Heritage and Wildlife Tour

1^st Day: Colombo

On your arrival to Colombo you will be greeted at the Airport and transferred to your hotel.

2^nd Day: Colombo

Begin your day with a breakfast at the hotel and then be ready to discover the capital city Colombo. The city has come a long way where once you would not have seen any high rise buildings to now becoming a multi diverse city but still they have managed to keep the colours of the past in the present. The places you will explore include the Pettah Bazaar and the Buddhist temples.

 Overnight at night stay in Colombo.

3^rd Day: Elephant Orphanage- Pinnawala

After breakfast, you will be driven to Pinnawala (approximately 1 hour). Pinnawala is where the famous Elephant Orphanage is. This fantastic home for the elephants was established in 1975. It is now a main attraction in Sri Lanka for tourism, conservation and educational objectives. The foreign elephant specialists and the locals started a breeding programme for the elephants. This enabled the elephants of both sexes to mate. The river nearby dominated the elephants coming together. The first baby elephant was born in 1984 and since then Pinnawala has certainly become a world attraction especially for scientists.

 Overnight stay at Dambulla

4^th Day: Sigiriya/Polonnaruwa

Ensure you enjoy your breakfast before heading to Sigiriya where you will be climbing the 5th century rock fortress (built by King Kashyapa) which is now a World Heritage Site. You will see the ‘Lion Rock’ carved into a rock from the hilltops of the jungle. The ‘Heavenly Maidens of Sigirya’ carvings will also be on site to see. We will continue our touring to Polonnaruwa – Sri Lanka’s second capital city in the 11^th Century, now a World Heritage Site (approximately two hours journey time). Here you will see the beautiful Royal Palace ruins, Gal Viharava, and statues of the Buddha carved from one stone. Make sure you look at the monuments of places of worship (Shiva Temple), the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera, and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Overnight stay at Dambulla

5^th Day: Dambulla Rock Temple/Matale Spice Garden

Today once breakfast is finish you will be heading to Dambulla rock temple - the most remarkable of Sri Lanka's cave temples. This complex of five caves houses 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and ceilings – the largest collection of its kind anywhere in the world. There are over 140 representations of the Buddha, the largest being 14 metres. After this, we will drive for an hour to Matale to have a break at the sprice garden and observe some cooking presentations. After this, we head up to Kandy as our next stop where we check in to our next hotel.

Overnight in Kandy

6^th Day: Royal Botanical Garden & Kandy

On today’s agenda we visit the amazing Peradeniya’s Royal Botanical Garden, built as a ‘joyful garden’ by King Wickramabahu III in the 14th century. Its 147 acres offer an floral plantations and a wide variety of trees makes this place peaceful and full of happiness. We will head back to Kandy to venture the area in more depth.

Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings (World Heritage Site). You will see the Kandy Tow/Bazaar, the Kandy great lake, the arts and stools, the museum and the temple of tooth relic, which is of great cultural significance.

Overnight stay in Kandy

7^th Day: Nuwara Eliya/ Tea Plantation

We off to the next hotel Nuwara Eliya but on the way we will make a pit stop  in the tea plantation and factory. We will learn about the tea growing process, tea grading and finally you will enjoy a tasty cup of finest Celyon tea to top the day off.

Overnight at the Tea Factory

8^th Day: Horton Plains National Park

Today after breakfast, the tour drives to Horton Plains National Park. Features include World’s End – an escarpment which drops vertically for about 4,000 feet – and the beautiful Backers falls. Mammals endemic to the area include sambhur deer, leopard and the bear monkeys. The park is also home to over 15 species of bird, including the Sri Lankan whistling thrush, orange-billed babbler and yellow-eared bulbul.

Overnight at the Tea Factory

Day 9: Transfer to Tissamaharama

After breakfast at the Tea Factory Hotel the tour transfers from Nuwara Eliya to Tissamaharama – (four hours journey)

Overnight stay at The Safari

Day 10: Yala National Park

Today be ready for a jeep ride to Yala National Park. Yala is the biggest National Park in Sri Lanka and a residence to wild boar, elephants, leopard, buffalo, crocodiles and bears. Large flocks of migrant and native birds are found here.

 Overnight stay at The Safari

Day 11: Galle

Today, once you have had breakfast the tour will go to Galle, once the chief port of Ceylon and well known for its hand-made lace. You can also visit Galle Fort originally built by the Portuguese (World Heritage Site). We will drive (1 hour) from Galle to Bentota, the final destination of the tour.

Overnight stay in Bentota

Day 12: Bentota

Today in Bentota you have the day to your own leisure

Overnight stay in Bentota

Day 13: Tour Ends

Today the tour ends with your final breakfast and a transfer back to the airport (approximately three hours journey)

The above prices include :

• Accommodation in standard rooms on BB basis for 12 nights from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 13 at hotels specified or of similar standard
• Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
• Entrance fees to Gangaramaya Temple , Colombo Museum , Elephant Orphanage , Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya , Dambulla , Botanical Gardens , Cultural Show , Kandy Temple , Horton Plains Entrance , Yala National Park
• Cost of  separate transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Horton Plains  Entrance,  Yala  Safari Jeep only.
• Services of a English Speaking Chauffeur Guide

Above prices does not include : 

• Video Camera permits at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
• Video Camera and Still Camera permits at the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy.
• Lunch & dinner throughout the tour.
• Entrance fees  & fares to sites not specified above.
• Christmas and New Year’s eve supplements at hotels.
• Supplement for accommodation in Kandy during Kandy Esala Perahera period. (July or August)
• Cost of ticket to view the Kandy Esala Perahera which will be held in Kandy.
• Cost of beverage throughout the tour.
• Anything in relevant to Air Ticketing.
• Additional running other than above specified program.
• Expenses of a personal nature.
• Tips and Porterage
• Any other services not specified above.

Other conditions:

• Optional excursions and additional services could be provided for which we will charge additionally.
• Visits to wild life parks will be at client's own risk. 
• Jeeps available are very basic with basic insurance cover (not comprehensive as in the case of vehicles used for tours).

Hotel rules and regulations:

• The official check-in time at all hotels will be 1200hrs.
• The official check-out time at all hotels will be 1100hrs.

Please note:

• During Christmas and New Years supplements may apply.