Day 1

Arrival / Sigiriya

Transfer via: Flight, arranged on your own, Private vehicle

Travel time: approximately 4.5hrs

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be greeted by your chauffeur guide and then be escorted to Sigiriya. You get the opportunity to visit a local Sri Lankan family for a coconut break en route. Once in Dambulla, get started with the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, home to many magnificent Buddha images and rock painting dating back to 2nd century BC. Upon arrival check in to hotel & relax

Note: Buddhism is extremely respected in Sri Lanka, any disrespectful words or acts may cause deportation or denial of entry, e.g. Buddha tattoos, kissing/climbing/riding Buddha statue, drinking alcohol inside a temple, etc.

Note: Driving time in the program is approximate, subject to the traffic, weather and road conditions.

Day 2

Sigiriya/Polonaruwa/Sigiriya

Meals: Breakfast

Travel time: approximately 2.5hrs

Visit Sigiriya in the morning, a massive rock fortress rising 183 meters above the surrounding green scrub jungle which is declared a world heritage site is perhaps the most memorable place for visitors to Sri Lanka. Built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century, on the top of a vast 200m granite rock, it took seven years to be built and was abandoned after ten years of occupation when the King, defeated by his brother, committed suicide. The well-planned complex included caved temples, bathing, ponds and Asia’s oldest surviving landscaped gardens. Today Sigiriya is famous for its frescoes painted in the pocket of the rock. The “Lion Stairway,” the “Mirror Wall” and the “Water Gardens” are its other highlights. Take an easy climb (steps) to the summit of the rock to view the ruins of the monastic complex, the views and frescoes are definitely worth the effort. Go as far as you like, it is all a delight even if you do not get to the top.

Continue to Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa was the island’s medieval capital between the 11th and 13th centuries. Built alongside a large ancient lake there are well-preserved ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas and exquisite rock sculptures of the Buddha. Today the visible remains are those of a Buddhist monastic congregation, which was practised meditation in total austerity. Established in 3rd century BC, it peaked in the 8 & 9 century AD. Rarely visited by tourists this mystical place is incredibly beautiful and unspoilt with shady forests filled with streams, pools and granite boulders and ancient elegant stone pathways, which wind through the forest to the ruins of the various meditation platforms and Ayurvedic hospitals. Return to hotel & relax

Day 3

Sigiriya/ Kandy

Transfer via: Private vehicle

Meals: Breakfast

Travel time: Approximately 3.5hrs

Today you head for Ceylon’s old capital of Kandy. Stop for a visit to learn a wide range of spices at the Spice Garden en route of which the15-minute complimentary Ayurveda Massage is also highly recommended. You may witness a cookery demonstration which is conducted by staff of the spice garden. Continue to Kandy and once in Matale stop over at Sri Muthumariamman Thevasthanam Hindu temple. A priest will show you the five enormous, colourful ceremonial chariots pulled along by people during an annual festival. (Opening hrs 6.00am -1.00pm)

Upon arrival in Kandy take a visit to Kandy’s three main temples: the Lankatilaka , Gadaladeniya and Embekke Temples belonging to the 14th century. Gadaladeniya is built of stone and reminds us of the South Indian influence of the period. Lankatilaka temple is a magnificent brick building in white and in the shrine room is found a meditating painting of the Buddha. Embekke temple is famed for its carved wooden pillars with intricate designs.

Evening-appreciates a vivid and traditional Rangahala Cultural Dance (Kandyan Dance)

5.00pm-6.00pm

Note: Driving time in the program is approximate, subject to the traffic, weather and road conditions.

