Sri Lanka Classical Tour
Colombo (1nt), Habarana (3nts), Kandy (1nt), Nuwara Eliya (1nt), Yala (1nt), Colombo (1nt)
Starting in Colombo, this tour will take you to the cultural triangle where you will visit some of the famous sights including the Fortress in Sigiriya and the rock temples of Dambulla. The tour will take you to Trincomalee, the world’s 5th largest harbour and to the British Hill resort of Nuwara Eliya. After visiting the famous Elephant Orphanage, you will head towards the National Yala Park, to see the rich wildlife that Sri Lanka has to offer before heading south to Galle, an enormous old fort dating back to the 17th century.
Day 1: Arrival into Colombo / City Tour
On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Taj Samudra Hotel on bed & breakfast. You will then enjoy a city tour of the main sights including the Garrison Church of St. Peter and Cinnamon Gardens
Day 2: Colombo /Anuradhapura / Habarana
Leave for Anuradhapura the first capital of Sri Lanka. Its ruin’s today displays infinite details of rare beauty, delicately set in the world’s mightiest masses of monumental masonry second only to the Pyramids of Egypt. Check-in at the Cinnamon Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Habarana / Trincomalee / Habarana
After breakfast leave for Trincomalee, the world’s fifth largest natural harbor and a former Royal Navy base. Also visit Nilaveli, one of the finest beaches in the country. Return to Habarana for dinner and overnight stay the Cinnamon Lodge.
Day 4: Habarana / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Habarana
Today visit Sigiriya, a fascinating fortress, famed for its paintings. This afternoon visit Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval capital and a well-preserved metropolis of buildings and shrines. Return to Habarana for dinner and overnight stay at the Cinnamon Lodge.
Day 5: Habarana / Dambulla / Kandy
Today visit Dambulla, an archaeological treasure. Continue to Kandy en route visiting a Spice Garden at Matale. Check-in at hotel Mahaweli Reach. Later enjoy a tour of Kandy, the last capital of a classical Sinhalese Kingdom. Later witness a Kandyan Dancing performance. Late evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Mahaweli Reach Hotel.
Day 6: Kandy / Pinnawela / Kandy
Enjoy a visit to the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela, home to about 60 elephants. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Return to Kandy for dinner and overnight stay at Mahaweli Reach hotel.
Day 7: Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast leave for Yala and check-in at Yala Village hotel. Enjoy an evening visit of Yala National Park by 4x4. Yala is the most popular park with a vast array of animals including deer, peacock, elephant and wild buffaloes. Dinner and overnight stay at Yala Village hotel.
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya / Yala
After breakfast leave for Yala and check-in at Yala Village hotel. Enjoy an evening visit of Yala National Park by 4x4. Yala is the most popular park with a vast array of animals including deer, peacock, elephant and wild buffaloes. Dinner and overnight stay at Yala Village hotel.
Day 9-10: Yala / Galle / Colombo
En route to Colombo you will visit the Portuguese and Dutch fort in which the central city is contained. You will pass through some of the country’s finest beach resorts. Check-in at Taj Samudra Hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Departure home on last day.
If you are interested in this itinerary and want more information please do not hesitate to request more information about this tour.
If you have longer than a week, then this 9 night tour of Sri Lanka will offer more discoveries and take you further south to the fort of Galle