BEST OF THE ISLAND TOUR

Once you have arrived at the Bandaranayike International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by one of our many representatives, who will then escort you to your vehicle which will safely convey you to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage en route to either Habarana or Dambulla.

ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE PINNAWALA
Prepare yourself to be surrounded by herds of elephants of various ages and sizes! The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle was established in 1975 and is currently home to 93 elephants. The orphanage is also considered to be a breeding ground for wild Asian elephants, thereby giving you the opportunity to watch calves tagging along with their mothers and frolic with their friends! Fruit feeding and Milk feeding are two highly recommended activities to participate in if you are looking for a way to bond with the elephants in the orphanage and observe how they uniquely consume their food with the assistance of their trunks.

Once the trip to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage comes to an end, the journey to the Sigiriya Rock fortress will commence as soon as you have helped yourself to your afternoon meal and checked into your desired place of accomodation.

SIGIRIYA FORTRESS
The Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which is commonly known as "The Lion Rock " due to it's huge gateway which is built in the form of an enormous lion, has been declared as the 8th wonder of the world by UNESCO and continues to amaze everyone with it's legendary past and numerous amounts of attractions such as the frescoes, which are famous for their unique painting style, and the Mirror Wall, which is known to be built by the legendary King Kassapa. These attractions have been highly valued by the local community and play a huge role in Sri Lankan history.

Dinner and overnight accomodation can be obtained through the following programmes,

AM- As you depart from Habarana, prepare yourself to explore one of the island's most exceptional temples- the Golden Cave Temple. Once the tour of the temple comes to an end, you will be able to make your way to Kandy, the largest city in central Sri Lanka.

DAMBULLA- Valued as a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, the Golden Cave Temple traces it's history all the way back to the 1st century B.C. With five caves hidden under an enormous rock that overhangs the temple, it is known to be the most treasured cave temple all across Asia. The cave monestary holds the reputation of being the most preserved historical stucture in Sri Lanka that dates back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C and remains as a living shrine for many Buddhist pilgrims. With a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of the kings of Sri Lanka and four statues of gods and goddesses, this temple manifests how Buddhism is greatly valued and respected in the Sri Lankan community.

PM- Excite your taste buds by having the famous Sri Lankan rice and curry for lunch at Matale, where you can also pay a visit to the Ayurvedic and Spice Village and familiarize yourself with local spices and herbs.

After lunch, you will arrive at the majestic city of Kandy, home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. You are welcome to visit the palace and observe the tooth sanctuary of The Buddha. You will also be able to witness a cultural dance performance and fascinate yourself by the costumes and accessories worn by each dancer.

Dinner and overnight accomodation can be obtained through the following programmes,

AM- Since you spent the last two days exploring, why not spend today's morning by enjoying a warm cup of coffee and relaxing with your family, partner or friends? During the late morning, you will be able to make your way to the Royal Botanical Gardens, located about 5.5 km from Kandy.

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDEN- Ever wanted to just be surrounded by flowers, plants and nothing else? If so, this is the perfect place for you! A garden, renowned for it's collection of orchids and more than 4000 species of plants, has a record of attracting more than a million visitors annually! One of the most interesting attractions of the garden is the Orchid House, which displays a charming collection of Sri Lankan Orchids, brightening up the whole garden with their variety of colours. Of course, flowers aren't the only attractions present in the garden- there's a spice garden and countless amounts of Palm trees to be found almost everywhere!

PM- Once you return to Kandy, you are able to engage in a tour around the city, whilst visiting the Gem Mining Factory and many other popular fruit and vegetable markets,which are the main sources of food supplies for almost everyone on the island.

KANDY- Kandy, a city filled with grace and sophistication has never failed to inspire any visitor with it's beauty and magnificence. Majestically known as the Kandyan Kingdom, the city is known for being the last remaining kingdom before the Portuguese took over the coastal regions of the island. Since the last ruling dynasty of kingdoms were in Kandy, the city is treated with utmost respect and gratitude by many Sri Lankans. Home to numerous mountains and thick forrests, the city can be conveniently reached by all areas as it is located right in the middle of the island and has roads connecting to every direction. The kingdom is highly admired for housing the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The Temple of the Tooth and the "Magul Maduwa" are two highly recommended sites to visit during your trip to Kandy.

Dinner and overnight stay in-

AM- Gear up for a guided stroll around the town of Nuwara Eliya, a place with so much greenery that almost everything you see will be green in colour! As the city is known for tea production in Sri Lanka, you will be able to witness many tea plantations and tea pluckers and of course, English styled country houses!

NUWARA ELIYA- Hidden under the shadows of the tallest mountain ranges of the island, Nuwara Eliya is the perfect place for exploring the wilderness. As Nuwara Eliya is located at the highlands of Sri Lanka, dry seasons cannot be expected during any time of the year. Unlike in other parts of the country, where you do not have to bother wearing a jacket or a jumper, layered clothing is essential in order to cope with the cold weather in Nuwara Eliya. Mountains such as Pidurutalagala, Kirigalpoththa, Thotupala Kanda, Adam's Peak and Namunukula will not be missed during your trip to Nuwara Eliya.

Lunch will be taken at the well known Tea Bush Restaurant, where you can digest your meal while enjoying the breathtaking view of the Ramboda waterfall which will be situated right in front of your eyes, making you never want to leave! Once lunch comes to and end, you will be taken to the famous tea factory where you can gain an understanding of how tea is produced and distributed among various areas in the island.

PM- An evening walk in the city is a highly recommended activity to engage in during your stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Dinner and overnight stay in....

AM- Once you have had your breakfast, your trip to Colombo- the business capital of Sri Lanka, will begin, via Kithulagala.

KITULGALA- Ever wondered where the award winning movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed? It was right here in Kitulgala! If you are interested in taking part in White Water Rafting, we will make a two hour stop by the river.

COLOMBO- Colombo, also known as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka is the largest city of the island and has a population of 5.6 million people! With many attractions such as the Fort, the Old Parliament House, Buddhist temples, churches and mosques, it is no wonder that the majority of the country's citizens reside in this city. Luxurious hotels, where most Sri Lankan wedding ceremonies are held, provide accomodation for many visitors as they tour around Colombo. The National Museum and the Independence Hall are two major attractions which are maintained by the Sri Lankan government.

During the evening, you will be able to shop around popular shopping malls whilst engaging in a tour around the city.

Dinner and overnight stay in-

AM- Breakfast will be taken at your desired place of accomodation. It is your final meal in Sri Lanka, so make sure you enjoy every mouthful!

After breakfast, you will be safely driven to the airport for your booked flight. Hope you leave with great memories!

End of the tour....