Welcome to Sri Lanka:
You'll be greeted by a member of our team when you arrive. Following that, you will be introduced to your local chauffeur at the airport, who will accompany you on your trip. After a briefing proceed to your hotel.
Continue on your way to Negombo. It will take at least 20 minutes to get there.
Negombo Sightseeing:
Sri Lanka is known as the pearl of the Indian Ocean. As it is an island, one of the main famous and delicious dishes is seafood which can be purchased in good quantity and quality. To have your own experience of fresh seafood, you will visit to the fish market in Negombo, a place filled with fisherman wearing sarong and seafood lovers all around. If you could manage to get out of the bed before 6 O’clock in the morning, you will be able to see the returning fishing boats with the rising golden sun in the beach.
Negombo to Sigiriya:
Continue to Sigiriya. The drive will take maximum 4 hours and also this depends on the road traffic.
Hiriwadunna Village Safari:
Hiriwadunna, The trek through the archetypal Sri Lankan typical village is far from the hustle and bustle of city life, also an incredible opportunity to be immerged in the nature and culture.
Activity No: 01 – Bullock Cart Ride– 45 Minuets Bullock Cart (Double Ox Cart) – Locally called as in Sinhalese‘’Gon-Karaththa’’ which will transport through the next phase of the adventure. The journey continues through dense shrub forests, Paddy lands and observing many forest birds and other wild life including monkeys, wild hares, Mongoose, lizards, peacocks, parrots and even elephants. Sightseeing of the rural village day life possible while on the cart ride. Also discover a variety of seasonal fruits which can be seen on nearby trees in front of every house in the village. Lie back and enjoy the flashes of blue sky through the cover of the trees as the carter expertly guides his animals.
Activity No: 02 – Catamaran Safari with bonus ‘Chena Visit’ 01 Hour Catamaran Safari at Hiriwadunna Lake - A voyage by an authentic fishing catamaran (locally named as ‘’Oruwa’’) atop of the glassy surface of the scenic Hiriwadunna Lake. The journey takes you to a ''Chena'' (Slash & Burn Cultivation land) witness the farming techniques & enjoy an aromatic ginger tea with Palm Jaggery or a herbal tea or a sweet king coconut. On your way back observe the greenly marshlands and scented tropical dry-zone huge wild trees.The lake which is a home of many amazing bird species and rare butterflies and dragonflies also chance of experiencing bird watching while on the Catamaran such like Peacocks, green pigeons, cormorants, green bee-eaters,variety of King fisher’s, Hawks- Eagles, fish owls, Herons, egrets, flycatchers and many more birds also Grey and Toque monkeys can be seen on the trees besides of the lake.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress:
Sigiriya Rock Fortress which was built by King Kashyapa in a mere seven years as his citadel. Apart from the fact that it is a fortress, fantastic side of engineering is also a fact to mesmerize about Sigiriya Rock. The palace was built on top of the rock, where all the things have been carried physically by men. Unfortunately, only a little part of the palace remains on the summit which is still can be seen after climbing the rock. Moreover, the amazing countryside view of Sri Lanka can be seen from the top of the rock.
4X4 Jeep Safari Excursion
Minneriya National Park:
Minneriya National Park a place which can be best visited during June till October as the elephants may migrate to Kaudulla national park at other times. Giant herds of wild elephants gather around an ancient water tank, which was built by the Ceylon kings to bath and drink. You will be amazed to see more than fifty elephants at the same time in one place. Depending on where recent elephant sightings have been reported, you will visit Minneriya National Park or Kaudulla National Park
Kaudulla National Park:
Kaudulla is the newly established national park in the heart of the cultural triangle. Kaudulla in the country and has excellent potential for viewing elephant and other species of wildlife. The location is situated in 30 km away from Polonnaruwa District in North central province.
Dambulla cave temple - Golden Temple of Dambulla:
Dambulla where there is the imposing rock tower over the plain with carved treasures init. Dambulla cave, the world recognized heritage was carved by king Valagambahu back in the first century BC. Also, there is a 14-meter-long carving of Buddha with all the Buddhist magnificence of the highest order.
Spice Garden Matale:
Visit a spice garden in Matale to see many different types of spices Sri Lanka is famous for. Just 25 km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Matale spice gardens are among the best on the island. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. A processing and training unit has been set up in the area and farmers are grouped in a cooperative to ensure fair prices and you will also be able to purchase spices.
Sigiriya to Kandy:
Continue to Kandy. The drive take minimum 3 hours also this depends on the road traffic.
Kandy Sightseeing:
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Kandy which is a UNESCO world heritage site. The historic city about 480 m above sea level surrounded by mountains was known to Sri Lankan as Kanda Uda Rata, which means the hill country. Kandy was home to Sri Lanka's last independent Kingdom, which survived two centuries of colonial incursion before finally falling to the British at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Visit the Peradeniya University campus and catch a panoramic view of the picturesque town from Upper Lake Drive.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya:
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, where you will discover a wide variety of plants, flowers and spices which are only known in Sri Lanka. (It depends how much time you want to spend). You can walk around and check out the best quality gem and Jewellery shops in this neck of the woods (Premadasas Gem & Jewellery). Also, you can walk around the Kandy Lake under the shades of the big trees.
