Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s documented history spans 3,000 years, with evidence of pre-historic human settlements dating back to at least 125,000 years. It has a rich cultural heritage and the first known Buddhist writings of Sri Lanka, the Pali Canon, date back to the Fourth Buddhist council in 29 BC. Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to the modern Maritime Silk Road.
Sri Lanka was known from the beginning of British colonial rule until 1972 as Ceylon. Its recent history has been marred by a thirty-year civil war which decisively ended when the Sri Lanka Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009.
- 3 Nights 4 Days
- 4 Nights 5 Days
- 5 Nights 6 Days
- 6 Nights 7 Days
- 6 Nights 7 Days
“TALE OF TWO CITIES” (3 Nights / 4 Days)
KANDY / COLOMBO
Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER AIRPORT / PINNAWELA / KANDY
Met on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Tour East Representative and transfer to Kandy – the last royal city, nestling amidst the mid-country hills and was the last seat of the Sinhalese King. En route visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage which is a unique project to save the Asian Elephants, Be there in time for the feeding of the Elephants and you may also have the opportunity to accompany them to a river nearby for their bath.
Afternoon visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha rescued from the cremation flames in 543 BC and brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century. The relic cannot be seen as it is encased within seven jeweled gold caskets, each worth a king’s ransom.
Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2: KANDY
Breakfast at hotel - morning free – Afternoon visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya on the banks of Sri Lanka’s longest river and see its magnificent Orchid House and the grove of splendid trees all planted by eminent world figures. Then you will take a city tour of Kandy including the Upper Lake Drive, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum and Lapidary. Thereafter witness a cultural dance performance. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3: KANDY / COLOMBO SIGHTSEEING / COLOMBO
Breakfast and then leave for Colombo. En route visit the Giragama Tea Factory and see the process of tea. After that continue to Colombo and check in at the hotel.
Late afternoon do the sightseeing tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the ‘Fort’ so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort at this point. Drive passes ‘Pettah’ – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples. Visit a Hindu and Buddhist temple and the Jumi-ul Alfar Jumma Mosque. Continue with the tour through the Wolvenhal Dutch Church and Hultsdorf Law Courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and the Convention Centre (BMICH)
Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 4: COLOMBO / AIRPORT
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to the airport to connect with your departure flight.
“HIGHLANDS TOUR” (4 Nights / 5 Days)
KANDY / NUWARAELIYA / COLOMBO
Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER AIRPORT/ KANDY
Met on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Tour East Representatives and transfer to Kandy - the last royal city, nestling amidst the mid-country hills and was the last seat of the Sinhalese King.
En route visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage which is a unique project to save the Asian Elephants, Be there in time for the feeding of the Elephants and you may also have the opportunity to accompany them to a river nearby for their bath.
Continue to Kandy – check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2: KANDY
Breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast leave for city tour of Kandy including the Upper Lake Drive, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum and Lapidary thereafter visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya on the banks of the Sri Lanka’s longest river and see its magnificent Orchid House and the grove of splendid trees all planted by eminent world figures.
Afternoon visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha rescued from the cremation flames in 543 BC and brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century. This relic cannot be seen as it is encased within seven jeweled gold caskets, each worth a King’s ransom – thereafter witness a cultural dance performance – return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3: KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA
Breakfast at Hotel – after breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya, en route visiting a Tea Plantation and a Factory. Nuwara Eliya also known as ‘Little England” is the location for one of the finest 18 holes Golf Courses in Asia. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 ft) is located here – visit the Seetha Amman Temple at Seetha Eliya. - check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 4: NUWARA ELIYA / COLOMBO
Breakfast at hotel – after breakfast leave for Colombo via Kitulgala the site of the Film Awarding the famous “Bridge on the River Kwai” film was made. En route observe the two Waterfalls, Devon and St. Clare’s. Continue to Colombo – check in at hotel – then take a city orientation tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the ‘Fort’ so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort at this point. Drive pass ‘Pettah’ – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples. Visit a Hindu and Buddhist temple and the Jumi-ul Alfar Jumma Mosque. Continue with the tour through the Wolvenhal Dutch Church and Hultsdorf Law Courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and the Convention Centre (BMICH) - return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 5: COLOMBO / AIRPORT
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to the airport to connect with your departure flight. For hotel accommodation please refer attached hotel list
“SRI LANKAN ESCAPADE” (5 Nights / 6 Days)
SIGIRIYA / DAMBULLA / KANDY / NUWARAELIYA / BENTOTA /COLOMBO
Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER AIRPORT/PINNAWELA/DAMBULLA/SIGIRIYA
Met on arrival by Tour East Representative at the Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to Sigiriya. Thereafter proceed to Pinnawela and visit the Elephant Orphanage which is the home for about 60 elephants, out of which many are baby elephants, found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Also you could accompany the elephants to a river close-by and see the elephants having their daily bath.
