Sri Lanka : Art, Culture and Wildlife Tour

Duration : 05 Nights/06 Days
Destinations : Mt. Lavinia - Pinnawela - Yapahuwa - Dambulla – Sigiriya - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Embilipitiya - Ratnapura - Colombo

Day 01: Your Home – Sri Lanka : On your arrival in international airport our company representative will welcome and assist you at the airport and direct transfer to the pre booked hotel in Mt. Lavinia for over night stay.

Day 02: Mt. Lavinia - Pinnawela - Yapahuwa - Dambulla – Sigiriya : Breakfast at the hotel. Morning leave for Sigiriya. On the way visit the Elephant Orphanage Pinnawela. This was started as a Research Centre and is now a place for orphaned babies and elders found in the jungles - babies being fed by bottle 3 times a day and then bathing in the river attracts large numbers of tourists. Padeniya Temple, Yapahuwa Temple and Hatthicuchchi Monastry Complex. Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple - famous for its wall paintings, Statues of Lord Buddha and deities unique among which is a 47ft. Statue of recumbent Lord Buddha. and climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya - 5th Century AD which was a Royal Citadel for more than 18years. Sigiriya (Sigiri = Sinha (Lion) + Giri (Rocks), in a pocket half way to the top there are the world famous frescoes and is also famous for the Mirror Wall .Wind your way up through the Fountain Garden, Boulder Garden up to the remains of the colossal Lion’s Figure through whose mouth the route to the top is still there. ) Overnight at hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 03 : Sigiriya – Kandy : Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast leave for the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa - the medieval Capital of Sri Lanka - 11th Century AD. In Polonnaruwa visit the following, Parakrama Samudra - a vast reservoir built by King Parakramabahu, the Great, Palace and Royal Pavillion, Siva Devale, Thuparama, the Vatadage, Nissankalatha Mandapaya, The Sathmahal Prasada, Hatadage, Galpotha (Stone Book), Pabalu Vihara, Rankoth Vihara, Lankatilaka Kirivehera, Gal Vihara, Demala Mahaseya, Lotus Bath, Thiwanka Image house, Statue of King Parakramabahu, Pothgul Vihara and the Alahana Pirivena Complex etc.and a Wood Carving Factory.

Leave for Kandy - the Hill Capital which was the last kingdom of Sri Lanka before falling to the British in 1815. ( Kande Uda Rata - literally means City on the rocks )on the off the beaten track route via Elahera and Bakamoona through this calm and quite environment running winding its way past vast areas of paddy fields, irrigation systems, typical peasantry village life etc.

Evening watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers. Overnight at hotel in Kandy.

Day 04: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya : Morning after breakfast start a City Tour of Kandy including the most venerated Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. which is now housed in the Palace of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe - the last King of Sri Lanka - overlooking the beautiful Kandy Lake, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Upper Lake Drive etc. Leave for Nuwara Eliya - “Little England”. If trains are available a part of this journey will be done by train On the way visit a Tea Factory and a Tea Plantation to be educated about the manufacturing process of the world famous “Ceylon Tea”. Overnight at Nuwara Eliya.

Day 05 : Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Embilipitiya - Ratnapura : Breakfast at the hotel. Morning leave for Horton Plains - Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau and World’s End.- a sheer drop of 1050 metres. Leave for Embilipitiya Enjoy wild life by undetaking a Jeep Safari of the Uda Walawe National Park. Leave for Ratnapura - “Gem City”.Overnight at Ratnapura.

Day 06 : Ratnapura - Colombo - Airport : Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Relax. Later transfer to the Colombo airport for departure to further destination..

Sri Lankan Life Style and Agriculture Tour

Duration : 11 Nights/12 Days
Destinations : Colombo - Pinnawela - Anuradhapura - Maha Illuppallama – Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya - Dambulla - Peradeniya - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Nuwara Eliya - Hambantota - Yala - Wadduwa

Day 01 : Your Home – Sri Lanka : On your arrival in international airport our company representative will welcome and assist you at the airport and transfer to the pre booked hotel in Colombo for over night stay.

Day in City Tour of Colombo. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02 : Colombo - Pinnawela - Anuradhapura : Mornign after breakfast leave for Anuradhapura. On the way visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, the Paddy Research Centre at Batalagoda and a Coconut Estate of the Coconut Triangle. Proceed to Anuradhapura - the 1st Capital of Sri Lanka in the 5th Century BC. Overnight at hotel in Anuradhapura.

Day 03 : Anuradhapura - Maha Illuppallama – Anuradhapura : Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast visit the ancient monuments of historical and cultural interest in the Sacred City. Visit the Maha Illuppalama Farm of the Department of Agriculture. Overnight at the hotel in Anuradhapura.

Day 04 : Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya : After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa -the medieval capital of Sri Lanka - 1th Century. On the way visit a typical dry zone farm land -”Chena “ a model of a shifting cultivation In Polonnaruwa visit the ancient monuments of historical and cultural interest in the Sacred City.

In the afternoon climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress - a World Heritage site which was a Royal Citadel for 18 years in the 5th Century. Overnight at the hotel in Sigiriya.

Day 05 : Sigiriya - Dambulla - Kandy : Breakfast at the hotel. Morning leave for Dambulla and visit Dambulla Cave Temple. Later proceed for Kandy. Visit a Spice Garden to be educated about the Spices for which Sri Lanka is famous.If possible visit the Agricultural Research Centre at Peradeniya or The Farm School at Kundasale. Overnight at the hotel in Kandy.

Day 06 : Kandy - Peradeniya - Kandy : After breakfast visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya. City Tour of Kandy including the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha .In the evening, watch a Cultural Performance by traditional Kandyan Dancers and Drummers. Overnight at the hotel in Kandy.

