Sri Lanka Romantic Gateways

Day 01 – Arrive Colombo – Negambo
Arrive Colombo (Sri Lanka). Meet our representative upon arrival at Colombo airport and transfer to a beach hotel in Negambo. It is a famous fishing village that is equally proud of its Dutch fort and other Dutch period architecture. Overnight at the Negambo.

Day 02 – Negombo – Pinnawala – Dambulla
This morning after breakfast, proceed to Dambulla en-route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage provides visitors with the best chance of seeing a large number of elephants at close quarters. The orphanage was established in 1975 and commenced with seven orphaned elephants. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their calfs born in the same location. Assisted by local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala commenced a successful captive breeding program and the first baby elephant was born in 1984. It is most interesting to visit at feeding time to see the baby elephants being bottle fed and the entire herd taken for a bath thereafter to the river nearby.

Continue your drive to Dambulla where you will visit the Dambulla Rock Temple. Dating back to the 1st century BC, the temple is made up of five caves that have been converted into shrine rooms containing around 150 Buddha statues and colourful frescoes. Overnight at the Dambulla.

Day 03 – Dambulla – Sigiriya – Minneriya – Dambulla
This morning travel to Sigiriya, home to the 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage listed Rock Fortress, also known as ‘Lion Rock’. The rock fortress was built by King Kashyapa and was named so because a massive lion was carved out of the rock and once sat at the entrance to the palace. Today only the lion’s paws remain. While here you can climb to the top for panoramic views of the area and explore the surrounding gardens.

In the afternoon take a safari through Minneriya National Park spanning over 8,800 hectares and is located alongside the vast, renovated Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir. As a part of the corridor which joins Kaudulla and Wasgomuwa parks, Minneriya offers an amazing sightseeing experience where one may see herds of elephants throughout the year. In October, you will witness the famous gathering of the wild elephants which is the largest known meeting place of wild elephants in the world. The park is also home to about 160 species of birds, 9 amphibians, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species. Return to the Dambulla for overnight stay.

Day 04 – Dambulla – Trincomalee
This morning after breakfast, proceed to Trincomalee. Housing one of the largest natural harbours in the world, Trincomalee is home to beautiful beaches, a colourful town and amazing multicultural town with lovely beaches and roots dating back to Marco Polo. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the Trincomalee.

Day 05 – Trincomalee
After breakfast, day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the beach.

Optional: You can visit the pigeon island where you could snorkel and explore a whole new world under the sea. If it’s during summer take a boat ride to see Dolphins. The ever smiling, mischievous dolphins will put on a show while some of the oldest and the largest sea creatures, the humpback and the blue whales, will nonchalantly glide past you.

Day 06 – Trincomalee – Kandy
This morning after breakfast, proceed to Kandy. The World Heritage Site, Kandy, was the last capital of the Sri Lankan Kings, before the country was brought under British rule in 1815. Famous for its rich heritage and splendour, this magnificent city was last ruled by Sri Wickramarajasinghe. The Temple of the Tooth Relic is the most significant highlight of the city along with the Kandy Lake, the town and other attractions. This evening you will watch a colourful cultural dance performance. Overnight at the Kandy.

Day 07 – Kandy – Peradeniya – Nuwara Eliya
This morning after breakfast, visit the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens with a fine collection of over 4000 species of exotic plants and later visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most revered Buddhist sites in the world. The temple houses an important Buddhist Relic, a tooth of the Buddha. Stolen at his funeral, the tooth was smuggled into Sri Lanka hidden in the hair of a princess who fled from India. The relic of the tooth is kept in a two-storey shrine fronted by large elephant trunks.

Later drive to Nuwara Eliya. Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe 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. Nuwara Eliya has earned a reputation for itself as a preferred destination in the hill country by tourists and locals alike because of its incredibly cool climate and amazing sceneries. Whilst delighting travellers with its awe-inspiring beauty, Nuwara Eliya is also home to one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in South Asia. This town plays a pivotal role in the world’s tea industry as the produce of this region alone accounts for a substantial portion of tea exports. Overnight at the Nuwara Eliya.

Day 08 – Nuwara Eliya – Kitulgala – Ahungalla
This morning after breakfast, proceed to Ahungalla en-route visit St. Clair, Devon waterfalls cascading beautifully and Kitulgala. The Kelani River (the broadest river in Sri Lanka) flowing through Kitulgala was   the main location where the Oscar winning movie “Bridge on the River Kwai” was filmed.  Experience the thrills and spills of an exciting rafting adventure in a jungle paradise.

Continue the drive to Ahungalla. Upon arrival check-in at the hotel and relax for a while amidst the comforts of your room. Overnight at the Ahungalla.

Day 09 – Ahungalla – Galle – Ahungalla
Today travel south to explore the city of Galle including the lighthouse and the Old Town. Also visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed Dutch Fort, the largest intact Dutch fort in Asia. Within the ramparts and stonewalls of Galle Fort outstanding buildings remain. The narrow streets are dotted with Dutch colonial villas, museums and antique shops. In the afternoon, relax at your beach resort. Overnight at the Ahungalla.

Day 10 – Ahungalla – Colombo
Today after breakfast travel to Colombo en-route visiting Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. The hatchery is home to Sri Lanka’s pioneering sea turtle conservation project, established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka’s turtles. Overnight at the Colombo.

Day 11 – Depart Colombo
Today after breakfast start your city tour. Explore Fort district, the historic center of the city. Wander through Pettah Market. Visit the Dutch Church of Wolfendhall dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, a major pilgrimage site for Buddhist devotees, and the Colombo and Natural History museums.

Late night you will be transferred to Colombo airport to board your flight for onward destination.