Sri Lanka at its Best !

Meeting & assistance upon arrival and drive to Negombo.

Overnight at the hotel in Negombo.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Anuradhapura, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.

Anuradhapura - It is located in the north central part of the Island; it was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two world heritage sites. Many places of historical and archeological interest could be visited.  Sri-Mahabodhi (sacred Bo-tree), brought as a sapling of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world.  Brazen palace (2nd cent. B.C.) the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. RuwanweliSeya (2nd cent. B.C). This is the most famous of all the Dagobas. It originally depicted the perfect “water-bubble” shape that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. Samadhi Buddha (3rd cent. b.c.), one of the most famous statues, depicting the Buddha in a state of “Samadhi” or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd cent. b.c.) Well known for its rock carving of “the lovers”.   Kuttam Pokuna - twin ponds (3rd cent. b.c.) used by the monks of old as a bathing pool. Thuparama Dagoba (3rd cent. b.c.), the oldest Dagoba in the island. It enshrines a relic of the Buddha.

Overnight at the hotel in Anuradhapura.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Sigiriya, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress - which is a world heritage site, built by king Kashyapa (473 – 491 A.D).  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. The base of the rock is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The world-renowned frescoes of the “heavenly maidens’ of Sigiriya which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway is one of the main attractions. The frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaste.

Overnight at the hotel in Sigiriya.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit of the Dambulla cave temples

Dambulla Rock Temple - was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C.  Dambulla is a world heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. The caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters.

Overnight at the hotel in Sigiriya.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Kandy and check-in at the hotel.

In contact with elephants at the Millennium Elephant Foundation

The Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) is a charitable organization based in Sri Lanka that focuses on the welfare of elephants. Founded in 1999, it aims to provide a sanctuary for elephants, especially those that have been retired from work or rescued from difficult situations. The foundation offers medical care, rehabilitation, and a safe environment for the elephants. In addition to its direct work with elephants, MEF also engages in educational and awareness programs to promote better understanding and conservation of these majestic animals.

Overnight at the hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the heart of the Sinhalese country Kandy

Kandy Temple -The busy town is situated in a valley at an elevation of 600m, inside a wide loop of the Mahaweli River and is surrounded by hills covered with tropical vegetation. Home to the Sri Dalada Maligawa – the beautiful temple that houses the tooth relic of Lord Buddha.

Overnight at the hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Nuwara Eliya, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.

Today explore Tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya

Overnight at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Udawalawe, upon arrival check-in at the resort.

Wildlife Exploration Uda Walawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park, located in Sri Lanka, is renowned for its exceptional wildlife and picturesque landscapes. A safari in Udawalawe offers visitors the chance to see a variety of animals in their natural habitat, with a particular focus on the park's large population of Sri Lankan elephants. The park's open grasslands and scattered waterholes provide excellent viewing opportunities for these majestic creatures. Besides elephants, you might encounter other wildlife such as water buffalo, deer, and a diverse range of bird species. The park is also known for its scenic beauty, with rugged terrain and lush vegetation adding to the allure of the safari experience.

Overnight at the resort in Udawalawe.

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning drive to Galle, upon arrival check-in at the hotel.

Visit to the Citadel of Galle

Galle City tour: During your city tour you will visit the Galle Dutch Fort which is among the most popular sites in Galle where it attracts those who value archaeological reserves and heritage. It is known as the oldest fort in Asia, named as a world heritage by UNESCO.

Inside the fort, travelers can find other attractions such as the Dutch Museum, which contains paintings, pictures and furniture of the Dutch Reformed Church. The fort is built on small peninsula that can be easily accessed from the Galle town. It is the best place to visit during an evening as the picturesque scenery of the sunset can be witnessed at its best. The trilingual inscription is in the National Museum in Colombo and a copy can be found in the Maritime Museum in Galle.

Overnight at the hotel in Galle.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Later this morning drive to Beruwela en route experiencing Madu river boat ride.

Enroute do madu river boat ride in bentota and turtle hatchery farm visit

Turtle Hatchery - is the prime turtle nesting site which was open by the Wild life Protection Society in 1981.

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.

Madu River: Which flows across Balapitiya (approx 80kms down south from Colombo) is one of the rarely visited and unspoiled attractions any nature lover can find in Sri Lanka. She boasts of having a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along her path and the most of which are uninhabited and covered with mangroves. The smallest islet of the lot is called "Satha Paha Doowa" where there is a tiny shrine with a statue built in respect of the gods of Kataragama (Kataragama). According to folklore this islet had been purchased for five cents but some say the name has derived due to its shape of the five-cent coin. Madu is certainly a placid and memorable place of interest to any nature lover who longs to witness mesmerizing landscape of the nature. But over thrilled visitors are forewarned! - Madhu River is also a known den for crocodiles.

Continue drive to Beruwela and check-in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.

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