Leisure Tour – Sri Lanka - 11N-12D, Sri Lanka
12D/11N
Sri Lanka
5
Itinerary
Meeting and Greeting at the Airport by SeeInGo Lanka representative.
Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Sigiriya
En-Route Visit Cave Temple Dambulla
Cave temple
The area is thought to be inhabited from as early as the 7th to 3rd century BC. Statues and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st century BC. But the paintings and statues were repaired and repainted in 11th, 12th, and 18th century AD. The caves in the city provided refuge to King Valagamba (also called Vattagamini Abhaya) in his 14 yearlong exile from the Anuradhapura kingdom. Buddhist Monk meditating in the caves of Dambulla at that time provided the exiled king protection from his enemies. When King Valagamba returned to the throne at Anuradhapura kingdom in the 1st century BC, he had a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla as a gratitude to the monks in Dambulla.
Check in to Hotel
Dinner and Overnight stay at Sigiriya
Breakfast at Hotel
Visit Sigiriya
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is an amazing geological formation in Sri Lanka that encompasses an important archaeological site. Sigiriya lies 22 km north-east of Dambulla in the North central province of Sri Lanka. The tourist site of Sigiriya has been declared as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1982 and is part of the seven world heritage sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is located in the middle of the tourism cultural triangle formed by connecting the world heritage sites of Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka.
Safari at Minneriya National Park
Set in the heart of the popular cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, Minneriya National Park is mostly known for its incredible elephant migration, which is one of Asia’s finest wildlife experiences. During the drier months of June to September, as many as 300 elephants congregate in the Minneriya National Park around the ancient Minneriya water tank (which dates back to 3rd Century AD), taking advantage of the receding waters that provide an important water source.
Important Info:
Elephant Migration between Minneriya, Kaudulla and Hurulu Eco Park
There are three national parks in the close proximity within that region. They are the Minneriya National Park, the Kaudulla National Park, and the Hurulu Eco Park,. All of the three parks are immensely popular among locals and foreigners the world over for their large herds of elephants. Generally, each year during the months of July to September large groups of elephants are found in the Minneriya National Park and then they migrate to Kaudulla National Park during the months October to November due to high rains and lakes getting filled up. Then the elephants move on to Hurulu Eco Park for the final leg of their migration during the month of December to January.
Dinner and Overnights stay at Hotel in Sigiriya
Breakfast from Hotel
Transfer from Sigiriya to Trincomalee
Visit Hot Spring well
Kanniya Hot Springs is a site with hot water wells located in Eastern Province, Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. Average temperature of these wells is 42 Celsius and the temperature is slightly different to one another. Kanniya Hot spring is popular tourist destination in Trincomalee district and both local & foreign travelers. Currently this is managed by Pradeshiya Sabha (Local Council) of Trincomalee. People in this area believe that this hot water is good for some skin deceases and it has healing power for Arthritis and Rheumatic.
Visit ThiruKoneswaram Kovil (One of the best view in Trincomalee)
Thirukoneswaram temple is a classical medieval Hindu temple complex located in Trincomalee the Eastern Capital of Sri Lanka which is directly linked to the Ramayana as well. This is also known as the Thirukonamalai Konesar Temple – the temple of the thousand pillars and Daskina, Then Kailasam. This is important Hindu religious pilgrimage center in Eastern Province which is famous Ramayana trail related site in Sri Lanka. Thirukoneswaram Hindu Temple is one of the important Pancha Ishwara Hindu kovil in Sri Lanka located in Trincomalee, rightly located on the summit of Swami Rock Trincomalee. Other Iswara Temples are Naguleswaram Temple Jaffna, Tondeswaram Temple Matara (Tenavaram), Munneswaram Temple Chilaw and Ketheeswaram Temple Mannar Sri Lanka.
