Special Offers

Culture & Nature
 Winter (2008-(01-Nov-2008 TO 30-Apr-2009)

10 days / 9 nights

(Airport, Colombo, Aukana, Habarana or Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, Knuckles, Kitulgala, Nuwara Eliya, Yala, Galle)

Day One

Airport / Colombo

Meet on arrival and transfer from Airport to 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, 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.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Two

Colombo / Aukana / Habarana Or Dambulla

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Colombo to Aukana.
The Aukana Buddha statue beyond doubt is the most magnificent, undamaged statue in Sri Lanka.  It was built in the reign of King Dhatusena in the 5th century and is  39 ft (12 meters) high.
Transfer from Aukana to Habarana / Dambulla.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Three

Habarana / Polonnaruwa / Sigiriya

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Habarana / Dambulla to Polonnaruwa.
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.

Transfer from Polonnaruwa 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 meters 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.
Transfer from Sigiriya to Habarana / Dambulla.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Four

Habarana / Kandy

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Habarana/ Dambulla to Matale.
Visit a spice garden in Matale 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.

Transfer from Matale 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. Thereafter witness a cultural show.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Five

Kandy / Knuckles

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Kandy to Knuckles.
Visit the Knuckles Mountain Range, which is so named due to its formation, which resembles the knuckles of a clenched fist. They loom 6,112 feet above the Dumbara Valley. The Knuckles Range and the surrounding areas have been declared as a strict natural reserve. A large variety of indigenous plants not found elsewhere, are found in this area.

Manigala is one of the mountains found in the Knuckles range. The trek starts at the small village and moves through the paddy fields, streams and natural forest. When you reach the top of the mountain you will come across the pigmy forest where trees are not taller than 1.5m. One can have breathtaking view from the top of the mountain and there is also a small world’s end.  Before starting the trek visit village house and have some tea with local sweets.
This is hard trek and will take more than 5 hours to complete. After trekking have lunch at village house. If you wish you can have a cool dip in the river close by. (Typical Sri Lankan lunch cooked in Village house)
Transfer from Knuckles to Kandy.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Six

Kandy / Kitulgala / Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Kandy to Kitulgala
The Kelani River (the broadest river in Sri Lanka) flowing through Kitulgala was the main location where the Oscar winning movie Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed.
Whitewater Rafting
This thrilling adventure on the white water section of the Kelani River is suitable for amateurs as well as professionals alike.  During the run, you will experience the thrill of shooting rapids and euphoria of making it through.  The river's clear water is born in the heart of the peak wilderness reserve and tumbles through a rocky gorge just above Kitulgala.  As the river widens, you will pass the scenic location used to film - "Bridge over the river Kwai" which was filmed in 1956, a good place to jump in for a refreshing swim.
Transfer from Kitulgala to 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 and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Seven

Nuwara Eliya / Yala

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Yala.
Do a safari of the Yala National Park.  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.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Eight

Yala

Breakfast at Hotel.
Do a morning safari in the National Park.
In the evening visit Weeravila lake for bird watching. Depending on the water level you will be able to see many water birds such as little cormorant , Indian shag, Purple Heron, Purple Coot, Wood Sandpiper, Caspian Tern and Painted Stork.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Nine

Yala / Galle / Colombo

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Yala to Galle.
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.
Transfer from Galle to Colombo.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.

Day Ten

Colombo / Airport

Breakfast at Hotel.
Transfer from Colombo to Airport.