The success story of Pinnawala has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawala have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawala herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
Thereafter transfer to Kandalama.
Dinner and overnight stay at Heritance Kandalama, Kandalama.
Web Site : www.aitkenspencehotels.com
Address : Dambulla, Sri Lanka
E-mail : kandala@sltnet.lk
Tel : 066 5555 000
Fax : 066 2284109
Day 02 - Kandalama / Anuradhapura / Aukana / Kandalama
Breakfast at Heritance Kandalama.
Thereafter transfer to Anuradhapura.
Do a city tour of Anuradhapura. It was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Ceylon. Two of the World Heritage Sites are situated here and 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. 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 and Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd century B.C) which is well known for its rock carvings.
Then transfer to Aukana.
The Aukana Buddha statue beyond doubt is the most magnificent, undamaged statue in Sri Lanka. It has been built in the reign of King Dhatusena in the 5th century and is 39 feet (12 metres) high. The Name \\\"Aukana\\\" means \\\"Sun-eating\\\".
On completion transfer to Kandalama.
Dinner and overnight stay at Heritance Kandalama, Kandalama.
Day 03 - Kandalama / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Kandalama
Breakfast at Heritance Kandalama.
Then transfer to Sigiriya.
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 on plaster using earth pigments.
Thereafter, transfer to Polonnaruwa.
Do a city tour of Polonnaruwa which is a world heritage site and the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD. See the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya where four splendid statues of the Buddha in \\\'Upright\\\', \\\'Sedentary\\\' and \\\'Recumbent\\\' postures carved out of rock, 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 completion transfer to Kandalama.
Dinner and overnight stay at Heritance Kandalama, Kandalama.
Day 04 - Kandalama / Dambulla / Matale / Kandy
Breakfast at Heritance Kandalama.
Free for bird watching around Kandalama. The 55 acre forest around the Kandalama tank where the hotel is situated has a variety of trees - 100 years or more in age, with medicinal plants and a rich and varied bird life. Around 90 varieties of birds including migrants - babbler, blue flycatcher, oriole, paradise flycatcher, warbler, wagtail, barbet, bee-eater, Brahmin kite, owl, teal, pelican, make their home here.
Then transfer to Dambulla
Visit Dambulla rock temple which has been built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. 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.
Thereafter transfer to Matale.
In Matale, visit a spice garden to see different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. Here, clients could see different spices and how some of these spices are grown and processed. Also, witness a Cookery demonstration.
On completion, transfer to Kandy.
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.
Dinner and overnight stay at Earl\\\'s Regency Hotel, Kandy.
Web Site : www.aitkenspencehotels.com
Address : Kandy, Sri Lanka
E-mail : erhotel@sltnet.lk
Tel : 081 2422122
Fax : 081 2422133
Day 05 - Kandy / Peradeniya / Kandy
Breakfast at Earl\\\'s Regency Hotel.
Thereafter transfer to Peradeniya.
Peradeniya botanical gardens 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.
On completion transfer to Kandy.
In the evening witness a cultural show.
Dinner and overnight stay at Earl\\\'s Regency Hotel, Kandy.
Day 06 - Kandy / Tea Plantation / Nuwara Eliya / Kandapola
Breakfast at Earl\\\'s Regency Hotel.
Thereafter, transfer to a Tea Plantation.
Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory where the best tea in the world is produced. Here, you could observe the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.
Transfer to Nuwara Eliya.
Do a city tour of Nuwara Eliya. 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 s best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. One of the finest 18 hole golf courses available in South Asia is situated in Nuwara Eliya.
Then transfer to Kandapola.
Dinner and overnight stay at Tea Factory Hotel, Kandapola.
Web Site : www.aitkenspencehotels.com
Address : Kandapola, Sri Lanka
E-mail : tfactory@slt.lk
Tel : 052 2229605
Fax : 052 2229606
Day 07 - Kandapola / Horton Plains / Bandarawela
Breakfast at Tea Factory Hotel.
Thereafter transfer to Horton Plains.
Visit Horton plains, which is located on a high windswept saddle at about 2134 meters above the sea level. The plains are an expanse of misty grassland with scraggy trees and ice-cold rivulets. Visit the World’s End considered to be the finest view in all of Sri Lanka. The awesome escarpment drops vertically for about 4,000 feet, hence its name. You can also see the beautiful Backer’s falls. (walk is about 14 km). The park shelters mammals such as Sambhur, Leopard and endemic Bear Monkies. This area is the home for over 20 endemic bird species including Sri Lanka’s Whistling Thrush, Orange-billed Babbler and Yellow-eared Bulbul.
Then transfer to Bandarawela.
Bandarawela is a charming town at an elevation of 4000 feet. It is a popular health resort.
Dinner and overnight stay at Bandarawela Hotel, Bandarawela.
Web Site : www.aitkenspencehotels.com
Address : Bandarawela, Sri Lanka
E-mail : bwhotel@sltnet.lk
Tel : 057 2222501
Fax : 057 2222834
Day 08 - Bandarawela / Udawalawe / Embilipitiya
Breakfast at Bandarawela Hotel.
Transfer to Udawalawe.
Thereafter, do a safari of The Udawalawe National Park by jeep. The area of this park is 30,821 hectares and is a dry zone park which was declared as a National Park in 1972. This park falls within the Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and between thw Udawalawe reservoir and the Walawe River. It is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the mountain range that keep on winding endlessly on the Balangoda, Kalthota and Haputale escarpments. It has an annual rainfall of 1,524 mm. and an average year-round temperature of 29.4 C. This park is famous for its elephants seen in all their playfulness, whole herds of them, adults and babies bathing and playing in the water or feeding. In addition to elephants, deer species such as spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer and langur, water buffalo and jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this park.
Thereafter transfer to Embilipitiya.
Dinner and overnight stay at Centauria Tourist Hotel, Embilipitiya.
Web Site : www.centauriaayurveda.com
Address : New Town, Embilipitiya
E-mail : centauria@sltnet.lk
Tel : 047 2230514
Fax : 047 2230104
Day 09 - Embilipitiya / Ratnapura / Beach Resort
Breakfast at Centauria Hotel.
Thereafter transfer to Ratnapura.
Do a city tour of Ratnapura. Its name remains unchanged over the years and means \\\"City of Gems\\\". In Ratnapura, prospecting and mining goes on everyday. Visit a gem mine and a museum and strike a bargain at one of the shops.
On completion, transfer to a beach resort in Negombo or in Ahungalla.
Cost : (In U.S. Dollars)
Important points to note :
- It is not possible to cancel any booking after making the payment. Therefore, payment once made will not be refunded.
- Optional excursions and additional services could be provided for which an additional charge will be applicable.
- The official check-in time at all hotels will be 12:00 hrs.
- The official check-out time at all hotels will be 11:00 hrs.
- Visits to wild life parks will be at client’s own risk. Jeeps available are non air-conditioned and very basic with basic insurance covers (not comprehensive as in the case of vehicles that will be used for tours).
