AIRPORT - COLOMBO

Meet and assist on arrival at Airport by our Representative

Transfer from Airport to Colombo (Approx 1hr), check-in at hotel.

Afternoon Enjoy Colombo City & Shopping Tour. Drive along the clean streets, Pettah Market, the Colombo Port City - featuring parks, commercial complexes, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.

• Overnight Stay at Hotel in Colombo

COLOMBO – SIGIRIYA – PIDURANGALA - HABARANA

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer from Sigiriya runaway to Rock Fortress

The 5th century rock citadel of King Kasyapa and World Heritage Site - Sigiriya - doesn't only boasts of ancient Sri Lankan engineering & urban planning supremacy but also acclaims to be one of the finest monuments of art & culture. Step through the gigantic 'Lion Paws' - overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below - to comprehend the absolute splendour that once dominated this rock fortress. Surrounded by ramparts & moats the Lion Rock - resembling the mythological 'City of Gods' - is coated by frescoes that relate to Gupta style paintings found in Ajanta caves of India. Walk in the shade of an eminent 'mirror wall' embracing the Western face of Sigiriya representing an artistic hundred meters laminated with graffiti. Wander into the well-fabricated museum downstairs for an epic journey of yesteryears to realize how the citadel floated above citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water right onto its summit with an ingenious hydraulic system describing a colossal masterpiece of the great king which remained a wonder in Asia for centuries.
Lunch at en route outside restaurant or hotel

Thereafter proceed to Pidurangala (Approx 30 Mins)

Hike up Pidurangala Rock, a geological feature offering extensive views of the verdant hilly landscape and an atmosphere of seclusion and contemplation. Standing opposite a larger, more frequented hill, the rock possesses a different charm to its touristy brother, with a quiet and peaceful Buddhist temple at its foot, and a giant reclining Buddha statue in a secluded cave part way up. The ascent takes around half an hour, with a medium difficulty scramble over some boulders near the top, so wear suitable footwear. The views from the top make the exertion worthwhile

Transfer to Habarana (Approx 1 hr)

• Dinner & Overnight Stay at Hotel in Habarana

HABARANA – DAMBULLA – MINNERIYA - HABARANA

After breakfast proceed to Dambulla (Approx 30Min)

In the city of Dambulla lies a hub which has been treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C. Today, an icon in the face of Sri Lanka, Dambulla Rock Temple houses some of the most unique drawings in magnificently constructed 5 cave temples flanking the golden temple of Dambulla. Observe how exquisitely cave paintings are done along walls that shelter 150 statues of Lord Buddha. As you enter the retreat, look straight up to the gigantic Buddha statue glittering in gold over a land, which today houses an important junction in the country's economic and cultural uplifting.

Thereafter transfer from Dambulla to Minneriya (Approx 45 Mins)

Lunch at en route outside restaurant or hotel

If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then Minneriya is your Colosseum! Spreading over 8800 hectares, this is a sanctuary for elephants. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, but its spotlight remains between swaying trunks & flapping ears. Park your jeep on the bank of the reservoir and switch off its engine. Watch carefully as herds of elephants - one by one - roll on to the grass-covered banks, to feed on tender shoots. In fact, this is the largest elephant gathering in the world - over 300 at a time - which has garnished the park to become a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe.

• Dinner & Overnight Stay at Hotel in Habarana

HABARANA – MATALE – KANDY

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer from Habarana to Matale (Approx 2 hrs)

An agricultural zone in the Central Province, Matale seldom drops off the maps due to its remarkable contribution through flagship crops of the island extending from tea, rubber & vegetables to spices. Spearheading the Rebellion back in 1848, Matale today takes immense pride in its story woven around spices. Stop by the side of a spice garden - into which you will be most welcome - and observe the therapeutic values of spices & processes over a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Or spend some time idling on the hardened streets if you mean a real town adventure filled with voices and colors.

Transfer from Matale to Kandy (Approx 1.5 hrs)

Lunch at en route outside restaurant or hotel

Last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe - before it was brought under the British rule in 1815, Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings - crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe. Experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A stroll across this small lakeside town - cradled among the misty hills - will feature the Kandy City Centre - bundled with latest and world class brands, bazaar, an arts & crafts centre, as well as a gem museum & lapidary. Walk in colour as you glide through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market. Fine tube your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music & drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka.

• Dinner & Overnight Stay at Hotel in Kandy

KANDY – DICKWELLA - TANGALLE

Breakfast at hotel

Optional: Morning Charter flight from Kandy to Dickwella (Approx 1 hr flight) Landy transfer from Dickwella to Tangalle (Approx 1 hrs)

• Lunch, Dinner & Overnight Stay Hotel in Tangalle

TANGALLE – YALA - TANGALLE

After Breakfast proceed to Yala

Spreading into a vast 1259 Km2 Yala - with its glory spinning around vast grasslands, shrubs, tanks and dunes - rightfully is the heartland of wildlife in Sri Lanka. As your jeep rumble through the giant gates of Yala, you are not only stepping into the most visited national park in the country, but also the lands of a civilization which thrived during the reign of Sri Lankan kings. You name it, and Yala has it! Its usual inmates cover herds of elephant, sloth bear, spotted dear, jackal, extensively populated birdlife as well as the highest density of leopards in the world that garnish the park to be one of the finest destinations in the country. Feel the rough track as your jeep thunders over rocks and swish passing narrow bends for an exhilarating experience blended with the cries of wilderness under the tropical sun.

Back to Tangalle

• Lunch, Dinner & Overnight Stay Hotel in Tangalle

Day 7-Day 12

TANGALLE

Leisure at Hotel in Tangalle on Full Board Basis

TANGALLE – GALLE – COLOMBO - AIRPORT

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer from Tangalle to Galle

Galle, the epic Southern capital, is the intersection where classic Dutch architecture meets a tropical setting creating a vivid atmosphere in beauty. Walk the Dutch-haunted streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions today flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale. Its original ramparts and bastions preserved up to date showcase evidences of a heritage preserved for more than 3 1/2 centuries. Walk clockwise within the fort to observe the 'old gate' carrying the British coat of arms. Flanking the old gate is the Zwart bastion - the oldest of all - and the lighthouse standing 18 feet in its glory next to the Point Utretcht Bastion. This Dutch bliss is painted with streets that spread in a rectangular grid pattern pierced with houses carrying Dutch colonial style verandas. Hop into the Dutch Hospital Shopping Complex to be mesmerized by an array of souvenir selections. However, its hallmark stands a reality where the Dutch fort remains a working community with its usual buzz of administrative offices, court complex, commercial buildings, churches and Southern folks frequenting its streets bracing the air of the Elysium of architecture, Galle!

Transfer from Galle to Colombo

Do a Shopping Tour in Colombo & Visit Mount Lavinia Hotel for farewell dinner

Thereafter drop at the airport for midnight departure flight