Day 1Welcome to Sri Lanka
Upon arrival, your local guide from U Travels will meet you at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. You will be given the opportunity to rest and relieve jet lag. Your overnight stay will be in Katunayake.
Day 2Katunayake to Sigiriya
Your tour will begin by first travelling to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, where you will have an opportunity to participate in activities of your choice which are listed below. Following this you will embark on an approximately 2 hour drive to visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla and from there you will visit a wood carving workshop where you will have the chance to purchase a custom piece made by talented locals. Your overnight stay will be in Sigiriya.
Activities
- Milk feeding (9.15 - 9.45 am or 1.15 - 1.45 pm)
- Elephant bathing at Ma oya (10.00 am - 12.00 pm or 2.00 - 4.00 pm)
- Fruit feeding (9.00 - 9.45 am or 12.00 1.45 pm)
Activities: ~1 hour tour around the workshop demonstrating the process of producing sculptures
Day 3Lion Rock adventure
After breakfast, you will kickstart the day by heading to Lion rock (Sigiriya) and a local tour guide will join the climb. He will walk you through the ancient tale of King Kasyapa and the remains of his palace. This segment of the day will take approximately 1.5 - 3 hrs. Following this, you have the option of riding on the back of an elephant in the area surrounding Lion rock. Finally, at the end of the day you will get to witness the unforgettable scenery of the largest Asian elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park. Your overnight stay will be in Sigiriya.
Activities: Elephant back ride
The largest Asian elephant gathering in the world is seen at Minneriya National Park located in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. In addition, a vast variety of mammals, birds and reptiles such as deers, wild buffalos, crocodiles, iguanas, Purple faced leaf monkeys and Indian peacocks are seen in the park.
Day 4Buddhist landmarks in Anuradhapura
Your day 4 will begin with a visit to Avukana statue, which is the tallest ancient Buddha statue in Sri Lanka. Then you will travel for approximately 1 hour to Anuradhapura town in which you will visit several Buddhist landmarks including Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, moonstone, Isurumuniya, Kuttam pokuna and finally to Mihintale, a famous pilgrimage site. Your overnight stay will be in Sigiriya.
Day 5Sigiriya to Kandy
Today, you will travel to Kandy, a city surrounded by mountains, home to lush tea plantations and rainforests boasting biodiversity. On the way you will go to Matale, a town known for its agriculture, where tea, rubber, spice and herbal plantations are in abundance. You will have an opportunity to visit Euphoria spice and herbal garden to get an insight into the fascinating world of spices and herbs. The day will end with a captivating show in Kandy demonstrating the culture that has been preserved over many decades. Your overnight stay will be in Kandy.
Herbs and spices have long played a crucial role in Sri Lankan cuisine as well as in Ayurvedic medicine. This spice and herbal garden tour provides an insight into the ways in which a variety of herbs and spices such as Nutmeg, Turmeric, Citronella, Cardamom and Sandalwood can be used in day to day life.
Activities:
- 45 min - 1 hr tour around the spice and herbal garden
The Esala Perahera or the festival of tooth in Kandy is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka. Dancers, drummers, jugglers, musicians and fire-breathers are key features of this grand festival which is held only once a year in July or August. However, you will get to experience a few of these memorable features through this short cultural show taking place every day of the year.
Day 6Explore Kandy
You can expect a much more relaxed day today as you will first explore the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha and witness how the teachings of Buddhism have been preserved over many years. Thereafter you will be lead on a short tour around the Kandy Lake, a man-made lake known by the locals as the ‘Sea of Milk’. Here you also have the chance to enjoy our complementary boat ride in Kandy Lake. Next you have the option of shopping for precious gemstones that have been carefully mined, checked by gemologists and cut to a specific shape by lapidarists. Your overnight stay will be in Kandy.
