Sri Lanka Experience Sigiriya Rock
Sri Lanka Experience Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Polonnaruwa Ancient City & Minneriya elephants
Polonnaruwa Ancient City & Minneriya elephants
Dambulla Temple, Temple of the Sacred Tooth & Dambulla Caves
Dambulla Temple, Temple of the Sacred Tooth & Dambulla Caves
Nuwara Eliya & Sri Lankan Tea Plantation
Nuwara Eliya & Sri Lankan Tea Plantation
Yala National Park
Yala National Park

Sri Lanka Experience

Half Board 9 nights from £2,299 per person Including Flights

Overview

Discover some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful destinations on this fantastic nine night private guided tour. This fabulous tour is on a half board basis, with all 4 - 5* accommodation, transfers, breakfasts and dinners included – so you can simply sit back and enjoy the incredible landscapes and culture.

Journeying through Anuradhapura, Pollonnaruwa, Dambulla Cave Temple, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Yala National Park, this extensive tour is a brilliant insight into Sri Lanka’s rich heritage and natural beauty, and is exceptional value.  (JW)

Highlights

  • Visit the fascinating Sigiriya Rock
  • Venture through Polonnaruwa, the capital of Sri Lanka
  • Marvel at Minneriya National Park, known for its large population of elephants
  • Explore Dambulla Cave Temple
  • Visit The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
  • Visit the 'Little England' of Sri Lanka
  • Enjoy a tour around the Tea Plantations
  • See the wildlife at Yala National Park where you might see leopards, crocodiles, wild boar & big herds of elephants

Discover the beauty of Sri Lanka on this memorable five night private guided tour. Offering 4 - 5* accommodation on a Half Board Basis, including breakfast and dinner, and an insight into the country’s rich heritage and culture - this is a fantastic tour you won’t want to miss.

This private tour takes you through the highlights of Sri Lanka, including spectacular visits to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla Cave Temple and Kandy, where you can learn about the amazing culture and see the sights. (JW)

Highlights

  • Visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
  • Discover a marvellous world down below at Dambulla Cave Temple
  • Journey through Kandy on a city tour where you will visit the famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
  • Enjoy a half-day city tour of Nuwara-Eliya

After your cultural tour, why not add a relaxing beach stay? Explore our top 10 beach hotels in Sri Lanka to unwind after your epic itinerary.

 

Whats included?
  • Flights & taxes
  • Accommodation
  • Transfers
  • Checked baggage
  • ATOL protection
  • In resort assistance & 24 hour contact centre
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Day 1

On arrival at the airport, you will be met by a representative of Jetwing Travels and assisted at the airport and then transferred directly to your hotel in Sigiriya / Habarana.

Afternoon at leisure.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (Standard) or Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya (Superior)
 

Day 2

After your breakfast at the hotel, visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

Sigiriya – is a “UNESCO World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” a visit to Sigirya Rock should be one everyone’s itinerary. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed.

Transfer back to hotel.


Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (Standard) or or Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya (Superior)
 

Day 3

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Polonnaruwa ancient city and commence sightseeing.

Polonnaruwa - The Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th -13th Century contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatileke, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest shrine ruins and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists.

Later transfer back to hotel, en route enjoy a 4 X 4 jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park.

Minneriya National Park - This National Park is situated in 8889 hectares is famous for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Aside from the wild Elephants there are, Wild Buffalo, Boar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bears, Sambhur, Leopards, Crocodiles, Jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds,78 varieties of butterflies. This safari is the perfect start to your evening.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (Standard) or or Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya (Superior)
 

Day 4

After breakfast transfer to Kandy, en route visit the Dambulla Cave Temple.

Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) - is a World Heritage Site. It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka and well worth a visit. Be sure to hire a local Temple Guide (for a few pennies). The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented Caves in the surrounding area. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres.

Arrive in Kandy and check in to your hotel

In the evening watch a cultural show featuring the various dance types of Sri Lanka.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy (Standard) or Earls Regency, Kandy (Deluxe)
 

Day 5

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a city tour of Kandy which includes Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gadaladeniya, Lankathilake, Embekke and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.

Option to visit the Kandy British Garrison Cemetery afterwards - Open for just 50-odd years between 1822 and the mid-1870s, the British Garrison Cemetery holds 195 graves of men, women, and children who succumbed, mostly, to tropical diseases of the time such as malaria, cholera, and heat stroke. If you are fortunate the caretaker of the cemetery, Charles Carmichael will show you around with an illuminating story tour. For some this has been a highlight option and we do not surcharge this visit. It is just around the corner from the Tooth relic. Please let your guide know you would like to visit the Cemetery.

