Glimpse of Sri Lanka – 05 Nights 06 Days

After breakfast you will start with the Polonnaruwa Medieval City Tour, exploring the historic city and the second capital of Sri Lanka dating back to the 11th & 12th centuries AD.

At this World Heritage Site, you will witness the ruins of the Royal Palace, statues of King Parakramabahu and the Parakrama Samudraya.

After lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Minneriya National Park for an adventurous afternoon jeep safari.

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, head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Habarana.

Back to the hotel and relax

After breakfast, you will head to the hill capital of Sri Lanka – Kandy.

On the way, visit the Moragahakanda Dam – The Moragahakanda Dam is a high gravity dam with a height of 65 meters and is created with an active storage capacity of 521 million cubic meters and is four times bigger than the gigantic Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa. The dam is also used for irrigation, water supply to 2000 tanks across the country, inland fishing and power generation.

Thereon transfer to visit a traditional village in Wasgamuwa and actively support a cause against human-elephant conflict, First visit the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) to be greeted by a traditional greenish orange drink presented by villagers. After a brief presentation of approx. 15mins hop into the jeeps and head into the heart of the Village where you will witness the hardships faced by poor villagers daily owing mainly to the human-elephant conflict. At the point the villagers welcome the visitors, where they could walk around and enjoy the surroundings of the village and then do the distribution of orange plants to the relevant household at the village temple or school.

Then you will actively engage in an orange tree-planting session around the village – a tree that is believed to keep away wild elephants from entering the village and destroying crops of farmers. Each person will plant one orange plant. Planting holes or planting pits will be all dugged and prepared. (During the extreme dry season which is from July to September planting trees cannot be done.  During this period, the activities would be helping with irrigation, fertilizing, plants and tree inspection)

Then walk into a traditional house for a fascinating Sri Lankan meal carefully and deliciously prepared by local hands.

After lunch, you will continue the roads along the towering mountains passing lush grasslands bursting into bloom and Lankan damsels selling king coconuts by the sideway. Take an occasional peek out of the window and you will see mist-covered landscapes studded with pools of cool waters, strolling wildlife, windy brown streets and an abundance of lush greenery. Consider yourself lucky if you happen to see a passing elephant or any other wildlife across the road during your travel and do not forget to capture the breath-taking view of the Knuckles range.

Take a slight de tour to visit The Mahiyanganaya Temple – the first stupa built in Sri Lanka during the era of Lord Buddha. It is believed to be the site of Gautama Buddha’s first visit to the country, and is one of the Solos Asthana, the 16 sacred religious locations in Sri Lanka You will be travelling and zigzagging through the famous ‘18-hair-pin-bends’ road which will be a thrilling journey for you to reach the Hill Capital Kandy.

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, you will spend the night 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, 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 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.
Check in to the Hotel

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 beach front. 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. These waterfalls are a striking sight to see and do not forget to capture as many pictures you can.

On the way to Bentota, 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
Check into the hotel and relax.

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 adventure in Sri Lanka!