Evening leisure at the famous Nilaveli Beach
Nilaveli Beach
Is a stretch of beach which is situated approximately 16 kilometres North of Trincomalle, passing a thriving lagoon on either side and lush coconut palm groves and hordes of cattle, note that the people in the area are predominantly Hindu and consider the cows sacred. Arriving at the hamlet of “Errakkandy”, a sharp right turn will take you down a gravel road to Nilaweli beach, almost a kilometre of in lenght, white sandy beach with gentle surf. Across the beach about two kilometres into the ocean you will see the famous pigeon island, named due to rock pigeons roosting on it by the hundreds and crystal clear water around it to snorkel on to the clear depths of a reef. Further up North you will see a cluster of reddish rocks which are referred to as the red rock beach.
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Trincomalee
Breakfast from Hotel or Packed Breakfast
Whale Watching (Best Season June – September)
Visit Pigeon Island
Stay Relax or enjoy the snorkelling or scuba diving
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel in Trincomalee
Breakfast from Hotel
Transfer from Trincomalee to Kandy
En-Route Visit Spice Garden
Spice Garden
Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine and Coconut. When visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings.
At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden you can learn of their medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day to day needs. Used worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurveda concoctions.
Visit Temple of Tooth Relic
Temple of Tooth Relic
Located in Kandy, long a centre of the Buddhist faith, the stunning 17th-century Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day.
According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was smuggled to Sri Lanka in 313 AD, hidden in the hair of Princess Hemamali who fled the Hindu armies besieging her father's kingdom in India.
It immediately became an object of great reverence and was enshrined in a series of nested jeweled reliquaries. The tooth was brought out for special occasions and paraded on the backs of elephants, which are sacred to the Buddha. Where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it.
When the capital was moved to Kandy, the tooth was taken to the new city and placed in temples built to honour it. The temple was originally built under Kandyan kings between 1687 and 1707
City Tour at Kandy (Lake drive, Gem Museum, Silk shop, Batik etc…..)
Cultural Show at Kandy- if time permitted
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy
Breakfast from Hotel
Visit Royal Botanical garden Peradeniya
Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya
Peradeniya is situated about 5.5 km to the west from the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and attracts 1.2 million visitors annually; it is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids.
It includes more than 300 varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at 460 meters above sea level, and with a 200-day annual rainfall. It is managed by the Division of National Botanic Gardens of the Department of Agriculture. The origins of the Botanic Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli river. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy. Thereafter, the groundwork for a botanical garden was formed by Alexandar Moon in 1821. The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo, and the Kalutara Garden in Kalutara.
The Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844.On his death in 1849 George Henry Kendrick Thwaites became superintendent. The Garden came under the administration of the Department of Agriculture when it was established in 1912.
Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
Visit Ramboda Falls
Ramboda Falls is 109 m (358 ft) high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. It formed by Panna Oya which is a tributary of Kothmale Oya. Altitude of the falls is 945 m (3,100 ft) above sea level.
Visit Tea Factory
Ceylon Tea
Sri Lanka is an island made for tea. The country produces tea throughout the year and the total tea production is about 340 million kilograms per annum. Sri Lanka’s tea-growing areas are mainly concentrated in the central highlands and southern inland areas of the island.
At present, a larger portion of the country’s tea is exported as Ceylon Black Tea, while the country also produces Ceylon Green Tea, a type developed from Assamese seedlings. Ceylon White Tea, namely silver and golden tips is celebrated around the world for their finest flavour and are among the most expensive tea varieties in the world.
Visit Gregory Lake
Gregory Lake
Named after Sir William Gregory in 1873, this is a prominent attraction used for water sports and recreational activities. Lake Park, Boat Rides are available. Travellers can be reached by sea plane which takes only 30 minutes from Colombo. At the southern end of the town is Gregory Lake where the holiday makers can enjoy a leisurely walk on the paved walk ways, with swan shaped paddle boats for the more adventurous. There are pony rides round the lake for the kids and even adults, with plenty of fast food stalls located in a separate area where one can enjoy a meal or a snack.
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast from Hotel
Visit Horton Plains
Horton Plains
Horton Plains in Sri Lanka, is the coldest and windiest location in the country. It consists of ecosystems such as Montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands and aquatic ecosystem. At an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, Horton Plains spreads across over 3,169 hectares of the highest tableland of the island. In view of the large number of endemic flora and fauna species, Horton Plains was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 30th July 2010.