Royal Botanical Gardens - Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees and plants. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seychelles.

Later transfer back to hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy (Standard) or Earls Regency, Kandy (Deluxe)
 

Day 6

After your breakfast at the hotel, head for Nuwara-Eliya and enjoy a half day city tour. En route visit Ramboda Falls.

Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is one of the more temperate places on the Island, the weather like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Anne style mansions.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Blackpool, Nuwara-Eliya (Standard) or Langdale by Amaya, Nuwara-Eliya (Deluxe)
 

Day 7

After breakfast enjoy a tour of Tea Plantations.

Late transfer back to hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Blackpool, Nuwara-Eliya (Standard) or Langdale by Amaya, Nuwara-Eliya (Deluxe)

Day 8

After breakfast transfer to Yala National Park. Spend the afternoon at leisure.

Early evening enjoy a 4 X 4 jeep safari in the Yala National Park.

Yala (National Park) - the Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938. Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephant, Leopard, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodile, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded including resident and winter visitors.

Later transfer back to hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Cinnamon Wild, Yala (Jungle Chalet) or Leopard Trails, Yala (Tents)

Day 9

After an early breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a morning safari in the Yala National Park.

Later transfer back to hotel.

Evening at leisure

Dinner & Overnight stay at Cinnamon Wild, Yala (Jungle Chalet) or Leopard Trails, Yala (Tents)
 

Day 10

After your breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport or desired beach resort

PLEASE NOTE: If you wish to go straight back to the airport after the tour the transfer time is approx 5-6 hours
 

  • Half Board basis at each accommodation, including 9 breakfasts and 9 dinners
  • International flights
  • All activities included in the itinerary
  • Transfers from the airport
  • Internal travel
  • Tour guide throughout

What's Not Included

OPTIONAL add on supplements are listed below:

* Visit to the Spice Garden at Matale on Day 04
Spice Garden at Matale - you will see many spice gardens at Matale where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them in food preparations.

Supplement: Free

* Enjoy a Train Ride from Kandy to Nanu-Oya on the Observation Cart on Day 06
Train Ride from Kandy to Nanu-Oya on the Observation Cart (Approx. 4 hours) - The railway was incepted by the British in the 19th century with the main purpose of transporting goods, mainly the tea from the plantations and the imported goods to the up country. Many historically, traditionally, politically, socially and agriculturally significant designations are winded across or close to the tracks of the railway.

Supplement: £25 per person.

* Enjoy a trekking in the Horton Plains Nature Reserve on Day 07
Horton Plains Nature Reserve, which is approximately 10,000 Hectares in extent, is haunted by Elk, Deer, Giant Squirrel, Wild Boar, Wild Hare , Porcupine, and a variety of Migratory birds, unique to this region. According to a recent count there are 16 Leopards in Horton Plains. If you are very lucky you may get a glimpse of a Leopard during your sojourn in the Horton Plains.

Supplement: £45 per person

*Visit to the Ella Gap on Day 08
Ella - 127 miles from Colombo and 8 miles from Bandarawela, on the leeward side of the central mountains. The view from Ella Gap is one of the most spectacular scenic sights in Sri Lanka - the landscape falls away in a dizzy drop of 3000ft to the eastern plains. The Ella rock is famous for the cave of Ravana a legendary king of Sri Lanka ruled during the pre-historic times. The 1080 foot high waterfall few miles from the Ella Rest House is one of the most beautiful falls in the country.

Supplement: Free

* Visit to the Bundala Birds Sanctuary on Day 09
Bundala National Park – an area of 6216 hectares is Sri Lanka’s only “RAMSAR” Wetland that hosts over 20,000 shorebirds, during the period August to April. The Park consists of lagoons and inter-tidal mud flats where wintering birds rest and feed, golden sandy beaches and sand dunes where sea turtles nest and the thorny scrub-land where elephant, spotted deer, wild buffalo, wild boar, crocodiles and peacocks roam. More than 150 species (including 45 species of “Waders”) of resident and migrant birds could be seen in this Park.

Supplement: £65 per person

* Additional Game Drive in Yala
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park - the Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938. Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors.

Supplement: £45 per person
 

Sri Lanka is a largely Buddhist country and you will often find restrictions on alcohol in place. On Full Moon Poya days and public holidays the government prohibits the serving of alcohol, but guests are able to enjoy pre-purchased drinks or those from the hotel minibar. To see which days are affected, please see here.

Donna Jones
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