Day 07 : Kandy - Nuwara Eliya : Braekfast at the hotel. Later leave for Nuwara Eliya via the Ramboda Falls. On the way visit a Tea Plantation and a Factory to be educated on the process of the production of Tea. Sight seeing in Nuwara Eliya visiting Victoria Park and other places of interest including typical Up Country Vegetable Farm Yards. Overnight at Nuwara Eliya.

Day 08 : Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains - Nuwara Eliya : After breakfast visit Horton Plains -Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau -World’s End Visit the New Zealand Dairy Development Farm at Ambewela. Overnight at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 09 : Nuwara Eliya - Hambantota : After breakfast leave for Hambantota via the Ella Gap, Rawana Ela Water Falls and Wellawaya. On the way visit a Rubber Plantation and a Sugar Cane Plantation and enjoy seeing the vast areas under Paddy Cultivation in this region which was known as the “Lakhs of Paddy Fields” Overnight at hotel in Hambantota.

Day 10 : Hambantota - Yala - Wadduwa : Early morning undertake a Jeep Safari in the Yala National Park. After breakfast leave for Wadduwa On the way visit the World Heritage Site- Galle Dutch Fortress and a Turtle Hatchery. Overnight at Wadduwa.

Day 11 : Wadduwa - Ratnapura - Colombo : After breakfast leave for Ratnapura - the Gem City. On the way visit the Rubber Research Institute at Agalawatte and a Rubber Plantation Visit Gem Mines to study about the Gem Industry. Overnight at the hotel Colombo.

Day 12: Colombo Departure : Breakfast at the hotel. Morning free or if possible visit the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce to witness the Colombo Tea Auctions and also Tea Trading Company for a Tea Tasting Session. According to flight timing transfer to the airport for flight for further destination.

Footsteps of Buddha - in Sri Lanka

Duration : 05 Nights/06 Days
Destinations : Kurunegala, Mihintale, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, Mahiyangana, Embekke, Gadaladeniya, Lankathilaka, Pinnawela, Colombo

Day 02 : Kurunegala - Mihintale - Anuradhapura : Morning after breakfast in the hotel leave for leave for Mihintale - the cradle of Buddhism via another ancient Kingdom also known as “Athugalpura” as the City is bordered by a rock in the shape of an Elephant. Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka in 247BC in Mihintale .There are 1800 odd steps leading to the summit where Arahat Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa.

Leave for Anuradhapura - the first Capital of Sri Lanka - 5th Century BC.-A World Heritage Site. In Anuradhapura, visit the following, Sacred Bo Tree - the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world grown from the sapling of the Bo Tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, Ruwanweliseya Dagaba, ,Brazen Palace, Thuparama - the first Dagaba built enshrining the Collar Bone of the Lord Buddha, Isurumuniya Rock Temple - famous for its sculpture, Samadhi Statue sculptured depicting the meditation posture of the Lord Buddha, Royal Pleasure Garden, Moonstone and the Twin Ponds. Overnight at the hotel in Anuradhapura.

Day 03 : Anuradhapura - Polonnaruwa - Giritale or Sigiriya : Breakfast at the hotel. Morning leave for the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa - the medieval Capital of Sri Lanka - 11th Century AD- A World Heritage Site. On the way visit the colossal Aukana Buddha Statue uniquely carved out of rock 12M tall. In Polonnaruwa visit the following, Parakrama Samudra - a vast reservoir built by King Parakramabahu the Great, Palace and Royal Pavillion, Siva Devale, Thuparama, the Vatadage,Nissankalatha Mandapaya, The Sathmahal Prasada, Hatadage,Galpotha (Stone Book), Pabalu Vihara, Rankoth Vihara, Lankatilaka ,Kirivehera, Gal Vihara, Demala Mahaseya, Lotus Bath, Thiwanka Image House, Statue of King Parakramabahu, Pothgul Vihara and the Alahana Pirivena Complex etc.. Overnight at Giritale or Sigiriya

Day 05 : Kandy - Mahiyangana - Kandy : After breakfast visit the Buddhisht Publication Society to see the range of Buddhisht Publications available. Leave for Mahiyangana - Place where Lord Buddha made his first visit in Sri Lanka. On the way visit the historic Degaldoruwa Temple to see the beautiful paintings. Overnight at the hotel Kandy.

Day 06 : Kandy - Embekke - Gadaladeniya - Lankathilaka – Pinnawela : Participate in a Meditation Session and a Bodhi Pooja at the Thapowanaya in Udawattekelle. Visit the “Western Monasteries” - Embekke Devale famous for its wood carvings, Lankatilaka - a unique temple with beautiful ancient paintings and Gadaladeniya Shrine built on a rock. Overnight at the hotel Pinnawela.

Day 07 : Pinnawela - Colombo : After early breakfast visit Salgala Jungle Monastery to see how practicing Buddhisht Monks are served woth meals , How They meditate etc.(Clients may themselves partcipte at the Alms Offerings and then walk deep into the Jungle to individual places of meditation in caves etc. Leave for Colombo. On the way visit Kelaniya Rajamaha Viharaya where some ancient and more recent paintings and the Statues are the main attractions.This Temple was visited by Lord Buddha himself during his 2nd visit to Sri Lanka. Overnight at hotel in Colombo.

Day 08 : Colombo : Mediatation Session with a Buddhisht Monk at the Gothama Thapowanaya just outside the City of Colombo.. Overnight at the hotel in Colombo.

Day 09 : Colombo Departure : Breakfast at the hotel. Day free for relaxation or self exploration. According to flight timing transfer to the airport for flight for further destination.