Undiscovered Sri Lanka

Day - 01 - Arrive in Sri Lanka

Upon your arrival you will be met by our representative and transferre to Colombo.
In the afternoon leisure at hotel OR city tour of Colombo.

Colombo a drive through the city, taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential Cinnamon Gardens. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens also worth looking at. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square. Shop at the exquisite Mlesna tea boutique, visit the Majestic City & Liberty Plaza Shopping Malls, House of Fashions and Odel Unlimited for readymade garments and also the Lanka Ceramics Centre, a place where you can buy “Noritake” or other ceramic items.

Dinner & overnight stay at Trans Asia Hotel, Colombo

Day - 02 - After breakfast leave for Kitulgala

Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rainforest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month. Kitulgala is also known for the Academy Award-winning "The Bridge on the River Kwai” which was filmed on the Kelani River. Kitulgala is also famous for a base for white-water rafting. Enjoy the white-water rafting.
Dinner & Overnight stay at The Rafter’s Retreat, Kitulgala

Day - 03 - After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya

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 coolest places in the Island, but it is really just 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 Ann style mansions.
The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity. Rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner & Overnight stay at St. Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

Day - 04 - After breakfast excursion to Hortain Plains

Horton Plains - The highest plateau at 7000ft (2134 meters) is a National Park, visited by tourists and a large number of Sri Lanka tourists. The Patnas in the lower parts, rising from the Marshes and streams extends upto the tree-line. The trees, stunted by the wind and mist, covered with ‘Spagnum moss ‘ or old man’s beard, and the jungle is full of rare and endemic plants. The red flowered Rhododendrons, or the ‘Niloos’ that blooms once in 12 years, and the Butterflies, Birds, found only in the hill areas, the ‘Bear Monkey,’ large herds of Sambhur, Leopard and other animals are found in the plains.
The ‘World End’ and ‘Little World End” with sheer drops of 3000ft to the plantation below and the beautiful scenery, are not found anywhere else in the country.
Dinner & Overnight stay at St. Andrews Hotel, Nuwara Eliya

Day - 05 - After breakfast leave for Kandy Tea plantation and Tea factory en-route

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 an 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolkandura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow 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.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy.

Day - 06 - After breakfast commence city tour of Kandy

After breakfast commence city tour of Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic & Royal botanical gardens at Peradeniya.
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. Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, Sixty Seven hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more than 4000 species, this is haven not only for Scientists but to every nature lover as well. Evening view a cultural show featuring various dance types of Sri Lanka.
Dinner & overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy

Day - 07 - After breakfast leave for Negombo

Royal Botanical Garden, Kandy Peradeniya
After breakfast leave for Negombo visiting the elephant orphanage at Pinnawela.
Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. 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. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Jetwing Beach, Negombo.

Day - 08 - Breakfast, full day at leisure by the beach

Full day at leisure by the beach

Day - 09 - After breakfast transfer to the airport

After breakfast transfer to the airport for departure OR transfer to the preferred beach resort.