EXPLORE SRI LANKA - 9

Rathnapura – Yala - Hikkaduwa – Colombo (4 Days/ 3 Nights)

Day 01 – Arrival at Colombo airport – Rathnapura

Stop 01

Rathnapura National Museum

The National Museum of Rathnapura is one of the national exhibition halls of Sri Lanka. It is situated in Rathnapura, Sri Lanka and it was opened on 13 May 1988. The gallery building is called “Ehelepola Walauwa”, as it once had a place with Ehelepola Nilame, a squire of the Kingdom of Kandy, who was the first Adigar (1811 – 1814) under the rule King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, the last lord of Sri Lanka, for whom he filled in as the Disawe (neighborhood Governor) of Rathnapura.

The historical center incorporates displays on ancient archaeological creations, common legacy, land, anthropological, zoological relics and models identifying with the Sabaragamuwa Province. The weaponry in plain view incorporates Sinhala swords of the late medieval time including a sword asserted to have had a place with Ehelepola, and a gathering of old firearms including a Vickers assault rifle utilized amid the First World War. The cooking utensils of the locale incorporate a tripod container with three molds for getting ready rice flour cakes known as Kiri roti. Conventional Kandyan adornments incorporates pieces of jewelry, bangles, anklets and hoops. The grounds of the historical center contain a palaeobiodiversity stop, with life-sized creature models of species accepted to have existed in the area.

Stop 02

Gem Mines

Gemstone mining in Sri Lanka is mostly from secondary deposits. The gravels yield sapphire, ruby, cat's-eye and other chrysoberyl’s, spinel, garnet, beryl, tourmaline, topaz, quartz, and many other gemstones. Sri Lanka's gem-bearing gravels, called illam, are some of the richest in the world. The most commonly used Gemstone mining method in Sri Lanka is Pit-Head Mining and Tunneling. Surface Placer Mining and River Bed Dredging are the other methods used widely.

Moving to Belihuloya & Stay there Advance Camping

Day 02 – Yala

Stop 01

Samanala wawa Reservoir

Samanalawewa is a reservoir built during 1986-91 across the Walawe Ganga (River) flowing to the south of the central hills in Sri Lanka. It starts at an elevation of about 1,800 m on the southern wall of the Adam’s Peak range (not from the Peak) to the southern coast traversing a distance of 138 km and discharging an annual average volume of 2,200 Mm3. It is the fourth largest river in the country in terms of volume discharged and has a catchment of 2,456 km2 served mostly by the two inter-monsoonal rains peaking in April and November. The annual average river flow at site is 18 m3/sec and the minimum flow recorded is 3.5 m3/sec.

Stop 02

Samanala wawa Dam

The Samanala Dam is a dam primarily used for hydroelectric power generation in Sri Lanka. Commissioned in 1992, the Samanalawewa Project is the third-largest hydroelectric scheme in the country, producing 405 GWh of energy annually. It was built with financial support from Japan and the United Kingdom.

Moving to Yala & Stay Night in Yala Camping

Day 03 – Yala – Mathara

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 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.

In afternoon moving to Polhena beach

Stop 02

Polhena Beach

Covered with a barrier of soft corals the beach is very famous for safe swimming and it’s a very shallow area with a lack of water currents which makes it easy for people to swim in the sea. The beach attracts many tourists for snorkeling activities as the reef is a breeding spot for colorful fish living in the sea.You can see beautiful turtles living around the beach. You might get an opportunity to swim with turtles or you can see turtles while snorkeling in the seas of Polhena. The beach is a very popular snorkeling destination in Asia to see stingrays, eels, and colorful reef fish. The beach is a well-known location for turtles to hatch eggs and if you visit in the night, you can watch turtles hatching eggs.

Stay Night in Polhena Beach side

Day 04 – Mirissa – Colombo

Stop 01

Mirissa Whales Watching

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.

Stop 02

Hikkaduwa Coral Reef

The Hikkaduwa coral reef or National Park consists of a network of fringing reefs around the southern area of the island, specifically near the city of Hikkaduwa. The Hikkaduwa beach is a popular destination for both locals and tourists and the reef are a wonder all in itself. The best times to visit the Hikkaduwa coral reef would be when the water is clear and there is less chance of storms, particularly between the months of April and November. Snorkeling and scuba tours are the most common excursions here while one can also charter glass-bottomed boats. There are 170 species of reef fish found at Hikkaduwa coral reef. Many ornamental saltwater aquarium species like sea goldies, damselfish, butterflyfish, angelfish and species of wrasse make their home among the corals. Gobies, dragonets, eels and blennies hide under the sand in generally coral-free areas while others live in cracks and crevices within the coral skeletons.

Stop 03

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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