EXPLORE SRI LANKA - 10

Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Haputhale – Yala – Colombo (5 Days/ 4 Nights)

Day 01 – Arrival at Colombo airport – Kandy

Stop 01

Elephant Orphanage Pinwale

En-route visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela.The orphanage was created to protect abandoned and orphaned elephants. It has now grown into the most popular elephant attraction in the country and with good reason, for nowhere else except at Pageants (processions) are you likely to see so many elephants at close quarters. The elephants are controlled by their mahouts (keepers) who ensure they are fed at the right times and don’t endanger anyone but otherwise the elephants roam freely around the sanctuary area.

There are many elephants in residence from babies to young adults. Among the attractions, you will be able to witness elephants being led to a nearby river for bathing. You could also see the feeding of the baby elephants which is the highlight of the visit.

Bathing at river – 10.00am – 12.00pm

02.00pm – 4.00pm

Fruit Feeding - 9.00am – 9.45am

12.00p.m – 1.45pm

Stop 02

Tooth Relic Temple

Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha (Sri Dalada Maligawa), which houses the most important Relic of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka. A gold canopy was erected some years ago over the roof of the shrine room where it is placed. After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga and smuggled to the island by Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha on the instructions of her father King Guha Siva.

Stop 03

Shopping Batik Factory & Gem Shop

Stop 04

Culture Show

The Kandy Lake Club Cultural Dance Show is a stimulating Sri Lankan Arts, Dance and Cultural Heritage Show that is a must see for any visitor who visits the historic city of Kandy. The Kandy Lake Club Dance started in 1982 with the view of having a cultural dance performance bringing together all Sri Lankan dance types to one platform. It is the first Cultural Dance Show of its kind to be established in Sri Lanka. It has since become a tourist attraction for many people visiting the country and keen on a glimpse of its rich cultural heritage. Hence it has been performing continuously for the last 35 years. During the show, you will see several dances which depict the graceful movements of birds and animals, which trace their origins back to the ancient ritual known as the Kohomba Kapkariya, as well as energetic acrobatic performances where the men perform a series of leaping pirouettes and stunts such as plate-spinning and the dramatic ‘fire walk’ which ends the show.

Stay Night in Kandy

Day 02 – Nuwara Eliya

Stop 01

Seetha Amman Temple

Sri Lanka’s ancient history is closely intertwined with the old Sanskrit tale of the Ramayana, with many locations in the country steeped in old legends. The area in Nuwara Eliya referred to as Seetha Eliya, is believed to be one of the places where King Ravana held the kidnapped Sita, wife of Lord Rama. The Seetha Amman Temple in Seetha Eliya, has been constructed in what is believed to be the last location Sita was held captive by Ravana. It is possibly the only temple in the world to be dedicated to Sita, and is extremely popular amongst the Hindu community, as well as tourists. Although built in the early 2000s, the location of the temple appears to have been a sacred site for much longer, as supported by the discovery of three idols that have been worshipped for centuries. The idols were discovered in a nearby stream, with one purported to be of Sita herself. The stream itself is believed to have been where Sita bathed herself.

Stop 02

Victoria Park

The Queen Victoria Park is situated in middle of the Nuwara Eliya City and It’s one of the must visit destination. This park was named to honor the 60th Jubilee Coronation of Queen Victoria in the year 1897. Originally the park was the research field of Hakala Botanical Garden. It contains a lot of colorful flowers, and very nice places to enjoy and relax. It also contains a playing area for kids, and a train tour for adults too. This place is famous for bird watching and there are large verities of plants and trees available. Victoria Park come alive with the flowers specially around March to May, and August to September. You can see several types of birds in there. Which are they Indian Pitta, endemic Yellow-eared BulBuls, Sri Lanka White-eye, Scimitar Babbler and migrant Pied Thrush, Forest Wagtail, Velvet Nuthatch and Indian Blue Robin, Kashmir Flycatcher & etc.? If are going to plan to stay at “Nuwara Eliya” city, this is one of the nice place to end up journey and relax some time.

Stop 03

Moon Plaines

The main attraction of Moon Plains is the mini–Worlds End at the edge giving a 360 Degree view of the surrounding peaks and towns. It is a Wide-open area with the chances of seeing wild boars, cows, buffaloes, deer and also a total of 105 bird species are recorded in the area of which 16 are endemic to Sri Lanka. Nine mountains of Sri Lanka can be clearly seen from the top of the Moon Plaines.

