TOUR OF SRI LANKA 11 NIGHTS / 12 DAYS
TOUR PROGRAMME:
Day 01: Airport – Dambulla
On arrival at the airport, you will be met by a representative of Jetwing Travels and transferred to your hotel in Dambulla. Overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Dambulla (Deluxe Room)
Day 2: Dambulla - Sigiriya – Minneriya - Dambulla
After breakfast at the hotel visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya – is a “World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 lives sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, summerhouse, Boulder Gardens and the Caves with the enclosed are should not be missed.
Afternoon 4x4 Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park - This National Park with 8889 hectares in extent is famous for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Entrance is at Ambagaswewa about 6 km from Habarana on the main Habarana Polonnaruwa road. Office is by the side of the main road. Elephants, about 300 wild elephants, wild buffaloes, wild boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, Sambhur, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds, 26 varieties of fishes, 78 varieties of butterflies are recorded from the Minneriya National Park.
Overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Dambulla (Deluxe Room)
Day 3:Dambulla – Polonnaruwa–Habarana - Dambulla
After Breakfast at the hotel, Polonnaruwa Historical City
Polonnaruwa– another “World Heritage Site” was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. RankothVehera and Kirivehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and ParakramaBahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists.
Afternoon village walk at Habarana
Hiriwaduna - Enjoy a trek that begins with a scenic walk along a bund of a man-made reservoir. The amazing birdlife, butterflies and possible sightings of crocodile only add to the charm of the trek. Later you will wade through a shallow stream and thereafter cross a wider tributary in a catamaran of an obliging farmer to inspect Chena cultivation (slash and burn agriculture).Enjoy the farmer's humble hospitality. With the guidance of the farmer, pick some fresh vegetables from the plot and join in the preparation of a simple meal prepared in the traditional method using earthenware pots and firewood as fuel. This is a great opportunity to sample authentic local cuisine. The journey continues through dense shrub forests, home to many forest birds and other wildlife including monkeys, python and even elephant.
Overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Dambulla (Deluxe Room)
Day 4: Dambulla - Kandy
After Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Kandy via Dambulla
Visit Dambulla Cave Temples
Dambulla - is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people.
Afternoon visit Temple of The Tooth
“DaladaMaligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (MahaWasala), PalleWasala- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, MedaWasala where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, NathaDevala and Vishnu Devala are situated. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse.
Overnight stay at Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy (Superior Room)
Day 5 – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to NuwaraEliya via Train
Upon reaching NanuOya meet chauffeur guide and transfer to your hotel
NuwaraEliya- The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around NuwaraEliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. Overnight stay at Jetwing St Andrews, NuwaraEliya (Superior Room)
Day 06 – Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains – Nuwara Eliya
Early in the morning visit Horton Palins National Park
Horton Plains National Park – 20 miles (32 km) from NuwaraEliya via Ambewela and Pattipola, is the Horton Plains only 3160 hectares in extent. Known to Sri Lankans as Mahaeliya, it became Horton Plains after Sir Robert Horton, British Governor from 1831- 1837. Horton Plains became a Nature Reserve in 1969 and upgraded as a National Park in 1988 due to its unique watershed and bio-diversity values. Its flora has high level of endemism. The hills are covered with diverse wet low evergreen forest with even large trees grown flattened to the ground on the higher windswept slopes. Horton Plains harbours 52 species of resident birds and 11 species of migrant birds. More than 2,000 to 3,000 Sambhur, Bear Monkey, Leopard, Barking Deer, Giant Squirrel, Fishing Cat, Wild Boar and Hares roam in the forests and grasslands but only seldom they could be seen other than the Sambhur in the evening and morning. Two escarpments- “World’s End” and “Little World’s End” falling from the Horton Plains 1000 feet and 3000 feet respectively, to the land below and the Baker’s falls are places you should visit. This is the only Park where visitors could walk on their own on the designated tracks.
