Experience Luxury in Sri Lanka

Day 1

Airport – Sigiriya

Arrive in Sri Lanka. You will be met by a representative of Gateway Sri Lanka Holidays and transferred to Sigiriya. (Approximately 160 Km 4 ½ Hrs)

En route Visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage – Approx 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 baby elephants born as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by

Check in to the hotel.

Rest of the day leisure at hotel

Day 2

Sigiriya – Dambulla – Sigiriya

Breakfast at the Resort / Hotel
In the morning visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ”Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ”Heavenly Maidens” of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.

Evening visit Dambulla Cave Temple.

Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is a World Heritage Site (1991) in Sri Lanka situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented Caves in the surrounding area. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square meters. Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara and Buddha’s first sermon.

Rest o the day leisure at hotel

Day 3

Sigiriya – Matale- Kandy

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel
Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandy (Approximately 90Km 3Hrs)

Kandy, the hill capital is another “World Heritage Sites”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally lost to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhist of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summer house. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dances & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.

Rest of the day free for independent activities.

Day 4

Kandy – Peradeniya – Kandy

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel

Visit Upper Lake Drive, Market Square & the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession. Evening you could witness a cultural performance by various Sri Lankan dancers and musicians.

Royal Botanical Gardens
147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy.
There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as
well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid
House are popular with tourists.

Afternoon visit Gem & Lapidary Museum in Kandy.
Evening enjoy Cultural show.
Cultural Show, today Kandy is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture.Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performance. This is the famous Kandy cultural program. This is one of the famous destinations in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It starts in the evening and runs for more than 1 hr. The skills of the traditional musicians of Kandy, their drums and dance are all very much entertaining. There is some 7 kind of dances. It’s really nice experience going to the cultural show. Near to the auditorium is the Temple of tooth of Buddha and so people after visiting the show they go the temple and there the security is very tight and you can sense the ethnic tension that is engulfing Sri Lanka.

Day 5

Kandy – Tea Plantation – Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel

Transfer from Kandy to Hatton (Nuwara Eliya) (Approximately 80 Km 2 ½ Hrs)
Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.
Transfer from Tea Plantation to Nuwara Eliya

Lunch,Dinner and Overnight Stay at Resort/Hotel

Day 6

Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel
Transfer from Resort/Hotel to Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the world’s best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia.

Lunch,Dinner and Overnight Stay at Resort/Hotel

Day 7

Nuwara Eliya – Kitulgala – Galle – Koggala

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel

Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Galle via Kitulgala (Approximately 240 Km 6-7 Hrs)

Transfer from Galle to Koggala

Overnight Stay at the Resort/Hotel

Day 8

Koggala – Galle – Koggala

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel
Transfer from Koggala to Galle
Galle was once the chief port of Ceylon and is a town rich in history. It was the center of the Dutch regime in the 17th century and the majestic Galle Fort ( spanning 90 acres ) bears testimony to this fact. The city of Galle is one of the well preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia and has been declared a ‘World Heritage Site’. The Dutch museum & the Dutch church are two famous tourist attractions in Galle. The city is also known for its delicate handmade lace and ebony carvings.
Transfer from Galle to Koggala
Overnight Stay at the Resort/Hotel

Day 9

Koggala – Galle – Colombo – Airport

Breakfast at the Resort/Hotel

Transfer from Koggala to Galle

Transfer from Galle to Colombo through new highway express (Approximately 125 Kms 2 Hrs) / Optional by Cinnamon Air.

In the evening commence colombo city tour with shopping

Thereafter transfer to airport to connect with the departure flight.
(Approximately 40 Kms 1 Hrs)