Day 01
AIRPORT / WAIKKAL
- AM Arrive at Bandaranayake International Airport. Assistance on arrival by
a representative of Connaissance de Ceylan. Transfer to Waikkal and check into the
hotel.
- PM Free at the hotel for the rest of the day. Dinner & overnight stay at the
hotel.
Day 02
WAIKKAL / PINNAWELA / DAMBULLA
- AM After breakfast, leave to Pinnawela and visit the Elephant Orphanage. The
Orphanage was established to feed, nurse and house young elephants abandoned by their
mothers, displaced from their natural environment by development projects. Most of
the orphans cannot be introduced back into the wild, as other elephant family groups
will not accept them. They enjoy a good life with their human parents, and many find
good foster homes in zoos around the world. It is more interesting to visit an Orphanage
at feeding or bathing time. Proceed to Dambulla and check into Culture Club Resort
with welcome drinks and refresher towels.
- PM In the evening visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple. Leave to visit a 1st
century BC Rock Caved Temple, which contains the most outstanding collection of Buddha’s
images in Sri Lanka. The walls are covered in paintings of images of Buddha during
his different reincarnations as well as depicting some historic episodes. Return
to hotel for Nature Trail and bird watch with a field ornithology guide in the vicinity
of Culture Club. Dinner & overnight stay is at Culture Club Resort.
Day 03
DAMBULLA / POLONNARUWA / KAUDULLA / DAMBULLA
- AM After breakfast, leave for Polonnaruwa and visit the site by Bicycles.
Polonnaruwa was the mediaeval capital of Sri Lanka, and today it is one of the most
beautiful centers of our cultural heritage. With its comparatively brief history
and a dozen rules, it is far more completely preserves ruin than Anuradhapura. Visit
the ancient ruins and Gal Vihara complex, where 3 gigantic Buddha's statues are caved
out of a single rock.
- PM Enjoy a Jeep Safari at Kaudulla National Park. It’s on the banks of the
Minneriya reservoir, which was built in the 4th century A.C. Minneriya is a hide-out
for many elephants, where you could see herds of elephants approximately 50 to 60
elephants in a herd. Apart from elephants, it is a habitant for migrant and resident
built species like Grey heron, Open built storks, Painted storks …etc. And also you
could see 3 different species of monkeys like Silica makake, Pink faced leaf monkey
and Grey langer. Return to Culture Club for dinner & overnight stay.
Day 04
DAMBULLA / KALUDIYA POKUNA / SIGIRIYA / DAMBULLA
- AM After breakfast, leave on a jungle tracking to Kaludiya Pokuna where a
forgotten old temple and some caves were found. This ancient site is situated at
KUMBUK KANDANVALA, off Sigiriya in the district of Matale. As you proceed along the
access road to Sigiriya, turn off at KIMBISSA and proceed about 05 miles to the foot
of the ERAVALAGALA range to reach the site. On the terrace enclosed by a retaining
wall are found the remains of a STUPA, a structure made of stone pillars and several
other objects. There are also a number of inscriptions. A little further away is
a pond with blackish water and hence the present name, KALUDIYA POKUNA. A 09th century
inscription in situ gives the name of the site as DAKINIGIRI VIHARA. According to
MAHAWAMSA, this temple was built by King Saddhathissa (137 BC - 119 BC) and improved
by Aggabodhi (578 - 612) who added an UPOSATHAGARA. Return to Culture Club Resort
& relax by the pool.
- PM In the evening, visit Sigiriya, a World Heritage site which is proposed
to be the 8th wonders of the World. Sigiriya, a massive rock in the green scrub jungle,
is perhaps the most memorable place for visitors to Sri Lanka. The site was known
from ancient times as a hermitage for Buddhist monks. A well-planed monastic complex
included caved temples, bathing pools, lovely ponds and Asia's oldest surviving landscaped
gardens. Today Sigiriya is famous for its frescoes painted in the pocket of the rock.
The "Lion stairway", the "mirror wall" and the "water gardens" are it's other highlights.
Return to Culture Club for dinner & overnight stay.
Day 05
DAMBULLA / MATALE / KANDY
- AM After breakfast, leave for Kandy visiting Batik Factory en route. Batik
has been an ancient art of painting cloth and today Sri Lanka is among the world
leaders in the design of batik. Batik galleries and factories offer batik from simple
single-colored designs to intricate multi-colored masterpieces. Visit Batik Factory
and see the various phases of batik manufacture. Visit Spice Garden in Matale. For
centuries, spices have been one of Sri Lanka's celebrated exports. Spices mostly
grown in home gardens (as a home industry) and used not only to flavor food but also
in medicine and cosmetics. Visit a Spice Garden and sample such scents and flavors
as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, vanilla, cardamom etc. Arrive in Kandy and check in
to Le Kandyan Resort.
- PM In the evening, visit the City of Kandy. Sri Lanka's second city is Kandy,
a beautiful historical city in the citadel of the country. It is not only known for
it's great kings who ruled the city for almost 225 years independently until the
British took over in 1815, but it is also the place where the Sacred Tooth of Lord
Buddha is laid in a magnificent temple. The incomparable Perahera celebration, a
procession of more than 100 elephants, is held every August here. Visit part of the
Old Palace and the Temple of the Tooth Relic and view the daily traditional rituals
of the Temple. Visit Crafts Center and a Gemmological Museum. View half an hour cultural
performance of Kandyan Dancing. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Return
to hotel for dinner & overnight stay.
