The Best of Sri Lanka

 14 Days/13 nights

 Day 1

• Arrive at Katunayake International Airport.
  
• You will be met and greet by our Representative at the Airport & transfer to Habarana / Sigiriya
  
• en route visit elephant orphanage at Pinnawela, witness bottle feeding of baby elephants and enjoy the picturesque scenery of elephant bating in the river
• This Orphanage is the home for about 60 elephants, which some are baby elephants abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are cared for, fed & trained by the Wild Life Authorities. The best time to visit is during feeding times when one can witness the baby elephants being bottle-fed. It is also possible to accompany the elephants to a river nearby to see them having a bath
• On completion, leave for Habarana / Sigiriya
• Check in at hotel
• Evening at leisure in the hotel or free for optional elephant ride in Habarana (Payment direct from clients) where you could see the beauty of true nature and surrounding in an elephant back

Day 2

• Breakfast at the hotel,
  
• leave for day excursion to Mihintale and Anuradhapura
• Mihintale is a rocky hill 11 kilometers east of Anuradhapura. It was here that in the year 247 B.C. King Devanampiyatissa became converted to Buddhism in his encounter with Mahinda. Mihintale, called the "Mountain of Mahinda" soon became a great monastic city composed of 4 rocky, forested hills.
  
• Today, an aura of seclusion still lingers here, despite a thriving bazaar at the foot of the hills and the thousands of pilgrims who flock there.
  
• Every person who wishes to reach the dagoba at the summit of this sacred mountain must climb 1,840 steps to do so.
• Thereafter, proceed with sightseeing in Anuradhapura
• This was Sri Lanka's first capital city founded in the 4th Century B.C. It was a model of systematic planning set in rolling park-land. Here are dagobas, pleasure gardens and reservoirs, indicating what a high level of civilization existed. Places of interest include the Brazen Palace and the Sacred Bo Tree, considered to be the oldest historically documented tree on earth, grown from a sapling of the original tree under which the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment
• On completion, back to Habarana/Sigiriya for dinner and overnight stay.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Habarana / Sigiriya

Day 3

• Breakfast at hotel,
  
• leave for sightseeing tour in Polonnaruwa ruins
• Polonnaruwa,, this city was considered the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Though smaller in scope, it is said to be aesthetically superior to Anuradhapura. The ruins of palaces, shrines, temples and dagobas built by King Parakrama Bahu the Great, whose statue stands sentinel over the 5,940 acre Parakrama Samudra or "Sea of Parakrama", (an enormous reservoir built by him for irrigation, and supply of water) are as fascinating as the history they unfold.
• Afternoon -leave for Minneriya, jeep safari in Minneriya National park.
• The extent of this National Park is about 8889 hectares. There are wetlands in this National Park which have international importance. Animal and plant species which are plenty in the dry zone are found in this Park. Meanwhile wild elephants, samburs, donkeys, apes, Indian mouse, deer, mongoose, leopard, bats and reptiles like crocodiles, pythons, monitors and various amphibians and local and immigrant bird species are plenty in this Park. About 160 species of birds, 09 amphibians, 25 reptiles species, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species have been found in this  area.
• Bamboo trees which are rare in other parks are found in plenty in this park and wild elephants can be seen conveniently. The significant feature is that these elephants can be seen by going close to them.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Habarana / Sigiriya

 

Day 4

• Early breakfast at the hotel ,
• leave for Sigiriya
• Climb the 5^th century Sigiriya Rock fortress that is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (473-491AD), presently known as the eighth world wonder.
• 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, & extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring at 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. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
• Having climbed the rock you will encounter the remains of the Palace and its environs.
• After breakfast leave for Kandy.
• En-route visit the Dambulla Rock Cave Temple, which was donated by King Walagambahu in the 1^st century BC to Buddhist monks. The complex of five caves with over 2000sq. meters of painted walls & the ceiling is the larges area of paintings found. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the larges is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters.
• Visit an exotic Spice Garden in Matale.
• Arrive in Kandy. Check in at the hotel
• Evening, visit temple of tooth relic, witness cultural dance show in the city which shows traditional Sri Lankan dancing.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Kandy

