Colombo Caves & Kandy Festival
See the best of central Sri Lanka on this all-encompassing tour and join in the festivities of the exhilarating Kandy aka...
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Habarana Holidays
Sample Itinerary - REF SRI LANKA 143
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Day 1: Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka and the start of your holiday! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day/evening are at your leisure.
Day 2: Colombo
Today, your guide will take you on a driving tour of colourful Colombo.Just off the north end of Galle Road, is the area known as the Fort, once a colonial stronghold. Just south of the Fort is Galle Face Green, a seaside expanse where informal cricket games are played out. At the south end of the green is the Galle Face Hotel, a beautiful colonial-era hotel. We also visit Pettah, the traditional bazaar district and also visit Gangarama Temple and Independence Square.
Day 3: Colombo - Habarana
Today we head on to Habarana and en route we visit the 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. meters 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 meters. On arrival in Habarana we will check you into the hotel.
Day 4: Habarana
We head out to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Built over 1500 years ago, this beautiful citadel stands 200 meters high in the middle of verdant jungle and was an important stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. It can be viewed from miles around and is definitely one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and famous sites. We then head to Polonnaruwa. This fascinating 11th century city is home to many interesting ruins and famous monuments including the Royal Palace and the Gal Vihara. Polonnaruwa was once the capital and is also the second most ancient city in Sri Lanka. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 5: Habarana
Changing the pace today, we head to Minneriya National Park, which is base around the Minneriya Tank built by King Parakarambahu, when Polonnaruwa's height. Mounting elephants, we head off into the park to spot the wildelife - elephants, leopard, sloth bear, sambur and more. There are also an abundance of bird species, so keep your eyes peeled both on the ground and in the air! Evening proceed on a Jeep Safari to visit the Minneriya National Park. The Minneriya Tank was created by King Parakramabahu at the height of Polonnaruwa’s glory as the capital of Sri Lanka.
Day 6: Habarana - Kandy
Today we will leave Habarana and drive you to Kandy, with a stop at Pinnawela's elephant orphanage, to see the elephants that have been rescued. Bathing time is fantastic, seeing the elephants playing in the water, spraying each other and generally have a great time. We then continue on to Kandy and check into the hotel. Late afternoon we have a sightseeing tour of Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lankan kings and a world heritage site.
Day 7: Kandy
Today we head to the Millennium Elephant Foundation and afterwards go to the Royal Botannical Gardens in Peradeniya, first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king. This evening we head to the Temple of the Tooth and a cultural show featuring Sri Lankan dancing.
Day 8: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
Today we head to Nuwara Eliya, which, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia. In the evening we will take you on a sightseeing your of Nuwara Eliya, seeing "Little England".
Day 9: Nuwara Eliya
Morning proceed to visit Horton Plains - Horton Plains is located on a high windswept saddle at 2134 meters. These Plains are hard to reach but the scenery is well worth the effort. We continue on to Seetha Amman Temple, a site where it is believed the idols have worshipped for centuries.
Day 10: Nuwara Eliya
This morning 1 client will have a game of golf whilst the other client has time to relax. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 11: Nuwara Eliya - Udawalawe N.P. and Embilipitiya
We head to Embilipitiya and in the afternoon visit the Uda-walawe National Park by Safari jeep – The Uda Walawe National Park is approximately 30,821 hectares in extent. This Park which lies within the Ratnapura and Monaragala Districts acts as the catchment to the Uda Walawe Reservoir and is located in the Dry Zone. It comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and large herds of Elephants and Deer species such as spotted Deer, Sambhur, Barking deer and Langur, Wild Boar, Water Buffalo, Jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found.
Day 12: Udawalawe N.P. and Embilipitiya - Yala National Park
Leave for Yala National Park and in the afternoon you will have a jeep safari. This park is famous for its high density of leopards. You are also sure to see elephants – grumpy loan males and large herd. You will also see Sloth bears, wild boars, several species of deer and wild buffalo. It is also one of the few places in the world where the severely endangered black necked stork can still be seen. The uniqueness of the park is the sheer diversity of the habitat: dense jungles suddenly gives way to lagoons and open plain. Huge, stark boulders dominate the horizon and the elegant, languorous leopard can often be seen basking atop the sun baked rock.
Day 13: Yala National Park
Breakfast at hotel and we then proceed on another Jeep Safari this morning – see if you can spot leopards. On completion return back to the hotel and the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 14: Yala National Park - Tangalle
After breakfast we head to Tangalle and check you into the hotel.
Days 15-17: Tangalle
Sit back and relax on the beautiful beach, time to relax, wander through the local villages or work on your tan.
Day 18: Tangalle - Weligama & Mirissa
Today we drive you to Weligama and check you into the hotel. Rest of the day is free.
Day 19: Weligama & Mirissa - Hikkaduwa
We head out this morning to Mirissa to go whale watching - please note you will need to be at Mirissa at 06:15 this morning, so it is an early start! We then head on to Hikkaduwa, with a stop enroute at Galle Fort, which was built by the Portuguese and modified by the Dutch.
Days 20-23: Hikkaduwa
At leisure on Sri Lanka’s tropical palm-fringed coast. Lie back and relax on the pristine beaches, explore the surrounding village life or try some of the water sports on offer
