1

Arrival at Colombo airport and transfer to Dambulla. On arrival check in at the hotel.

Dambulla is a vast isolated rock mass and it was here that king Valagam Bahu took refuge from invasions in 1st century B.C. and turned the rocks into a cave temple.

Late afternoon visit Golden Cave Temples in Dambulla. The Temples contain some of the world’s finest examples of ancient Buddhist art. Many of the sculptures and frescoes are in fact well over 2000 years old.

Overnight stay.

2

After breakfast go for tour of Sigiriya Rock fortress. Sigiriya is also considered to be the 8th Wonder of The Ancient World. You will be fascinated setting your eyes upon this strange shaped rock with ruins of a palace and citadel hanging on to its sides. A rusty staircase leads you to a cave gallery that has frescoes of the famous Sigiriya Maidens.

Later drive to Polonnaruwa, the ancient capital of Sri Lanka between 11th to 14th Century. Visit the ruins of temples, palaces and stupas which till date remain in excellent state of preservation.

Also visit The Gal Vihare with 3 huge rock-cut images of the Buddha which is known as one of the world’s great masterpieces of sculpture is another interesting spot to visit. Enjoy a ride on elephant back in Habarana through the forests and villages.

In the evening, return to Dambulla for overnight stay.

3

Morning breakfast at the hotel and then visit Dambulla Rock Cave Temple. It was here that king Valagam Bahu took refuge from invaders in the 1st century B.C., later these caves were turned into rock temple. Few of its frescoes are over 2000 years old. Another attraction is a gigantic figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the living rock which is about 15 meters long. The caves have a combination of religious paintings and sculptures with ceiling frescoes depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life and Sinhalese history.

Then stop en-route to visit a spice garden in Matale to see many different types of spices, Sri Lanka is famous for.

Afternoon leave for Kandy. Upon arrival check in at the hotel.

KANDY, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a World Heritage Site which still retains an aura of grandeur. The town is encircled by hills and a serene lake in its centre, it is also site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens – considered to be home of one of the world’s best Orchids collection.

Evening visit The Temple of Tooth. This temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha brought to Sri Lanka from the Kalinga region in ancient India in the 4th century AD. There has been addition of several buildings by succeeding rulers, the latest addition is Golden Canopy over the inner shrine where the Tooth Relic is to be found. Initially the Temple was located within the palace complex as it was the symbol of Royal Authority.

Overnight stay.

4

Morning go for excursion to Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and Peradeniya Gardens. Its Orchid Houses are the highlights of the day. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is Sri Lanka’s unique tourist attraction. It is a wonderful to spend a couple of hours in the company of over 70 elephants, the largest herd in the entire world. You can come here for feeding the elephants at 9 am or enjoy them bath in the Maha Oya River.

Peradeniya Gardens and Its Orchid Houses are the finest botanical gardens in the East including an Orchid House with 300 varieties of orchids.

Then visit Royal Botanical Gardens which are said to be one of the most spectacular gardens in South Asia. The most notable features of the gardens are the Orchid House which houses a fcollection of over 300 variety of Sri Lankan orchids and spice garden.

Overnight stay.

5

Morning drive to Nuwara Eliya.

Nuware Eliya situated at an altitude of 1,868m was the original Hill Station of the British tea planters who came to Ceylon, as it was then known. It was built during 19th century and its architecture reminds that of an English country town, with red-brick walls. Blessed with salubrious climate, spectacular views of valleys, meadows an d mountains; it’s difficult to believe that we are only 180 Km from the hot and humid Colombo. There is a Grand Hotel, Hill Club and a Golf Course that is the oldest in Asia and even a Race Course – all of which are bygone reminders of an English social life which once thrived here.

We later depart from Kandy and proceed towards Nuwara Eliya visiting a Tea plantation and Factory to give you an insight of the local tea manufacturing process as well as day to day routine life of local workers there.

Arrive Nuwara Eliya and check in at hotel for overnight stay.

6

After breakfast check out from hotel and depart for Nanu-oya Train station to board the train to Ella. The scenery en-route is wonderful and much better than travelling by road. You be provided pic-nic lunch on board. Reach Ella which is a small town blessed with some of the most stunning views. Ella is also used as a base for trekking trips to the neighboring countryside. You will get a taste of its beauty by just walking into the Garden of the Grand Ella Motel (Formerly Ella Rest House), where you would feel that you are standing at the edge of the world.

We later continue our journey towards Yala and after arrival check-in at hotel.

Yala is an incredible destination that has been admired as an unparalleled testimony to the beauty of the wilderness, nature at its best. It is one of the best places in the world to spot leopards, sloth bears, elephants, and a wide range of birdlife.

7

Morning exclusive jeep safari in the national park. Yala, the largest national park in Sri Lanka is very reminiscent of the African savannah and is the place where the greatest variety of wildlife can be observed. Herds of Spotted Deer, solitary Sambar (Elk) and Wild Boar are common. Yala is now gaining an international reputation as the best place to watch Leopards in the world. The aggressive Sloth Bear is also present but rarely seen. Yala also contains about 250 Elephants including some magnificent solitary cross-tuskers.

Before reaching Colombo, en-route stop to visit the The Old World Town of Galle which is known for a charming old Dutch Fort (1640), on ef the best preserved forts in Asia, whose ramparts enclose an Old Town of great historical and architectural value.

Finally reach Colombo and overnight stay.

8

Morning after breakfast check out from the hotel and then city tour of Colombo, the trade and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of color.

Visit impressive Parliament House, designed by celebrated architect, Geoffrey Bawa.

Evening transfer to airport to catch flight for onward destination.