You are here: Home / Packages / FROM JUNGLES TO TEMPLES IN SRI LANKA -14-DAYS
Duration : 13 nights 14 days tour
Locations : Airport – Negombo – Anuradhapura – Habarana – Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Dambulla
-Matale - Kandy –Nuwaraeliya – Ella – Yala – Mirissa - Colombo - Airport
Genre : Heritage – Safari – Beach stay Leisure
Reference no :
Please click on links to get more details, Time given only for travelling. Costing done for the hotel given, but if you need any other hotels please check in the “OTHER HOTELS” category and inform me.
Day 01- AIRPORT – NEGOMBO (20 minutes)
Arrival to Sri Lanka to be meet at the airport and garland welcome by CYRIL TOURS representative and transfer to Negombo, located near the airport.
Negombo is the principal beach resort North of Colombo. It has a picturesque lagoon, numerous Catholic churches and an impressive network of canals built by Dutch which are currently being restored. The afternoon is free to enjoy the pool and relax in the sun. checking to SURIYA hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
OTHER HOTEL – GOLDI SANDS
Day 02 – NEGOMBO - ANURADHAPURA – (3 hours and 30 minutes)
After breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura was the 1st capital city in early Sri Lanka.
Checking to PALM GARDEN VILLAGE for dinner and overnight stay.
In the evening visiting the largest and oldest of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities, dates back to the 6th century BC. It was made capital in 377 BC, Then to Isurumuniya rock temple houses a famous 5th c.AD Indian style sculpture known as the “Lovers”. The tour of the ancient kingdoms is very enlightening. To best enjoy it, when you are visiting during the sunny day, remember to carry a hat or umbrella along, with a bottle of water and some sun lotion….!
End of the day return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03 - ANURADHAPURA – MIHINTALE - AUKANA – HABARANA – (4 hours)
After breakfast checkout from the hotel to leave to Habarana. Enroute visit Mihintale. Mihintale is regarded as the cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism since it is here that in 248 BC King Tissa whilst hunting met monk Mahinda who converted him and his 4000 followers to Buddhism. You reach the impressive temple complex via a spectacular ancient grand stairway of 1840 steps. Not as tough as it sounds since they are very shallow and most are in the shades of perfumed Frangipani. In the evening stay leisure in the hotel. After breakfast checkout from the hotel to leave to Habarana. Enroute visit Mihintale. Mihintale is regarded as the cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism since it is here that in 248 BC King Tissa whilst hunting met monk Mahinda who converted him and his 4000 followers to Buddhism. You reach the impressive temple complex via a spectacular ancient grand stairway of 1840 steps. Not as tough as it sounds since they are very shallow and most are in the shades of perfumed Frangipani. Then continue to Aukana Buddha statue situated in the middle of the jungle.
