Sri Lanka Cultural Tour

You will be met and greeted on arrival at the Colombo International Airport and then transferred to Dambulla. Check in at the hotel. Afternoon at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning excursion to Dambulla. The name Dambulla derives from Damba (rock) and Ulla (fountain). This is one of the most impressive Buddhist Temples in the world, showing the evolution of the Sinahalese Buddhist art.

Afternoon excursion to Anuradhapura, located in the northern central part of the island. It was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two Unesco world heritage sites. Areas of interest include Sri Maha Bodhi (sacred Bo Tree) under which the Buddha got his enlightenment: it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. Return to Dambulla for overnight stay.

Morning excursion to Polonnaruwa. King Parakramabahu (1153-86) raised this city with huge buildings, draining swamps and planting vast cropland areas. He planned beautiful parks, created wildlife sanctuaries and restored earlier monuments.

He crowned it all with the unification of the three orders of monks, the Mahavihara, Jetavana and Abhayagiri into the ‘Supreme Order of Monks’. This achievement ensured the survival of Buddhism in the dark centuries ahead. Return to Dambulla, afternoon at leisure and overnight stay at hotel.

Morning excursion to Sigiriya rock fortress, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of incredible beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town.

About halfway up the rock is a sheltered gallery of frescos painted on the sheer rock face. The ‘Heavenly Maidens’ are similar in style to the paintings of Ajantha in India. Return to the hotel, afternoon at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel.

Morning departure for Kandy, en-route visit a spice garden in Matale to see the different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous. Check in at the hotel. In the afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of Kandy.

The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, is now a World Heritage Site, visit the lake built by the last Sinhala King in 1798, the bazaar, the arts & crafts center and a gem museum. Evening visit to the ‘Temple of the Sacred Tooth’ containing the tooth of Buddha followed by a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Morning excursion to Pinnawela elephant orphanage, home to about 60 elephants, found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. Afternoon visit to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens which were first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala King and were later expanded by the British to 147 acres. Evening at leisure and overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.

Morning departure for Nuwara Eliya, en-route visiting a Tea Factory. Upon arrival in Nuwara Eliya, check in at the hotel, a unique heritage hotel converted from a tea factory. The afternoon is free. Overnight stay.

Surrounded by hills and tea plantations, the town of Nuwara Eliya was a favourite retreat of the British during colonial times, the town is dotted with English country style houses earning it the name of Little England.

Morning departure for Kalutara via Kithulgala. Check in at hotel for overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel and days at leisure. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport to connect with your departure flight.