10 Nights Taste of Sri Lanka

Depart from UK

Meet on arrival at the Bandaranayke International Airport by a Luxury Holidays & transfer to Negombo
Check in at hotel – Remainder of the day at leisure – Dinner and Overnight stay at Jetwing Sea 4* (Standard).

Breakfast at hotel – Leave for Sigiriya or Dambulla – En route proceed to visit the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala - This orphanage is the home for about 89 elephants, out of which some are baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wildlife authorities. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Also could accompany the elephants to a river close-by and see them having their daily bath.

Once completed, proceed to Sigiriya – Check-in at the hotel. The remainder of the day at leisure – Dinner and Overnight stay at Habarana Village 4* (Superior Room)

Breakfast at hotel – Morning climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa, 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.

Once completed, we leave to enjoy a Sri Lankan village experience where a walk along the village path will bring us to a “Wewa” typical village lake. The village homes are totally different to build up urban areas of Sri Lanka. The small houses are surrounded by green woods on the edge of which their home gardens extend. It is common to spot watch huts in the fields from which the men folk keep up at night on the lookout for wild Elephants and Wild Boar. Cross the Lake by canoe observing the rich birdlife. Once we reach the farm, the lady of the house gladly demonstrates her cooking abilities using a traditional hearth. We can also participate if you wish in this experience before partaking off her delicious meal. Thereafter proceed to visit Polonnaruwa, which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka, built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and which is a world heritage site - Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya – where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, king Parakramabahu’s statue, and the ParakramaSamudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the KiriVehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

On completion, return to the hotel –
Dinner and Overnight stay at Habarana Village 4* (Superior Room)

Breakfast at hotel – proceed to visit the Dambulla Rock Temple. Climb up to the temple, which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and the ceiling is the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters.

Once completed, leave for Kandy – En route visit a spice garden in Matale, to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

Continue the journey towards Kandy - Check in at hotel – In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Return to hotel. Dinner and Overnight stay at Cinnamon Citadel 4* (Superior room).

Breakfast at hotel – Leave for NuwaraEliya – En route visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told 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.

Continue to NuwaraEliya, which is Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate. It is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country, producing some of the world’s best tea. The mountain slopes and valleys are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. Red or green roofed plantation bungalows, English country style homes and hotels with lovely flower gardens, a fine 18 hole golf course and a racecourse gives NuwaraEliya a decidedly British character.

Check in at hotel – Remainder of the evening at leisure – Dinner and Overnight stay at hotel In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Dinner and Overnight stay Jetwing St Andrews – Colonial (Standard)

Following breakfast, leave for Yala via Ella – Proceed on a sightseeing tour of Ella - Ella is blessed with some of the most beautiful views, you could find in Sri Lanka. Sights in Ella include the Ravana Ella Falls, Little Adam's Peak and Bambaragala Peak among other stunning scenery. The Ravana Ella was named after the demon ruler of Sri Lanka Ravana who is the main antagonist in the renowned epic Ramayana. It is believed that he hid Sita whom he kidnapped in India, in the caves situated behind the falls. The Ravana Ella falls has a main drop which is 30 feet in height, and it is ranked as one of the widest falls in the country.

On completion proceed to Tissamaharama or Yala – Check in at hotel.

Late afternoon proceed on a Jeep safari to visit Yala National Park - The most popular park frequented by tourists is composed of a variety of habitats, from thorny scrub to dense forests, lagoon and ocean. The larger denizens the elephants, leopard and the bears are the main attractions here whereas crocodiles are spotted basking along the banks of lakes. Yalaprotects a rich avifauna from predating eagles to brightly feathered kingfishers as well as migrant birds that flock here during the winter months Return to the hotel – Dinner and Overnight stay at Cinnamon Wild 4*+ (Jungle Chalet).

Breakfast at hotel – Leave for your respective beach property in Bentota – En route proceed on a sightseeing tour of Galle city and the Dutch Fortress - Behind the thick fortified walls was once the seat of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) situated amidst the warehouses, villas and mansions of their citizens and merchants (burger). Following unique architectural patterns to withstand tropical humidity and set on narrow cobbled crossed streets the Galle Fort acquired a character of its own. A walk through its streets and ramparts will reveal an array of boutiques, cafes, mosques, churches and the dominant old lighthouse.

On completion proceed to Bentota – Check in at hotel – Remainder of the evening at leisure – Dinner and Overnight stay at Cinnamon Bay 4* (Superior Room)

Breakfast at hotel - Spend the day at leisure on the beach – Dinner and Overnight stay at Cinnamon Bay 4* (Superior Room)

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to UK.