This 12-meter marvelous Buddha statue is widely believed to have been constructed in the 5th century during the reign of King Dhatusena Aukana Buddha statue is a masterpiece of a colossal Buddha Statue by an unknown sculptor: the serene expression of the statue, the gracefully carved robe with neat pleats brings in delicateness that could hardly be moulded into a rock. The impassive expression of the face reflects the supreme spirituality. Continue to Habarana. Checking in to CINNAMON LODGE hotel for Dinner and Overnight Stay. In the evening I will arrange you an Ayurveda Herbal massage. (Optional)
OTHER HOTELS – KANDALAMA / HABARANA VILLAGE/ AMAYA LAKE/ ALIYA RESORT
Day 04- HABARANA - SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTERSS - POLONNARUWA – HABARANA (3 Hours)
Breakfast in the hotel and leave to visit Sigiriya the “The Lion Mountain” in the morning. Sigiriya present a unique concentration of fifth- century urban planning, gardening, engineering, hydraulic technology and art. In 470 AD Kashyapa the son of a non-royal consort of the king, took over the kingdom after committing patricide. He built his magnificent palace on the top of this 200meters high rock fearing the wrath of the crown prince Moghallana. The architectural wonder is famous for pleasure gardens, extensive moats and ramparts and mainly it’s well-preserved rock paintings, of the beautiful “Cloud damsels” seen half up the rock and the “Lion stairway” that provides access to the summit. The complex of the fortress on the plains around the rock extends over 15 hectares. In Sigiriya you can have a Village tour (Nature walk) (Optional)
On completion proceed to Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa the Medieval Kingdom from the 11th to 13th century. The great ruler King Parakramabahu 1st (1153-1186) reign was the highest peak of the agricultural development of the island with the subtitle of “Granary of the East” with the development of a vast and complex irrigation systems connected to “Sea of Parakramabahu”, the largest reservoir builds in the history of Sri Lanka. Ethnic harmony prevailed between the Sinhalese and the Tamils during this period. Buddhist and the Hindu temples located in the same complex and many other ruins symbolizes this fact. The palaces, huge granite sculptures and the massive tanks and complex irrigation systems built by the great kings convey the extent of development that existed in this middle history period. On the way back to hotel visit Minneriya safari . End of the day return to hotel dinner and overnight stay.
Day 05 - DAMBULLA - MATALE - KANDY (4 Hours)
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and proceed to Kandy, en route you visiting the Golden Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla. Dambulla is renowned for its cave temple, which were built by King Valagambahu in the 1st century BC in gratitude for the shelter he sought in the caves when fleeing from Indian invaders. Sighted on gigantic granite outcrop, which towers more than 160m above the surrounding land, the caves are completely covered by ancient frescoes depicting religious and secular scenes. Protected within the caves are hundreds of statues of Buddha, many carved out of the rock itself, of which the largest is the 15m long Dying Buddha.
While continuing to Kandy, on the way (in Matale) you will have a chance to visit a spice plantation that grows a variety of spices such as cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg, for which Sri Lanka was renowned and initially colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. You could also visit the Batik factory and watch the production of artistic fabric. Continue to Kandy. Check into the THILANKA hotel in Kandy.
OTHER HOTELS - EARLS REGENCY / GOLDEN CROWN / GRAND KANDYAN / MAHAWELI REACH / CINNAMON CITADEL / THILANKA / AMAYA HILLS / SUISSE / QUEENS
Kandy is the old capital of Ceylon and the seat of the last Sinhalese Kingdom. It is a charming city with the most important Buddhist temple in the country and is set in peaceful wooded valley overlooking a vast manmade lake. Kandy’s ancient official lake sits amongst rolling hills that are covered by forests and tea plantations. There is a fantastic view from the upper lake where you can see the whole city of Kandy. Wandering about in Kandy is a fun experience, with cross roads and interconnecting byroads – all forming and intertwined complex. Most pavements are dominated by the vendors selling garments. Lotteries, toys and variety of fancy items – making passing through look almost impossible especially during festive seasons. The main market is in the heart of the town is frequented often for its array of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat stalls, sweets, cloths, fancy goods and what not ……!
Kandy is a great place to buy gemstones, sapphires of all colors, rubies, tourmalines and many precious and semiprecious stones can all be found here. Visitors are also invited to have a look around the workshops, where they will be able to see the design, and cutting, polishing and setting processes.
Day 06 - PERDENIYA BOTANICAL GARDEN - CITY TOUR
After breakfast leave to visit the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, initially a royal park in 1821 under British rule it became a botanical garden. Here exotic crops, such as coffee. Tea, Nutmeg, Rubber and Cinchona (quinine) – an all of which were to become important to the country’s economy were first tested. The botanical gardens are fantastic with and excellent Orchid House, and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world. For keen gardeners, at least a morning is recommended to visit garden, possibly longer.
There is a local dance performance which you will enjoy in the town in the late afternoon, which is performing traditional upcountry dances and fire-walking etc.
