Kingdoms of Ceylon (10 Days)

Kingdoms of Ceylon (10 Days)

Visit the rock fortress of Sigiriya and discover its marvels. Explore the Golden Temple of Dambulla long with its five main caves dedicated to Buddha and Buddhism. See the many pagodas, monasteries and palatial buildings of Polonnaruwa. Visit the highlands of Kandy, the place of the last majestic Kingdom of Sri Lanka. Walk through the streets of Nuwara Eliya with its picturesque colonial architecture and plenty of holiday activities to do. Long relaxing beach stay in Hikkaduwa where the golden sand, bright blue sea and swaying palms bask in the sunlight. (SKU: LK10090400)

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: 2 hours

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

Day 2: Negombo > Anuradhapura

Stop At: Mahamevnawa Dhammachethiya Buddhist Monastery Anuradhapura, Watawandana Rd, Anuradhapura 50000 Sri Lanka
Walk through the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD. View the pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds that are scatter all over the vast area. Visit important landmarks such as Jetavanarama, which was one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the huge Abhayagiri Monastery. Gain more knowledge about Sri Lanka's history as you walk in the footsteps of Kings.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 3: Anuradhapura > Polonnaruwa > Dambulla

Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Visit 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: 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 4: Dambulla > Sigiriya > Matale > Kandy

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: Euphoria Spice and Herbal, Kandy Dambulla Road Arunaloka Farm, Madawala Ulpotha, Matale 21000 Sri Lanka
Euphoria Spice and Herbal is located 12 km away from Matale (The spice capital of Sri Lanka). Enriched with herbs, spice groves and plants with fragrant greenery shading from the tropical trees that enlightens the unique aroma of each spice and herb. We give the opportunity for our visitors to explore and gain knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, herbs and the benefits of Ayurveda. The tropical climate in which our plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality. The educational tour around the garden, which we call “The Spice Tour”, let the visitors feel the sensation of the Sri Lankan spices and herbs which is demonstrated in different foreign languages to suit our customer need.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Kandy Lake Club - Cultural Dance Show, 7 Sangamitta Mawatha, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
The Kandy Cultural Show gives an opportunity to experience some of the traditions of Sri Lanka. Enjoy this hour-long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Get wowed by fire dancers and sword dancers. Watch the colorful Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming primal beat of the drums.
Duration: 1 hour

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

Day 5: Kandy > Nuwara Eliya

Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic 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: 1 hour

Stop At: Blue Field Tea Factory, No. 54 Haig Road, Ramboda 20590 Sri Lanka
Visit a Tea Factory and a plantation where you would see how the world’s famous “Ceylon Tea” is manufactured. In 1824 a tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya for non-commercial purposes. James Taylor was a British citizen who introduced commercial tea plantation in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). He arrived to Sri Lanka in 1852 and settled down in Loolecondera estate in Kandy. Today even people who have never heard of Sri Lanka are familiar with Ceylon tea, which is known for its quality.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Nuwara Eliya, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
Visit the highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old red-bricked postoffice as you purchase an inexpensive and colorful postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park or on the shores of Lake Gregory.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 6: Nuwara Eliya

Stop At: Horton Plains National Park, Nuwara Eliya Sri Lanka
Visit the beautiful Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, with its montane grasslands and cloud forests. Enjoy the majestic views from the precipice of World's End and the cooling sprays from Baker's Falls. Catch glimpses of the many endemic fauna that make their home in the plains. Get to know more about the archeological finds that were discovered in the area.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Hakgala Botanic Gardens, Badulla Road, Nuwara Eliya 22200 Sri Lanka
The pleasantly dishevelled Hakgala Gardens, 10km southeast of Nuwara Eliya (and about 200m lower), are a peaceful retreat. Legend has it that Hanuman, the monkey god, was sent by Rama to the Himalayas to find a medicinal herb. He forgot which herb he was looking for and decided to bring a chunk of the Himalayas back in his jaw, hoping the herb was growing on it. The gardens grow on a rock called Hakgala, which means ‘jaw-rock’.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 7: Nuwara Eliya > Ella > Yala

Stop At: Ella, Ella, Uva Province
Explore Ella’s most interesting places. Pass through bright green tea fields, and tough stretches of rock, and get to see the magical views of Little Adam’s Peak. Walk over the history seeped Nine Arches Bridge and listen to the story of its construction. End your hike at the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop-over track design. This tour gives you the chance to see the best sights of Sri Lanka.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 8: Yala > Galle > Hikkaduwa

Stop At: Yala National Park Sri Lanka
This amazing Safari offers the opportunity to visit Yala National Park, the second largest in the island based off the Southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. Get a chance to see the famous Sri Lankan leopards, indigenous wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear and large herds of Sri Lankan Elephants. The park is also home to many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Galle Fort, Church Street, Galle 80000 Sri Lanka
Discover the city of Galle, where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters, and its secrets. Visit the Galle Fort which is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. View the Maritime Museum, Galle National Museum and the lighthouse. Walk through the cobblestoned streets with their Dutch names as you learn more about their histories.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 9: Hikkaduwa > Bentota > Hikkaduwa

Stop At: Madu River, Nilwala River Safari, Bridge View, Custom Road, Balapitiya , Sri Lanka, Balapitiya 80550 Sri Lanka
Go on a wonderful two-hour boat ride down the Madu River with its flourishing ecosystem. Pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves. See the basking crocodiles and water monitors. Visit one of the small islands with its cinnamon harvesting natives. Enjoy the restorative qualities of the famous fish massage. Observe the waterbirds in their natural habitats.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 10: Hikkaduwa > Colombo > BIA

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. Enjoy the nightlife as you party till the morning.
Duration: 2 hours

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