The ‘Classical tour’ of Sri Lanka is an interesting tour filled with beautiful, exciting and awe-inspiring destinations and experiences you never knew of. This thrilling tour is an incredible journey following the less-travelled paths and includes the true essence of the tropical island’s attractions – ancient cities, temples, ruins, cultural sites, scenic routes and wildlife. Prepare yourself for the ultimate travel plunge to a land of unforgettable experiences, whilst you witness a fantastic blend of history, culture, traditions, architecture and landscapes at each of our picked destinations.
You will enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience as you will see the mist capped peaks of the central hills, pristine valleys weaving through lush green mountains, learn the historical past of the magnificent temples and colossal statues, rock climbs to explore caves, admire the spectacular panoramic views, embark on an adrenaline-packed jeep safari into the wilderness and much more. Sri Lanka is home to a bounty of spectacular destinations and scenic attractions, each with a story of its own. Embark on our carefully curated tour with signature experiences from start to finish, exclusively designed with you in mind.
Soon after you touchdown in Sri Lanka, an NKAR representative will welcome you at the airport. Here’s to an exciting tour ahead, and your first destination is Colombo – the commercial hub of Sri Lanka.
En-route to Colombo, you will engage in a Colombo city tour. The Colombo city tour from Fort and Pettah will cover all the commercial and residential areas of the city whilst sighting the key landmarks – Galle Face Green, old parliament, the lighthouse clock tower, Colombo harbour, Gangarama Temple in the Beira lake, Independence Square and the Viharamahadevi Park. After admiring the developing urban skyline with iconic skyscrapers, you can treat yourself with shopping when you visit Fort and Pettah, where you will find long streets filled with small shops on both sides. So, do not forget to bargain and get the best deals! Upon reaching your hotel followed by a delectable dinner, you will enjoy a relaxing stay at a cozy hotel in Colombo.
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Colombo.Kick starts your day with an early breakfast and you will be heading to Minneriya National Park for an adventurous jeep safari. On the way, you will be able to admire the distinctly varying landscapes and vegetation, whilst enjoying the scenic backdrops of beautiful fauna and flora. Take an occasional peek out of the window and you will see mountainous landscapes with small water pools, strolling wildlife, windy brown streets and an abundance of lush greenery with blooms. Capture as many pictures you can of the breath-taking panoramic views.
Upon reaching Minneriya enjoy an early Lunch, therefore you will engage in an exciting jeep safari that will take you into the wilds. The Minneriya national park situated 182 km away from Colombo in the North Central Plains of Sri Lanka, is home to a variety of fauna and flora. At the massive Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir, (the highlight of the park) you will witness the most awaited elephant gathering. This is a thrilling sight and experience, plus a memory to cherish for the rest of your life. The park is home to 24 species of mammals and over 170 species of birds, and out of the 25 species of reptiles recorded in the park 8 are endemic to Sri Lanka. After an exhilarating 3-hour safari in the wilds, you will head to Habarana to check-in at the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla/HabaranaYour day starts early today, with the climb to the country’s most famous and iconic rock fortress – Sigiriya. Recognized from miles away, the soaring ‘Lion Rock’ is an archeological wonder and a testament of Sri Lanka’s city planning, water gardens, engineering and fortification in the 5th century AD. The rock peak is home to an incredible blue-green landscape with lush green gardens and advanced irrigation systems. Declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO, you will be thrilled to see the beautiful frescoes and the fascinating mirror wall of the rock fortress. It is undoubtedly the most treasured historical monument in Sri Lanka. Once you climb down the rock fortress, you can enjoy your breakfast packet under a nice shady grove. After absorbing the majestic view, you will proceed to the ‘Hill Capital’ – Kandy.
Next, you will proceed to a nearby village to engage in an interesting village trek in Habarana which includes a boat ride and a bullock cart ride. You will enjoy the swaying ride in a bullock cart on an unpaved trail, nature walk through a scrub jungle, wading through a local stream, crossing a lake in an ‘oruwa’ – a traditional boat and spending time with a farmer harvesting crops. You will finally reward yourself with an authentic village lunch prepared by the farmer’s family with freshly picked ingredients cooked in clay pots over firewood. After enjoying a series of authentic Sri Lankan experiences, you will drive back to your hotel in Habarana for an overnight stay.
Drive back to the hotel and relax.