Stay Night in Nuwara Eliya

Day 03 – Haputhale – Tissamaharamaya

Stop 01

Dambatenne Tea Factory

The Dambatenne Tea Factory was built by Thomas Lipton in 1890 when he began his tea empire, and this is the factory that manufactures his famous Lipton Ceylonta black tea. Lipton made the tea industry what it is today; with workers harvesting the tea, he sold his tea all around the world, quickly making Lipton a household name. There is a tour of the factory that runs every 30-minutes and it is a really interesting activity to do, especially if you’re ‘tea-enthusiast’. At the factory, you will be given a tour of the factory grounds where you will be able to see the whole manufacturing process- from the collection of the tea leaves to the oxidation process, and finally the packaging- of Ceylon black tea. At the end of the tour, you will also be able to sample some of the world-renowned Ceylon tea and be given the opportunity to buy a few souvenirs from here.

Stop 02

Thangamale Bird Sanctuary

Thangamale Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary which is situated in Beragala close to Haputale. The bird sanctuary is situated in an off the beaten path in Thangamale, which is also known as the ‘Golden Mountain’, and is part of the Glennanore Tea Estate. Comprising of 131 hectares it was designated as a protected area in the year 1938. It is more of a highland forest consisting of a walking track and amazing views at the top. The best time to visit Thangamale Bird Sanctuary is during June to September, as wildlife spotting is more frequent at this time.

Stop 03

Diyaluma Fall

At the peak of Diyaluma Falls in Sri Lanka, you will find a serene natural infinity pool overlooking a 772-foot (220-metre) waterfall. Located near the town of Koslanda in the Badulla District, the waterfall is the second-largest in Sri Lanka, making it a must-see attraction for explorers visiting the heart of the Indian Ocean. Diyaluma Falls is formed from the Pungala Oya, a Sri Lankan River that runs 427m (1,401ft) above sea level. Up the river, a whole host of spectacular smaller falls can be found, but Diyaluma is the one you don’t want to miss. And for those afraid of heights, there are a series of pools at the bottom of the waterfall to float in and admire the overlooking gigantic cliff face from.

Moving to Tissamaharama & Stay Night in Tissamaharama

Day 04 – Yala – Mirissa

Stop 01

Yala National Park

Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds. Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammal and 215 bird species. Among its more famous residents are the world's biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, sambars, jackals, spotted dear, peacocks, and crocodiles. For the most reliable wildlife sightings, it's best to visit Yala in the dry season from February to June. With the water levels lower, it's easier to spot animals coming out to the lagoons to drink. The park normally closes each year for the month of September for maintenance. This Yala safari tour lasts around 5 hours and they pick up from your accommodation in the Yala area – or you can meet them at Yala National Park entrance.

Moving to Mirissa

Stop 02

Mirissa Beach

Some of the major attractions in Mirissa are whale watching. The fantastic place of Mirissa is also known for its tune, mullet, butterfish, snapper, and being the largest fishing port on the South Coast. Great beach! Tides don't affect the water level too much; the waves are not too strong - you can still swim and body board. There are bars on the beach and nice cafes with fresh seafood at 6pm every evening. If you walk to the left over the giant rocks you can get to a scenic hill covered with mangrove trees and palms.

Stay Night in Mirissa Beach Side

Day 05 – Colombo

Stop 01

Ariya Pala Masks Museum

A modern-built traditional museum with a splendid collection of traditional masks and other related artic crafts is the main attraction that awaits you at Ariya Pala Masks Museum. Here nearly 120 unique masks used in the traditional dance rituals and religious festivals are displays on show and there would be English speaking staff explaining the procedure and culture to you. The Museum has a retail store, workshop, and library inside where you have books and pamphlets to delve deep into their strange tradition.

Stop 02

Colombo City Tour

Departure

Transfer to Airport for departure flight.

Tour Includes

• Accommodation on sharing a double/twin/triple room at the hotels specified in hotel collection.

• Include Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• Transport in a Private Vehicle, inclusive of all Chauffeur accommodation, cost of fuel, parking & highway tolls.

• Private Transport with airport transfers in an Air-Conditioned Vehicle throughout the tour

• Service of an English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.

Tour Excludes

• Entry Visa Fees, please visit www.eta.gov.lk for more details

• International / Domestic Airfare.

• Any expenses of personal nature.

• Tips & Portages.

Book Now