Sri Lanka Culture and Beach 12 nts / 13 days

OVERVIEW

A Tour that gives you a Cultural Experience with some wildlife and relaxing on the Beach. The tours gives an insight of Sri Lanka in just 13 days.

Tour Route:-

Arrive Leave Colombo > Drive Seeduwa 1 Night > Drive Pinnawela > Drive Habarana 3 Nights ( Excursion Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa ) > Drive Dambulla > Drive Matale > Drive Kandy 3 Nights ( Knuckles ) > Drive Nuwara Eliya 1 Night > Drive Yala 1 Night ( Wildlife Reserve ) > Drive Galle > Drive Bentota 3 Nights > Drive Colombo & Leave.

Day 01 Arrive Colombo – Seeduwa (Drive)

Upon arrival in Colombo Airport you are met and transferred to Seeduwa. Upon arrival in Seeduwa and check in at your pre booked Hotel.

NEGOMBO CITY TOUR …..Negombo’s beach is very wide in places and also the heartland of Christian Sri Lanka, as borne out by the enormous churches and florid wayside catholic shrines scattered about the town and its environs. The Dutch made the town an important commercial centre, building a canal, on which spices, particularly cinnamon, which grew profusely in the surrounding areas-where transported from the interior to the coast prior to being shipped abroad.

Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Seeduwa

Day 02 Seeduwa – Pinnawela – Habarana (Drive)

Breakfast and Transfer from Seeduwa 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 Habarana. [ 2 ½ Hrs drive approximately ]. Upon arrival in Habarana check in at your pre booked Hotel

Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Habarana

Day 03 Habarana – Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Habarana

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 Habarana HOTEL [ 45 Min drive approximately ].
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Habarana.

Day 04 Habarana – Anuradhapuraya – Aukana – Habarana

Breakfast and Transfer from Habarana 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.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Habarana

Day 05 Habarana – Dambulla – 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.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Kandy

Day 06 Kandy – Knuckles – Kandy

Transfer from Kandy to Knuckles. [2 Hrs drive approximately ]
KNUCKLES ……Knuckles Range covers a rugged and still largely untouched area of great natural beauty and biodiversity. The steeply shelving mountain terrian, reaching 1863m at its highest point, includes stands of rare dwarf cloudforest, and is home to leopard, various species of deer, monkeys and giant squirrels. The areas of range above 1000m have recently declared a World Heritage conservation Area. Return to Hotel.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Kandy

Day 07 Kandy

Breakfast at the Hotel 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.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Kandy

Day 08 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.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Nuwarae Eliya.

Day 09 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.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Yala

Day 10 Yala – Kataragama – 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.
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Bentota

Day 11 Bentota

Day at Leisure (No Transportation Available).
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Bentota

Day 12 Bentota

Day at Leisure (No Transportation Available).
Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel in Bentota

Day 13 Bentota – Colombo (Drive)

Today you are transferred to Colombo Airport to board flight for Onward Journey

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The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden – Seeduwa

The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden features an outdoor pool and tennis courts. It also offers 3 dining options and a shopping arcade. The Gateway Hotel Airport Garden is less than 10 km from Bandaranaike International Airport and Katunayake Town. Hotel Offers 113 Rooms. Airport shuttles are available at an extra charge. The air-conditioned rooms are equipped with satellite TV and minibar. Each room comes with a private bathroom. Guests can browse books, jewellery and souvenirs in the hotel’s shops. The hotel also has a fitness centre and a business centre. Other services include car rental and currency exchange. International dishes are served at the 24-hour café. Other dining options include an English pub and in-room breakfast upon request.

Cinnamon Wild – Yala

Yala National Park is Cinnamon Wild Yala. It boasts chalets with private balconies and free Wi-Fi. It features an outdoor pool and a restaurant. Nestled in the south of Sri Lanka, the property is a 6-hour drive from Bandaranaike International Airport. It is located in Kirinda, a village well-known for its wildlife. Chalets offer spectacular views of the beach or jungle. They are decorated with local artcrafts and feature air-conditioning, cable TV and a minibar. All chalets come with private bathroom facilities. Enjoying a prime location, Cinnamon Wild Yala's restaurant provides beautiful landscapes and serves Asian and Western dishes. Meals can also be enjoyed in the privacy of guests’ rooms.

