Tropical Sri Lanka in 8 Days

Route

TOUR ITINERARY

*Price starting from USD 690 per person (T&C Apply).

NEGOMBO – SIGIRIYA – KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA – MIRISSA

Day 01: Airport – Negombo

Upon arrival in Bandaranaike International Airport, you are met and greeted by our driver and transferred to Negombo (approximate travel time from Airport to Negombo is 15 mins.) You will then check in to your pre-booked Hotel in Negombo and be welcomed by your Local Tour Manager who will brief you on the line-up for the next few days.

Negombo City Tour

Negombo, situated in the west coast of the paradise island; boasts for possessing a unique beach and colonial architecture. Considered as the heartland for Roman Catholics in Sri Lanka, the city itself is flourishing with extravagant churches and stunning wayside catholic shrines not only that this busy city owns Dutch-made edifices and waterways scattered about it and its environs.

Overnight stay at the Hotel in Negombo

Day 02: Negombo – Sigiriya/Dambulla

Breakfast at Hotel and Check out

Proceed to Sigiriya. Upon arrival, check in at Hotel in Sigiriya

Evening Safari at Minneriya National Park

Being part of the elephant corridor, which joins up with Kaudulla and Wasgomuwa parks, Minneriya National Park gives the opportunity to see herds of Elephants throughout the year. Among the 24 species of mammals’ resident in the park are Elephants, Leopards, Sloth Bear, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalo, Wild Pig, Grey Langers, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, three species of Mongoose, Porcupine and Indian Pangolin. Minneriya National Park has recorded over 170 species of birds. From Migrating waders like Woodsand Piper, Common Sandpiper & Kentish Plovers to forest birds like Malabar-pied Hornbills, Rufus Woodpecker the globally endangered Lesser Adjutant and the endemics Sri Lanka Grey Horn-bill, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Brown-capped Babbler and Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl are some of the highlights.

Overnight stay at the Hotel in Sigiriya

Day 03: Sigiriya –Matale – Kandy (Drive)

Morning climb and visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress (1 ½ hours approx.)

Sigiriya also known as the Lion’s Rock is a rock fortress and a palace located in the Matale district of Sri Lanka. This ruin is surrounded by gardens, ponds and other structures. Sigiriya was built by King Kassapa and it is included as a World Heritage site. Sigiriya is the best-preserved City Centre in Asia. Earlier it was a rock-shelter mountain monastery which was donated by Buddhist devotees. Later King Kassapa renovated it by building gardens and palace. After his death it was again used as a monastery. Human habilitation in Sigiriya at its earliest was found to be nearly five thousand years during the Mesophilic period. Rock inscriptions are carved near the drip ledges on many of the shelters, recording the donation of the shelters to the Buddhist monastic order as residences. These have been made within the period between the third century B.C and the first century A.D. In 1831 Major Jonathan Forbes of the 78th Highlanders of the British army while returning on horseback from a trip to Polonnaruwa came across the “bush covered summit of Sigiriya. Sigiriya came to the attention of antiquarians and later archaeologists. The Sigiriya complex itself consists of the central rock and two rectangular precincts which are surrounded by two moats and three ramparts. The city is based on a square module.

Check out and Transfer to Kandy via Matale (2 ½ hours approx.)

En route, Lunch at a Local Spice Garden in Matale

Matale, nestled in the central hills and at an altitude of 546 meters, is yet another bounty of nature’s abundance with captivating landscapes of fertile greenery and scattered mountain ranges decorated with blankets of cascading water. Today, the town of Matale is a center of activity, propelled by the daily hustle and bustle of urban life, with thousands of commuters thronging the urban center for sundry errands. 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. You 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. Enjoy a Traditional Sri Lankan Cuisine Lunch before proceeding towards Kandy.

Transfer to Kandy from Matale

Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka and lies in the midst of hills. It is the Capital of the Central Province. It is both an administrative and religious city. Kandy is the second largest city in the country and is frequently visited by Buddhists especially of the Theravada School. Kandy is very famous among tourist for three main reasons: It is home to the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic; Dalada Maligawa), The Botanical Gardens (Located in Peradeniya) and it always has a special place when it comes to festivities such as the Esala Perahara. Kandy is must for anyone’s itinerary when visiting Sri Lanka which is why we recommend the city as it is considered one of the most beautiful places in Sri Lanka which at the same time show cases the Sri Lankan Culture at its highest level.

Visit to the Temple of Tooth Relic

Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth Relic) is the place that houses the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Originally part of the Royal Palace complex of the Kandyan Kingdom, it is one of the holiest places of worship and pilgrimage for Buddhist around the world. The Palace of the Tooth relic, the palace complex and the holy city of Kandy are associated with the history of the dissemination of Buddhism. The temple is the product of the last peregrination of the relic of the tooth of Buddha and the testimony of a religion which continues to be practiced today.

