Sri Lanka Delights

After breakfast, drive to Habarana (4 hours drive) en route visit to Dambulla Cave Temple - Dating back to the 1st Century BC, this is the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka. The cave monastery, with its five sanctuaries, is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images, following the contours of the rock. There are images of Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various other gods and goddesses.

Afternoon Village Tour in Sigiriya (optional) - Traveling by bullock cart at the start through typical dry Zone village then board the traditional village boat for a ride in the lake running through the village and get into their paddy fields & cultivation lands and experience how farmers work there and thereafter having Typical Sri Lankan village lunch served on Banana or Nelum leafs inside a mud house and at last walking through the village to the start point while experiencing the Village life. 

Dinner & Overnight stay at Habarana Hotel, Habarana (B, D - 4*)

After breakfast, proceed to Sigiriya (20 min) climb Sigiriya rock fortress - Sigiriya was the capital city, built by parricidal King Kasyapa who reigned from 477-495 AD. The ruins of the city lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high. The rock was transformed into a recumbent lion, which dominates the jungle from all sides. A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site.

Spice Gardens Matale - They grows spices and herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication, Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early sea-faring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise.

Thereafter, making visit to Kandy and the Art and Crafts centre followed by The Holy Temple of the Tooth of Buddha (Duration: 1 hrs). This temple is most important for Sri Lankan Buddhists and was built in the 16th Century A.D. solely for the purpose of housing the tooth relic.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Kandy Hotel, Kandy (B, D - 4*++).

After breakfast, we leave for Nuwara Eliya (2 hours) and en route visit the Gem Museum in Kandy and watch a documentary film too on how Sri Lankan Gem mining is traditionally done. Sri Lanka is world renowned for its precious & semi-precious gems. Specially the Sri Lankan Blue Sapphire. It is just unique & holds high reputation in the world. Guests can visit a Gemological Museum & a gem cutting factory. Later, you can shop.

Visit to Tea Factory & Ramboda Falls - Sri Lanka is world famous for Ceylon Tea. Guests will be shown a tea plantation & a factory. You will be able to witness the processing of Tea and also taste a cup of nice & hot Ceylon Tea. You can buy various Tea products from Tea shops.

Ramboda is a breathtaking natural beauty. There are two prominent waterfalls next to each other. Guests can take pictures & enjoy the view from a view deck. Lunch at Ramboda restaurant (Tea bush Hotel). 

Viait to Nuwara Eliya - Nuwara Eliya is located at the heart of the hill country, 6182 feet above from the sea level. The town is situated 74 km away along Kandy-Nuwara Eliya road and was rediscovered by the British in 1827. It is still very much like an old English town with styled bungalows and buildings. The cool calm climate, gorges rolling tea plantation which makes the best "Ceylon tea" and the breathtaking beautiful waterfalls makes Nuwara Eliya one of the most beautiful towns in the world.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (B, D - 4*++)

After breakfast, we leave for Yala (5 hours drive). Then we reach Ella, visit Ravana Falls and Ella Gap. This is a popular sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in high and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop.

Reach Hotel in Tissa followed by an afternoon Jeep Safari in Yala National Park which is situated 309Kms south of Colombo Yala and is approximately 1259 sq Kms. In extends to the south eastern corner of the Island and is Sri Lanka's largest and most popular national park. It is the world's best place to observe leopards' natural habitat in the noon time. Enjoy the wild life including elephants, bears, wild bears, buffaloes, monkeys and many more animals. If you are lucky, you could also get to see a lot of different types of birds.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Tissa or Yala Hotel, Tissa (B, D - 4*).

After breakfast, we leave for Hikkaduwa - Bentota (5 - 6 hours drive) and en route visit Slit Fishing in Weligama or Habaraduwa 

Still fishing is one of the most iconic scenes in Sri Lanka. It is a very unique and traditional way of fishing for the Sri Lankan fishing community. The fishermen spend hours sitting on thin planks waiting for a good catch.

Thereafter, we go for some Galle sightseeing in the Galle city - an ancient city that is now a modern and buzzing town though the Dutch fortress remains as it was during the Dutch period. Galle was the most important sea port at the crossroads of Far East & Middle East since the days of Romans. The Fortress is one of the best preserved in the Island (Lunch at Galle restaurant).

Habaraduwa Turtle farm - was created to protect this endangered species. The eggs are collected and immediately buried in a sandy compound that offers protection from birds, crabs and humans, thanks to some netting. There are 8 varieties of turtle in the world, five of which can be found here: parrot, green, loggerhead, crocodile and leatherback. All turtles lay 105 eggs six times a year and the incubation period lasts 48 days. The turtles are kept for a 3-day period to let their navel close and prevent them from being eaten by fishes and crabs.

Reach the Beach Hotel and check in and refresh at hotel in Hikkaduwa beach.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hikkaduwa or Bentota Hotel, Betota (B, D).

After breakfast, we leave for Colombo (2 hours drive). We reach to Colombo (if time permits) for some sightseeing - Colombo is a cozy mixture of the past and present, the Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of Sri Lanka.

Then we visit Galle Face Green, Old Parliament, BMICH conference Hall, Independence square, Gangarama Temple, bare Lake, Hindu Kovil and Bazaars & Markets.

Evening drop to Airport for the Departure Transfer (1 hour drive).