Arrive in Sri Lanka. Upon your arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by a representative of Sayang Holidays. You will then be escorted to your vehicle and introduced to your chauffeur to be transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel for your overnight stay.
Meals: None
Overnight in Negombo
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out at 10:00hrs and proceed to Pinnawela to visit the Elephant Orphanage (180 km/4 hrs). You will arrive at the orphanage by lunch, in time to witness the afternoon feeding.
The Elephant Orphanage provides a good chance for people to get up close and personal with a pachyderm. Go and have lunch by the river, as after feeding they are all brought down to bathe. Watching them from a vantage point with a cold drink is a pleasant experience.
Continue to Dambulla to visit the Cave Temple Complex in the late afternoon.
Dambulla is renowned for its Cave Temples, which were built by King Valagambahu during the 1st century BC in gratitude for the shelter he sought in the caves when fleeing from Indian invaders. Sited on a gigantic granite outcrop which towers more than 160m above the surrounding land, the caves are completely covered by ancient frescoes depicting religious and secular scenes. Protected within the caves are hundreds of statues of Buddha, many carved out of the rock itself, of which the largest is the 15m Dying Buddha.
You will arrive in Habarana in the early evening. Check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight in Habarana
After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to visit the Medieval Capital of Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa was the island's medieval capital between the 11th and 13th century. Built alongside a large ancient artificial lake, there are well-preserved ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas, and exquisite rock sculptures of Buddha at the Gal Vihara. Start with a visit to the museum which, although small, is excellent.
Later in the afternoon, visit Minneriya National Park by jeep.
Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8,890 hectares of Minneriya National Park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas, and is home to favourites such as sambhur deer and elephants. The central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3rd century AD by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze, as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in the shallow waters.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight in Habarana
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and proceed to visit the rock fortress of Sigiriya (approx. 125–130 km/4 hrs).
The legendary sky citadel of Sigiriya, the “Lion Rock” famous for its frescoes of ‘Celestial Maidens’ is possibly the most impressive site in Sri Lanka. Built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century on top of a vast 200m granite rock, it took 7 years to build and was abandoned after 10 years of occupation when the King, defeated by his brother, committed suicide. Although it is a steep climb, the views and frescoes are definitely worth the effort. Sigiriya is best visited first thing in the morning or just before sunset when it is cooler and less crowded.
Head south to Kandy, stopping enroute in Matale to visit the spice plantations that grow a variety of spices such as cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg, for which Sri Lanka was renowned and initially colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. You could also visit a batik factory and watch the production of the artistic fabric.
Arrive in Kandy and check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight in Kandy
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then rest of the morning is free to relax at your leisure.
In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the city of Kandy.
Kandy is the old capital of Ceylon and the seat of the last Singhalese kingdom. It is a charming city with the most important Buddhist temple in the country, which lies near an ancient artificial lake, amongst rolling hills that are covered by forests and tea plantations. Set in the mountainous area of the island, there are fantastic views over the city from some of the hotels.
Wandering about in Kandy is a fun experience, with crossroads and interconnecting byroads – all forming an intertwined complex. Most pavements are dominated by vendors selling garments, lotteries, toys and various fancy items – making passing through look almost impossible, especially during festive seasons. The main market area in the heart of the town is frequented often for its array of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat stalls, sweets, clothes, fancy goods, and what not.
Kandy is a great place to buy gemstones. Sapphires of all colours, rubies, tourmalines, and spinnels can all be found here. Visitors are also invited to have a look around their workshop, where they will be able to see the design, cutting, polishing, and setting processes.
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha in the late afternoon.
Ever since it was founded in the 16th Century, it has housed one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism – a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre, which is now protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth. See the blessing ceremony with all the fanfare, drums, trumpets, and brightly coloured Monks performing their rituals.
There is also a local dance performance which you will enjoy in town in the late afternoon. It is a little touristy, but entertaining nonetheless.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight in Kandy
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and proceed to Nuwara Eliya (80 km/2.5 hrs).
You will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya on your way in the morning.
Initially a royal park, it became a botanical garden in 1821 under British rule. Here, exotic crops such as coffee, tea, nutmeg, rubber, and cinchona (quinine) – all of which were to become important to the country’s economy, were first tested. The botanical gardens are fantastic, with an excellent orchid house and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world. For keen gardeners, a full morning is recommended to visit the gardens, possibly longer.
Proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Just outside Nuwara Eliya, you will visit a tea plantation and factory. Here you will learn the process of how two fresh tea leaves and a bud are converted in to that fine brown dust we call "tea".
Arrive in Nuwara Eliya and check in to the hotel, then enjoy a guided tour of the city.
Set in the cool and misty, hilly interior at an altitude of 1800m is the colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya. Built by the British in the 19th century as an escape from the sweltering heat of the lowlands, it came complete with half-timbered mock-Tudor houses with inglenook fireplaces & billiard tables, a golf course, race track, gentlemen’s clubs, and botanical gardens. Now a bustling town and the vegetable garden of Sri Lanka, it nonetheless gives you a glimpse into life in the colonial heyday. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight in Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and proceed to Colombo (180 km/5 hrs). Arrive in Colombo in the afternoon and take a tour of the city.
Facing the Indian Ocean and stretching along 14 km of the island’s western shores, Colombo used to be called the Garden City of the East. Things have changed, overcrowded buses and minivans have replaced the bullock carts, and the once quiet roads are now bustling with people and traffic. Yet, the city still has its charms with its complex assortment of tree-lines boulevards, colonial buildings, parks, open air markets, temples, lakes, churches, and now even skyscrapers. Colombo is the natural entry and exit point from the country. Its excellent shopping, great restaurants, and thriving art scene make it an enjoyable stop.
You will also visit the famous Gangarama Temple and the Historical Museum of Colombo.
Check in to the hotel in the late afternoon. Relax and enjoy dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight in Colombo
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home.
*Please note that you are required by the Airport & Aviation Authorities to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight.
Meals: Breakfast