Day 06
KANDY / PERADENIYA / KITHULGALA
- AM After breakfast, leave for Kithulgala via Peradeniya and visit the Royal
Botanical Garden. The Royal Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was established in 1821
and now covers 140 acres, smuggled in a loop in the Mahaweli River, the longest river
in Sri Lanka. Its primary purpose was the testing and acclimatizing of plants for
commercial use in Sri Lanka. Today the Gardens have one of the largest collections
of flora from sub tropical climates around the world.
- PM Arrive in Kithulgala and check into Rafter’s Retreat. In the afternoon
leave for the Rafting expedition on the Kelani River one of the longest rivers in
Sri Lankan, which is, graded 2-3 rapids. Enjoy a high adrenaline pumping “White Water
Rafting” in Kelani River. You could experience the fascinating view of the surrounding
forest while rafting and when you are in the calm waters you could let yourself float
while enjoying the scenic beauty. End the Rafting at the Rafter’s Retreat and have
a river bath. Dinner and overnight stay at Rafter’s Retreat.
Day 07
KITHULGALA / NALLATHANNI
- AM After breakfast, cross the river and visit a typical Sri Lankan village.
- PM Leave to Nallathanni & check into Punsisi Rest or similar. Dinner & overnight
stay at the hotel.
Day 08
NALLATHANNI / ADAMS PEAK / NUWARA ELIYA
- AM Early morning proceed to Adams Peak and visit the site. Return to rest
house for Breakfast. After breakfast, leave for N’Eliya & check into hotel.
- PM Free at the hotel for the rest of the day. Dinner & overnight stay at the
hotel.
Day 09
N’ELIYA / HORTON PLAINS / N’ELIYA
- AM After breakfast, leave for Horton Plains. Located on a high windswept saddle
at 2134 meters elevation, these plains are hard to reach. Many visitors come to see
“World’s End” situated on the plains. The scenery that can be seen from here is considered
to be the finest view in Sri Lanka. Early morning the Indian Ocean rims the horizon,
80 km away. Horton Plains is Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau discovered
by Sir Thomas Farr in 19 hundreds. And named as Horton Plaines as a respect to the
then British Governor of Sri Lanka Sir Horton and it is the only place where you
could see the bear monkey. This is one of world’s best nature tracks. And certain
plant species, birds and insects you see them only at Horton Plaines. Nature lovers
will enjoy this wide, patna-grass-covered plain, the haunt of several wild yet harmless
animals and the home of many species of birds. Bridle paths through the plain will
take you to the precipice, popularly referred to as “ Worlds End “; a sheer drop
of 1050 meters. Lie on your stomach and peep over the ridge, the view when it is
clear of mist, it is simply magnificent.
- PM Leave to visit Tea Estate & Tea Factory & also experience a self-tea plucking
session.
Day 10
N’ELIYA / SINGHARAJA
- AM After breakfast, leave to explore the Wavulpane Caves.
- PM Proceed to Singharaja & check in to the Lodge. Free at the lodge for the
rest of the day. Dinner & overnight stay is at the lodge.
Day 11
SINGHARAJA
- AM After breakfast, Enjoy a whole day trekking and bird trail in the Singaraja
rain forest, one of the world heritage sites in Sri Lanka. It is a paradise for bird
lover’s filled with mystery, romance and Legend. You will also find rare collection
of plants and insects.
- PM Return to the lodge & relax for the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight
stay at the lodge.
Day 12
SINGHARAJA / RATHNAPURA / BEACH STAY
- AM After breakfast, leave to Rathnapura. Join an exciting day trip to the
heart of the Sri Lankan interior and see the “City of Gems” Ratnapura, which has
a reputation for producing some of the world’s finest gems. Visit the gem museum
where you could see a scaled down model of a typical gem pit, showing the different
strata of rocks. They will also demonstrate the equipment for the various stages
of polishing and cutting of a gem. You will see the transformation of a small stone
plucked out of earth, to the sparkling status symbol on your finger. Transfer to
a Beach Hotel visiting a rubber plantation in Rathnapura.
Day 13 & Day 14
BEACH STAY
- AM/PM The whole day at leisure by the beach or by the pool. (01 Hour boat
safari will be arranged at Negombo or at Balapitiya on Day 13 or 14 depending on
the beach hotel)
Day 15
BEACH STAY / AIRPORT
- AM Transfer to the Airport for the departure flight.
OUR PRICES INCLUDE:
- Welcome and assistance on arrival & departure
- Accommodation at hotels specified on full board basis.
- Visits according to the itinerary.
- Transportation in an air-conditioned coach.
- Services of a German-speaking guide.
- Applicable entrance fees for the site visits.
OUR PRICES DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Extras of a personal nature such as beverage (alcoholic/non- alcoholic), laundry,
drinking water, telephone calls, photo & video camera permits at the sites etc
- Tips & gratitude, air fares
- Airport embarkation tax (included in air ticket)
- Services other than specified above
- Expenses of personal nature
* Price does not include services other than those specified.
