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...
See full tour itinerary
Habarana Holidays
Sample Itinerary - REF SRI LANKA 257
If you like the itinerary below please quote REF SRI LANKA 257 when enquiring for further details.
Alternatively you may like modify this trip with your own Holiday Wish List
Day 1: Colombo
Hello! Today you will be met on arrival at the Bandaranayke International airport and transferred to your hotel in Colombo. The rest of the night is yours to explore the vibrant city.
Day 2: Colombo
This morning we proceed on a sightseeing Tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the “ Fort” so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a Fort at this point. Drive passed “Pettah” – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of Humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques & temples. Visit Hindu temple & drive pass Jumi-UL Alfar Jumma Mosque, Continue the tour through the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall.
Day 3: Colombo
Today is yours to enjoy activities of your own choosing. You can use the vehicle up to 80kms so be sure to make a plan!
Day 4: Colombo - Kandy
This morning we proceed to the Pettah Railway Station to board the observation saloon leaving for Peradeniya – This dramatic ride will get you chance of viewing some of the magnificent sites of Sri Lanka. Breathtaking views, long tunnels, etc are common sites in this trip. (The chauffeur guide will assist you in regards to the train times and pick up point). On arrival at the Peradeniya Railway station meet up with the chauffeur guide and proceed to Kandy where the rest of the day is at your leisure. Your hotel here is the Queens Hotel.
Day 5: Kandy
This morning after breakfast we proceed on city tour of Kandy - Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a World Heritage Site. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. We also visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum and a lapidary. On completion return to the hotel and en-route visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.
Day 6: Kandy - Habarana
Today is a very special day!! This morning we proceed to visit the Elephant orphanage in Pinnawela - This orphanage is the home for about 89 elephants, out of which some are baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Also could accompany the elephants to a river close-by and see them having their daily bath. After our exciting day we are on to Habarana.
Day 7: Habarana
After breakfast at the hotel we proceed on a sightseeing tour of Anuradhapura the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka!Thereafter proceed to visit Mihintale, where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka. On this rock are many shrines and dwellings originally used by monks. A grand stairway of 1,840 steps made of 15 feet wide granite slabs leads to the summit from where one could get a splendid view of the surrounding countryside. On completion return back to the hotel and the rest of day is yours at leisure.
Day 8: Habarana
This morning we proceed on a 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 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. The evening can be spent relaxing at your lovely hotel.
Day 9: Habarana
Breakfast at hotel – Morning proceed to Sigiriya - climb the 5th century 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. On the return we will visit the infamous Dambulla Cave Temple. A true sight to behold!
Day 10: Habarana - Nuwara Eliya
Today we set off for Nuwara Eliya – En route we visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory. On completion we proceed to Nuwara Eliya, which because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the world’s best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here.
Day 11: Nuwara Eliya
In the morning we proceed to Adams Peak - Though not the highest mountain of Sri Lanka, the striking pyramid of Adam's Peak (7,360 ft) is certainly the most remarkable. A depression in the rocky summit resembles a huge footprint, which has been venerated as a sacred sigh from remote antiquity. This was identified by Buddhists as the Buddha's footprint, by Hindus as that of Shiva, and by Muslims as Adam's. Later the Portuguese attributed it to St. Thomas the Apostle.
Day 12: Nuwara Eliya - Galle
After Breakfast at the hotel we Leave for Galle. In the afternoon we proceed on a sightseeing tour of Galle - Visit the Galle Dutch Fortress – The Galle fort was built first by the Portuguese, then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Even today, after 400 years of existence, it looks new and polished with reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. Today Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.
Day 13: Galle
Today we are off to Weikkala where you check in at the Ranweli Holiday Villiage for an all inclusive stay in beautiful surroundings.
Days 14-16: Galle
This morning we have breakfast at the hotel and the following days are yours to relax on the beach and unwind.