After breakfast, you will visit the Dambulla Cave Temple. Home to the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the Dambulla rock towers over the surrounding plains with over 80 documented caves. The caves contain 153 statues and 2,100 square meters of murals of Gautama Buddha and his life. Dambulla is a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka and the popular cave temple complex dates back to the 2nd century BC and is declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO. After learning more about the historical past of this cave temple, you will proceed to Kandy.
En-Route to Kandy you will visit the Matale spice garden to enjoy your Lunch, where you will see many different types of Sri Lankan spices and understand how the island is famous for its spices in the past and present while enjoying a complimentary head massage.
Situated, just 25 km from Kandy, the Matale spice garden is one of the best spots for spices on the island, and here you will be introduced to various spices and be shown how these spices are grown and processed much to your awe.
In the evening you will witness a colourful cultural show with an exciting agenda of traditional Sri Lankan dances and pageantry.
You will be captivated by the vibrant event filled with colourful costumes, graceful dances and oriental music, making it an unforgettable experience.
After dinner at the Hotel unwind into the night at a local pub, where you will get the perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals and see and experience the local pub. You will party your way into the night to the lively reggae played at the pub.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.Today you will embark on a city tour in Kandy (after breakfast) to visit The Sacred Tooth Relic temple – Kandy‘s key attraction and symbol of sovereignty enshrined in great splendour. The Esala Perahera held in August each year is a must-see, and this spectacular pageant honours the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. After visiting the tooth relic temple, you will drive around the iconic Kandy lake admiring the serene and stunning landscape merged with the beauty of nature.
Enjoy an early lunch at the Hotel before you transfer to board on an epic train ride from Kandy railway station to Nanuoya railway station, (Subject to Availability)
The train journey weaving through the scenic hill country is one of the most beautiful explorations in Sri Lanka. From the edge of soaring mountains, you will oversee the branching valleys from the mist capped mountains, sloping lush green tea plantations, villages dotted with houses, thick forests and whooshing waterfalls.
Chauffeur will pick you at the Nanuoya station and proceed to Pedro Tea Factory at Nuwara Eliya – Here you will participate in a walk-through to learn the process of Ceylon tea manufacturing.
In the evening, you will engage in the Nuwara Eliya sightseeing tour that covers the famous Gregory lake. Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill country and is one of the key locations for tea cultivation and is well known for its chilly climate and for being the coolest area in the tropical island. The city still preserves its ancient charm with its well-maintained colonial buildings and private homes with English-style lawns and blooming gardens. After absorbing the breathtaking landscape and the beauty of the iconic Gregory lake, after enjoying the sightseeing tour relish in a local arrack cocktail prepared by you together with your chauffeur guide whilst being surrounded by lovely landscape of colonial buildings with blooming gardens. Note down the recipe and preparation of your own cocktail.
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.After breakfast, you will proceed to Bentota – a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwestern coast. Its long white sandy beaches and pristine waters with coral-rich dive sites make it an attractive destination for a beach getaway and to unwind by the beachfront.
En-route to Bentota visit Devon Falls and St.Clair’s falls. Devon Falls also known as the ‘Veil of the valley’, is one of the most beautiful cascades of Sri Lanka located close to the Talawakelle town. It is named after a pioneer English coffee planter called Devon, whose plantation was close by to the waterfall. St.Clair’s falls is one of the widest falls in the country and is commonly known as the ‘Little Niagra of Sri Lanka’. These waterfalls are a striking sight to see and do not forget to capture as many pictures you can.
Lunch Stop at Kithulgala – Optional engage in White Water Rafting activities – Experience White Water Rafting in the picturesque Kelani River, covering 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids. This activity is for anyone above the age of 10 years with safety gear, modern rafts, and a comprehensive safety briefing will be given by our white water rafting instructors beforehand. The distance covered is around 5 KMs. The river and its surrounding will make you feel enchanted, with a memorable Experience during your White Water Rafting Tour in Kitulgala.
On the way, you will also visit the Bo tree and temple in Kalutara. The ‘Kalutara Bodhiya’ is an ancient Bo tree which was identified as one of the 32 saplings of the original Sri Maha Bodhi planted during the 2nd century BC in Anuradhapura. It remains a very important historical site to this day. After learning more about the history behind the temple, you will reach your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in Bentota.
Overnight stay at a Hotel in Bentota/Kalutara.Today is your last day on the paradise isle.
Indulge in a lavish spread of breakfast before proceeding to the airport for departure.
In Case the departure flight happens to be late in the night engage in Colombo City tour with lunch and an appropriate Sri Lankan Dinner arrangement will be made with a Local Family.
This brings you to the end of an exciting, fun-filled and memorable tour in Sri Lanka!