Day 5

• Breakfast at hotel
  
• leave for an excursion to Dambana, observe the highlight of vaddas community in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka's indigenous inhabitants, the Veddas -- or Wanniya-laeto ('forest-dwellers') as they call themselves -- preserve a direct line of descent from the island's original Neolithic community dating from at least 16,000 BC and probably far earlier according to current scientific opinion.
• Even today, the surviving Wanniya-laeto community retains much of its own distinctive cyclic worldview, prehistoric cultural memory, and time-tested knowledge of their semi-evergreen dry monsoon forest habitat that has enabled their ancestor-revering culture to meet the diverse challenges to their collective identity and survival.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Kandy

Day 6

• Breakfast at hotel,
  
• proceed with sightseeing tour in Kandy, visit upper lake drive to overview the Kandy city and surrounding of lake in a higher location. Then visit to art and craft centre, Gem museum and factory
• visit Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya to see its magnificent Orchid House & the grove of splendid trees, planted by eminent world figures.
• On completion, leave for Nuwara Eliya,
  
• en route visit tea factory and plantation to observe the process of tea leaves to become famous Sri Lanka tea!
• Check in at hotel in Nuwara Eliya
• Nuwara Eliya which means the "city of lights" is also the city of eternal spring, where the air is pure, cool and distilled up through 1,884 meters;  
• windswept peaks lie shrouded in mist, while gaily clad tea pluckers wind their way among tea bushes. Listen to the wild music of the water falls.  
• This is a holiday resort ideal for hikes, golf and boating - the setting, a nostalgic reminder of the English country-side.
• Evening at leisure, Dinner and overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya

Day 7

• Early breakfast or with pack breakfast,
  
• leave day excursion to Horton Plains
• Located in the highest plateau of Sri Lanka at an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level. Usually the Plains are visible before 10 a.m., as otherwise the mist covers the view.
  
• The highlight of the Plains is the terrific escarpment which drops vertically for about 1,000 feet. On a very clear day, one could view the east horizon too.
• Rare species of fauna and flora are found here.
  
• This Plain was once the hunting ground for the British Governor Mr. Farr. Today the home of Mr. Farr has been turned into a Rest House and is called "Farr Inn".
• Thereafter, back to the hotel
• Evening walk at Nuwara Eliya City
• Dinner and overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya

Day 8

• Breakfast at the hotel, 
  
• leave for Yala,
  
• en route a stop at famous water falls called “Ella” and “Diyaluma” water falls.
• Check in at hotel in Yala / Kataragama
• Afternoon, proceed with jeep safari at Yala National Park
• This National Park is located in the South-East and offers you the chance of seeing animals such as wild boar, deer, leopards, elephants, monkeys, and crocodiles in their natural environment.
  
• The best times to spot these animals are in the early morning hours, or at dusk when they come out of the seclusion of the jungle to drink water at the edge of the tank
• Dinner and overnight stay at Yala / Kataragama

Day 9

• After breakfast,
  
• proceed with day program with interacting with villages in typical Sri Lankan village, which inclusive or scenery 5 tanks in the village and its surroundings, wild life etc...then move down to the village, observe the lifestyle of villages, farming and agriculture and their cottage industries, and cookery demonstration and share with their thoughts and ideas. (Can arrange a typical Sri Lankan Rice and Curry lunch in the village serves in village style on request basis
• On completion, back to the hotel
• Evening visit Kataragama temple
• Kataragama is a unique temple of god Skanda- Murukan amongst all the temples in Sri Lanka. It is a place where all ethnic groups and religious cultures meet. This religious site is claimed ownership by Veddas, Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. In spite of all the socio-political conflicts the temple continues to survive.
• The sacred, located in the southeastern region of the country, was once a thick forest-covered area. But its cultural origin is buried in the ancient history. Just as the social history of the country remain a mystery, the historical origin of the temple is also shrouded in mystery.
• The history of the god at Kataragama is mingled with the social history and ecological environment of mankind (Pettazzoni, 1956). In this context, this study analyses continuity and change in the cult of Kataragama in a socio-anthropological perspective
• Dinner and overnight stay at Kataragama

Day 10

• Early breakfast
• leave for Bundala
• Bundala National Park is situated in the southeast part of the country in the semi arid zone. Park belongs to Southern Province. The park area is 6,216 hectares.
• The park was initially established as a Sanctuary in 1969. Due to its significant role as a wintering site for migratory birds this was declared as RAMSAR wetland in 1990.
• On completion, leave for Hikkaduwa,
  
• en route visit Dutch Fort in Galle known as a world heritage site identified by UNESCO.
• This southern seaport was the 17th Century centre of Dutch rule. The town is full of Dutch monuments, ramparts and forts, to bear witness to this fact.
  
