Wild about Sri Lanka

Welcome to this beautiful country, today is your first day in Sri Lanka. Your guide and chauffeur will meet you at the airport and will drive you to Habaranna located in the North Central Plains. On the way, you will stop by the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The orphanage is a sanctuary for injured or orphaned elephants from all over Sri Lanka. The perfect time to visit is during the feeding or bathing time to see them in their natural habitat. After this stop, you will head straight to your hotel and check-in.

In the evening, it is time to discover the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. This fortress, built in the 5th century AD, is located in a high outcrop on the hill and was the royal seat of King Kassapa for 18 years.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habaranna.

After breakfast, you depart for Kandy. On your way, you will stop to visit the historic Dambulla Cave Temple. The temple is famous for the beautiful hand-painted ceilings and statues. There are five caves that make up the temple and the oldest of these caves is believed to go back to the 1st century.

In the afternoon, you will go on a city tour of Kandy. On your tour, you will enjoy panoramic views of the city from Upper Lake Drive and stop at the Market Square. You will also visit the Temple of Tooth or Dalada Maligawa, which is believed to be the home of Lord Buddha’s “tooth relic”. Don’t forget to buy some special souvenirs made from wood, copper, ebony, bronze, brass or ceramics, handlooms and other handicrafts. After the tour, you will go for a cultural show where you will witness traditional dance forms and rituals that are centuries old.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Kandy.

After breakfast today, you will leave for Nuwara Eliya. On the way, you will stop to see the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. The botanical gardens have over 5000 species of flora and quite a few of these are rare and endemic to the region. Don’t forget to visit the orchid house and explore the spice garden. You will then stop to visit the Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple as well as the Ramboba waterfalls and a tea factory before reaching Nuwara Eliya.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast in Nuwara Eliya, you will head to Yala via Ella.

Ella is a beautiful hill town which is famous for its cool climate and the natural scenery and picturesque views. The Ella Rock is another place you will visit, which presides over the area and the famous mountain pass Ella Gap, offering beautiful views of the surrounding valleys.

On the way, visit the Divurumpola Temple, where Sita underwent the Agni Pariksha. Reach Yala and check in to the hotel.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Yala.

Today, you will head out for an early morning safari at the Yala National Park. There are five blocks in the park, two of which are open to the public. Yala is located in the southeastern portion of Sri Lanka that touches the Indian Ocean.

You will then return to the hotel for breakfast and then leave for Bentota. You will see the unique stilt fishing technique in practice on the shores of Ahangama.

Then, you will visit the beautiful heritage city of Galle. The city has changed hands from Dutch to Portuguese to British and has survived a tsunami. The beautiful colonial architecture makes the city worth a visit.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Bentota / Kaluthara / Hikkaduwa.

Today, you will head to an adventurous boat ride on the Madu River. The river is extremely diverse and the avian and aquatic life in the river includes amphibians, reptiles, mammals, with over 14 species of land-dwelling molluscs and 11 species of agnatic molluscs.

Then, visit the Turtle Hatchery at Kosgoda, which is a conservatory established to save Sri Lanka’s turtles from extinction.

Upon reaching Bentota, you will be able to walk around the town and explore the beaches on your own. You might also see the rare Indian Heron.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Bentota / Kaluthara / Hikkaduwa.

After breakfast, you will leave Bentota and head to Colombo.

Colombo is the largest city in the country and it is a busy, vibrant city that provides the perfect mix of modern life and the previous colonial era. Visit a few historic, religious and commercial sites of Colombo on your city tour, along with the busy Fort and Pettah, the stunning residential Cinnamon Gardens, Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, and many more locations.

Colombo is also a great place for shopping. You can either shop in the high-end stores or go to the local markets for handicraft and handloom items.

Stay overnight in a hotel in Colombo.