Check in at the hotel in Kandy and Relax for the day.

Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kandy

Day 04: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya (Drive)

Breakfast at Hotel and Check out.

Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya (near Kandy City) is noted for its rich and varied collections of tropical woody plants. Occupying 59 hectares (146 acres), it has about 4,000 species of plants. The most important specimens of the garden include palms, some of which are planted in impressive avenues. Significant, too, are the collections of orchids, gymnosperms, and flowering trees.

Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya (3 hours approx.)

En-route visit a Tea Plantation

Upon Arrival, Nuwara Eliya City Tour

Nuwara Eliya meaning “city on the plain or “city of light” is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It is one of the major tea producing areas in the world. The tallest mountain in Sri Lanka “Pidurutalagala” oversees this beautiful city. It is the most visited hill country.

Nuwara Eliya is said to have been founded by a couple of British officers who apparently got lost while elephant hunting. The British Governor Sir Edward Barnes was notified about the town and he himself decided to reside at Nuwara Eliya and subsequently creating a health resort that was internationally renowned. The town was later the ultimate destination for English pastimes such as golf, fox hunting, polo, etc. Nuwara Eliya also has an archeological importance as well in which pre-historic human remains are found. The city has a good reflection of the colonial period while new hotels are furnished according to the colonial era.

Sri Lanka produces a significant share of the world’s best tea and in the meantime is also one of the world’s largest exporters of tea. Since the introduction of tea to Sri Lanka in mid 19the century Nuwara Eliya has been the capital of the tea industry. “Little England” is also home to some beautiful waterfalls such as Ramboda Falls, Devon Falls, and Laksapana Falls. Trekking and hiking expeditions usually evolve around these landmarks.

Transfer to Hotel in Nuwara Eliya and Check in.

Overnight stay at the Hotel in Nuwara Eliya

Day 05: Nuwara Eliya – Mirissa

Breakfast at Hotel

Check out and Proceed to Mirissa

En route, Safari at Yala National Park

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka’s bliss and euphoria. It is the most as often as possible went to national park and the second biggest in the island. It is especially maintained because of its well-known leopard populace, as Yala has the most elevated thickness of leopards of anywhere on the planet, making it the best area comprehensively to get a sighting of a leopard in nature. The whole stop is isolated into five separate pieces, two of which are strict nature holds with constrained access while the rest are available to the general population at substitute circumstances consistently. Square one is the most renowned segment, as it is open for a large portion of the year, just shutting in September and October. Our 4×4 jeep safaris give an agreeable, affair inside the recreation center, and the Junior Ranger Course is perfect for little explorers.

Check in at Hotel and Relax at leisure

Overnight at Hotel in Mirissa

Day 06: Mirissa

Early Morning Whale Watching Tour with Breakfast at Boat

Take an exciting yet comfortable boat trip out to sea and be fortunate to see Blue Whales; the largest creatures on earth, Bryde’s Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales and Fin Whales. You can also meet pods of friendly Dolphins such as the Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and striped dolphins as they playfully somersault and dance on the ocean waves. There’s also a good chance of seeing flying fish, turtle, manta rays and even sharks. Take back beautiful memories of the gentle giants of the ocean; it’s a once-in-lifetime experience!

Relax at leisure on the beach

Overnight at Hotel in Mirissa

Day 07: Mirissa

Breakfast at Hotel

Relax at leisure on the beach

Overnight at Hotel in Mirissa

Day 08: Mirissa – Airport

Breakfast at Hotel

Proceed towards Airport

En route, Sightseeing of Galle

Visit  Madu Ganga River Boat Safari

You will be visiting the quiet town of Balapitiya, to visit the Madu Ganga River; the specialty of this river is that it is conjoined with a mangrove lagoon amalgamated to the ocean by a thin waterway and containing 28 islands, some of which are inhabited. Considered as the second largest wetland in Sri Lanka, you will get to experience the high bio-diversity as well the local community who engages in shrimp farming using traditional methods. Finally, you can visit a cinnamon island and study out how the zest is removed from tree husk, or watch riverside houses and sanctuaries with antique stone pieces and oil lights and end your trip with a natural fish therapy; hundreds of fish come and gently nibble the dead skin of your legs.

Visit to a Turtle Hatchery

Sea Turtle Farm and Hatchery, get intimate and connect with the world’s majestic creatures.. The turtle hatchery breeds, discharges, and rehabilitates endangered ocean turtles of any age. Visit the haven with one of the learned aides, who will show you about these uncanny creatures. You will likewise have the chance to hold and, with some good fortune, release the animals back into the wild waves.Thereafter proceed to the airport with lingering memories of your trip to Sri Lanka

END OF TOUR