After the show visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. (Sri Lanka Dalada Maligawa) Ever since it was founded in the 16th century, it has one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism – a tooth of the Buddha collected from his funeral pyre and which is now protected within the gold – roofed temple of the tooth. It was built within the Royal palace complex which houses the only surviving relic of Buddha, a tooth, which is venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in the local politics since ancient times; it’s believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort.
Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese kings from 1592 to 1815, fortified by the terrain of the mountains and the difficult approach. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO in part due to the temple.
At the end of the day return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 07 - KANDY - NUWARAELIYA (2 Hours)
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and proceed to Nuwaraeliya (little England) on scenic way. (You have the opportunity to enjoy a brief train ride on your way to Nuwaraeliya. Your vehicle will travel ahead of you and pick you up from predetermined railway station. This is optional and availability has to be confirmed. Have to reserve seat before one month in advance. You have to confirm it before 6 weeks. (Also, you can have a train journey from Nuwaraeliya to Ella. It’s not a long journey. But, very scenic) Enroot visit the Tea Factory to learn how tea is grown and processed. Arrive Nuwaraeliya and check into hotel for overnight stay in the cool comfort. Nuwaraeliya situated in 1900 meters above the sea level. Checking to GRAND hotel for dinner overnight stay.
OTHER HOTELS - TEA FACTORY HOTEL / ARALIYA GREEN CITY / ARALIYA GREEN HILLS / ST. ANDREWS / HILL CLUB An evening visit small city of Nuwaraeliya by walking.
Nuwara Eliya meaning "City on the plain (table land)" or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka. The town is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka.
Day 08 – NUAWARAELIYA – HORTON PLAINS – ELLA
HORTON PLANES IS OPTIONAL
If you willing to visit Horton Planes, you must inform to hotel reception on the previous night with time of departure to prepare your packeted breakfast. Because you have to leave the hotel around 5am. Also, if you are checkout to go to another city or hotel you have to settle all the bills in the previous night.
Early morning visit Horton Plains by hired van or jeep. They are best viewed at sunrise as the mist is less likely to spoil the view at that time of day. A road journey and the 2 – 3-hour work passes through heartland with giant ferns, terraced vegetable gardens and tropical, mist – shrouded forest, where tree branches poke sky wards like gnarled fingers.
You reach big world’s end after a 5km walk from the entrance. The view from the sheer 1000m (3300-ft) drop is awesome. With luck there will be no mist to impede the panorama over the plains. Baker’s fall is one of the most interesting places during this tour.
This walk will take around 3 - 4 hours. If you don’t want to visit Horton Plains, we can check out the hotel around 8am to go to Ella. Arrive to Ella and checking to FLOWER GARDEN HOTEL for dinner and overnight stay.
OTHER HOTELS – 98 ACRES, , SKY GREEN, MOUNT HEAVEN
DAY 09 – ELLA
Have your breakfast in the hotel. After breakfast leave to visit Little Adam’s Peak. This is very famous point in Ella. Then leave to visit 9 Arch bridge. After those places visit small but very interesting Ella City. So many restaurants. You can see highest number of tourists in Ella than the other places. I will arrange Sri Lankan Cooking demonstration in Ella.
