Highlights of Sri Lanka

Welcome to Colombo! Our representative will meet you at the Bandaranaike International Airport and then you’ll be escorted to your vehicle to begin your holiday in Sri Lanka with a transfer to Kandy. Lying amidst the hills, Kandy is the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. While the second largest city in Sri Lanka, it is also famous for its immense beauty and is named one of the country's seven UNESCO-declared World Heritage sites. En route, we will Visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage & Zoo. Volunteers and caretakers provide shelter and care for orphaned, abandoned and injured elephants within the park. You can watch caretakers feed, bathe, and help these gentle giants. You want to walk with the herd to the nearby river to watch the elephants bathe and play in the water. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic: Ever since the 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha's Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess' hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka's most prized possession. Kandy Cultural Show: One of the highlights for visitors to Kandy is the cultural show, which showcases traditional Sri Lankan dance, music, and other forms of cultural expression.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Visit Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden - 147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 4,000 species of trees, plants, and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. En route, we visit Ramboda Hanumanji Temple, also known as the Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple, which is a significant Hindu temple located in the Ramboda area of Sri Lanka. It is believed that the area around Ramboda is where Hanuman first set foot in Sri Lanka while searching for Sita. Proceed to Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, which is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls, and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places on the Island, but it is 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. On arrival, we proceed to Gregory Lake to enjoy scenic views or opt for a (optional) boat ride on the lake.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today morning we proceeded to Bentota. En route, we stop to witness St Clairs Falls & Devon Falls. St. Clair's Falls, often referred to as the "Little Niagara of Sri Lanka," is one of the most beautiful and well-known waterfalls in the country. Devon Falls, also known as the "Veil of the Valley," is another spectacular waterfall located in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. En route to Bentota, guests canopt for the (optional) activity of White-Water Rafting at Kitulgala which is best known for white-water rafting on the Kelani River, which attracts adventure enthusiasts from all over. The river offers rapids of varying difficulty, suitable for both beginners and experienced rafters. Proceed to Kosgoda to visit Turtle Hatchery. Kosgoda is famous for its sea turtle conservation project operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka. Although October to April is the main laying season, some eggs (mostly green turtles) can be found at Kosgoda throughout the year. The hatchery buries the eggs in sand, and when they hatch around 50 days later the baby turtles are released into the sea at night. Only about one in 1,000 turtles survive to maturity. Later we proceeded to enjoy a boat ride on Madu River. A boat trip is a wonderful way of seeing some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals – monkeys eat the fruit in the trees, a water monitor lizard glides slowly through the water, and cormorants, egrets, and kingfishers wait patiently on the banks, eyeing the water for prey. There are around 64 islands in the river and lagoon, from a speck housing a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families connected to the mainland with a very long footbridge. Later in the day, we head to Bentota Beach to enjoy water sports.

Breakfast at the Hotel & Proceed to Colombo. Colombo - a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. 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, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also, visit the BMICH, and see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square.

After enjoying your breakfast, proceed to the airport for your return flight. We hope you had a great holiday and hope to see you again soon.