ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA This tour has been planned so that you will get to see the most popular places in Sri Lanka. Not only that we ensure that you will see the true culture and enjoy the beauty of our Nation. Experience the highlights of Sri Lanka on a round trip. Day 1 AIRPORT / COLOMBO Meet on arrival and transfer to Colombo Dinner and over night in Colombo or Mt. Lavinia [Please advise us with your arrival flight details] Day 2 COLOMBO After breakfast (9.30am) city tour in Colombo (Visiting Kelaniya Temple, Colombo Bazaar, Galle face Green, Independent square, Bandaranayke memorial International Conference Hall, Town Hall, Cinnamon Garden, New Parliament and Old Parliament). Dinner & overnight in Colombo or Mt Lavinia Day 3 COLOMBO / PINNAWELA / DAMBULLA After early breakfast (6.30am) proceed to Dambulla En-route visit at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage....Where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as some of the more then 25 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. Early afternoon proceed to Dambulla & visit Golden rock temple and caves. Dambulla rock temple....has been built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C; it is a World Heritage Site. Also, it is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. The complex of five caves with Over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It contains Over 150 images of the Buddha 3/25/2010 ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA http://test.gabos.com/gabo/index.php?v‌ 1/7
of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters. After visit continue to Dambulla Dinner and overnight in Dambulla Day 4 DAMBULLA / ANURADHAPURA / DAMBULLA After breakfast (8.00am) proceeds to Anuradhapura Sightseeing in 1st Ancient capital and Archaeological monuments in Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura.... was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two World Heritage Sites. Many places of historical and Archaeological interest could be visited. “Sri Maha Bodhi” (Sacred Bo-Tree) was brought as a sapling of the tree under which Prince Siddhartha attained to enlightenment and it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. At “Brazen Palace” (2nd Century B.C), the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks.“Ruwanweliseya” (2nd century B.C) is the most famous of all The Dagobas. It originally depicted the perfect “bubble Shape” that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. “Samadhi Buddha statue” (4th century AD) is one of the most famous statues, depicting the Buddha in a state of “Samadhi” or deep meditation. After visit return to Dambulla Afternoon at leisure or own activity in the hotel Dinner and overnight in Dambulla Day 5 DAMBULLA / POLONNARUWA / DAMBULLA After breakfast (8.00am) proceed to Polonnaruwa Sightseeing in 2nd Ancient capital and Archaeological monuments in Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa.... was the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka; another World Heritage Site built from 11th to 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular ancient monuments. “Lankathilake”, “Tivanka” and “Thuparama” are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and “Tivanka” has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. “Rankoth Vehera” and “Kiri Vehera” 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 carvings. The “Vata-da-ge” is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists. The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. 3/25/2010 ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA http://test.gabos.com/gabo/index.php?v… 2/7
The “Parakrama Samudra” lake built by King Parakramabahu the great 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. After visit return to Dambulla Optional: Nature Elephant ride in Habarana Dinner & overnight in Dambulla Day 6 DAMBULLA / SIGIRIYA / DAMBULLA After breakfast (8.00am) proceeds to Sigiriya and climb the famous rock fortress. Also view the ancient paintings “The Maidens of Sigiriya” Sigiriya.... climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress, which is a World Heritage Site, Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub Jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 Hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive Gardens including the
renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the “Heavenly Maidens” of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered Pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These Frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster. After visit return to Dambulla Afternoon at leisure or own activity Dinner and overnight in Dambulla Day 7 DAMBULLA / KANDY After breakfast (8.30am) proceed to Kandy via Matale En-route stop at Spice & Herbal garden in Matale Matale.... visit a spice garden in Matale to see different Spices for which Sri Lanka is famous. Here, clients could see different spices and how some of these spices are grown and processed. Witness a Cookery demonstration. 3/25/2010 ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA http://test.gabos.com/gabo/index.php?v… 3/7
