FAMILY PACKAGE 5 PERSON

Day 1 – Pinnawala / Dambulla / Sigirya Pinnawala

Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village, 13 km (8.1 miles) northwest of Kegalle town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Pinnawala is notable for having the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. In 2015, there were 88 elephants, including 37 males and 51 females from 3 generations, living in Pinnawala.

Then proceed to Dambulla.

Visit Dambulla Cave Temple in the evening. Dating back to the 1st century B.C., Dambulla Rock Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (149 km from Colombo, 16 km west of Sigiriya) is a complex of five cave shrines. Among its highlights are pre-Christian rock inscriptions, sculptures (including a 47 ft. long rock-cut reclining Buddha) and Buddhist murals which cover more than 20,000 sq. ft. of cave walls and ceilings, the largest antique painted surface in the world. Ancient drip-ledge drainage still keeps the caves free of seeping water. Dambulla Cave Temple is a treasure trove containing valuable images. The mural paintings that can be found here belong to a different period, traces of which can be seen today. The painted Buddha images and the depictions of the life of the Buddha as well as the murals that adorn the cave shrine show the ingenuity and artistic expression of those who painted them, drawing visitors daily to witness its historical value and beauty.

Excursions:

• Royal Rock Temple
• Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• Dambulla Rock Cave Temple
• The Buddhist Museum
• Icon of the Buddha and Two Dagoba
• Village Tour
• Bullart Cart Rides
• Elephant Rides
• Matale Spice Garden
• Alu Vihara Temple
• Take an ancient City Tour in Sigiriya

Over Night Stay in Sirigiya

Day 2 – Kandy

Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka, located in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in the country after Colombo. It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka.

Witness a cultural show in the evening. (Kandyan Dance) Kandyan dance encompasses various dance forms native to the area called Kandy of the central hills region in Sri Lanka. But today it has been widespread to other parts of the country. The dancers wear an elaborate costume including a headdress. The dancer’s chest is only covered by a decorative beaded net. This costume is known as the “Ves” costume. The headdress incorporates a metallic front which makes the dancer look taller than he is. The complete costume also includes anklets that produce a metallic rattle each.

Temple of Tooth Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha.

Other Excursions:

• Royal Botanical Garden
• Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic
• Spice Garden [In Kandy Road]
• Cultural Dance Show
• Upper Lake Drive
• Kandy View Point
• Kandy City Tour
• Kandy Temples could be visited if Guest Likes
• Shopping [Gem Museum, Batik Factory, Wood Carving, (Optional)]

Over Night Stay in Kandy

Day 3 – Kandy / Ramboda Falls / Tea Plantation /Nuwara Eliya

Ramboda Falls is 109m 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 945m above sea level.

Tea Factory & Tea Plantation Sri Lankan Tea – 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.

Transfer to the hill country of Sri Lanka – Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is located at the heart of the hill country 6182 feet above from the sea level. It is still very much like an old English town with styled Bungalows and buildings. The cool calm climate, gorges rolling tea plantation which makes the best “Ceylon tea” and the breathtaking beautiful waterfalls makes Nuwara Eliya one of the most beautiful town in the world. Nuwara Eliya also has one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in South Asia.

Other Excursions:

• Ramboda Water Falls
• Hakgala Botanical Garden
• Nuwara Eliya Gardens
• Horse Riding
• Tea Plantation
• Lake Drive
• Strawberry Gardens
• The Golf Course
• Seetha Eliya Temple
• Gregory Lake
• Ambewella Farm

Over Night Stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 4 – Yala

Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka, bordering the Indian Ocean. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as, Ruhuna National Park (Block 1), and Kumana National Park or ‘Yala East’ for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province.

The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds. There are six national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries in the vicinity of Yala. Among the largest is Lunugamvehera National Park.

The park is situated in the dry semi-arid climatic region and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. Yala hosts a variety of ecosystems ranging from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands. It is one of the 70 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. Yala harbours 215 bird species including six endemic species of Sri Lanka. The number of mammals that has been recorded from the park is 44, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. The area around Yala has hosted several ancient civilizations. Two important pilgrim sites, Sithulpahuwa and Magul Vihara, are situated within the park. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami caused severe damage on the Yala National Park and 250 people died in its vicinity. The number of visitors has been on the rise since 2009, after the security situation in the park improved.

Excursion:

• Yala Safari
• Visit Kataragama Temple

Over Night Stay in Yala.

Day 5 – Galle

Galle is a city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. It’s known for Galle Fort, the fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century. Stone sea walls, expanded by the Dutch, encircle carefree streets with architecture reflecting Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. Notable buildings include the 18th-century Dutch Reformed Church. Galle Lighthouse stands on the fort’s southeast tip.

Other Excursions:

• Galle Fort
• Museum
• Dutch Hospital
• Galle International Cricket Stadium
• Unawatuna Beach
• Tsunami Education Center

After Completion proceed to Bentota

Bentota
Bentota is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Coral-rich dive sites include Canoe Rock. On Bentota River, centuries-old Galapota Temple has a large Buddha statue. Southeast is Lunuganga, the estate and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa. Northeast is his brother Bevis’s Brief Garden. Hikkaduwa Explore the eclectic paradise of Hikkaduwa, alive with the surrounding countryside and the vibrant nightlife as you discover idyllic bliss amidst the sun kissed beaches of southern Sri Lanka. Providing you with the perfect accommodation for your beach vacation to relax and unwind, famed for its shallow fringing reef, Hikkaduwa is perfect for water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and glass bottom boat rides.

Bentota Excursions:

• Madu Ganga [River] Boat Safari
• Windsurfing
• Banana Ride
• Jet Ski
• Water Skiing
• Turtle Farm Visit

Over Night Stay in Bentota

Day 6 – Bentota / Colombo

Morning Continues with Bentota Excursion and After Lunch will be transferred to Colombo

Colombo is the commercial capita and largest city of Sri Lanka. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million and 752,993 in the city proper. It is the financial center of the island and a popular tourist destination. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to the Greater Colombo area which includes Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the legislative capital of Sri Lanka and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Colombo is often referred to as the capital since Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is within the urban area of, and a suburb of, Colombo. It is also the administrative capital of the Western Province and the district capital of Colombo District.

Colombo is a busy and vibrant place with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins.it was the legislative capital of Sri Lanka until 1982. Due to its large harbor and its strategic position along the East-West sea trade routes, Colombo was known to ancient traders 2,000 years ago. It was made the capital of the island when Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815, and its status as capital was retained when the nation became independent in 1948. In 1978, when administrative functions were moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Colombo was designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka.

Like many cities, Colombo’s urban area extends well beyond the boundaries of a single local authority, encompassing other municipal and urban councils such as Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council, Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, Kolonnawa Urban Council, Kaduwela Municipal Council and Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. The main city is home to a majority of Sri Lanka’s corporate offices, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Famous landmarks in Colombo include

• Galle Face Green,
• Colombo Port City
• Viharamahadevi Park,
• Art Collection
• Gangarama Temple
• Beira Lake
• Colombo Racecourse
• Zoo [Optional]
• Shopping Malls [Marino Mall / Colombo City Centre / Odel Showroom]
• Beach Area
• Colombo Lotus Tower or as well as the National Museum.

Day 7

Starts with Shopping in Colombo or Other Excursions

In the Evening Transfer to the Airport, End of the Tour

We hope you have enjoyed your stay here with us and we hope you will suggest Discover Ceylon as a travel partner to your friends and family.

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