Classic Mini Cultural and Adventure Tour

Day 01

Depart London Heathrow by Sri Lankan Airline.

Day 02

Upon arrive, meet & greet by our representative at Bandaranaike International Airport and proceed to Dambulla.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Dambulla or Habarana.

Day 03

Breakfast at the hotel.

Climb * Sigiriya Rock Fortress - which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Dambulla or Habarana.

Day 04

After breakfast proceed to Polonnaruwa.

Commence sightseeing tour of * Polonnaruwa, which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka, built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and which is a world heritage site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya â€"where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary`’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, king Parakramabahu’s statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Transferred to Hotel In Dambulla.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Dambulla or Habarana.

Day 05

After breakfast visit * Dambulla Rock Temple. Climb up to the temple, which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and the ceiling is the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 metres.

Proceed to Kandy via Matale, visit a * Spice Garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

Afternoon commence sightseeing including the Upper Lake Drive, Market Square Arts & Crafts Centre and Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
* Kandy - the hill capital. Venue of the annual Perahera. The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple’s shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.

* 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.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.

Day 06

After breakfast leave for Pinnawela.

Visit * Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage - started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded, the orphanage has grown to be a big family today. The number of elephants has increased to more than 40 now, including baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the babies born, as a result of the captive-breeding programme. unique experience never to be missed. After lunch continue to Wadduwa. Rest of the day free at leisure by the beach.

Thereafter return to Kandy.

Visit * Royal Botanical Gardens â€" 147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. 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 Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world is one such avenue.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.

Day 07

After breakfast proceed to * Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.

* Tea Plantation - Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867 a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolcondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow well only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown, medium grown, high grown, into 3 main groups. In 1996 Sri Lanka has produced 258 million kgs. Of tea and has earned Rs. 34,068 million by exporting 244 million kgs. of tea.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 08

After breakfast proceed to Yala.

Evening do Jeep safari at * Yala National Park - is 378 sq. miles in extent. Yala was established in 1938 from what originally was Sportsman s shooting reserve. This is most famous and well-developed National Park where wild animal and birds could be observed. The wild animals include Elephants in herds of varying sizes, Leopards, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, Crocodile, Peacocks, Jackal, Sloth Bear and other animals. The bird-life comprises of about 130 species including the resident and migrants. Painted Strokes, Paradise Flycatcher, Grey Herons, Serpent Eagle, Sea Eagle, Black-Necked Stork, Spoonbills, Pelicans add colour to the bird life in the park.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Yala.

Day 09

Breakfast at Hotel. Morning do a Safari at Yala National Park.

Rest of the day leisure at the hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel in Yala.

Day 10

After breakfast leave for Ratnapura, via Singharaja.

Located in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.

Sri Lanka's tropical rain forest, the Sinharaja is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. One of the few virgin forests left in the world. Visitors are required to obtain permits from the Wildlife Department in order to visit this sanctuary. Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, rare trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along prescribed paths would provide nature lovers with a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds.

The largest mammal in the forest is the rarely spotted leopard, also infrequently glimpsed are the rusty spotted and wild fishing cats. Sambhur, barking deer and wild boar browse on the forest floor. The more common troops of purple-faced langur monkeys will chatter and move through the trees above you, but you're more likely to hear them than actually see them. There are also rats, shrews, giant squirrels, porcupines, civets, mongooses, venomous snakes, 20 species of birds and 45 species of reptiles.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Rathnapura.

Day 11

After breakfast leave for Kalutara.

Rest of the day leisure by the beach.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Kalutara.

Day 12 - 15

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day leisure.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Kalutara.

Day 16

After breakfast transferred to the airport for the flight to London.