The Grand – Nuwaraeliya

The Grand Hotel is situated on Nuwara Eliya Hill, adjacent to the Nuwar Eliya Golf Course. Surrounded by tropical greenery and enjoying cool climates, it features 2 restaurants, a shopping arcade and a gym. Hotel Offers 95 Rooms. Rooms at Grand Hotel are equipped with heating. Each room has satellite TV, a mini fridge, and tea/coffee making facilities. The private bathroom offers a hot shower and a hairdryer. Guests can relax in the sauna, or play a round of golf. Other facilities include a 24-hour reception and a business centre. Laundry services are available. International dishes are served at Barnes Hall, while Grand Indian Restaurant offers specialities from North and South India. The hotel also has a wine cellar.

Heritance Tea Factory – Nuwaraeliya

Heritance Tea Factory offers colonial-style rooms with views of the surrounding tea plantations and hills. It features a luxurious spa, tea-picking tours and a restaurant set in a train carriage. Hotel Offers 54 Rooms. Cosy guestrooms come with a minibar, cable TV and free organic tea leaves. The en suite bathroom is fitted with a bathtub and a rain shower. Guests can work out at a fitness room or go for a tea plantation nature walk. Massage and other treatments are offered at the Six Senses Spa. Billiards and mini golf facilities are available. The Railway Carriage Restaurant features Western and European meals. Kenmare Restaurant serves a selection of Eastern and Western dishes. Accommodation and meals are free for hired drivers of in-house guests.

Hotel Suisse – Kandy

Suisse is housed in a colonial building, across Kandy Lake. Offering rooms with views of the tropical grounds or Kandy Lake, it has a spa, a restaurant and free parking. The colonial-style rooms at Hotel Suisse feature classic wood furnishings and floral fabrics. They are equipped with satellite TV and private bathrooms with hot/cold shower. Guests can lounge by the landscaped outdoor pool or enjoy a relaxing massage at the Ayurvedic Center. Sauna facilities are also available. There is also a tour desk to assist guests with making travel and trips arrangements. Suisse Kandy’s restaurant serves a wide variety of Western and Asian dishes.

Cinnamon Citadel – Kandy

Cinnamon Citadel Kandy offers a spectacular outdoor pool. It has a spa and well-appointed rooms.Air-conditioned rooms feature spacious interiors with fine beddings and furnishings. Each room is equipped with a minibar, tea/coffee making facilities and a TV with cable channels.Vel Eliya Restaurant boasts an international menu, and continental dishes can be found at the Mahaveli Eliya. The Giri Sikara Lounge is an excellent venue to enjoy refreshing beverages and light snacks. Hotel Offers 121 Rooms. Guests can enjoy massages at the spa, or have a leisurely swim at the outdoor pool. Free Wi-Fi is provided on site. The hotel’s tour desk can help organise trips to popular attractions such as the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Kandy Chaaya Citadel is located a 20-minute drive from the famous Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha site. Bandaranaike International Airport is a 5-hour drive from the hotel, and free parking is provided.

Chaaya Village – Habarana

Chaaya Village Habarana is a 15-minute drive from Minneriya National Park. The hotel features an outdoor pool and facilities for tennis, volleyball and badminton. Chaaya Village Habarana is an hour’s drive from Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. Driving from Bandaranaike International Airport takes 6 hours. Featuring wooden furniture, the air-conditioned rooms at Chaaya Village come with private terraces. Each room has a TV with cable channels, a safety deposit box, and tea/coffee making facilities. Azmaara Spa provides a range of treatments, from massages to manicures and pedicures. The hotel offers tours such as hiking in the Ritigala jungle or riding an ox cart in Hiriwadunna. El Hena Restaurant features buffet spreads with Asian and Western dishes, while Panthaliya Coffee Shop serves snacks and hot beverages. Refreshments are available at the pool bar.

Bentota Beach Hotel – Bentota

Bentota Beach Hotel offers rooms with scenic views. It provides 3 dining options, a spectacular outdoor pool and exciting activities like elephant rides, archery and watersports. The Bentota Hotel is a 10-minute drive from the Sea Turtle Hatchery and the Brief Garden. The luxurious guestrooms are spacious and fitted with colourful wall decorations and beddings. They have private balconies and are equipped with a minibar, an in-room safe and cable TV. Recreational activities are endless at the hotel. It has floodlit tennis courts, squash courts, billiard tables and a water sport centre, where guests can try wind surfing, jet ski and diving. For a more relaxing afternoon, Azmaara Spa’s professional therapists offer customised massages and treatments. The Peacock Restaurant serves a selection of international and local dishes. Araliya Restaurant provides a memorable fine dining experience with an impressive wine menu. For light snacks, visit the Soorya Pool Bar.

Sri Lanka Culture and Beach – TJ SL 13