You are here: Home / Packages / Exploring the Best of Sri Lanka
DURATION |
13 NIGHTS 14 DAYS - A Two-Week Itinerary for Cultural Immersion, Natural Wonders, and Adventurous Experiences.
|
LOCATIONS |
AIRPORT – NEGOMBO – UDAWALAWE – ELLA – NUWARAELIYA – HORTON PLAINS – KANDY – DAMBULLA - HABARANA – SIGIRIYA – POLONNAUWA – TRINCOMALEE – ANURADHAPURA – COLOMBO – AIRPORT |
GENRE |
HERITAGE – ADVENTURE – NATURE - LEISURE |
Welcome to CYRIL TOURS exciting itinerary for your upcoming trip! Please note that the time given is only for travelling, and we have carefully planned the itinerary to ensure that you get the most out of your trip. The costing has been done for the hotel given, but if you need hotels in the “Recommended Hotels” category, please inform me. It's worth mentioning that some hotels in the “Recommended Hotels” category can be expensive. But we have selected the given hotels as they are of high quality and will provide you with the best experience during your stay.
AIRPORT – NEGOMBO - 20 minutes
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.
Recommended Hotels:Suriya / Goldi Sands / Rani Beach
NEGOMBO – UDAWALAWE– 3 hours
Day 02 - After breakfast checkout from the hotel in Negombo, proceed to Udawalawe. Checking to Athgira River Camp for dinner and overnight stay. Visit Elephant transit home. Checking to Grand Udawalawe for dinner and overnight stay.
Optional: In the evening if the time permit visit Udawalawe National Park by hired jeep.
UDAWALAWE – ELLA – one and half hours
Day 03 - If you didn’t have safari yesterday you can have it this morning. After safari return to hotel. Have your breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed to Ella. Enroute you are passing famous Rawana waterfall before reach to Ella. Checking to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. In this area you can visit Little Adam’s Peak and see Demodara 9 arch railway bridge.
Recommended Hotels: Mount Heaven / Sky Green
ELLA – NUWARAELIYA – 2 hours
Day 04 - After breakfast checkout from the hotel to proceed to Nuwaraeliya – Little England. Checking to for dinner and overnight stay.
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 a 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 have a (Villa) holiday home there. This is an ideal location for nature lovers.
Evening can have a walk around the city on your own.
Recommended hotels: Araliya Green city /Araliya Green Hills / Heaven Seven
HORTON PLAINS – WORLD’S END – KANDY -
Day 05 - Early morning leave to Horton Plains National park a World Heritage site, with picnic breakfast packets. Do a thrilling trek in Horton Plains. You have to leave around 5.30 am to see real nature without fog.
The park covers 31.60km2, this plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 meters (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This region was designated a national park in 1988. It is also a popular tourist destination and is situated 35 kilometers (20 miles) from Nuwara Eliya. But it will take nearly one hour to reach.
This is a mixture of highland forest and wet grassland. This is a key wildlife area. Species found here include Sambar (Sri Lankan Sambar Deer) and the endemic purple-faced Langur. Many endemic Loris and purple monkeys, All six highland endemic birds are found here, including Dull-Blue Fly Catcher, Sri Lanka White Eye, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon and Sri Lanka Bush Warbler, Yellow-eared Bulbul and Black-throated Munia are widespread throughout the highland.
Trek along a 09 km stretch and visit the breathtaking Bakers’ fall and the proverbial ‘World’s End’ which offers one of the best panoramic views in Sri Lanka. It is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. They are best viewed at sunrise as the mist is less likely to spoil the view at that time of day. You reach the 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. A road journey and the 2 – 3-hour work passes through the heartland with giant ferns, terraced vegetable gardens and tropical, mist-shrouded forest, where tree branches poke skywards like gnarled fingers.