Gem & Jewellery Shop:
Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean, has been known to the world for centuries as a land blessed with dazzling gemstones. Sea faring traders from all over the world chose this magical land as a much sought after port of call in their voyages searching for the world’s finest gem stones. Famous historical chronicles testify that royals around the world, including the English Royal Family have adorned their icons of monarchy with gems from Sri Lanka.
Temple of the Tooth:
In Kandy visit the famous Temple of the Tooth Relic which is believed to have the tooth of Buddha is also situated in Kandy. In the evening you will be able to attend the puja with hundreds of pilgrims passing by the beautifully lightened temple.
Kandyan Cultural Dance Performance:
Watch an amazing Kandyan dance performance. You’ll be amazed as you witness the variety of skills, of which amongst is the incredible fire walking.
Train Journey - Kandy to Hatton:
You will get onto a train and head towards the Tea Mountains situated in Hatton while watching the verdant surrounding. You will be received by your chauffeur in the railway station who will drive you up to 4000 feet altitude to reach your hotel.
Tea Factory visit:
Have you ever wondered why Sri Lankan tea tastes so good? So, this is the day for you to discover the truth about the Sri Lankan tea. To discover this, you will visit a tea estate with a guide who will explain you the process of making tea. On the way to the factory, you can see the Tamil women who will be working among the green tea leaves plucking them. Inside the factory you can see the process of weighing, drying, fermenting, and packing. At last, you will be able to taste the tea from that factory and enjoy the moment.
Adam's Peak:
Adam's Peak is a 2,243 m (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well known for the Sri Pada, i.e., "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, which in Buddhist tradition is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Islamic and Christian tradition that of Adam, or that of St. Thomas. You have to start very early at 2AM and there will be many locals making the pilgrimage to the top old and young so you are never alone when going there!! This excellent hike is with 6000 stairs, however it is one great experience and you should definitely go there and make it to really feel Sri Lankan atmosphere. Normally it takes like 4 hours to get to the top. You have to be at the top at lease by 6 AM for the sunrise. If you are very fit it will only take two and half hours to reach the peak so leave a little later if you are fit. Make sure to dress warm!
The pilgrims season to Sri Pada traditionally starts on the full moon of December and ends on the full moon of April. Most people make the climb at night so they can arrive in time for the sunrise. Alternatively, you can climb up during the day, stay overnight and go down the next morning. This way you can avoid the crowds, climb at a leisurely pace, have plenty of time to enjoy the view, see the sunset and get the best place to observe the sunrise in the morning. Accommodation on the summit is basic and you would have to bring your own food and perhaps a blanket or sleeping bag. However, whenever you decide to go, check the weather report before setting out. Rain can make for a miserable trip and it is more likely that cloud or mist will obscure the view. Out of season you can still do the climb, you'll just need a torch (flashlight).
Horton Plains National Park - World's End:
You will be starting your journey early morning (6 am) with packed breakfast as you have a big day ahead. Horton Plains National Park the highest plateau of the island. To make sure to see the wildlife and the magnificent view before it is covered with mist. It is often considered to resemble the highlands of Scotland. Among the natural habitat of twenty one of Sri Lanka‘s endemic birds,four species are only endemic in Horton Plains. This is a very good place to be visited by bird lovers as there the birds can be observed while walking in the open space. If you are fortunate enough, you will be able to see the very shy purple faced leaf-monkey, which is one of the 25 critically endangered primates in the world. Afterward, you will be walking through the danger zone leading to the gentle trek to World’s End, a steep of 1050 meter drop into the valleys underneath. Cautiously walk in the edge as the wind will be blowing gently. If it is a clear day you will be able to see 81 km away standing from there up until the Indian Ocean. The nature walk in the national park it’s about 9 km’s walk through rocky, uphill, downhill & narrow patches and this excursion will take 3 – 4 Hrs. Climate of Horton plains - The average annual temperature will be 14-18 degrees Celsius.
Train Journey - Hatton to Ella:
Continue to Ella by train. You will get onto a train and head towards the Tea Mountains situated in Ella while watching the sublimely verdant surrounding.
The Nine Arches Bridge:
The Nine Arches Bridge (also called The Bridge in the sky) is one of the most iconic bridges in Sri Lanka and is one of the best examples of British railway constructions when Ceylon was yet a colony of the British Empire. It is located in Demodara, between Ella and Demodara railway stations. As of the past decade the surrounding area has seen a steady increase of tourism due to the bridge's architectural ingenuity and the profuse greenery in the nearby hillsides.
Little Adam's Peak:
Little Adam's Peak is a brisk 2 hour walk through tea plantations before you climb the summit via large steps. Once at the top, put your feet up and enjoy the amazing views.
Ella to Udawalawe:
Continue to Udawalawe. The drive will take minimum 2 1/2 hours also this depends on the road traffic.
Udawalawe elephant transit home:
The Udawalawe Elephant Transfer Home is a facility within Udawalawe National Park in Sri Lanka that was established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation. Its primary objective is to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for ultimate release back into the wild.