Afternoon leisure at hotel
Overnight stay at Jetwing St Andrews, NuwaraEliya (Superior Room)
Day 07 – Nuwara Eliya – Yala
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Yala
En route visit Ravana Falls
Upon reaching Yala leisure at hotel
Overnight stay at Jetwing Yala, Yala (Superior Room)
Day 08 – Yala
After breakfast at the hotel morning and afternoon 4x4 Jeep Safari at Yala National Park
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park- the Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938. 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. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors.
Overnight stay at Jetwing Yala, Yala (Superior Room)
Day 09 – Yala – Galle - Bentota
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Galle
Visit Dutch Fort Galle The Dutch Fort - Galle - The South Coast’s major city is Galle, whose oldest landmark is the massive Portuguese and Dutch Fort which is a “World Heritage Site” in which the central city is contained. But the city may be much older. Some scholars believe it to be the “Tarshish” of the Old Testament, to which King Solomon sent his merchant vessels, and to which Jonah fled from the Lord. Today, the 90-acre Galle Fort shows no evidence of the Portuguese founders. The Dutch incorporated the Portuguese northern wall in a great rampart in 1663. A second, taller wall was built inside of it. Between the two walls, a covered passage connected the central bastion with the Fort’s two half bastion’s overlooking the sea. The Dutch also installed a sophisticated drainage system, complete with brick-lined underground sewers that were flushed twice a day by the high and low tides. The original gate to the fort was by the harbour. It is still there, marked by the British Coat-of-arms on the front and the Dutch V.O.C. (Vereenigde Oost IndischeCompagnie) with the Coat-ofarms with a rooster crest, is on the inner side of the Fort. Transfer back to Bentota Upon reaching check in at your beach hotel ~~~Here your driver leaves~~~ Dinner &Overnight stay at CentaraCey Sands, Bentota (Superior Room) Day 10 & 11 – Bentota Full day leisure at your beach hotel Dinner &Overnight stay at CentaraCey Sands, Bentota (Superior Room) Day 12 – Bentota – Airport (Vehicle for transfer) After breakfast at the hotel, get transferred to the airport for your departure flight back home. ~~~End of Tour ~~~
Day 01: Airport – Dambulla
On arrival at the airport, you will be met by a representative of Jetwing Travels and transferred to your hotel in Dambulla. Overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Dambulla (Deluxe Room)
Day 2: Dambulla - Sigiriya – Minneriya - Dambulla
After breakfast at the hotel visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya – is a “World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 lives sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, summerhouse, Boulder Gardens and the Caves with the enclosed are should not be missed.
Afternoon 4x4 Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park - This National Park with 8889 hectares in extent is famous for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Entrance is at Ambagaswewa about 6 km from Habarana on the main Habarana Polonnaruwa road. Office is by the side of the main road. Elephants, about 300 wild elephants, wild buffaloes, wild boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, Sambhur, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds, 26 varieties of fishes, 78 varieties of butterflies are recorded from the Minneriya National Park.
Overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Dambulla (Deluxe Room)
Day 3:Dambulla – Polonnaruwa–Habarana - Dambulla
After Breakfast at the hotel, Polonnaruwa Historical City
Polonnaruwa– another “World Heritage Site” was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Centuries, contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. RankothVehera and Kirivehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and ParakramaBahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists.
Afternoon village walk at Habarana
Hiriwaduna - Enjoy a trek that begins with a scenic walk along a bund of a man-made reservoir. The amazing birdlife, butterflies and possible sightings of crocodile only add to the charm of the trek. Later you will wade through a shallow stream and thereafter cross a wider tributary in a catamaran of an obliging farmer to inspect Chena cultivation (slash and burn agriculture).Enjoy the farmer's humble hospitality. With the guidance of the farmer, pick some fresh vegetables from the plot and join in the preparation of a simple meal prepared in the traditional method using earthenware pots and firewood as fuel. This is a great opportunity to sample authentic local cuisine. The journey continues through dense shrub forests, home to many forest birds and other wildlife including monkeys, python and even elephant.
Overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla, Dambulla (Deluxe Room)
Day 4: Dambulla - Kandy
After Breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Kandy via Dambulla
Visit Dambulla Cave Temples
Dambulla - is a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people.
Afternoon visit Temple of The Tooth
“DaladaMaligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (MahaWasala), PalleWasala- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, MedaWasala where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, NathaDevala and Vishnu Devala are situated. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse.
Overnight stay at Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy (Superior Room)
Day 5 – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to NuwaraEliya via Train
Upon reaching NanuOya meet chauffeur guide and transfer to your hotel
NuwaraEliya- The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around NuwaraEliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. Overnight stay at Jetwing St Andrews, NuwaraEliya (Superior Room)
Day 06 – Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains – Nuwara Eliya
Early in the morning visit Horton Palins National Park
Horton Plains National Park – 20 miles (32 km) from NuwaraEliya via Ambewela and Pattipola, is the Horton Plains only 3160 hectares in extent. Known to Sri Lankans as Mahaeliya, it became Horton Plains after Sir Robert Horton, British Governor from 1831- 1837. Horton Plains became a Nature Reserve in 1969 and upgraded as a National Park in 1988 due to its unique watershed and bio-diversity values. Its flora has high level of endemism. The hills are covered with diverse wet low evergreen forest with even large trees grown flattened to the ground on the higher windswept slopes. Horton Plains harbours 52 species of resident birds and 11 species of migrant birds. More than 2,000 to 3,000 Sambhur, Bear Monkey, Leopard, Barking Deer, Giant Squirrel, Fishing Cat, Wild Boar and Hares roam in the forests and grasslands but only seldom they could be seen other than the Sambhur in the evening and morning. Two escarpments- “World’s End” and “Little World’s End” falling from the Horton Plains 1000 feet and 3000 feet respectively, to the land below and the Baker’s falls are places you should visit. This is the only Park where visitors could walk on their own on the designated tracks.
Afternoon leisure at hotel
Overnight stay at Jetwing St Andrews, NuwaraEliya (Superior Room)
Day 07 – Nuwara Eliya – Yala
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Yala
En route visit Ravana Falls
Upon reaching Yala leisure at hotel
Overnight stay at Jetwing Yala, Yala (Superior Room)
Day 08 – Yala
After breakfast at the hotel morning and afternoon 4x4 Jeep Safari at Yala National Park
Yala (Ruhuna) National Park- the Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938. 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. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors.
Overnight stay at Jetwing Yala, Yala (Superior Room)
Day 09 – Yala – Galle - Bentota
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Galle
Visit Dutch Fort Galle The Dutch Fort - Galle - The South Coast’s major city is Galle, whose oldest landmark is the massive Portuguese and Dutch Fort which is a “World Heritage Site” in which the central city is contained. But the city may be much older. Some scholars believe it to be the “Tarshish” of the Old Testament, to which King Solomon sent his merchant vessels, and to which Jonah fled from the Lord. Today, the 90-acre Galle Fort shows no evidence of the Portuguese founders. The Dutch incorporated the Portuguese northern wall in a great rampart in 1663. A second, taller wall was built inside of it. Between the two walls, a covered passage connected the central bastion with the Fort’s two half bastion’s overlooking the sea. The Dutch also installed a sophisticated drainage system, complete with brick-lined underground sewers that were flushed twice a day by the high and low tides. The original gate to the fort was by the harbour. It is still there, marked by the British Coat-of-arms on the front and the Dutch V.O.C. (Vereenigde Oost IndischeCompagnie) with the Coat-ofarms with a rooster crest, is on the inner side of the Fort. Transfer back to Bentota Upon reaching check in at your beach hotel ~~~Here your driver leaves~~~ Dinner &Overnight stay at CentaraCey Sands, Bentota (Superior Room) Day 10 & 11 – Bentota Full day leisure at your beach hotel Dinner &Overnight stay at CentaraCey Sands, Bentota (Superior Room) Day 12 – Bentota – Airport (Vehicle for transfer) After breakfast at the hotel, get transferred to the airport for your departure flight back home. ~~~End of Tour ~~~
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