After Horton Plains return to Nuwaraeliya hotel. Checkout to leave to Kandy on the scenic route. Checking to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Recommended hotels: Earl’s Regent / Thilanka / Suisse / Queens
Please note month of August you have to pay additional supplement per person per night due Kandy festival days. (10 days)
KANDY CITY TOUR
Day 06 - After breakfast have a guided tour of the city of Kandy. Kandy is the old capital of Ceylon and the seat of the last Singhalese kingdom. It is a charming city with the most important Buddhist temple in the country and is set around an ancient artificial lake amongst rolling hills that are covered by forests and tea plantations. Set in the mountainous area of the island, there are fantastic views over the city from some of the hotels. Wandering about in Kandy is a fun experience, with crossroads and interconnecting byroads – all forming an intertwined complex. Most pavements are dominated by vendors selling garments, lotteries, toys and various fancy items – making passing through look almost impossible, especially during festive seasons. The main market area in the heart of the town is frequented often for its array of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat stalls, sweets, clothes, fancy goods and what not…!
Kandy is a great place to buy gemstones. Sapphires of all colors, rubies, tourmalines and spinels can all be found here. Visitors are also invited to have a look around their workshop, where they will be able to see the design, and cutting, polishing and setting processes. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha in the late afternoon.
Ever since it was founded in the 16th Century, it has housed one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism – a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre and which is now protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth. See the blessing ceremony with all the fanfare, drums, trumpets and brightly colored Monks performing their rituals. There is also traditional dance performance which you will enjoy in the town in the late afternoon. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
KANDY – HABARANA – 2 and half hours
Day 07 - After breakfast checkout from the hotel and proceed to Habarana. While continuing to Habarana 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 your journey, enroute visit 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. Checking to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Recommended hotels Aliya Resort / Habarana village / Camellia Resort
HABARANA – SIGIRIYA – POLONNARUWA – HABARANA – 3 hours
Day 08 - After breakfast proceed to Sigiriya. The legendary sky citadel of Sigiriya, the “Lion Rock” famous for its frescoes of ‘Celestial Maidens’ is possibly the most impressive site in Sri Lanka. Built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century on top of a vast 200m granite rock it took seven years to build and was abandoned after ten years of occupation when the King, defeated by his brother, committed suicide. Although it is a steep climb, the views and frescoes are definitely worth the effort. Sigiriya is best visited first thing in the morning or just before sunset when it is cooler and less crowded. After Sigiriya you can have a Village tour. After the village tour continue to Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa located 45 km from Habarana was the islands second ancient capital. In 11th 13th AD, the medieval capital of Polonnaruwa was one of the great urban centers 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 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. 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. End of the day return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
In Habarana you can have an Ayurveda Herbal Massage. (Optional). This is the ideal place to have it.
HABARANA – TRINCOMALEE – 2 hours
Day 09 - After breakfast checkout from hotel to proceed to Trincomalee for your beach stay. Checking to hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Recommended hotels: Anilana Nilaveli / Nilaveli beach hotel
During your beach stay you can go to a pigeon Island by boat, Trinco city tour.
Day 10- Leisure
Day 11- Leisure
TRINCOMALEE – ANURADHAPURA
Day 12 - After breakfast checkout from the beach hotel to proceed to Anuradhapura. Checking to Palm Garden Village hotel / Kanola Luxury Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
ANURADHAPURA - COLOMBO
Day 13 - After breakfast checkout from the hotel proceed to Colombo. Checking to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Recommended hotels: Cinnamon Grand / Cinnamon lake side / Galadari / Ramada hotel
Day 14 - After spending two weeks in this beautiful island time to leave it. Checkout from the hotel to transfer to airport on given time. Please do note, that you are required to be at the airport two and half hours before the actual departure time.
TOUR END
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.
