EXPLORE SRI LANKA 14

Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala – Mathara – Colombo

(5Days/ 4Nights)

Day 01 – Arrival at Colombo airport – Kandy

Stop 01

Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala

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

Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Situated in Kandy’s suburb of Peradeniya, the spectacular Peradeniya Botanical Garden dates to 1371. Once enjoyed for pleasure by a Kandyan queen, this spectacular garden is enclosed on three sides by a large bend in the Mahaweli River. A Kandyan prince’s residence during the 18th Century, in the early 1800s the leafy green tangle became one of the greatest Botanical Gardens in the British Empire. For a short spell during the Second World War, it was used as the Allied Forces Headquarters for the Asian region.

The gardens display over 4 000 different species of plants, regarded amongst the most superior in Asia. The highlight is the spectacular Orchid collection and a mighty avenue of palm trees. In addition to a plethora of flowering plants, there is also an extensive collection of medicinal plants and spices which can be spotted on your meander across the gardens. Encompassing over 60 hectares of sublimely designed lawns, pavilions and plant houses, the extraordinary array of Sri Lankan, Asian and international flora is a fragrant, colorful view on the eye. Gorgeous avenues lead on to sections exploding in bursts of tropical color and vast lawns dotted with enormous trees.

Reserved in advance, &BEYOND can organize buggy carts from the Gardens, and offers specialist botanical guides to accompany you during your garden visit. They will share their experiences and practical knowledge about flora and fauna hidden within the garden. A visit usually takes two to three hours.

Stop 03

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 Guasave.

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.

Stop 05

Mount View in Kandy

Day 02 – Nuwara Eliya

Stop 01

Ramboda Water Fall

Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft) high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. Altitude of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft) above sea level.

Stop 02

Damro Tea Factory, Labookellie

En route to the picturesque city of Nuwara Eliya and at an elevation of 5,000 feet, stands the famed Labookellie Estate Tea Factory, renowned for producing some of Ceylon’s finest Teas and the estate itself, established nearly 150 years ago, is perhaps the second oldest tea plantation in the Island.

Visitors having taken time in observing the manufacturing process of tea, need only to stroll a short distance, to enter one of the most desired locations in the hill country that being the “DAMRO LABOOKELLIE TEA LOUNGE”. It overlooks breathtaking views of tea gardens in all shades of green that carpet the slopes of surrounding hills & valleys and those observants could also spot within fields the gentle movement of tea puckers, nimbly harvesting the tender two leaves & bud.

Stop 03

Gregory Lake

Lake Gregory (Sinhala: ග්‍රෙගරි වැව Gregari Væva), sometimes also called Gregory Lake or Gregory Reservoir, is a reservoir in heart of the tea country hill city, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Lake Gregory was constructed during the period of British Governor Sir William Gregory in 1873.[2] The lake and the surrounding area make up the Gregory Lake Area. One of the main attractions in Nuwara Eliya is Gregory Lake, which is located among the beautiful mountains and tea plantations. Coast of lake is the favorite place for not only tourists, but locals. Here, has a picnic, walk the paths, ride horses and bikes, enjoying the beautiful views of nature. But to swim in the lake impossible. However, you can ride on catamarans, water motorcycles, and even take off and land the plane.

Stay Night in Nuwara Eliya

Day 03 – Ella

Stop 01

Horton Plains

The views are great but to be honest we have seen better views in Sri Lanka by speaking to locals and doing free hikes. The hike is an easy one and has some nice scenery which is quite different to the rest of Sri Lanka. The entire walk is around 8 km if you walk to World's End and back, or around 9 km (5.6 miles) if you do the full circuit. With about 25 leopards roaming its hills, leopard sightings in the Horton Plains are not unlikely. But, the landscape and the climate, as well as the behaviors of these leopards, certainly make these sightings quite rare.

Moving to Nanuoya railway station & star to go to Ella by train

Nine Arch Bridge

Trekking, Hiking, Nature Trail & Country walks, Horse riding in Ella

Stay Night in Ella

Day 04 – Ella – Yala

Stop 01

Ella Waterfall

Stop 02

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 ishome 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.

Stay Night in Yala Camping Site

Day 05 – Galle – Colombo

Stop 01

Galle Strick Fisherman

Stilt Fishing is one of the most interesting traditional fishing methods of Sri Lanka. Though stilt fishermen make the activity seem easy and comfortable; stilt fishing requires much skill and balance. The practice started during World War II when food shortages and overcrowded fishing spots prompted some clever men to try fishing on the water. At first, they used the wreckage of capsized ships and downed aircraft, then began erecting their stilts in coral reefs.

Stop 02

Polhena Beach

Located not far from the city centre of Matara, the Polhena Beach offers the perfect atmosphere for a beach getaway, without the crowds of tourists, making it all the more exclusive to anyone who visits the sandy stretch. The beach is primarily known to be a place of solitude and peace, so as to induce that sense of calmness in the minds of the travelers. Even the waters are relatively calmer than that experienced in Galle and Weligama, because of the corals acting as a fence of sorts. Although popular as a picnic beach, there are a few water sports that you can engage in, namely swimming and snorkeling.

Stop 03

Madu River Boat Safari

The Madu River area surrounding the river are all swampy marshlands covered in mangrove forests. The forest covers over 61 hectares, that is over 150 acres. 14 of the 24 species of mangroves are found in this area. Over 300 species, 19 of which are endemic, have been discovered so far. The largest animal in the region is the wild boar. There are other smaller animals such as monkeys, a variety of squirrels, etc. When it comes to birds, cormorants and kingfishers are a common sight. For avid bird watchers, the mangrove forests are a dream coming true. There are over 111 bird species identified to inhabit the region. There are 31 types of reptiles, namely snakes, lizards, and crocodiles. There are also over 50 kinds of butterflies and 25 kinds of mollusks found in the Madu River zone.

Stop 04

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.

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