Discover Charming Sri Lanka Tour

AM Arrival at the Katunayake International Airport early morning. Welcome with flower garlanding on arrival & assistance by a representative of Mac Travels and transferred to Dambulla. PM Leave for visit Dambulla Cave Temple. The Dambulla Rock Temple had first been constructed during the rein of King Vattagamini Abhaya (103 BC and 89-77 BC). The Sinhalese often call him as King Valagamba. During a South Indian invasion the king had to abandon his Anuradhapura Kingdom. For 12 years, King Valagamba was in hiding and had frequented these caves for his safety. After regaining the kingdom of Anuradhapura and becoming the King, to show his gratefulness for his safe place, he converted those caves into Buddhist Temples by constructing walled partitions under the rock overhang which spans the entire area as a single large cave. He got drip ledges made along this large cave and made it suitable to withstand rainy weather and avoided water seeping inside the caved areas. The three cave temples named as Devarajalena, Maharajalena and the Paccimalena were constructed by him. Overnight stay at Dambulla.

AM After Breakfast leave for visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Built by an obsessed monarch in the 5th century, Sigiriya or Lion Rock is an astonishing feat of engineering and construction. The most striking portion of Sigiriya, a terracotta and grey core of rock set in the cultural heart of Sri Lanka, rises a sheer 200 metres above a forested plain, its flattened summit sloping gently. A series of moats, ramparts and water gardens — remnants of an ancient city — spread out on two sides of the rock, with the remains of a pair of giant stone lion’s paws still guarding the staircase that leads to the summit, once occupied by a royal palace. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982, Sigiriya is Asia’s best preserved city of the first millennium, showing complex urban planning around the base of the rock, combined with Sophisticated engineering and irrigation skills in the palace perched on the summit. Then Leave for Kandy visiting the Spice Garden in Matale. For centuries, spices have been one of Sri Lanka's celebrated exports. Spices mostly grown in home gardens (as a home industry) and used not only to flavor food but also in medicine and cosmetics. Visit a Spice Garden and sample such scents and flavors as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, vanilla, cardamom etc. Overnight stay at Kandy.

After breakfast visit Royal Botanical gardens, Peradeniya Sixty Seven hectares of exquisite beauty and botanical treasurers containing more than 4000 species, this is a heaven not only for Scientists but to every nature lover as well. PM leave to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic Sri Lanka's second city is Kandy, a beautiful historical city in the citadel of the country. It is not only known for it's great kings who ruled the city for almost 225 years independently until the British took over in 1815, but it is also the place where the Sacred Tooth of Lord Buddha is laid in a magnificent temple. The incomparable Perahera celebration, a procession of more than 100 elephants, is held every August here. Visit part of the Old Palace and the Temple of the Tooth Relic and view the daily traditional rituals of the Temple. Overnight stay at Kandy.

AM After breakfast leave for visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 40 now, including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well as the babies born, as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by. There after proceed to Nuwara Eliya and visit the tea Factory. Tea Plantation Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolkandura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown, medium, grown, high grown into 3 main groups. In 1996 Sri Lanka has produced 258 million Kgs. of tea and has earned Rs. 34,068 million by exporting 244 million Kgs of tea. Overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast leave for yala . En route visit the Ravena Ella Water Falls. Late Afternoon do a safari at Yala Wild Life sanctuary by jeep. Yala (Ruhuna) National Park The Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. Yala National Park having an added bonus of a scenic ocean frontage, the terrain is varied - flat plains alternating with rocky out-crops. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle creating Contrasting eco systems and habitats. This has resulted in producing a high biodiversity among the plant and animal life at Yala. Dinner & Overnight stay in Yala.

After breakfast en route at koggala see the stilt fishermen and then leave for visit Dutch Fort in Galle. Once the chief Port of Sri Lanka (Spanning 90 acres), which was originally built by the Portuguese and later Extended by the Dutch in 1663. Nominated as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. PM leave for visit Hikkaduwa and a boat ride to see the corals and then visit the Turtle Hatchery. Overnight stay at South / West Coast.

AM After Breakfast leave for visit Colombo. Colombo a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square. Overnight stay at Colombo.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for departure.