Arrive in Colombo, You will be met by SENSES representative and driven to Colombo which is a 1hour 15 minutes drive from the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport.
Evening leisure at the hotel OR free for shopping
Colombo - is a business and commercial center and the new capital is SriJ ayawardhanapura Kotte, only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbour took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kayman’s Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple dating to 6th C.B.C., Davatagaha Mosque, Colombo Museum and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites to be visited. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha in front and the Independence Memorial.
Dinner & overnight stay at Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo
Day - 02
After Breakfast leave for Sigiriya via Dambulla visiting Elephant orphanage in Pinnawela en-route.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo -
Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the
abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more
than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as some of the
more then 25 babies born, as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to
visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from
1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by.
Evening at leisure Or (Optional) elephant back safari through the jungles of Habarana Or
Jeep safari to Minneriya National Park to witness the Wild Elephants.
Dinner & overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla
Day - 03
After Breakfast at hotel & then leave for Sigiriya to climb Sigiriya rock fortress
Sigiriya - is a “World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours.
The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed. Evening at leisure Or (Optional) elephant back safari through the jungles of Habarana Or Jeep safari to Minneriya National Park to witness the Wild Elephants.
Dinner & overnight stay at Sigiriya Village, Sigiriya
PM – Excursion to Polonnaruwa for sightseeing
POLONNARUWA – is another “World Heritage Site” was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankoth Vehera and Kirivehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists.
The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. The Parakrama Samudra is on the western side of the city. The Royal Palace, Audience Hall and other buildings in the inner city were enclosed by another tall wall. Evening back to Dambulla.
Dinner & overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla
Day - 04
After breakfast visit the Dambulla Cave Temples.
Dambulla Cave Temple - is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. here you will find the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people. Thereafter proceed to Kandy, en-route visit a Spice Garden and
Batik Factory in Matale.
Spice Gardens - Matale – You will see many spice gardens at Matale and in Mawanella on the Colombo-Kandy road where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them in food preparations.
Afterwards visit a Batik Factory where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints. These shops contain a wide variety of Batik items.
PM – Check-in to the hotel and leisure by the pool
Late evening view a cultural dance performance featuring various dance types of
Sri Lanka.
Dinner & overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy
Day - 05
Breakfast at the hotel and enjoy the city tour of Kandy including the Kandy Market place and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Kandy – the hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (“Maha Wasala”), “Palle Wasala”- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, “Meda Wasala” where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.
PM – Visit Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya.
Royal Botanical Gardens - Peradeniya -147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world is one such avenue.
Dinner & overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy
Day - 06
After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya en route visiting a Tea Plantation and a Factory.
Tea Plantations - Peradeniya -Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings in an 8 hectares of forestland, in the Loolkondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23 lbs. being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain and is classified by elevation into low grown, medium grown and high grown into 3 main groups. Today more than 200,000 hectares in highlands and other areas are under Tea and around 300 million Kilograms, with a 25% of world tea exports are done by Sri Lanka as the World’s largest Tea exporter.
Evening sight walk in Nuwara Eliya City.
Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity.
Dinner & overnight stay Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya.
Day - 07
After breakfast transfer to the airport for departure OR transfer to the preferred
beach resort.
Price includes
Accommodation on Half Board basis.
Private air-conditioned vehicle and English speaking chuffer forthe duration of the trip
(From Day 01 to Day 04 with the drop-off at Airport/Preferred Beach resort).
Local government taxes & service charges.
Entrance fees to: Pinnawela, Sigiriya, Dambulla Caves, Temple of Tooth Relic,
Royal Botanical Garden.
Meals as stated in itinerary.
Price excludes
Visas (not required – automatically given on entry at the airport). Insurance.
Optional tours and activities.
Flights.
Airport taxes.
Camera & Video permits at Cultural sights.
All expenses of personal nature.
Tips and portorage.
Notes
Quote is subject to availability and price fluctuations prior to booking. All drive times are approximate and are subject to change All reservations subject to availability at time of booking The standard check in/out time in Sri Lanka is 12 noon
Cancellation Charges
05 days or less – 100% cancellation charge.
Between 06 days and 14days – 50% or the equivalent of the first two days charges.
Above 15 days – No cancellation charges providednocommitment or advance are
made to 3rd parties.
Cancellation policy will be applicable for any reduction of
rooms after the release period.
Visa
• Nationals of 77 countries can enter Sri Lanka as holiday makers without prior visa and remain 30days without a payment. Further details please refer website www.immigration.gov.lk
Airline Information
• The following Airlines fly in to Colombo (CMB)
Srilankan, Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Kuwait, Saudi, Air Arabia, RoyalJordanian, Indian Airline,
Jetairways, Air Sahara,Singapore Airline, Thai Airways, LTU, Condor, Martinair,Kingfisher,
Malaysian Airlines.