DAY 10 – ELLA-BUDURUWAGALA – YALA
After breakfast checkout from the hotel leave to Yala. Enroute you can see beautiful Rawana water fall and Buduruwagala ancient temple, then continue. You can have your lunch at Tissamaharamaya. There are many restaurants to choose. Checking to Kithala resort. Evening visit Yala National Park by hired 4x4. Yala National Park (1570 sq.km) was created in 1938 and is located in the south eastern corner of the island. It delivers a range of habitats, including scrub jungle, blackish lagoons, lakes and rivers are home to approximately 500 elephants and 120 leopards in addition to wild buffaloes, sambar and spotted deer, sloth bears, macaques and langur monkeys, jackals, mongooses, wild boar. Yala has plentiful crocodiles and is also. Yala is also rich in bird life. Around 130 species have been recorded here, including many migrants escaping the northern winter, common aquatic birds include various storks (among them the rare black–necked stork), sandpipers, pelicans, egrets, herons, ibises, kingfishers and the magnificent Indian darter, along with birds of prey such as the hawk eagle and colorful smaller species including green and blue bee eaters, hoopoes, parakeets and bulbuls. Peacocks are ubiquitous throughout the park, while you should also spot at least a couple of jungle fowl, a singularly inelegant, waddling creature, like a feral hen, which has been adopted as the national bird of Sri Lanka. The best period to visit the park is from December through to March. April, May and June are rainy and the park is closed in September. After the game park return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
OTHER HOTELS: CINNAMON WILD, JETWING YALA, CHARYA, THE SAFARI, HIBISCUS
Day 11 - YALA – MIRISSA
After breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed to beach stay in Mirissa. When you reach Mirissa, take a moment to breathe in the sea air and admire the golden sandy beaches. Your hotel is on the beach. Checking to PARADISE BEACH CLUB
Day 12 – MIRISSA
Mirissa famous for its beautiful beach as well as ideal place for watching Whales. Rest of the day in leisure.
Day 13 – MIRISSA – COLOMBO
After breakfast checkout from the hotel to come to City of Galle. Walk on Galle Fort. Then continue Colombo. Enroute you can see Tsunami damaged areas, Turtle Hatchery, Have a Boat ride on Madu river. After all heading to Colombo. Have a guide city tour in Colombo if the time permits. Colombo, a lively city rich with cultural sights and Buddhist temples. Take a drive through the city's commercial center, where grand colonial-era buildings stand alongside modern hotels and office structures. Explore the vibrant markets and bazaars in Pettah to pick up some last-minute souvenirs. Checking to CINNAMON LAKESIDE for dinner and overnight stay.
HOTELS – COLOMBO HILTON, KINGSBURY, TAJ SAMUDRA, CINNAMON GRAND, , MARINO BEACH, GALADARI (5 STAR), RAMADA, WONDER COLOMBO, MANDARINA (4 STAR)
Day 14 – COLOMBO – AIRPORT
You spend two weeks in Sri Lanka. Now time to say Good bye. You are leaving with lots of good memories. I hope both of you enjoy well, if there is anything you missed, please inform me. Your suggestions are welcome. Even during the tour.
Please give time to pickup to go to airport. You have to be in the airport before 2.30 minutes.
Package including
Package not including of:
PACKAGE INCLUDING
Airport entry, parking and paging | Sigiriya | Wood carving place* | Buduruwagala |
Colombo city tour | Ayurveda massage* | Cultural show | Safari by jeep* |
Kandy city tour | Village tour* | Botanical garden | River safari* |
Ella city tour | Sigiriya | Kandy Tooth Temple | Turtle hatchery* |
Galle city tour | Polonnaruwa | Tea factory visit | Stilt fishermen* |
Anuradhapura | Dambulla temple | Ella 9 arch bridge | |
Mihintale | Spice & herbal garden | Little Adam’s Peak | |
Aukana | Batik factory visit* | Cooking demonstration* |
* these are optional. If you like those I can add with extra cost.
If you need to remove anything from above list please inform me.
HOTELS
AREA | HOTEL | NIGHTS | MEALS |
NEGOMBO | Suriya (5*) | 01 | HB |
ANURADHAPURA | Palm Garden Village (4*+) | 01 | HB |
HABARANA | Cinnamon Lodge (5*) | 02 | HB |
KANDY | Golden Crown (5*) | 02 | HB |
NUWARAELIYA | The Grand (4*+) | 01 | HB |
ELLA | Ella Flower Garden (4*) | 02 | HB |
TISSA (YALA) | Kithala Resort (4*) | 01 | HB |
MIRISSA | Paradise Beach Club (4*) | 02 | HB |
COLOMBO | Cinnamon Lake Side (5*) | 01 | BB |
HB = HALF BOARD (INCLUDIN DINNER & BREAKFAST)
BB = BED & BREAKFAST ONLY
NB:
You have rights to change itinerary as you wish. If you want to stay more or less in one hotel can adjust. If you need another hotels also can change. If you want to come with a more people
we are welcome. After all alterations please inform me. I will send you a fresh itinerary and cost.