Mobile/WhatsApp: 00 94 777 366 633 Email ct@cyriltours.com Web: www.cyriltours.com
NAME |
|
COUNTY |
|
|
|
PHONE/WhatsApp |
|
YOUR REQUEST |
|
OUR SERVICES ARE VAN, MINI COACHES, BUSES OR CAR AND DRIVER FOR YOUR TRANSPORTATION
HOTEL RESERVATIONS, HONEYMOON PACKAGES, TREKKING TORUS
TOUR PLANING, TOUR GUIDES, CHAUFFEUR GUIDES IN SRI LANKA
 "We are glad to meet Cyril. He is very kind and patient, very professional in his work. He have lot of knowledge about history of the places and the things that happened in Sri Lanka. He knows all the roads and places very well. Very friendly and stand on time. The tour he recommended us and places were excellent. He replied immediately for mails which we send. He was flexible when we asked him to stop in different places and to change our program. He speaks very good English and explanations..." Ruty Ben Haim from Isarel
 "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
 "Thank you Cyril for making our Christmas holiday fun so smoothly and easy. We loved Sri Lanka and look forward to retuning again. Cyril, your knowledge and service was outstanding and it was so refreshing to have such a very highlevel of service. We will be sure to recomond your service and travel agency to our friends. Please feel free to use us as a reference, you can use my email or phone number to clients." Bruce Larson & family from USA
 "Dear Cyril, Thank you for truly amazing oneweek tour your beautiful country.We have seen so many amazing sites in such a short space of time. From Sigiriya to beautiful temples, Scenic tea gardens of Nuwaraeliya the colonial land ark hotel Mount Lavinia. We have seen so much more. You have made this an utterly memorable holiday with your expert knowledge, amazing, facinating stories, patience, careful+safe drivingand your unforgetable smile. We will cetainly recommonding your tours to all of fr..." Sara Kitson - UK
 "We came for a wedding and then embarked on an amazing holiday. Cyril show us magnificent sights and scenery of Sri Lanka. To do the country just we need to return with more time. Many of the sites we visited just made us want to know more about them, even though Cyril was a fountain of knowledge. We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Cyril and his excellent company, and it was so nice to go home a guardian angel looking after us. He is consistently courteous & good humored and now fe..." Andy Powell UK
 "Cyril was an excellent guide and gave us a very good insight into the history and cultures of Sri Lanka. He was always polite, helpful and prompt. His driving was always calm and controlled - unlike some of the other vehicles we saw!!! We would recommend him to others traveling to Sri Lanka. WH - UK - January 2011" Wilson Harland
 "I want to thank Mr. Cyril for this 17 days long tour. He is an excellent chauffeur guide, always on time with a car more than the clean. He knows all the places in the Island and organized very well. Most of all, he is very kind person, always with a smile and ready to help. I want to reccommond him to all my friends. Ria Deleu Belgium Travel period 25 Jan 2020 - 10 Feb 2020 ( 17 days)" Mrs. Ria Deleu from Belgium
 "(10 days). Before the trip I did a lot of research here on the site and other sites on the tour options and after checking in we decided to go with a guide attached. Choice in was not easy and I started Travels "correspondence with more than ten guides to staying with the" chosen ". No doubt it was an excellent choice! Before Asbury on our guide, I wanted to note that after the visit, I understand the importance of taking guide (driver) suite. Roads and driving in Sri Lanka ..." Corey
 "We had a great time on last 10 days in on our honeymoon in beautiful Sri Lanka. Thank you very much for the stories, the explanations, driving, tips, care and always with a smile. Big thanks for you Cyril. We had an amazing honeymoon in this beautiful island! and you are the best guide and friend that we could have here!!! We will sure tell our friends and family about the trip and you!!! We will stay in touch and may be one day meet you again. Oded & Carol Israel 10 Oct 2014" Naim & Coral Fisher from Israel
 " Dear Cyril We spent a wonderful week with you. We were so pleased to have to visited your beautiful country and we will recommend you for all of our relatives and to friends. It has been a pleasure to spend these days with you, we will never forget nice smile on your face all the time. Thank you and if one day you would like to visit Switzerland we will be raedy take you around snowy mountans! All the best, Franz family" Dr. David franz from Swiss