Highlights of Sri Lanka

Colombo – Pinnawela – Habarana - Anuradhapura - Sigirya - Polonnaruwa – Dambulla – Matale - Kandy – Nuwara Eliya

Duration

10 days

Tour Type

Private

Price From

£2,095 pp

Overview: Highlights of Sri Lanka

Discover the cultural treasures, ancient kingdoms and natural beauty of Sri Lanka on this fascinating 10-day journey. Explore UNESCO World Heritage sites, encounter elephants, experience sacred Buddhist landmarks and immerse yourself in the island’s famous tea culture.

Tour Highlights:

Visit Colombo and explore the historic Fort, Pettah markets, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple and Hindu temples
See elephants being fed and bathed at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Explore the ancient UNESCO World Heritage city of Anuradhapura and its sacred Buddhist monuments
Visit the 2,200-year-old Bodhi tree at Sri Mahabodhi
Discover the spectacular Sigiriya Rock Fortress, known as the ‘Lion Rock’
Explore the ancient royal city of Polonnaruwa and the remarkable Gal Vihara Buddha sculptures
Visit the magnificent Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla, with its historic statues and paintings
Discover the sacred city of Kandy and visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and Natha Devale
Enjoy a colourful cultural performance of traditional Kandyan dancing and drumming
Travel through the scenic mountains and tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka’s ‘Little England’
Dress in traditional Sri Lankan attire and experience tea plucking alongside local workers
Visit a working tea factory to discover the traditional process of producing and tasting Sri Lankan tea
Experience the contrasting landscapes of Sri Lanka, from ancient cities and sacred temples to mountains, plantations and bustling markets

From ancient Buddhist kingdoms and UNESCO World Heritage sites to unforgettable elephant encounters and the misty tea plantations of Nuwara Eliya, Highlights of Sri Lanka offers a fascinating introduction to the island’s culture, history and natural beauty.

Day 1 - UK - Sri Lanka

Day 1 - UK departure

Depart the UK with international economy flight to Colombo. We can also arrange departures from your local at no extra cost.

Day 2 - Colombo Arrival

Day 2 - Colombo arrival

Upon your arrival at Colombo airport, you will be met by our representative and escorted to your hotel.

Day 3 - Colombo to Habarana via Pinnawela

After breakfast embark on your on your drive to Habarana in north central Sri Lanka.

En-route to Habarana, visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, set up by the Sri Lankan government to rehabilitate orphaned elephants. Spend some time at the orphanage, seeing elephants being fed and bathed by the orphanage staff.

Upon arrival in Habarana check into your hotel for overnight stay.

Breakfast

Day 4 - Habanara - Excursion to Anuradhapura

Day 4 - Habanara - excursion to Anuradhapura

After breakfast enjoy an excursion to Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya River. Anuradhapura, an ancient city founded in the 5^th century B.C., is home to the largest number of monuments of the great Sinhala civilization. Visit the ancient royal palaces, shrines, dagobas and Sri Mahabodhi. Also visit the “Bodhi tree” which is over 2200 years old, grown from a branch of the tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

Breakfast

Day 5 - Habarana - Excursion to Sigirya & Polonnaruwa

Day 5 - Habarana - excursion to Sigirya & Polonnaruwa

After breakfast visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya Rock, built by King Kassapa in the 5th century AD. Today the rock is a treasure trove of rare art. In a pocket of the giant rock are the famous frescoes of the heavenly maidens of Sigiriya. Also called ‘the Lion Rock’ or the ‘Rock Fortress’ this citadel rises more than 1000 ft from the jungles below. If you wish to climb Sigiriya Rock, there are approx. 1200 steps and on an average it takes approx. 1.5 hrs to climb the rock (actual time varies from person to person).

Later embark on your scenic drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Polonnaruwa, the 2^nd capital of Sinhala kings dating back to 11th & 12th century A.D. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the ‘Parakrama Samudra’. Numerous monuments are found in this city & ‘Gal Vihara’ complex is one of the best among them with fine sculptures of standing and seated Buddha. Also visit the Polonnaruwa museum here.

Breakfast

Day 6 - Habarana to Kandy via Dambulla

After breakfast, embark on your drive to Kandy.

En-route visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla, which dates back to the first century BC. The temple consists of a series of 5 caves of statues and paintings, including a 47 ft. long statue of Lord Buddha. This is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Continue drive to Kandy, en-route visiting the Spice Garden at Matale. Upon arrival in Kandy, check in at your hotel for 2 nights stay.

Breakfast

Day 7 - Kandy

After breakfast, explore the sacred city of Kandy, one of Sri Lanka’s 8 UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today we will visit the Temple of Tooth Relic of Buddha, located in the royal palace complex which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Visitors are not allowed inside the inner chambers and cannot see the tooth relic.

Also visit Natha Devale, located in front of the Palace complex of Kandy. Natha Devale, built in the 14th century, is said to have been in existence even before the Tooth Relic was brought to Kandy.

This evening enjoy a cultural dance show to see the popular Kandyan dancing and drumming of Sri Lanka.

Breakfast

Day 8 - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

Day 8 - Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

This morning embark on your scenic drive to Nuwara Eliya, the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, set against beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations.

Today in Nuwara Eliya, enjoy an experience of tea plucking, wearing the local Sri Lankan attire – saree for the ladies, sarong for the men. You will get a small demonstration about how to pluck tea leaves and place them in your basket. Professional tea pluckers will accompany you – you’ll be amazed at how efficiently and quickly they manage to fill their baskets to meet their minimum target of 15kg a day!

After tea plucking, we will arrive at the Mini Tea Factory, where the chief tea taster, will inspect your efforts. Then we take a tour of the Mini Tea Factory and understand the process, from the initial drying (withering) of the leaves, through rolling, fermenting and sifting, to produce the different types of tea. Finally, you can taste the different teas, from flowery pekoe to green tea and teabag dust, to appreciate for yourself the differences in colour, flavour and strength.

Breakfast

Day 9 - Nuwara Eliya - Colombo

Day 9 - Nuwara Eliya to Colombo

After breakfast embark on your return drive to Colombo

This afternoon, take a city tour of Colombo visiting Kelaniya Buddhist temple, believed to have been hallowed during the third and final visit of Lord Buddha to Sri Lanka, eight years after gaining enlightenment. The temple is also famous for its image of the reclining Buddha and paintings which depict important events in the life of the Buddha.

Then visit the commercial city centre area known as the “Fort” built by the Portuguese in the 16^th century. See the busy markets and bazaars of Pettah and visit the Hindu temple with magnificent stone carvings. Also visit the old Dutch church built in the 18^th century and drive past the Town Hall, Independence Square and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall to see the replica of Avukana Buddha.

Overnight stay at hotel in Colombo.

Breakfast

Day 10 - Sri Lanka - UK