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10 Days Sri Lanka Highlights Tour Package
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights
Priced From: $ 1,550 pp dbl.occ.
Date: Jan - Oct
Highlights
• Explore ancient fortresses, Dutch churches and cave temples.
• Visit the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela and a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda.
• Journey by local train through brilliant mountain scenery, past tea plantations and waterfalls.
• Discover Kandy, center for the island’s arts and crafts, and Colombo’s busy shopping areas.
Itinerary
Day 1: Depart USA
Depart for your Sri Lanka vacation today as you board your international flight.
Day 2: En route
Day 3: Arrive Colombo, Sri Lanka
Welcome to tropical Sri Lanka. Your representative greets you and takes you to your hotel in the center of town. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax or begin your discover Colombo, the commercial capital and main seaport. Traces of the island’s colonial past are found in old Dutch churches. Hindu and Buddhist temples feature murals and statues that offer another perspective on the history and architecture of the island. Colombo has been transformed into one of the most popular shopping destinations in the region. Colombo Plaza.
Day 4: Colombo / Anuradhapura / Sigiriya
After an early breakfast, set out to explore the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital. Founded in the 4th century B.C., the city displays a high level of civic planning in its dagobas, gardens and reservoirs. Visit Brazen Palace and Sacred Bo Tree, considered the oldest historically documented tree on earth. Legend says that it grew from a sapling of the original tree under which the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Travel on to Yapahuwa, an ancient fortress and capital in the year 1301. Situated in Kurunegala District about 90 miles from Colombo, Yapahuwa is a 295-foot rock fortress, surrounded by moats and ramparts. An ornate stairway remains its most prominent feature. Sigiriya Village. (B)
Day 5: Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa
After breakfast, journey to another noted rock fortress, Sigiriya. Walk up the sometimes steep 600-foot rock. Climb halfway up to view frescoes of smiling maidens. Continue past “lion’s paws” to the summit for magnificent views of the surrounding area and to tour the old palace. Journey on to another ancient city, the medieval capital Polonnaruwa. Ruins of palaces, shrines, temples and dagobas present a fascinating glimpse into the past. Venture deep into Habrana jungle on elephant back in search of local wildlife, including occasional herds of wild elephants. Return to hotel to relax or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage. Sigiriya Village (B,D)
Day 6: Sigiriya / Dambulla / Matale / Kandy
Travel to Kandy. En route, visit the Rock Cave Temples in Dambulla, known for their numerous statues and paintings; 48 of which are of Buddha. The cave's history dates back to the 2nd century BC. Five caves make up this impressive rock temple. Then stop at Lakgorve Spice Garden in Matale for a spicy Sri Lankan lunch. Check into your hotel, then set out to discover Kandy, center for the island’s arts and crafts. Wander the town center and its old shops, many of which date back to colonial times. Take a turn around the busy market where vendors sell textiles, spices, vegetables and exotic fruits. Visit Temple of the Tooth to learn the fascinating tale of this sacred Buddhist relic, which has been here for more than 400 years. Tonight, watch a classic, centuries-old folkdance and fire-walking show. Mahaweli Reach Hotel (B,D)
Day 7: Kandy / Pinnawela / Nuwara Eliya
This morning, amble through Royal Botanical Gardens, established in 1816, to view some of the 4,000 species of subtropical flora. Visit Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela, established to care for elephants of all ages that are unable to fend for themselves. If your arrival is well timed, you can assist in feeding one of the youngest of these gentle animals. Drive back through Kandy en route to Nuwara Eliya. Stop at Labukelle Tea Plantation, more than 100 years old. With a work force of 1,100, the estate produces 1.2 million pounds of tea annually. Nuwara Eliya, 6181 feet, is known for its spring-like climate. Hear the wild music of nearby waterfalls. Check in to your resort, where you can hike, golf and boat in a setting that could have come straight out of a Somerset Maugham story. The Grand. (B,D)
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya / Yala
Your morning is at leisure to relax or take an optional jeep excursion to Horton Plains. Planter Thomas Farr came upon these plains in the 1800s and named it after Sir Robert Horton, British Governor from 1831-1837. At 7,000 feet, the plateau is a windswept misty grassland with tree ferns and scraggly dwarf trees, some found no where else. Drive to Nanu Oya Railway Station, and set out on a three-hour journey by local train, Podi Menike (Little Lady). Magnificent mountain scenery, huge tea plantations and waterfalls slip past your windows. The train passes through more than a dozen tunnels, including Summit Tunnel at 6,226 feet. Haputale Pass yields brilliant views and, on clear days, the India Ocean can be seen. Your train adventure ends in Bandarawela, where you begin a picturesque drive to Yala. Along the way, travel through Ella Gap for one of the most stunning views in Sri Lanka. Yala Village (B,D)
Day 9: Yala / Galle / Kalutara
Before breakfast, head to Yala National Park, known for large numbers of elephants. Situated 192 miles south of Colombo, the 489-square-mile park nestles in the southeastern corner of
the island. Its northern boundaries border on Lahugala Elephant Sanctuary. Return to your hotel for late breakfast. Depart for Kalutara, passing Hummayanaya Blow Hole, second largest in the world. Enjoy impressive displays during the southwest monsoon, especially in June. Water shoots some 59 feet above the cliff that sits 65 feet above the sea. In the fishing village of Weligama, watch fishermen employ a unique style of fishing while perched on a stilt above the sea. Galle was the 17th century center for Dutch rule. Today, the town is known for its ebony carving and handmade lace. Tour a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda, where several endangered species of turtle, especially the hawksbills, come to lay eggs on the beaches. In two years, the hatchery has released into the sea more than 100,000 hatchlings. Royal Palms Beach Hotel (B,D)
Day 10: Kalutara / Colombo / Depart
After breakfast, you are driven along the coast to Colombo Airport for your flight onward. (B)
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10/08
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