Sri Lanka Tour (7 Nights / 8 Days)

Itinerary Descriptions

PINNAWELA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE

This is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village. Pinnawala has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. In 2011, there were 96 elephants, including 43 males and 68 females from 3 generations, living in Pinnawala. The orphanage was founded to care and protect the many orphaned unweaned wild elephants found wandering in and near the forests of Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC).

SIGIRIYA

Sigiriya is a “World Heritage Site” and the “Fortress in the Sky” from the 5th century, which is perhaps the most fantastic wonder of the island. It is also known as Lion Rock due to the huge lion that stood at the entrance to the palace on the top of the 600 foot high rock. On its top are the foundations of the Royal Palace, the Cisterns for water supply and all the other buildings and the guards on the edges. Up one of the stairs has survived the only known ancient work of Sinhalese secular painting in the form of frescoes of 21 life-size bridesmaids that still shine in their original colors. Don’t miss the water gardens, fountain garden, summer houses, Boulder gardens and caves within the gated area.

MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK

Situated at the centre of the Cultural Triangle, Minneriya is a good alternative to the busier parks in the south and it’s easy to weave in a day here between visiting the ancient cities. The dry season, from June to September, is the best time to visit the 8,890-hectare park when the ancient tank that dominates the area dries out and the grasses and shoots push through.

HIRIWADUNNA VILLAGE TOUR

You will be taken on a bullock cart ride through a banana plantation. You could taste and savour the ripe bananas there.  You will then be crossing a scenic reservoir in an “oruwa” (traditional boat) to visit Chena cultivation. You will also get an opportunity to meet and interact with the villagers in the area. You may even opt to help them in some of their daily activities such as farming and cooking.

DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLES

Dambulla Cave Temples is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is the famous rock temple dating back to the 1st century BC. The Dambulla Caves protected King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne, he built the most magnificent of the cave temples found on the island. In the first cave there is a reclining image of the 47-foot long Buddha cut out of the rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism everywhere. The frescoes on the walls and ceiling are the oldest here but are over painted in the Kandy period.

SPICE GARDENS

For centuries, spices have been one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated exports and are used for medicines and cosmetics as well as to flavour foods. We will sample scents and flavours such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, vanilla and cardamom. Batik is the ancient art of mixing colours using wax as the main component and Sri Lanka is one of the world’s leading exponents. Examples range from simple, single coloured designs to multi-coloured masterpieces

KANDY

the capital of the hill is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings during Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. For the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the world, Kandy is one of the holiest places as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Nearby 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 nearby. The bathing pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is near the lake and in the center of the lake is the island called “Kiri Samudraya” (milky white ocean) used by kings as a summer residence. Today it is the center of Buddhism, arts, crafts, dance, music and culture. Visitors can see these dances and music during the daily cultural performances held in different places in the city.

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

This majestic botanical garden is 147 acres in extent and was 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 which are rare and endemic, as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens.

RAMBODA FALLS

Located next to the road between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, Ramboda Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Sri Lanka, standing at over one hundred meters tall, and is undoubtedly one of Sri Lanka’s most picturesque. It is most definitely worth a stop off during your tour of the area given the stunning surroundings and countless photo opportunities that arise.

TEA PLANTATIONS

Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, when some plants were brought from China. Others were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings in 8 hectares of woodland on the Loolkondura estate. In 1873, Sri Lanka’s tea export industry started with a modest 23 pounds. be shipped to London. The tea will only grow on undulating ground and is classified based on elevation into 3 main groups. Today more than 200,000 hectares in the highlands and other areas are planted with tea and around 300 million kilograms, with 25% of the world’s tea exports, Sri Lanka is the largest tea exporter in the world

NUWARA ELIYA

 Meaning “city of light”, it is a city in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and a temperate climate. It is located at an elevation of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered the most important place for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is dominated by Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in Sri Lanka. It is the heart of Sri Lankan tea country interspersed with gushing streams and thundering waterfalls. The city with the highest altitude in the beautiful tropical island. And true to expectations, it finds breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and vegetation in a healthy climate. It’s hard to imagine Nuwara Eliya being only 180km from hot and humid Colombo. City attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Victoria Park is an attractive and well-used oasis. There are many famous waterfalls around the city.

KITULGALA WATER RAFTING

This is one of the most famous places for White Water Rafting adventures. However, there are many more reasons why this spot, just 100 kms from the capital Colombo, is well worth visiting. Chief among these are the historic Beli Lena Caves where the pre-historic Balangoda Man supposed to have lived.

MADU RIVER BOAT RIDE

In the 915-hectare Maadu Ganga Estuary is connected by two narrow channels to the Randombe Lake, forming a complex wetland system encompassing 64 mangrove islets. In the year 2000, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) undertook a detailed biodiversity survey of the region & revealed the existence of no less than 10 major wetland vegetation types supporting over 300 plant species & 248 species of vertebrates.

KOSGODA MARINE TURTLE

 Globally, all seven species of marine turtles are endangered. Of these seven, five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. The process of marine turtles nesting, hatchlings being born, and swimming back to sea is fascinating to observe.