Highlights of Sri Lanka

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: London -- Sri Lanka
Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines.
Day 2: Colombo
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. This afternoon is spent at leisure – take the opportunity to relax at the hotel or you may want to venture into the city to do a spot of shopping or sightseeing. In the evening you will enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan dining experience at your hotel. Overnight at the Cinnamon Grand hotel. (D)
Day 3: Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - Habarana
After an early breakfast you will set out for the cultural hotspot of Sri Lanka – Habarana.  En route, visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage where you will have the chance to get up close and personal to these beautiful creatures and experience the delightful sight of up to 50 elephants playing in the nearby river. Afterwards, continue on your journey to Habarana - you may want to sample fresh fruit and other local Sri Lankan delicacies on your way with the assistance of your guide.  Check into the Chaaya Village, your home for the next 3 nights and spend the rest of the day at leisure. (B/D)
Day 4: Sigiriya - Minneriya National Park
It’s another early start today as we visit the popular tourist site of Sigiriya Rock. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions; the most impressive facets of which are the water gardens, the mirror wall with ancient graffiti, the lion platform and the summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory.  Later this afternoon, you will set out on a 4x4 jeep safari to Minneriya National Park to see herds of wild elephants and lots of other wildlife in their natural habitat (Kaudulla or Eco Park may be used depending on the migration of Elephant herds). (B/D)
Day 5: Polonnaruwa
After a leisurely breakfast, leave for Polonnaruwa to witness the ruins of this medieval and ancient capital of Ceylon. See the impressive sculptures at Polonnaruwa - highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite - a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Late afternoon and evening is spent at leisure. (B/D)
Day 6: Hiriwaduna - Dambulla - Kandy
After breakfast set out to Hiriwaduna for a 3 hour trek through a typical village. Experience a hive of early morning activity, wildlife and local villagers on your walk. Look out for forest birds and other wildlife including monkeys, python and even elephant if you are lucky. Afterwards visit the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temples – one of the largest and best preserved cave temple complexes in Sri Lanka. Located in the north central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 1st century BC, is an amazing complex of 5 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Proceed to Kandy and check into the Chaaya Citadel, your home for the next 3 nights. (B/D)
Day 7: Kandy
After a leisurely breakfast and a morning with some free time to enjoy the hotel’s facilities, take an afternoon tour of Kandy.  A beautiful city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its centre, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens.  The highlight of the city’s calendar is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the casket enclosing the tooth is taken in procession for ten glittering nights in July/August by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and approximately 100 Elephants.  In the evening enjoy a traditional cultural dance performance. (B/D)
Day 8: Kandy – Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
This morning you will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens.  Located 460m above sea-level close to Kandy and surrounded on three sides by the river Mahaweli, the gardens were founded in 1824. Some of the best and most valuable collections of plants and trees in the world (more than 4000 species, indoor and outdoor) are available here and within the gardens is the famous Orchid House which boasts of the largest collection of orchids in Asia. The rest of the day is spent at leisure. (B/D)
Day 9: Nuwara Eliya
Following breakfast you will leave for Nuwara Eliya. Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate, Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country, producing some of the world’s best tea.  The mountain slopes and valleys are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. Red or green roofed plantation bungalows, English country style homes and hotels with lovely flower gardens also scatter the region. You will get the opportunity to visit a tea plantation and factory and test the local brew for yourself! Overnight at The Grand Hotel. (B/D)

Day 10: Elephant Transit Home – Yala National Park
It’s an early start today as you head off to Yala the safari capital of Sri Lanka. Visit the Elephant Transit Home. This is an admirable initiative which is sponsored by the Born Free Trust. Baby elephants that are injured or orphaned in the wild are brought to the Transit Home where they are cared for and rehabilitated in a natural setting. Once the elephants are strong enough they are radio collared and released in to the National Park in small groups. Afterwards you will continue on to Yala National Park and your home for the next 2 nights –Yala Village. (B/D)
Day 11: Yala National Park
Sri Lanka’s most famous and second largest National Park is popular for elephant, leopard, bear, crocodile and wild boar. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research, conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. Vegetation is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth while several salt and fresh water lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. Areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide. Your stay at Yala Village will include game drives into the Park to search for these elusive creatures. (B/D)

Day 12: Onwards Arrangements
After breakfast, and depending on your chosen onward arrangements, you will be transferred to one of the many Sri Lankan beach resorts for the final part of your stay. If you wish to transfer to the airport, which is approx 7-hour drive your flight must leave after 15.00, if you prefer an earlier flight, be prepared for an early start before breakfast and the additional cost of a private transfer. Transfer time to Galle is approx 4 hours and Colombo is approx 7 hours.