• Galle is also famous for its ebony carving and delicate hand made lace. It has a pleasant atmosphere and a fine view of the sea.
• Thereafter, check in at hotel in Hikkaduwa
• Evening at leisure on the beach
• Dinner and overnight stay at Hikkaduwa 

Day 11

• Breakfast at the hotel,
  
• proceed with Glass bottomed boat ride in Hikkaduwa, where you can enjoy the scenery of famous Sri Lanka southern corals, colorful fish, turtles and their natural behavior.
• Thereafter visit turtle conservation centre in Kosgoda
• There are five species of Sea Turtles found in Sri Lanka, namely Olive Ridley Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle and Leatherhead Turtle. The all major nesting habitats are located in the Galle District
• Then move to Bentota
• visit to moonstone mines in Meetiyagoda
• The village of Meetiyagoda near Ambalangoda is where the moonstone is found concentrated within an acre of land believed to have been blessed by the moon.
• The mysterious gem, captivating as a full moon gleaming in the night sky, is considered sacred & has appeared in jewelry for centuries. A mesmerizing interplay of light, known as schiller or adularescence, causes a silvery-white sheen to glide like veils of mist across the milky surface of the moonstone. Some believe that this moving light is evidence of a living spirit that dwells within the gem. Gemologists, however attribute the shimmering phenomenon to the presence of albite crystals embedded in feldspar.
• The most sought-after moonstones have a haunting blue sheen, an effect produced by the orthoclase feldspar, which is found almost exclusively in the mines of Sri Lanka
• Check in at the hotel
• Evening at leisure on the beach
• Dinner and overnight stay at Bentota / Beruwela

Days 12 and 13

• Full days at leisure in Bentota / Beruwela
• Idyllically located on an estuary, where river and sea meet, this is one of our loveliest spots.
  
• It is also the site of a 100 acre National Holiday Resort Complex, with its landscaped grounds.
  
• Enjoy the salty sea air mingled with the scent of Hibiscus and Frangipanni and let your eyes drink in the view of the sea, which is breathtaking. An ideal place for wind surfing and snorkeling.
• Dinner and overnight stay at Bentota / Beruwela 
  

Day 14

• After breakfast, leave airport
  
• en route proceed with sightseeing tour in Colombo, driving through the Commercial area of the ‘Fort' so named, because both the Portuguese & Dutch had a fort at this point.  Drive past ‘Pettah' a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of humanity. Ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques & temples.
  
• Visit a Hindu & Buddhist temple.
  
• Continue the tour through the Wolfendhal Dutch Church & to the residential are of Cinnamon Gardens
• On completion, leave for airport in time for departure flight 
  

Preliminary price calculation per person:

Luxury accomodation (four star hotel):

2 participants without a guide from Europe 30 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe 45 000,-CZK

3 participants without a guide from Europe 27 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe 36 000,- CZK

4 participants without a guide from Europe 27 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe 34 000,- CZK

5 participants without a guide from Europe 27 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe 32 500,- CZK

6 participants without a guide from Europe 27 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe 31 500,- CZK

7-12 participants 28 000,- CZK (specialized English speaking guide from Europe included)

13 -18 participants 25 500,- CZK (specialized English speaking guide from Europe included)

19 - 25 participants 25 000,- CZK (specialized English speaking guide from Europe included)

Single room supplement:  8 700,-CZK

 

Standard accomodation (three stars hotel):

2 participants without a guide from Europe 25 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe  37 500,- CZK

3 participants without a guide from Europe 22 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe  30 000,- CZK

4 participants without a guide from Europe 22 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe  27 500,- CZK

5 participants without a guide from Europe 22 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe 26 500,- CZK

6 participants without a guide from Europe 22 000,- CZK; with a specialized English speaking guide from Europe  26 000,- CZK

7-12 participants 22 500,- CZK (specialized English speaking guide from Europe included)

13-18 participants 21 000,- CZK (specialized English speaking guide from Europe included)

19-25 participants 20 000,- CZK (specialized English speaking guide from Europe included)

Single room supplement:  7 500,-CZK

 

Included in the price:

Transfer from/to the airport

Hotel accomodation as mentioned in the tour itinerary

Half board

Transportation in an airconditioned vehicle

English speaking local driver for a group up to 6 participants, English speaking local guide for a group from 7 participants

Local taxes and 12% VAT

National parks entrance fees

Cost for jeeps in national parks

 

Not included in the price:

International air tickets

Drinks

Any personal expenses - telephones, laundry, etc.

Health insurance

Tips for driver and local guides