Exotic Sri Lanka
Exotic Sri Lanka Destination Details
Colombo Sigiriya Kandy Nuwaraliya Yala Galle Bentota
Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon is a world-renowned destination that boasts of alluring beaches, rich heritage, exotic wildlife, stunning landscape and several amazing architectural wonders as well as places of worship.
Visit to Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage
Guided city tour of Kandy visiting Temple of the Tooth
Jeep Safari in Yala National Park
Relax on the beaches of Bentota
January till December
Itinerary Highlights
Day 01 Arrive Colombo
Arrive Colombo Airport you are met by our guest relation executive with your name placard who would assist you to the Car and then transfer you to your pre booked Hotel Overnight Accommodation in Colombo
Day 02 Colombo – Sigiriya (Drive)
Transfer from Negombo to Pinnawala.[ 3 Hrs drive approximately ] PINNAWALA…….. The Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is one of Sri Lanka's most popular attractions. Situated halfway between Colombo and Kandy, the orphanage has a population of about 75 elephants, making it the world's largest collection of captive elephants. The elephants here range from newborn calves to elderly matriarchs and include orphaned and abandoned elephants, as well as those injured in the wild. Amongst them are its famous residents, Sama, the lame elephant injured by a land mine during the ethnic conflict in the North and Raja, the blind elephant. Experience the sheer delight of watching these great pachyderms frolic in the river at bath time or the baby elephants being fed twice a day. Transfer from Pinnawala to Sigiriya. [ 2 ½ Hrs drive approximately ] Overnight Accommodation in Sigiriya
Day 03 Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Sigiriya
Day 03 Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Sigiriya Morning visit & climb Sigiriya [ 1 ½ Hrs drive approximately ] SIGIRIYA……..A remarkable archeological site made unforgettable by its dramatic setting - the 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle situated in the Central District. This ancient rock fortress and palace ruins famed for its frescoes, was built during the reign of King Kassyapa (AD477 -495). It was developed into a complex city and fortress. Considered one of the most elaborate and imaginative planning sites of the first millennium, the plan combined concepts of symmetry and asymmetry to intentionally interlock the man-made geometrical and natural forms of the surroundings. It contains a park for the royals, laid out on a symmetrical plan and contains water retaining structures, including sophisticated surface/subsurface hydraulic systems, some of which work even today. There is also a man made reservoir. The Gardens of the Sigiriya city is among one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. They are divided into three distinct but linked forms; water gardens, cave and boulder gardens and the terraced gardens. Transfer from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa.[ 2 Hrs drive approximately ] POLONNARUWA……….Polonnaruwa, the 2nd most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka is an interesting mix of Buddhist and Hindu structures that are a testament to the different kings who reigned over this ancient kingdom. Polonnaruwa rose to prominence between the 11th and 13th centuries and thrived during the reign of the famous monarch, King Parakramabahu I, who did much to create a resplendent city. His greatest achievement was the construction of the sea of Parakrama, a huge water reservoir spanning an area of 6280 acres. The ruins at Polonnaruwa are within walking distance and many of them set in tree-shaded areas, a welcome refuge from the tropical sun. This ancient city is one of the best planned archeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom's first rulers. Duran, Duran used Polonnaruwa as a back drop to their music video 'Save a Prayer' in 1982. Transfer from Polonnaruwa to Sigiriya [ 45 Min drive approximately ] Overnight Accommodation in Sigiriya
Day 04 Sigiriya – Anuradhapura – Sigiriya
