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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Unawatuna Holidays
Sample Itinerary - REF SRI LANKA 252
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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 3: Colombo
Today, your guide will take you on a driving tour of colourful Colombo.Drive 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 Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall. And also visit Gangaramaya Temple.
Day 4: Colombo - Habarana
Today we drive to Habaranaa - En route 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. On completion proceed to Habarana - En route visit the Dambulla Cave Temple 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. Evening experience the thrill of an elephant back safari in Habarana for about one hour. Each elephant will be able to carry 5 adults in a Howdy or Basket. Once the guest mount on Elephants, they will be taken deep in to the jungle.
Day 5: Habarana
This morning we visit Anuradhapura - the first capital and the grandest city of the ancient Sri Lanka, It is the home of two World Heritage sites. Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo-Tree) was brought as a sapling of the tree under which prince Siddhartha attained to enlightenment and it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. At Brazen Palace, the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. Proceed to visit Mihintale, where Buddhism was first introduced to Sri Lanka. 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.
Day 6: Habarana
Today we drive back to Habarana – En route visit Polonnaruwa - which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka, built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and is a world heritage site - Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya – where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ‘Upright’, ‘Sedentary’ and ‘Recumbent’ postures carved out of rock, 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.
Day 7: Habarana - Kandy
Today we leave for Kandy - En route 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 meters 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. On completion Leave for Kandy – Also visit a spice garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.
Day 8: Kandy
Breakfast at hotel. Morning proceed on a sightseeing 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. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum and a lapidary Return to hotel - 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. In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing.
Day 9: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
Today we depart for Nuwara Eliya – En-route 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. Proceed to Nuwara Eliya, 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. Evening leave on a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya – Drive through "Little England”.
Day 11: Nuwara Eliya - Yala National Park
Breakfast at Hotel – Leave for Yala - Check in at Chaaya Wild 4* - (Jungle Chalet) – Rest of the day at leisure
Day 12: Yala National Park
Morning go on a Jeep safari at Yala national Park - This park is famous for its high density of leopards, perhaps the highest in the world. You are also sure to see elephants – grumpy loan males during the dry months and large herds in the wet season. You will also see mammal such as wild boars, several species of deer and wild buffalo. As is common in Sri Lanka there is a huge diversity of stunning birdlife including migratory species such as the flamingo. 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 areas and the park has a simply beautiful sea front.
Day 13: Yala National Park - Unawatuna
Breakfast at hotel -Morning Leave for Galle. Afternoon 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. On completion return to hotel – Rest the day at leisure. Overnight at Cantaloupe Aqua 3*- (Aqua Zen Room)
Day 14: Unawatuna
Breakfast at hotel – Rest of the day at leisure on the beach - Overnight stays at the hotel. Overnight at Cantaloupe Aqua 3*- (Aqua Zen Room)
Day 15: Unawatuna - Colombo
Today we drive back to Colombo. Check in at Ramada Colombo– Rest of the day at leisure.