Day 7Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Day 7, the second half of your tour will begin with a train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya that will last approximately 3 - 3.5 hours. After dropping you off at the Kandy railway station, your driver will pick you up from Nanu Oya railway station and head to Nuwara Eliya, a short drive from Nanu Oya. You will visit Pedro Tea factory in Nuwara Eliya to gain an insight into the production of tea that is savoured by all Sri Lankans. Your overnight stay will be in Nuwara Eliya.
Located 3.5 km east of Nuwara Eliya Pedro tea estate provides guided tours for tea lovers interested in the production of tea that is the main beverage of Sri Lankan people. This tour provides a chance for you to pluck tea with the local tea pluckers.
Day 8Explore Nuwara Eliya
Your day 8 will commence with a visit to Ambewela farm, the heart of dairy farming in Sri Lanka and on the way you will stop at Kande - Ela reservoir. Ambewela farm is famous for its immense output of dairy products including milk, yoghurt, ice cream and cheese that reaches all corners of the country. From here you will travel an approximate distance of 14 km to reach Hakgala Botanical garden where you can relax amongst the 10,000 species of flora present. Your overnight stay will be in Nuwara Eliya.
Founded in 1861, Hakgala garden was initially used for the cultivation of the medicinal crop Cinchona and following this the garden was used as a tea plantation. Finally in 1884 it was transformed by planting many subtropical and tropical plants and currently 10,000 species of flora are found at Hakgala botanical garden. This garden is well known for its species of roses and orchids.
Day 9Nuwara Eliya to Tissamaharama
Today you will leave behind the hill country and travel to Tissamaharama in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. On the way you will stop at the Nine Arches Bridge, a picturesque location with a bridge that was constructed in 1921 and still stands strong nearly after an entire century with trains using the track on a daily basis. From there on you will travel to Ravana Falls, one of the many majestic waterfalls found in Sri Lanka. It measures at an approximate height of 25 m and dominates as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Your overnight stay will be in Tissamaharama.
Day 10Tissamaharama to Hikkaduwa
Your day 10 will begin at the crack of dawn with your driver picking you up from your hotel around 5 am for a safari ride at Yala National Park which will begin around 6 am and will come to a completion approximately 4 hours after. From here you will travel for 4 - 4.5 hours to reach Hikkaduwa and on the way you will stop at Galle ramparts, an ancient fortification. Your overnight stay will be in Hikkaduwa.
Day 11Relax at Hikkaduwa
The second last day of your tour will be a very relaxing day enjoying snorkeling and jet skiing at Hikkaduwa beach. Your overnight stay will be in Hikkaduwa.
Day 12Farewell Sri Lanka
Today, you will travel from Hikkaduwa to Bandaranaike International Airport to board your flight and to say your farewell till next time. If there is an adequate amount of time before your departure time, you have the option of visiting the following places in the city of Colombo.
Galle Face Green is a half kilometer promenade in the heart of Colombo. It is a place for families, children and couples to enjoy the sunshine, the beach and may be even fly a kite. There are many food vendors along the beach that offer all sorts of Sri Lanka street food.
Inclusion & exclusion
- Accommodation ( 11 NIGHTS ONLY INCLUDING DAILY BREAKFAST) in the hotels mentioned or similar comfort (Standard rooms) including breakfast – Best Rated by Tripadvisor and our past clients. Double sharing basis (BB/DBL).
- On ground transportation - air conditioned vehicle with an English speaking chauffeur guide throughout the tour (Includes fuel) with comprehensive insurance. All safari jeeps are without comprehensive insurance and non air conditioned.
- Airport transfers - all tours from & to the airport unless any special request made by the client with different pick up or drop off points, which could be arranged.
- Entry fee into attractions. (Pinnawala elephant orphanage, Golden temple of Dambulla, Karu arts wood carving, Lion Rock (Sigiriya), Avukanna, Anuradhapura religious landmarks, Mihintale, Euphoria spice & herbal garden tour, Temple of the Tooth relic of Buddha, cultural show, Tea factory visit, Train tickets, Ambewela farm, Hakgala botanical garden, Galle Fortress).
- Thrilling jeep safaris at Minneriya National Park and Yala national park
- 24/7 customer service