Breakfast and Transfer from Dambulla/Sigiriya to Anuradhapura. [ 2 Hrs drive approximately ] ANURADHAPURAYA…..The Sacred City of Anuradhapura, 3rd BC ' 10th AD ' A world Heritage Site Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's sacred ancient city, surrounded by 3 great man-made lakes, is located in Sri Lanka's Northwest 'dry zone which is arid, rolling, open country. At the height of its glory, Anuradhapura ranked beside Nineveh and Babylon in its colossal proportions. The monumental dagobas, Jetavana Dagoba, Abayagiry Stupa and the Ruwwanveli Seya are amongst the greatest architectural feats of its age, and have been surpassed only in scale by the great pyramids of Khufru & Khafra at Gizah. Buddhism, was to become a cornerstone of the Aryan Sinhalese civilization. The sacred Sri Maha Bodhi Tree (Peepal) is a sampling of the sacred Bo tree in India, in the shelter of which Prince Siddhartha Gauthama attained supreme enlightenment & became Buddha. It was gifted to Sri Lanka by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC and is the oldest recorded tree in the world (2,250 years). The city has many museums that bear testimony to Sri Lanka's ancient and dynamic civilization, which include the Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum, the Abhayagiri Museum and the Jetavanarama Museum and many other places of interest. Transfer from Anuradhapura to Aukana. AUKANA …..The tall, standing statue of the Buddha at Aukana is another architectural marvel of the ancient Sinhalese. The statue carved out of rock which stands 39 feet above its decorated lotus plinth and 10 feet across the shoulders, belongs to the period of King Dhatusena (459-477 AD), the builder of the great reservoir Kalawewa. It has been very well preserved over the years, a unique creation by an unknown sculptor. Return to the hotel Overnight Accommodation in in Sigiriya
Day 05 Sigiriya – Matale – Kandy (Drive)
Morning visit to Dambulla. [ 2 Hrs drive approximately ] DAMBULLA See Dambulla and be dazzled! Home to the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the Iron Wood Forest (Namal Uyana) and the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, built in just 167 days. Dambulla is also said to have the largest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia. The Rock Caves are situated on a vast isolated rock mass 500 ft high with a span of a mile around its base. Access these caves by climbing approximately 200 steps and 18 terraces. The Golden Dambulla Rock Temple, which is on the highest terrace, consists of 5 magnificent caves built into the rock. They house a collection of 150 statues of the Buddhist order and the island's history. The first cave houses a 14m long Buddha statue depicting the final extinction carved out of solid rock. The 2nd cave, which is the finest and largest, has 40 seated statues of the Buddha. Also on display are statues of Hindu Gods. The entire cave, walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals which are of the finest in Sri Lanka. The 3rd cave with its paintings on the ceiling & walls in the Kandyan tradition contains 50 Buddha statues. Visitors are treated to a panoramic view of the surrounding flatlands, reservoirs and forests. Transfer from Dambulla to Matale. [ 2 Hrs drive approximately ] MATALE …..A pleasant hour's drive from Kandy, along roads lined with lush tropical trees, Matale is a small town renowned for its Spice Gardens. The world's best cinnamon comes from here. Visit these gardens and see how these spices are grown and processed. Visitors can watch a cookery demonstration on how these spices are used in Sri Lankan Cuisine and they may take home a selection of garden fresh spices with them. Transfer from Matale to Kandy. Upon arrival in Kandy check in at your pre booked Hotel Overnight Accommodation in Kandy
Day 06 Kandy
KANDY CITY TOUR …..This jewel of a city, set 480m above sea level and surrounded by mountains is the hill capital of Sri Lanka. Kandy was the last independent Kingdom of Sri Lanka, which survived two centuries of colonial incursion before finally falling to the British at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Visit the majestic Royal Palace and the Temple of the Tooth, known as the Dalada Maligawa, set at the edge of a beautiful artificial lake, which is home to the island¿s most revered relic, the Buddha's tooth, which arrived here in the sixteenth century. Take a stroll down the expansive Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the largest and finest in Sri Lanka, which covers almost 150 acres. A pleasure garden of the kings of Kandy, it was transformed into a botanical garden by the British in 1821. Kandy is famous for its shopping' The narrow streets are lined with shops displaying beautiful precious and semi precious gems, skillfully crafted jewelry, handicrafts, colourful batiks, silks and many more. Transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya visit Peradeniya garden PERADENIYA ….Set 6km southwest of Kandy in a loop in the Mahaweli Ganga lie the expansive Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the largest and finest gardens in Sri Lanka, covering almost 150 acres and stuffed with a bewildering variety of local and foreign tree and plant species Transfer from Peradeniya to Kandy. Evening visit Kandyan dance performance Overnight Accommodation in Kandy