Then continue to Sigiriya via Dambulla. Climb the Rock temple which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and the ceiling is the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters. Overnight stay at Sigiriya.
Day 2: SIGIRIYA/MATALE/KANDY
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Sigiriya and explore the 5th century Sigiriya Rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kassapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Next visit a spice garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. Then leave for Kandy a city set amidst an artificial lake.
Arrive in Kandy do a city tour. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, which is a world heritage site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive ary Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum and a lapidary.
In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Return to Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3: KANDY/PERADENIYA/NUWARA ELIYA
Breakfast at Hotel. The leave for Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the world's best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia. Visit Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya which has been first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. Enroute visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told 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. Visit Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort.
Day 4: NUWARA ELIYA / BENTOTA
Breakfast at hotel. Late morning leave for Bentota. See Devon & St.Clair waterfalls at Thalawakale. Continue via Kitulgala famous for white water rafting on the Kelani Ganga and the location of the Oscar winning award ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ continue to Bentota
Day 5: BENTOTA/COLOMBO
Breakfast at the Hotel. Leave for Colombo. In the afternoon take a city tour of Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries it is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the Old World charm is retained. As an example there is a 100 year old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar where one can shop for bargains, the old Parliament in Fort, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall - BMICH, an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People's Republic of China.
Day 6: COLOMBO / AIRPORT
Transfer to the airport to connect with your departure flight
“SRI LANKA EXPERIENCE TOUR” (6 Nights / 7 Days)
KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA / BENTOTA / GALLE / COLOMBO
Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER AIRPORT/ KANDY
Met on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Tour East Representatives and transfer to Kandy - the last royal city, nestling amidst the mid-country hills and was the last seat of the Sinhalese King.
En route Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage which is a unique project to save the Asian Elephants, Be there in time for the feeding of the Elephants and you may also have the opportunity to accompany them to a river nearby for their bath. Continue to Kandy – check in at Hotel.
Overnight stay at your hotel in Kandy.
Day 2: KANDY
Breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast leave for city tour of Kandy including the Upper Lake Drive, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum and Lapidary thereafter visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya on the banks of the Sri Lanka’s longest river and see its magnificent Orchid House and the grove of splendid trees all planted by eminent world figures.
Afternoon visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha rescued from the cremation flames in 543 BC and brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century. This relic cannot be seen as it is encased within seven jeweled gold caskets, each worth a King’s ransom – thereafter witness a cultural dance performance – return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3: KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA
After breakfast leave for Nuwara Eliya, en route visiting a Tea Plantation and a Factory. Nuwara Eliya also known as ‘Little England” is the location for one of the finest 18 holes Golf Courses in Asia. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 ft) is located here – check in at Hotel.
In the evening visit Sita Amman Temple of Ramayana Legend. Overnight stay at your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 4: NUWARA ELIYA / BENTOTA
Breakfast at hotel – after breakfast leave for Bentota visiting the Seeta Amman Temple via Devon’s & St. Clair’s waterfalls at Talawakellal and via Kitulgala the site of the Film Awarding the famous “Bridge on the River Kwai” film was made. En route observe the two Waterfalls, Devon and St. Clare’s. Continue to Bentota – check in At hotel for overnight stay.