Please contact for cost: ct@cyriltours.com, cyriltoursandtravels@gmail.com
WhatsApp / IMO : +0094777366633
 "Thank you so much for your great service and making our honeymoon in Sri Lanka, so special and joyful. Best regards from Yuffa and Elad Abbo – Israel- 10 July 2008 " Yuffa and Elad Abbo - Israel
 "Cyril is one of the best experienced person in the industry" Ahamed Anver
 "We found Cyril on-line and after checking with lots of other guides we decided he is the one for us, that decision was the best one we did for our trip From the beginning, in our emails, Cyril listen to us and was very helpful, he gave us information and helped us to create the best trip for us.We had 10 days trip, for our honeymoon, to many parts of Sri-Lanka. the country is amazing, green, nice people and good food.Cyril was a great driver and even greater guide, he has so much knowledge and e..." Coral and Oded from Israel
 "Dear Cyril, We want to thank you so much for making our trip so unforgetable and delightful. We received your name from our friends lives in Geneva who travelled with you in January 2009 and they gave you such a high recommendation that we decided to conbtact you for our two weeks trip this year. Although we have been to Sri Lanka a few times already. We have never found such an excellent driver and guide. It has been a great pleasure to visit Colombo with you and then to Koggala for two day tr..." Mr.Gabor Kato & Mrs.Ann Kato
 "Thank you so much Cyril for guiding us around your beautiful country. We thoroughly enjoyed our time which was made particularly special by your professionalism, enthusiasm and friendliness. We wish you all the best in the future. Warm regards from, Aonghus O'Keefee and Sheela Hendricks- Ireland " Aonghus and Sheela Hendricks- Ireland
 "Traveled in April 2013 with Cyril . Family with three young children. Cyril match the trip plan problem on his part. Familiar with every corner of this beautiful island and we have managed to produce a great 17 days. Prices respect as well - we tested three competing proposals and was the cheapest. The fact that he was working independently and not through an agency that collects coupon trips generally significantly reduces the price of the package. A modern and spacious vehicle (van with seven ..." Maozd
 " Our Tour in Sri Lanka Traveling through the beautiful Sri Lanka has been great. Cyril warmly welcomed us at the airport and drove us with his always clean car in every part of the country. He provided daily information about the history and the different sites of Sri Lanka. Also, he taught us a lot about Sri Lankan culture, starting from food, traditions, animals and nature, and suggested authentic and less known places we c..." FILIPPO MASI FROM ITALY
 "We are an older couple celebrating a lot of years of marriage (and hiking) in Sri Lanka in February this year, for two weeks, and three days in the Maldives. Although we love to drive, we chose to go with a driver-guide, after planning the trip completely independently. (It turned out he might help us in the planning and selection of hotels, we own). The main advantage is reaching the sites, some of which are tired, refreshed after someone else used to bad roads, with bad signage - If you are i..." Sam
 "Cyril was absolutly Fantastic,Veryhelpful, Patient and extremly knowledgable. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend and travel with him again. Whole tour was well organized and perfectly done. Kate Williams and family from UK 04th January 2015" Kate Williams UK
 "CyrilWe are now back at home after the lovely time with you in Sri Lanka, andvisiting Hong Kong.Thank you for driving for us while we were in Sri Lanka.In particular, we appreciated - your smooth, calm and efficient driving through varied traffic conditions - your calmness when things did not go quite as expected - your being available at all times of day - I'm remembering our late arrival at the airport, and our late departure - your information about all sorts of ..." Cliff Hooker and Jean from Australia