Sri Lanka Classic
Duration: 14 Days/ 13 Nights
Location: Colombo, Habarana, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Bentota
Day 1: Arrival in Colombo
Arrival and transfer to Colombo. Check-in at the hotel. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore the surroundings. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Colombo
After breakfast, a city tour of Colombo includes visits to the residential, commercial, and bazaar areas. The tour also includes visits to well-known department stores such as “House of Fashion” and “ODEL,” which feature internationally recognized designer brands. Clothing at an incredible price. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Colombo – Habarana
After breakfast, transfer to Habarana. En route, visit the government-run elephant orphanage, where babies abandoned or lost by the herd are cared for and trained. Guests were able to witness baby elephants being bottle-fed and bathed. Habarana is the center of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. The journey will take you through small villages interspersed with rice paddies, coconut and rubber plantations, and forests. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Habarana
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Sigiriya Rock Fortress: This World Heritage Site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka’s top attractions. The most impressive elements of this unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion Platform, and the 1.6-hectare Summit, which was completely covered by buildings during Sigiriya’s heyday. In the afternoon, optional jeep safari through Minneriya National Park, famous for its migratory wild elephants. This jeep tour can be booked and paid for directly at the hotel’s tour desk. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5: Habarana
Post-breakfast excursion to Anuradhapura. Spend the day exploring this ancient city, which sprawls over a large area. Start at Thuparama Dagoba. Admire the 3rd-century Samadi Buddha and the protective stone at the entrance to Ratna Prasada. Stop at Sri Maha Bodi. On the way back to Dambulla, stop at the Kalawewa water tank. Hotel accommodation in Habarana. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 6: Habarana – Kandy
Depart for Kandy to visit a spice garden to see spices growing in their natural habitat and a batik factory to witness the making of handmade batiks along the way. This charming city, the hill capital and last stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, retains an aura of grandeur that time has not affected. Surrounded by hills, with a tranquil lake at its center, it is the site of the famous “Temple of the Tooth” and the Royal Botanic Gardens, home to one of the finest orchid collections. Kandy and its satellite villages are the center of the island’s cottage industry, and its traditional dances are the most spectacular in the country. P.M. Visit the Temple of the Tooth and witness a cultural performance at sunset. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7: Kandy
After breakfast, visit Kandy, including visits to the Royal Botanic Gardens, once a pleasure garden for our ancient queens and home to a vast and rare collection of tropical and temperate, exotic, and indigenous flora. The garden’s specialty is an Orchid House, which houses one of the largest collections in Asia. Also, explore the arts and crafts workshops, markets, and bazaar areas. Overnight at the hotel
Day 8: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
In the morning, transfer to Nuwara Eliya to visit a tea plantation to see how the tea is harvested and a factory to witness the processing of the raw green leaf into the final graded product. Nuwara Eliya is the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill country, home to the famous Ceylon tea, and the rolling mountains are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with streams and waterfalls. The salubrious climate, misty glens, and decidedly British character make Nuwara Eliya a must-see for any Sri Lankan tourist. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9: Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure to explore the surrounding area. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Nuwara Eliya – Galle
Breakfast at the hotel. Continue to Galle via Kithulgala, the famous filming location for the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai.” Check in to your hotel in the afternoon, free time on the beach/relax by the pool. Overnight at your hotel.
Day 11: Galle
After breakfast, we will proceed to the Galle city tour. Galle Fort is located in the heart of Galle. Our carefully designed walking tour begins at the fort. In addition to the historic buildings, administrative offices, courts, and export companies are located within its walls. Walk to the Dutch Period Museum. Craftsmen are often at work on the terrace and in the courtyard of the house. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 12: Galle – Bentota
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Bentota. Arrival in Bentota and check-in at the hotel. Free afternoon at the beach/relax by the pool. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Bentota
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure/free for water sports. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 14: Bentota – Colombo
At an appropriate time, transfer to the airport to board your onward flight.
