TOUR Itinerary
On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, you will be met by our local representative in Sri Lanka for a brief meet and greet.
You will then proceed to Kandy. En-route, we will visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Spice Gardens.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a nursery that was commissioned by the Sri Lankan Government to take care of orphaned baby elephants who would otherwise face ill-fate because elephants suckle from their mother till they are five years old. Since then, it has expanded into a hospital and breeding ground for Asian Elephants. At the Orphanage, you can take part in feeding the elephants or simply watch them go for a bath in the river.
Afterwards proceed for a tour of Sri Lankan spice garden and learn about various spices and herbs such as Cinnamon, Vanilla, Cocoa, Turmeric and more. As you travel through the garden, the guide explains how they are actually procured from the plants, their advantages and medicinal properties.
Later, proceed to Kandy and check-in at the hotel. Once the capital of the last independent kingdom of Sri Lanka, Kandy is today the second largest city in the country.
The charming city is centred around the scenic Kandy lake and is surrounded by mountains covered by tea plantations and forests. A prominent Buddhist religious centre, it is also a major transportation hub owing to its location in the heart of the country.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
After breakfast, we will proceed to Dambulla to see the famous cave temple there.
Dambulla Cave temple, also called as the golden temple of Dambulla, is a complex of five grand caves that have been continuously inhabited since 3rd century BCE. The UNESCO World heritage site is a Buddhist shrine which also has idols of Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganesha. The caves have splendid Buddha statues that have been cut of the rock and beautiful frescoes that decorate the wall and ceilings.
After the tour, we will proceed to Sigriya to admire the beautiful Rock fortress there.
The ancient Sigiriya Fortress is a mesmerising palace that was built for king Kashyapa who made it his new capital. The UNESCO World heritage site is located 600 ft above the ground below and requires travellers to climb almost 1200 steps. Upon reaching the top you will be mesmerised by the ancient urban planning and landscaped gardens. Some even call Sigiriya Fortress the ‘eighth ancient wonder of the world’. After the tour of Sigiriya Fortress, we will return to Kandy.
Overnight stay at hotel in Kandy.
SEGV’S RECOMMENDATION – The Kandy Lake Club has been hosting the Cultural Dance show in Kandy for last 35 years. The wonderful show features all cultural dancing styles prevalent in Sri Lanka under one roof and is therefore a marvellous way to learn about Sri Lankan culture. The graceful movement of dancers and their vibrant costumes make this show a must watch. Look out for the fire walking performance which is a dance form inspired by Sita Devi’s Agni Pariksha.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the popular Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic. The temple is located in the Royal Palace and houses the sacred relic – a tooth of Gautum Buddha which was retrieved undamaged from his pyre by his disciple Khema. During the prayers, the golden casket in which the tooth is kept is revealed for the devotees to see and flowers are offered.
After the temple tour, we will proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Enroute we will visit Ramboda falls and a Tea processing factory.
The gorgeous Ramboda falls are one of the highest water falls in Sri Lanka. We will stop by the falls for a short time to soak in the beauty of the falls and the surrounding regions. Finally, we shall reach Nuwara Eliya and check-in at the hotel.
Nuwara Eliyah is the tea capital of Sri Lanka, surrounded by rolling hills covered by green tea leaves. We will visit the tea processing factory of one such tea plantation. During the visit we shall learn everything about tea production, from plucking of leaves to packaging for a fun informative session.
Overnight Stay at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
After breakfast, we will go on a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya. Once the favourite hill-station of the British rulers of Sri Lanka, Nuwara Eliya is dubbed ‘Little England’ because of its British style colonial era bungalows and its cool climate. The tea garden county is also popular among Hindus as it is the site of Ashok Vatika where Goddess Sita lived when she was kidnapped by Ramavana.
We will begin the city tour of Nuwara Eliya with a visit to Sita Amman Temple. It is the believed to be the exact site where Goddess Sita was kept captive by Ravana. The temple has also been consecrated by Lord Hanuman whose giant footprints can be found at the site. Next, we will visit Hakgala Botanical Garden. The manicured gardens are extremely beautiful featuring some exotic plant and animal species. We shall also visit the beautiful Gregory Lake where you can indulge in lots of fun activities such as horse riding, boating and even jet-skiing.
Overnight Stay at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Bentota. Enroute we will visit Galle Fort.
Galle fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and is different from the rest of the city which has more Dutch flavour. It is the largest of all forts built by the European colonisers in Asia. The UNESCO World heritage site is a walled enclosure, built by stone and corals, surrounded on three sides by the ocean. During the 2004 tsunami, the 20-metre-tall walls of the fort were instrumental in protecting the town from imminent destruction.
After the tour of Galle fort we proceed to Bentota and check-in at the hotel.
Bentota is a quaint coastal town in Sri Lanka which has recently evolved as a resort destination popular for its pristine beaches. Located south of Colombo, it used to be a major spice trading hub. The clean beaches and clear waters along with variety of water sport activities has made it the favourite beach destination for travellers.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Bentota.
After breakfast at the hotel, the day is free for you to explore Bentota on your own. You can also opt for SEGV Recommended tours to enjoy a wonderful day in Bentota –
1. Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery is a conservation project taken up by government of Sri Lankan to protect the endangered sea turtle species by looking after their eggs and increasing the hatching rates. At the Hatchery, you can learn more about the turtles, play with baby turtles and even hold turtle eggs in your hands. If you register in advance, you can even participate as a volunteer for a couple of days at the hatchery.
2. Madu Ganga River Safari is a river safari through the wetland created by the Madu river. Rich in biodiversity, the ecosystem comprises of 14 out of 24 mangrove species found in Sri Lanka. Here you can find crocodiles, water snakes and aquatic birds among other animal and plant species. You can also see prawn farms and undergo fish spa during the safari.
Overnight stay at hotel in Bentota.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed to Colombo for a short sightseeing and shopping tour of the Capital city.
During the panoramic tour, we will see the most important sights in the city- Colombo lighthouse which served as a prison cell for the last Sri Lankan king, Gangarmaya Budhdist temple – one of the most important religious sites in Colombo, War memorial dedicated to the army personnel that lost their lives in the two world wars and many more such landmarks.
After the city tour, you will transfer to the international airport to board a flight to India.
Arrive home with pleasant memories of your Sri Lanka tour organised by State Express Global Voyages, which we are sure you will treasure for a lifetime.