Udawalawe to Yala:
Continue to Yala. The drive will take a maximum of 2 hours also this depends on the road traffic.
4X4 Jeep Safari Excursion
Yala National Park:
Continue to Yala for the evening safari (If you are late for the evening safari you can still do this on next day early morning). You will visit the Yala National Park, where you can see an enormous number of wild animals. Here you can see the elephant preservation, leopards abound, and hundreds of bird species. Moreover, you will be able to explore the traces of the ancient civilization in that area. This takes an important place in the Sri Lankan history.
4X4 Jeep Safari Excursion
Yala National Park:
Usually leopards, lurk around at night to protect themselves from their predators.However, in Yala you will be able to see the leopards ruling the roost. Also,you can see that people trying to click photos of those strolling leopards from their jeeps. They have the highest population in this part of the world.Furthermore, you can see the herds of elephants bathing in many watering holes.This is the greatest chance to take photos of the nature and wild animals with a clear near shot.
4X4 Jeep Safari Excursion
Bundala National Park:
Bundala National Park is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds in Sri Lanka. Bundala harbors 197 species of birds, the highlight being the greater flamingo, which migrate in large flocks. Bundala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1969 and redesignated to a national park on 4 January 1993. In 1991 Bundala became the first wetland to be declared as a Ramsar site in Sri Lanka. In 2005 the national park was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the fourth biosphere reserve in Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 245 kilometers (152 mi) southeast of Colombo.
Stilt Fisherman:
This is no ordinary fishing,there might be several methods of catching a fish but this one is mind-boggling. Fishermen in Sri Lanka use stilts to catch a fish. Stilt Fishing is an old tradition practiced by around 500 fishing families in Galle, in southwestern-most Sri Lanka, especially around the towns of Koggala, Kathaluwa and Ahangama. They usually fish during sunset, noon and sunrise, with each one taking their elevated position and balancing about 2 meters above the water. As you can see in the picture front slider, there is a vertical pole engrafted into the sea bed, attached to it is a cross bar, called petta, on which the fishermen do the balancing act. So with one hand they hold the stilt and the other hand they have a fishing rod or a line to catch spotted herrings and small mackerels, which are then kept in a plastic bag tied around their waist or the pole.
Whale and dolphin watching - Mirissa:
Today you will take an excursion (3-4 hrs sea safari) to Mirissa departing at 6 am. Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to spot whales, being home to 26 out of the 80 cetacean species found in the world. Blue whales, the largest known animals on earth, travel alone and can sometimes be seen over the continental shelf, which comes within less than 3 miles from the coast, during their migration period. There is also a good chance of seeing pods of sperm whales a little further out and the possibility of spotting Bryde’s whale,dwarf sperm whale, unidentified beaked whale, spinner dolphin, striped dolphin and Indo-Pacific bottle nose dolphin. With the deep water so close to the shore and the seasonally changing monsoon currents producing ever-changing blooms of plankton, It’s no wonder this is such a great spot for these amazing creatures.Between December and April is the best time to see them, the peak months being December.
Galle Sightseeing:
Visit Galle, a coastal area in the South which has a great colonial influence. In the afternoon, you can visit the Fort which was built and occupied by Portuguese, Dutch, and British. You also can walk around the beautiful old, Dutch ramparts sticking out to the sea. Moreover, a visit to the beach will give you a glimpse view of the sunset in the evening.
Galle to Colombo:
Proceed to Colombo using the Southern Expressway. The Southern Expressway, also known as the Southern Lanka Distributor is Sri Lanka's first E Class highway. The 126-kilometre-long (78 mi)highway links the Sri Lankan capital Colombo with Galle and Matara, major cities in the south of the island. The expressway reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle to one and a half hours from the current four to five hours. On your way to Colombo you will be able to see the richness of history in this city, as this country was once been colonized by Portuguese,Dutch, and British, you can see the reflection of the colonization in architecture, people’s attitudes, clothing, and food. If you choose to roam and explore the city, you will be able to see the existing colonial buildings beside Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and contemporary styles of architecture. The drive to Colombo will take 1 ½ to 2 hours also this depends on the road traffic after you exit the Southern Expressway.
Colombo Sightseeing:
Galle Face Green, Galle Face Hotel, Dutch Hospital, Old Parliament, Old Colombo Light House, Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo Harbour, Slave Island Area, Gangarama Seema Malakaya, War Memorial, Public Library, National Museum, Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo Town Hall, Race Course, Independence Square, Replica of Aukana Buddha Statue, and BMICH.
Ministry Of Crab:
Late in the evening (Optional) enjoy the dinner at one of the best restaurants "Ministry of Crab" runs by former cricketer Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara. Reservations required otherwise they may run out of crabs as the crabs are only for reserved tables. So keep in mind that you need to make a reservation beforehand and we at Luxurious Sri Lanka will assist you on reserving the seats.
Colombo to Bandaranike International Airport:
It's time to say goodbye. Look back on a wonderful time in Sri Lanka and many impressions that the country has given you. You will be collected at your accommodation and transferred to the airport. The drive to Bandaranaike International Airport will take 45 minutes.