Day 07 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya (Drive)
Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya [ 3 Hrs drive approximately ] En-route visit a Tea Plantation NUWARA ELIYA CITY TOUR Nestled 6,200 ft above sea level, amid lush tea plantations, Nuwara Eliya is a charming hill station developed by the British planters in the late 1800s. Pleasant climate, great natural beauty and champagne tea delight and charm all its visitors. Nuwara Eliya is home to many renowned institutions of Sri Lanka's colonial British era, such as the Racecourse, the Hill Club, Grand Hotel and its famous 18 hole Golf Course. Overnight Accommodation in Nuwara Eliya
Day 08 Nuwara Eliya – Yala (Drive)
Breakfast and Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Yala [ 6 Hrs drive approximately ] En-route visit Ravana water fall. YALA NATIONAL PARK …..Yala National park is Sri Lanka's most visited wildlife reserve. Covering an area of 1260 sq. km, the parks' dry-zone landscape is strikingly beautiful. The Reserve contains Jungles, beaches, freshwater lakes, rivers and scrubland, punctuated with enormous rocky outcrops. Yala has the world's highest concentration of Leopard and sightings are frequent. In addition there are approximately 32 species of mammals (Elephants, Sloth bears, Sambar deer, spotted deer, muse deer, barking deer, wild boar, wild buffaloes, pangolins, porcupines, stripe-necked & ruddy mongooses, rabbits, (rare) wild cats and jackals. There is also the macaque, langur and toque monkeys and many more...), 125 species of birds, many reptiles and lagoon fauna species have been recorded in the park. Overnight Accommodation in Yala
Day 09 Yala
After breakfast commence a jeep safari in the Yala National Park by private jeep accompanied by a tracker. YALA SAFARI ……..A dream destination for all wildlife enthusiasts; be it its leopard cubs seeking refuge on a tree, or an adult leopard quenching its thirst at a water hole, the leopard sightings in this nature reserve are many and varied. This park boasts of the highest concentration of leopard in the world. Located on the coast in the South East of the country, set in a stunning landscape of rocky outcrops and beautiful beaches, beside its abundance of wildlife, fauna and flora, it is also home to elephants, sloth bear, sambar deer, wild boar and jackals, a few of the 32 species of mammals found in the park. The reserve is also a bird watchers paradise, where the elusive Blue faced Malkoha, the rare Sirkeer Malkoha or the endangered Black-necked stork could be seen. Overnight Accommodation in Yala
Day 10 Yala – Galle – Bentota (Drive)
Transfer from Yala to Kataragama. [ 1 ½ Hrs drive approximately ] KATARAGAMA……..Kataragama located in the deep South, is a regionally popular place of pilgrimage of Buddhists, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda communities of Sri Lanka and South India. Today it is a fast developing township surrounded by jungle and other historical sites worth a visit. The most important of the town's various shrines is dedicated to God Kataragama. The Kataragama festival is held during late July or early August. Transfer from Kataragama to Galle. [ 4 Hrs drive approximately ] En-route visit still fishing GALLE ……Drive 116 km, 3 hours to the south of Colombo, along the scenic coastal road to Galle. Galle was an ancient port (said to be the legendary Tarshish of the Bible). The Portuguese built a small Fort here in the 16th century. Later in the 17th century, the Dutch who defeated the Portuguese, constructed huge ramparts and a Fort (a world heritage site today). Stroll through the Fort's narrow quaint streets and visit its little galleries and shops. Do not miss visiting the Dutch Reformed Church built in 1684 or the restored New Oriental Hotel (now called Amangalle) and the Dutch Fort Hotel. Transfer from Galle to Bentota. [2 Hrs drive approximately]. Upon arrival in Bentota check in at your pre booked Hotel Overnight Accommodation in Bentota
Day 11 Bentota
Breakfast in the Hotel Day at Leisure Overnight Accommodation in Bentota
Day 12 Bentota
Breakfast in the Hotel Day at Leisure Overnight Accommodation in Bentota
Day 13 Bentota – Colombo (Drive)
Today you are transferred to Colombo Airport to board Flight back Home
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