Evening City tour or Relax at Hotel
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast from Hotel
Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
Nine Arch Bridge - Ella
Seeing the nine beautiful stone arches amidst the tea plantations has become a must-do activity for all travellers visiting Sri Lanka
Little Adam’s Peak
Fly Ravana Zip line
ATV Drive
Visit Ravana Falls
Ravana Falls currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. The falls have been named after the legendary king Ravana which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall,
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Ella
Breakfast from Hotel
Transfer from Ella to Galle
Visit Galle Fort
Galle Fort
Basking on the southern coast of Sri Lanka in the bay of Galle, the Fort was first built by the Portuguese in 1588 before being extensively fortified by the Dutch in the mid-1600s. Recognized by UNESCO for its cultural heritage value, the Fort was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988 as a unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
Transfer from Galle to Bentota
Experience Madu river Safari
Madu River Safari
Madu ganga flows across Balapitiya (approx. 80kms down south of Colombo) and is one of the rarely visited, unspoiled attractions any nature lover can find in Sri Lanka. She boasts of having a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along her path and the most of which are covered with mangroves and uninhabited. The largest island is known as "Ma Doowa" is the largest inhabited island within the country where about 300 families live. The smallest islet of the lot is called "Satha Paha Doowa" where there is a tiny shrine with a statue built in respect of the gods of Kataragama.
Evening leisure at the beach
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Bentota
Breakfast from Hotel
Turtle Hatchery
Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project ("KSTCP")
Dudley Perera's project has been underway since 1988. The main aim of the project is to monitor local sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites. We aim to make the public more aware of how endangered these beautiful creatures are and just how important it is to help protect them before it is too late.
One of the most important activities of the project is its hatchery. Within the sanctuary of the project, collected and rescued eggs can hatch safely away from predators before being released into the sea at night-time. In addition, a certain number from each hatching are kept back for a short period for 'head starting' before release. The hatchery program is designed to maximize the number of hatchlings reaching the sea and surviving through the critical stages of their early life. Only a few hatchlings from each batch will ever make it to adulthood. Therefore every nest-ground, every egg, every hatchling and every turtle is crucial to the survival of the species. Unfortunately, sea turtles face many dangers
Water Sport at Bentota
Dinner and Overnight stay in Bentota
Breakfast from Hotel
Transfer from Bentota to Colombo
Shopping and City tour at Colombo
Colombo city tour & Shopping
Colombo - visit fort and Pettah areas and drive past the 100-year-old clock tower, the old parliament and several British built, colonial buildings. Other places of interest are, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike memorial international conference hall (BMICH).visit the ceramics corporation showrooms, the ODEL unlimited dress boutique and the majestic city shopping complex. Overnight stay at your hotel in Colombo
Optional – City tour by Open decker bus
Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel in Colombo
Breakfast from Hotel
Transfer from Colombo to airport for departure flight
Different Package Options
Extra Essential Information
Know Before You Go for Leisure Tour – Sri Lanka - 11N-12D
Above packages include
· Arrival assistance at the Colombo Airport by SeeInGo Lanka representative
· The accommodation in the hotels mentioned or similar. Check-in / Check-out 1200 noon
· Stay at DBL / TPL Sharing or SGL room stay Basis
· Meals on Breakfast and Dinner basis at Hotel (B11, D11)
. Complimentary Gem Gallery Visit
. Complimentary Spice Garden visit
. Complimentary entrance ticket to Cultural Show at Kandy – Upon Visit to Gem Gallery
. All Transfers by Air-conditioned private vehicles with an English Speaking Tour Guide
· Fuel and Local insurance for the vehicle
. Two complementary water bottle (500ml) each person each day
. All applicable tax (Sri Lankan government Taxes Only)
Above packages exclude
. Train Ticket
. Safari Jeep or Jeep for Horton Plains
. Entrance fees other than mention in Inclusion
. Video and Camera permits at sights
. Meals Outside of the stated meal plan
. Tuk Tuk Charges
. Use of vehicle other than the specified itinerary
. Expenses of personal nature
. Any other services not specified above
. Early check in & Late check-out at the hotels (Check in & Check out time 12.00 to 12.00 Noon)
. International Bank Transfer charges