Day 5: BENTOTA / GALLE / BENTOTA
Breakfast at hotel and at leisure. In the afternoon visit Galle, one of the most important cities on the South Coast. Now fast acquiring a reputation as the starting point of Sri Lanka's equivalent to the "Riviera", the city's origins are shrouded in legend and mystery. Some believe that it is the Tarshish of the Old Testament, which channeled a thriving trade in exotic luxuries including precious metals and stones, ivory, tropical beasts and of course spices. This whitewashed town has an extremely large fort, built by the Dutch over 400 years ago, as its oldest landmark. A number of important churches are located within the fort, including the Groote Kerk, the oldest Protestant church in Sri Lanka. Visit a Turtle Sanctuary, a Mask Making Factory en route.
Overnight stay at your Hotel in Bentota.
Day 6: BENTOTA / COLOMBO
Breakfast at hotel and then leave for Colombo en route take a city orientation tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the ‘Fort’ so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort at this point. Drive pass ‘Pettah’ – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples. Visit a Hindu and Buddhist temple and the Jumi-ul Alfar Jumma Mosque. Continue with the tour through the Wolvenhal Dutch Church and Hultsdorf Law Courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and the Convention Centre (BMICH) and the National Museum – return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 7: COLOMBO / AIRPORT
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to the airport to connect with your departure flight
“SRI LANKA HIGHLIGHTS TOUR” (6 Nights / 7 Days)
SIGIRIYA / KANDY / NUWARAELIYA / UDAWALAWE / GALLE / BENTOTA/ COLOMBO
Day 1: ARRIVAL TRANSFER AIRPORT / PINNAWELA / SIGIRIYA
Met on arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Tour East Representatives and transfer to Sigiriya.
Enroute Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage which is a unique project to save the Asian Elephants, Be there in time for the feeding of the Elephants and you may also have the opportunity to accompany them to a river nearby for their bath. Continue to Sigirya – check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 2: SIGIRIYA / MATALE / KANDY
Breakfast at Hotel. After breakfast visit Sigiriya and climb the Rock Fortress built by King Kasaypa. Having climbed the rock you will encounter the remains of the palace and its environs – then continue to Kandy visiting the Dambulla Rock Temple and stop at an Exotic Spice Garden at Matale – continue to Kandy - check in at Hotel – afternoon leave for city tour of Kandy including the Upper Lake Drive, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum and Lapidary.
Afternoon visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which houses the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha rescued from the cremation flames in 543 BC and brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century. This relic cannot be seen as it is encased within seven jeweled gold caskets, each worth a King’s ransom – thereafter witness a cultural dance performance – return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3: KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA
Breakfast at Hotel – after breakfast After breakfast leave for city tour of Kandy including the Upper Lake Drive, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum and Lapidary thereafter visit the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya on the banks of the Sri Lanka’s longest river and see its magnificent Orchid House and the grove of splendid trees all planted by eminent world figures leave for Nuwara Eliya, en route visiting a Tea Plantation and a Factory. Nuwara Eliya also known as ‘Little England” is the location for one of the finest 18 holes Golf Courses in Asia. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 ft) is located here – check in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 4: NUWARA ELIYA / UDAWALAWE
Breakfast at hotel and proceed to Udawalawe via Bandarawela, Evening visit Udawalawe National Park. It is most famous for the many elephants that live there (about 400 in total). During a visit, it is not unusual to see whole herds of adults and young elephants– feeding or bathing and playing in the water. In addition to this main attraction, the park is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard, as well as being an exciting location for bird enthusiasts. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 5: UDAWALAWE / BENTOTA
Breakfast at hotel – after breakfast leave for Bentota. Check in at Hotel.
Evening leisure at beach.
Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 6: BENTOTA / COLOMBO
Breakfast at Hotel and morning at leisure – then leave for Colombo –en route take a city orientation tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the ‘Fort’ so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a fort at this point. Drives pass ‘Pettah’ – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques and temples. Visit a Hindu and Buddhist temple and the Jumi-ul Alfar Jumma Mosque. Continue with the tour through the Wolvendhal Dutch Church and Hultsdorf Law Courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and the Convention Centre (BMICH) and the National Museum – Check in at hotel for overnight stay.
Day 7: COLOMBO / AIRPORT
Breakfast at Hotel. Transfer to the airport to connect with your departure flight.