Afternoon visit Dalada Maligawa Temple “Temple of the tooth relic” Dalada Maligawa..... known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century A.D, the sacred relic has ever since been the symbol of sovereignty for its rulers and always enshrined in great splendour. Kandy’s Dalada Maligawa is a magnificent shrine, with decorative walls, and its 16th – 19th century ambience vividly alive. Three religious services (Pooja) with traditional music, held daily at dawn, midday and in the evening, can be viewed by visitors. After visit continue to the hotel. Dinner & overnight in Kandy Day 8 KANDY / PERADENIYA /KANDY After breakfast (9.00 am) visit Peradeniya Botanic Garden Afternoon city tour in Kandy [Visiting Gem museum, Batik factory, Kandyan art and craft center, Silk show room, upper lake view of Kandy temple] Evening visit Kandyan cultural show & return to the hotel. Kandyan Cultural Show..... visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city There after transfer to hotel. Dinner & overnight in Kandy Day 9 KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA After breakfast (9.00am) proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Via Ramboda pass waterfalls and visit a tea factory. Tea Plantation visits a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best Tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe all about the process of manufacturing tea. You
can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the Factory. 3/25/2010 ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA http://test.gabos.com/gabo/index.php?v‌ 4/7
After visit proceed to Nuwara Eliya Evening walk around Nuwara Eliya town also Bail Bazaar Nuwara Eliya due to refreshing climate, mountain and scenery it is Sri Lanka s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the Heart of Sri Lanka s tea country producing a significant Share of the world best tea. Sri Lanka s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is Located here. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia Dinner and overnight in Nuwara Eliya Day 10 NUWARA ELIYA / YALA After breakfast at (7.30am) proceed to Yala Via Ella Gap & Rawana Water Falls (3.30 pm) in the afternoon visit half-day Jeep safari at Yala national park. Yala.... the largest National Park in Sri Lanka; covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this were established in 1938. Yala is famous for its herds and number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors. After safari return to hotel Dinner and Overnight in Yala Day 11 YALA / GALLE After breakfast (9.00am) proceed to Galle En-route stop at Waligama to see stilt fisherman After visit continue to hotel. Dinner and overnight in Galle Day 12 GALLE After breakfast (8.30am) sightseeing in Galle. 3/25/2010 ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA http://test.gabos.com/gabo/index.php?v‌ 5/7
Visiting Dutch fort & Galle museum Galle.... was once the chief Port of Sri Lanka. It is still well known for hand-made lace. You can also visit the Galle Fort (spanning 90 acres), which was originally built by the Portuguese and later Extended by the Dutch in 1663. This is also a World Heritage Site. Optional: visit to Coral garden in Hikkaduwa. After visit return to hotel Dinner and over night in Galle Day 13
GALLE / MOUNT LAVINIA After breakfast proceed to Mt Lavinia En-route visit turtle Hatchery & Madu river boat safari in Balapitiya. Madu River.... which is one of the most beautiful wetlands of Sri Lanka. The importance of this estuarine lagoon was recognized with the declaration as a RAMSAR in March 2004. With this declaration, Madu river has been given the status as a wetland of international importance. Madu River is very rich in natural stands of Mangroves. These Mangroves are able to grove in salty water due to development of special adaptation trees. There are total 14 different species of Mangroves to be found. It is also a wonderful place to observe animals, especially birds. The best time to do so just after sunrise or just before the sunset. Turtle Hatchery.... is a conservation project to survive the Turtles because it’s an endangered species. Sri Lanka is a safe haven for Turtles. Out of eight remaining Turtle species five of them lay there eggs on Sri Lankan coast during the breeding season (December to February) After visit continue to Colombo or Mt Lavinia Dinner and over night in Colombo or Mt Lavinia Day 14 MOUNT LAVINIA After breakfast at leisure or own activity 3/25/2010 ROUND TOUR OF SRI LANKA http://test.gabos.com/gabo/index.php?v‌ 6/7
Dinner and Overnight in Colombo or Mt Lavinia Day 15 MOUNT LAVINIA /AIRPORT After early breakfast departure to airport (Please advise us of your departure flight details)