History and Heritage (10 Days)

History and Heritage (10 Days)

This is a special trip to Sri Lanka for people who wish to have a relaxing holiday, and have a break from their stressful lifestyle. (SKU: LK10091300)

Itinerary

Day 1: Airport > Negombo

Stop At: Negombo Beach, Negombo Sri Lanka
Enjoy the sun on the sandy beaches of Negombo on the Western Coast of Sri Lanka. Watch the flourishing fish industry, which is a centuries-old tradition. Ride an adrenaline high with some fun water sports. Enjoy the corals and underwater life while diving. See the 50 year-old ship-wreck just off the coast, where many varieties of fish make their home.
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 2: Negombo > Colombo > Negombo

Stop At: Colombo National Museum, Albert Crescent, Colombo Sri Lanka
Experience the colorful lights and bright life of Colombo, the capital City of Sri Lanka. Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple, the National Museum and more. Enjoy the malls of Independence Square or the Race Course. Visit boutique shops and designer stores.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 3: Negombo > Kandy

Stop At: Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400 Sri Lanka
Visit the famous Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, which were formed in the early 19th century. Walk through the vast area containing over 4000 species of plants. Enjoy the learning more about the orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Wander down avenues shaded by large and rare trees, or bordered by flowering plants. Enjoy seeing the cannonball tree, walking over the wobbly suspension bridge and through the short hedge mazes or even climbing the twisty trees that make wonderful jungle gyms.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 4: Kandy

Stop At: Kandy View Point, Rajapihilla Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
You will jaunt through the lively streets of Kandy with their bright colors, delicious foods and deep history. Explore Kandy's most important monuments. Try out yummy Sri Lankan street food in stalls. Enjoy watching garland makers ply their trade. Visit a beautiful Hindu Temple. Go on a short but fun three wheeler ride.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built in the 16th century as the place of veneration and protection for Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Walk through the beautifully embellished passageways and elaborately painted halls, done in red, cream and black. Lounge against delicately carved pillars and get amazed by the beautiful golden statues. Get an unforgettable experience of history and art.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 5: Kandy > Gal Oya

Stop At: Gal Oya National Park - The Crossing, Inginiyagala, Ampara 32000 Sri Lanka
The drive takes you past small village lands where locals are beginning to rise, and after a brief time you come to a very inconspicuous road that guides you down into the buffer zone of the park. You arrive at the Wildlife Department’s base and collect one of their officers to accompany the safari, and then enter Gal Oya National Park.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 6: Gal Oya

Stop At: Gal Oya, Sri Lanka
Discover an ancient land untouched by time; a haven of serenity in which to reconnect with the rhythms of the earth. Immerse yourself in nature. Soak yourself in local culture. Explore the rich wildlife of Gal Oya, one of Sri Lanka’s most remote and least visited wilderness areas.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 7: Gal Oya > Dambulla

Stop At: Golden Temple of Dambulla, Dambulla 21100 Sri Lanka
Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 8: Dambulla > Polonnaruwa > Dambulla

Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka's ancient history.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Priyamali gedara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
This experience provides an authentic farm lunch and cooking demo done by an actual local farming family. Learn the ins and outs of Sri Lankan cooking as the farmer’s wife and daughters demonstrate their art. Chat with the farmer to learn more about how the fresh ingredients are obtained from the surroundings. Indulge in a healthy farm meal cooked over wood fires and served on lotus leaves over woven trays. Traditional rice, lentils, fresh local vegetables cooked into fragrant curries, fried fish, and poppadum will play a major role in the meals. Those who are interested can also request the farmer’s wife for some delicious kotthu, which they can purchase separately.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 9: Dambulla > Sigiriya > Dambulla

Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Climb the 5th century AD rock fortress, Sigiriya, where the King Kasyapa ruled. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ' the Lion Rock'. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns. Walk through the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya 21120 Sri Lanka
Have a relaxing catamaran safari through a calm lake. Walk through the golden fields ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your tastebuds with a home cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at a 3-Star Hotel.

Day 10: Dambulla > Airport

Pass By: Katunayake, Katunayake, Negombo, Western Province
After a relaxed morning and breakfast at the hotel check out and, drive to the Airport for your flight back home!

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.