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Day 1: Airport / Negombo
Arrival at Colombo International Airport, pick-up from the airport for the transfer to Negombo.
Negombo is traditionally a Fishing Village with catamarans by the beach at the backdrop to the Negombo scenery; which later developed as a fishing marketing center.
Overnight Night at Negombo.
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Day 2 Negombo / Yapahuwa / Anuradhapura
After breakfast leave to Anuradhapura. On the way, visit Yaphauwa.
Yapahuwa was one of the short-lived capitals of medieval Sri Lanka in the later part of the 13th Century. The citadel of Yapahuwa lying midway between Kurunagala and Anuradhapura was built around a huge granite rock rising quickly almost a hundred meters above the surrounding lowlands.
In the afternoon tour by Tuk-Tuk to visit Anuradhapura.
Anuradhapura is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka, which is known to have the largest number of ancient monuments of a great civilization. You will witness many stone sculptures and popular stone Buddha Statues.
The second day ends with an overnight stay at Anuradhapura.
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Day 3 Anuradhapura / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa
Breakfast at hotel and proceed to Sigiriya.
Arrive & visit the Sigiriya town, famous for its historical Sigiriya Rock Fortress which is over 1000 years old and has landscaped gardens, water fountains, a sanctuary and frescoes of the heavenly maidens of Sigiriya
Afternoon continuation to Polonnaruwa for the tour by Tuk-Tuk of the ancient capital city. You will see many well-preserved ruins of palaces and monasteries. You will witness many brick structures and monuments, stone monuments, Temples, Lakes, and Pagodas improved by ancient Kings. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Another overnight stay in the Cultural Triangle at Polonnaruwa.
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Day 4 Dambulla / Matale / Nalanda Gedige / Kandy
After breakfast leave to Kandy en route visit Dambulla.
Dambulla cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is a world heritage site (1991) in Sri Lanka, Dambulla cave complex also known as the Royal Golden Rock Cave Temple. The area is also known for bird watching.
Later stop at Nalada Gedige; visit Nalanda Gedige the Abu Simbel of Sri Lanka. Nalanda Gedige is a remarkable archaeological site in Sri Lanka which features Buddhist – Hindu hybrid Architecture.
Next you will visit a Spice Garden and a Batik Workshop in Matale. You can experience why Sri Lanka is called ‘Spice Island’; a free visit to the garden included in the program and you will be introduced to a variety of plants; various parts of those that are used as spices.
Evening arrive at the hotel in Kandy, the last Kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka and the Royal Capital under the King’s Rule until the British Invasion in 1815. Then visit the most sacred Buddhist establishment in Sri Lanka – the Temple of Tooth at the evening ceremony. Overnight stay in Kandy
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Day 5 Kandy / Pinnawala / Kandy
Breakfast at hotel, in the morning leave for Pinnawala about one-hour drive from Kandy to visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, one of the most popular attractions in Sri Lanka. It fosters the biggest herd of captive elephants in the world. Witness and feed the baby elephants and watch the elephants bathing in the nearby river in the morning and in the afternoon
In the afternoon Tour by Tuk-Tuk for site seeing of Kandy City, the 2nd highest tourist visiting city in Sri Lanka. A complete tour around the Bogambara lake is relaxing for its cool breeze and it also gives an insight to the way of life in Kandy. You can visit the Kandy Museum too. In the evening you can enjoy a Cultural Dance. Return to the hotel for the second overnight stay in Kandy.
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Day 6 Kandy / Peradeniya / Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, well known for having the largest collection of orchids in Asia and other large variety of plants.
Pm leave for Nuwara Eliya – the center of the hill country which is also known as the ‘Little England’.
En route visit a tea plantation and witness the manufacture of the world-famous Ceylon tea. There are plenty of eye-catching and heart-touching places like the Gregory’s Lake, Race Course, Victoria Park, The Golf Club, and the old Brick Post Office Building. You can have short travel by Tuk-Tuk and some places enjoy walking in the Cool Climate.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
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Day 8 Ella / Buduruwagala / Yala
Get ready and leave for Yala, En route visit Buduruwagala. Seven colossal figures carved out of a rock face at Buduruwagala. The rock itself resembles a kneeling elephant with its head bowed down and at the end of the folded trunk is its mouth.
Visit one of the two reserves by private Jeep.
PM, travel for a safari in the Yala National Park and enjoy the wilderness as you cruise around in a jeep. The view of the wild elephants seen in small and large herds are undoubtedly the best thing you will see at Yala. You will also witness herds of spotted deer and the sight of a leopard sunning itself or drinking water at a water hole will be a memorable experience if you are lucky.
(If Yala is closed during September-October the Bundala reserve can be visited instead.)
Proceed to Tissamaharama.
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Day 9 Kataragama / Weligama / Galle / Beach south
Breakfast at hotel: enjoy the morning excursion to Kataragama – another great pilgrim shrine dedicated to Skanda, a popular Hindu deity popular among Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda communities of Sri Lanka and South India.
Proceed to Beach in the South Coast en route view the stilt fisherman of Weligama as they fish.
Then tour by Tuk-Tuk to visit the Old Portuguese fort, Galle is a city with a colorful history. The 300-year-old Dutch atmosphere is still very much alive around the magnificent Portuguese – Dutch fort and its many historical buildings.
Proceed to your beach hotel and in the evening relax.
Overnight Stay in Hikkaduwa.