Day 01 : Arrival – Negombo

Arrive in Sri Lanka and you will be welcomed by the representatives of Asian Escapes.

Transfer to Negombo.

Overnight stay at Jetwing Beach in Negombo.

Day 02 : Negombo – Pinnawala – Dambulla

After breakfast at the hotel leave for Dambulla

En route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo – Kandy road is Pinnawala, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 85 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 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.

Thereafter leave for Dambulla & visit Dambulla Cave Temple before you check in at your hotel. Dambulla – Dambulla is famous for the five caves Temple on a rock. The first 03 caves are better, older and larger than the other two. Some caves dates to 1stC.B.C. All the 5 cave walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and there are more than 130 Buddha statues, statues of Gods and Kings are also found here.

Check in at Amaya Lake for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 03 : Dambulla – Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Dambulla

Optional: Hot Air Balloon Ride in Dambulla.

Soar high in the sky from 500 feet to 2000 feet above untouched wilderness, rock temples and ancient ruins in the Cultural Triangle. A Hot Air Ballooning trip in Sri Lanka is a once-in-a- lifetime experience never to be forgotten!

The Cultural Triangle Ballooning trip starts from the Habarana/Sigiriya / Dambulla area. A typical flight would start sometime after dawn and last for approximately one hour – depending on the prevailing winds. The exact route of a Hot Air Ballooning flight cannot be predicted as the wind direction must be followed.

After breakfast, proceed to Sigiriya and climb the gigantic Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

Sigiriya : King Kassapa (477-495 A.D) who shifted the Capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya made a fortress to surround his palace, which was constructed on the summit of a 500ft high rock, with necessary facilities. The Palace was surrounded by an outer-moat and wall and Inner – moat and wall pleasure garden, Mirror-wall, light coloured and dark coloured damsel’s frescoes, to cover the western wall and a beautiful staircase through the body of a Crouching Lion are some of the attractions here.

Lunch to be taken at any suitable location. Leave for Polonnaruwa after lunch.

Polonnaruwa – 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 example 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 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.

Back to Amaya Lake for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 04 : Dambulla – Kandy

After breakfast at the hotel leave for Kandy via Matale by visiting Spice Garden.

Spice Gardens at 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 food preparations.

Check in at Amaya Hills. Leave for a City Tour in Kandy.

Kandy – the hill capital. Venue of the annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple’s shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.
To Buddhist 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.

Evening witness a Cultural Dance and back to the hotel for dinner.
Overnight stay at Amaya Hillsin Kandy.

Day 05 : Kandy – Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast at the hotel leave for Nuwara Eliya and Photograph the Best Views of Mountains, valleys, Waterfalls & Tea Plantations.
Also visit a Tea Factory to see the process of making the world’s best Ceylon Tea.

Tea Plantation – 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 on 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolcondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow well only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown,medium grown, high grown, into 3 main groups.
Check in at Avian Breeze. Evening enjoy the scenic beauty of Nuwara Eliya; the Little England.

Nuwara Eliya – is 6200ft. above sea level. In 1826 some British Officers out on shooting chanced on Nuwara Eliya plains, and Sir Edward Barnes investigated on it. In 1828 a road constructed over the ridge at Ramboda Pass and a station for convalescent Soldiers was established. It was Sir Samuel Baker who fell under the spell of Nuwara Eliya, brought hounds, horses, cattle, sheepetc.; and started a typical English farm here. Flowers and vegetable were brought from England and planted.

Dinner and overnight stay at Avian Breeze in NuwaraEliya.

Day 06 : NuwaraEliya – Udawalawe

After breakfast at Grand Hotel, leave for Udawalawe via Bandarawela.En route visit Ella Gap & Ravana Water Falls.

Ella – on the Bandarawela – Wellawaya road is the Ella gap with a view of the Kataragama range of mountains at the distance. The Patna grasslands, Ravana Ella waterfalls (1080 ft. high) and Randeniya monument could be seen on this route.

Check in at Grand Udawalawe Safari Hotel. Leave for a Safari Drive at Udawalawe National Park. Udawalawe National Park – is famous for large herds of Asian Elephant which can be seen throughout the year. The park is a mixture of abundant Teak plantations, grasslands, scrub jungle and riverine ‘gallary forest’ along the Walawe River and Mau Ara. Many elephants are attracted to the park because of the Udawalawe reservoir, with a herd of about 400 believed to be permanently resident. Udawalawe is an important habitat for water birds and Sri Lankan Elephants.

Back to Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort for Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 07 : Udawalawe – Mirissa

Proceed to Mirissa after breakfast at Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort.
In Weligama visit the still sea fishing, one of unique methods of fishing.
Check in at Mandara Resort. Leave for City Tour in Galle.

Galle – Sri Lanka’s most historically interesting town in Galle. Built on a premonitory rock in the south of the Island. It was a major port until about 100 years, but today still handles shipping and sailing boars in the natural harbor. Stroll around the Light House and harbor or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and carvers and purchase some the finest shell-craft souvenirs in the World.

Back to Mandara Resort for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 08 : Mirissa

Full day at leisure on the beach. You are free to do your own activity on this day.

Optional: Whale Watching Boat Ride off Mirissa.

The boat ride will start at sharp 7.00am from the Mirissa Fisheries Harbour and leave for Dondra Point where you can spot Whales on their natural habitat. The south coast of Sri Lanka is one of the very best places to see Blue Whales in the entire world. Indeed it is almost the best to see both Blue Whales and Sperm Whales together.

Overnight stay at Mandara Resort.

Day 09 : Mirissa– Colombo – Departure

After breakfast leave for Colombo. Do a City tour in Colombo.

Colombo – is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, which is 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 during the British period and became the capital in 1815 after Kandy was ceded to the British.

After the city tour leave for Bandaranaike International Airport to connect the flight.