Day 4

Kandy

Meals: Breakfast

Wake up early in the morning & need to be at Temple of tooth relic around 5.15am, Drumming begins around 5.am in the morning, signifying the ‘aluyam tevava’ or the service at dawn. Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic – Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist shrine, the Pooja Ritual held in the temple with all the fanfare, drums, trumpets and brightly coloured Monks definitely show you how special and spiritually important the temple means to Sri Lanka. You are attending morning ceremony (5.30 am -6.30), will be given a portion of Kiripidu(Milk rice) to offer with your utmost respect to Tooth Relics of Lord Budha, also visit  Buddhist Museum, Council Hall, Museum for Raja Tusker later return to hotel & take you breakfast

Thereafter take an interesting visit to Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya which boasts 300+ varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees.

Later you will visit a batik factory. Batik has been an ancient procedure of painting cloth and today Sri Lanka is among the world leaders in the design of batik. You see the various phases of batik manufacturing, truly quality design, artistry and workmanship. Also you may try with Block printing under supervision of staff of batik factory

If you have spare time you will have a walk around beautiful Kandy Lake. The lake was created in 1807 by Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last ruler of the kingdom of Kandy. Several minor local chiefs protested because their people objected to labour on the project. In order to stop the protests they were put to death on stakes in the lake bed. The central island was used as Sri Wickrama Rajasinha’s personal harem. Later the British used it as an ammunition store and added the fortress-style parapet around the perimeter. On the south shore, in front of the Malwatte Maha Vihara, the circular enclosure is the monks’ bathhouse.

Note -If your travelling dates fall in the month of July OR August (subjected to availability) –in the evening you may witness Kandy Esala festival

Kandy Esala Perahera -The Procession commences from Temple of tooth relic. The pageant passes the surrounding streets. About 50-60 dressed and decorated elephants take part in this event. A variety of traditional dancers and drummers also participate in the Perahara while hundreds of people follow the procession. We will have reserved seats, though some of you photographers may like to jump into the street to get the shots you want! This is an exciting and authentically experience. Our chauffeur guide will wait at some place which is close to you. After the celebration is finished, you will be taken to the hotel

Day 5

Kandy/ Galle

Transfer via: Private vehicle,

Meals: Breakfast

Travel time: Approximately 5hrs

After breakfast, check out and head to Galle which is known to be one of the best beaches in the Southern Sri-Lanka. At the beginning get escorted to Giragama tea plantation and a tea factory, where the world’s best Ceylon Tea is produced. After learning about the process of manufacturing tea, get hands-on experience of tea picking and don’t forget to sip a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory

Upon arrival in Galle visit the exotic Galle Dutch Fort in Galle, which among the best preserved fortresses in Sri Lanka. Later in evening take in the sunset from the rampart will make today unforgettable in your Sri Lanka tour.

Day 6

Galle/ Colombo

Transfer via: Private vehicle

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Colombo. Upon arrival in Colombo, take a guided city tour to explore Colombo’s colonial legacies including the Independence Square, Gangarama Temple of Colombo, mile-long promenade of Galle Face Green and Colombo’s National Museum etc. Stop for taking pictures  by the former British Administrative Center. Later you may indulge in shopping in Colombo; we will give you a 5% discounted voucher to shopping at ODEL, also visit Laksala-Truly handmade design for art & craft

Note -if your travelling dates fall in the month of February (subjected to availability) –in the evening you may witness Colombo Navam perahera festival

Navam Perahara. (Similar to Esala Perahara held in Kandy.) It starts a day prior to Navam Full moon Poya Day. The Procession commences from Gangaramaya Temple around 7 pm. The pageant passes Colombo Fort, President’s House, Kollupitiya via Galle Face and reaches the temple by 9 pm. About 60 dressed and decorated elephants take part in this event. A variety of traditional dancers and drummers also participate in the Perahara while hundreds of people follow the procession. We will have reserved seats, though some of you photographers may like to jump into the street to get the shots you want! Just like the Kandy Perahera this will be n authentically Sri Lankan experience.

Day 7

Colombo /Exit

Transfer via: Private vehicle

Meals: Breakfast

In times you will be escorted to the airport for your departure flight.

Note: Driving time in the program is approximate, subject to the traffic, weather and road conditions