AIRPORT - NEGOMBO

Day 01 - Arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport. You will be met with and welcomed by CYRIL TOURS upon your arrival and transferred to hotel in Negombo located near the airport for dinner and overnight stay. Negombo just 20 minutes from the airport.

NEGOMBO – ANURADHAPURA

Day 02 – After breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed to Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura, appointed the heart of the Sri Lankan history and Buddhism, is the largest and oldest of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities and dates back to the 6th century BC.  It was made capital in 377 BC and remained an important centre of power till the 12th century AD. Most memorable are its gleaming white dagobas – large bell-like structures some 60 meters high which house Buddhist relics. However, it is best known for the Sri Maha Bodhi, which is the oldest documented tree in the world (over 2200 years). This was grown from a cutting of the Bo tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment. The tour of the ancient kingdoms is very enlightening. To best enjoy it, remember to take a hat along, with a bottle of water and some sun-lotion…!

Checking to Palm Garden Village Hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Enroute if you wish can visit Sri Lanka’s biggest national park Wilpattu national park. Rest of the day free for leisure.

ANURADHAPURA CITY TOUR – MIHINTALE - ANURADHAPURA

Day 03 - After breakfast visit Isurumuniya, Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruvanveliseya, Thuparamaya, Mirisavetiya, Abhayagiriya, Jethavanaramaya, Twin ponds, Moonstone and many more… End of Anuradhapura visit Mihintale. End of the day checking to Palm Garden Village Hotel overnight stay.

ANURADHAPURA – AUKANA - DAMBULLA

Day 04 –    After breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed to Dambulla. Enroute visit Aukana Buddha statue. Checking to Heritance Kandalama hotel for dinner and overnight stay. You are free to visit Minneriya / Kaudulla or Eco park safari by hired jeep. Elephants are moving among these parks during the rainy times. In the evening you can have a famous “Ayurveda herbal massage” is done by well experienced therapists. No chemicals, only herbs. (Optional).

DAMBULLA – SIGIRIYA - POLONNARUWA

Day 05 –    After breakfast you can proceed to 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. On completion continue to Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa located 45 km from Habarana was the islands second ancient capital. In 11^th 13^th AD, the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa was one of the great urban centres in South Asia.  Today the well preserved ruins give you the chance to experience the grandeur of this period and marvel at the artistry of the island’s early craftsmen. The great ruler King Parakramabahu 1^st (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 build in the history of Sri Lanka. At the heart of the ancient city are the remains of the Royal palace and Council chamber. Nearby is the Vatadage or “relic house”, a beautifully decorated circular structure with an uncanny resemblance to Stonehenge. Among the other sites are the Gal potha (stone book) – a 9m – long granite slab inscribed with the feats of a king – the Lankathilaka shrine and the supremely graceful Buddha statues at Gal Vihara, the pinnacle of Sri Lankan rock carving…… If you are lucky enough can see wild elephants near road and reservoirs. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.           

DAMBULLA – MATALE – KANDY

Day 06 -     After breakfast checkout from the hotel you can proceed to an urban village by bullock cart. This tour called “Village tour”. This is new concept, foreigners really happy to do this. After Village tour you can have an Elephant ride. (Optional) It’s very interesting journey. You will really enjoy it. Then continue to continue to Kandy. Enroute you are visiting the Golden Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla.

Dambulla is renowned for its cave temple, which were built by King Valagambahu in the 1^st century BC in gratitude for the shelter he sought in the caves when fleeing from Indian invaders. 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 Matale Hindu Temple, Batik factory and watch the production of artistic fabric. Continue to Kandy. Checking to Earl’s Regency hotel for overnight stay.

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 are 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 – PINNAWALA – KANDY

Day 07 –    After breakfast leave to visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. On completion return to Kandy. Enroute visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden. After a garden you have an opportunity to walk in Kandy city by your own.

There is a local traditional dance performance which you will enjoy in the town in the late afternoon, after the show visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. (Sri Dalada Maligawa) Ever since it was founded in the 16^th 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. End of the day return to hotel.

KANDY - NUWARAELIYA

Day 08 –    After breakfast checkout from the hotel on time to go to Peradeniya railway station to catch the train to have train ride to Nanu Oya. (Optional) if you like to do this must inform me before one month to reserve tickets, because it has limited number of seats only. Your vehicle will travel ahead of you and pick you up from a Nanu Oya railway station and transfer to Nuwaraeliya (little England) with this journey all the way through scenic tea gardens.  If you go by train you can see St. Clare and Devon waterfalls enroute. If the time permits I will show you Tea factory to watch how to process the tea before it reached to us. Step 2 is going to Nuwaraeliya via normal route. This road also through scenic tea gardens and few waterfalls. Arrive to Nuwaraeliya and check into Heritance Tea Factory hotel for overnight stay in the cool comfort. Nuwara Eliya situated in 1900 meters above sea level.

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.

The city was founded by Samuel Baker, the discoverer of Lake Albert and the explorer of the Nile in 1846. Nuwara Eliya's climate lent itself to becoming the prime sanctuary of the British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Nuwara Eliya, called Little England then, was also a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.

Although the town was founded in the 19th century by the British, the whole district is today visited by native travelers, especially during the month of April, the season of flowers, pony races, go cart races and auto rally.

Many of the buildings retain features from the colonial period such as the Queen's Cottage, General's House, Grand Hotel, Hill Club, Town Post Office and even new hotels are often built and furnished in the colonial style. Anyone who visits the city can wallow in its nostalgia of bygone days by visiting these landmark buildings. Many private homes still maintain their old English-style lawns and gardens. Visit Gregory’s park. It’s a beautiful place with lack of activities to do for children as well as you. Paddling boats, Pony rides and cycling available for reasonable rates. Superb weather for enjoying. Most of the rich Sri Lankans has a (Villa) holiday home there. This is ideal location for nature lovers.

NUWARAELIYA - BEACH

Day 09 –    After breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed to beach stay. Enroute you are passing St. Clair and Devon water falls, Kithulgala where the location of world famous film “Bridge On The River Qwai”. Have your lunch at restaurant on river bank. Then continue to Mount Lavinia near Colombo. Checking to Mount Lavinia Beach Hotel or Blue Water hotel in Wadduwa.

Day 10 –    Leisure              

Day 11 –    Leisure

Day 12 –    After breakfast around 11.00 am checkout from the hotel to proceed to Colombo have a guided city tour and then proceed to airport.

If you think this itinerary will suit to you or want to change or add something else or skip anything, as well as for cost of above tour please contact me by filling contact us form or fill below table contents and send to me by given email address.

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