Ancient heritage, tea-covered highlands and sun-soaked beaches in one week: elephants at Pinnawala, the Temple of the Tooth, the rock fortress of Sigiriya and the Dambulla caves, “Little England” at Nuwara Eliya, and a coastal retreat at Bentota before Colombo.
Meeting and greeting at the airport by the My Holiday representative. Transfer to Kandy via Pinnawala.
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage lies in Rabukkana, north-west of Kegalle town, halfway between Colombo and the royal hill capital of Kandy. Established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department on 24 acres, it is also a breeding centre and has one of the largest herds of elephants in captivity in the world. The first calf was born here in 1984, and 67 animals were born between 1975 and 2012.
Temple of the Tooth Relic. The Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy is one of Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist sites, believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Buddha. Legend says Princess Hemamali brought it to the island in 313 AD hidden in her hair. The present temple was built between 1687 and 1707.
Kandy city tour: lake drive, Gem Museum, silk and batik shop, and the Kandy viewpoint.
Evening Kandyan cultural dance show, showcasing traditional dance forms, costumes and drumming, which may include fire-walking. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from Kandy to Sigiriya.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya is a remarkable geological formation and archaeological site, 22 km north-east of Dambulla in the North Central Province. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, it lies within the cultural triangle formed by Anuradhapura, Kandy and Polonnaruwa.
Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla Cave Temple area is thought to have been inhabited from the 7th–3rd century BC. Statues and paintings in the caves date to the 1st century BC, with repairs and repainting in the 11th, 12th and 18th centuries. The caves sheltered King Valagamba during his 14-year exile, and on regaining the throne he built a magnificent rock temple here in gratitude to the monks.
Return to Kandy and relax at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
Ramboda Falls drops 109 m (358 ft), the 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka, at Ramboda Pass on the A5 highway, 945 m above sea level.
Tea factory visit. Sri Lanka produces tea all year, about 340 million kg a year, mostly Ceylon Black Tea, with green and prized silver-tip and golden-tip white teas as well.
Gregory Lake in Nuwara Eliya, named after Sir William Gregory in 1873, has paved walkways, swan-shaped paddle boats, pony rides and boat rides.
Nuwara Eliya city tour. Known as “Little England”, this hill-country town is famous for its cool climate, green landscapes, tea plantations and colonial-era architecture. Explore the town, its colonial-style buildings, local shops and markets, and the historic Nuwara Eliya Post Office, a popular photo stop.
Return from Nuwara Eliya to Kandy. Overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, lies about 5.5 km west of Kandy and draws some 1.2 million visitors a year. Spread over 147 acres, it is renowned for more than 300 varieties of orchids, along with spices, medicinal plants and palms. It was formally established in 1843.
Spice garden at Mawanella. Sri Lanka is world renowned for its spices and healing herbs. At the Spice Garden in Mawanella, see how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and more grow in their natural surroundings, and learn about their medicinal properties and uses in Ayurveda.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Bentota.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Water sports at Bentota, one of Sri Lanka’s most popular coastal destinations, with a calm river and beautiful beaches. Try jet skiing, banana boat rides, windsurfing, kayaking and boat rides.
Turtle hatchery. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project, running since 1988, monitors turtle activity and protects local nesting sites. Its hatchery lets rescued and collected eggs hatch safely away from predators before the young are released into the sea at night, and it raises awareness of how endangered sea turtles are.
Madu River safari. Madu River flows through Balapitiya, about 80 km south of Colombo, and is one of the unspoiled attractions of Sri Lanka. Its path is dotted with 64 small islands, most covered in mangroves and uninhabited. The largest, Ma Doowa, is home to about 300 families, and the smallest, Satha Paha Doowa, holds a tiny shrine to the gods of Kataragama.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Bentota.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from Bentota to Colombo.
Colombo city tour and shopping. Colombo is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, a vibrant city mixing modern life with colonial buildings. Landmarks include the National Museum, World Trade Center, Viharamahadevi Park and Galle Face Green.
Gangaramaya Temple is one of Colombo’s most important Buddhist temples, near Beira Lake, blending Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese architectural styles, with shrines, Buddha statues and an impressive collection of cultural treasures.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Colombo.
Breakfast at the hotel. Depending on your flight time, enjoy free time at the hotel or some final shopping.
Check out and transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight. End of tour.
Indicative rates for Indian nationals, in USD per person. Rates can change without prior notice.
Note: All information in this itinerary is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but changes can occur due to flight schedules, traffic, weather or government policies. Journey DMC will keep you informed of any changes but cannot be held liable for alterations to the published itinerary.