Short tour of Sri Lanka

Upon arrival at Colombo International Airport meeting with the driver/guide and transfer to the hotel in Colombo. It is the commercial capital of the country and not often visited. Although it can be thought that it as a small metropolis, the city boasts a rich historic background, street food, a mixed population and nightlife. Colombo is divided into 15 areas each unique with its own charm ranging from commercial hubs to residential areas. The architecture shows influences of the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and British that arrived in the country throughout the ages. Post war urban development has been rapid with several investors building towards the sky and renovating older buildings. “Pettah” is the local bazar, it is a centre of trade and commerce. Colombo provides several pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants where to spend your evenings. Street food is another option throughout the night. For those who love dancing many of the hotel pubs and bars feature bands and DJ’s at nightclubs spin records. Colombo is also famous for shopping, so during the afternoon you'll enjoy a shopping tour. (40km approximately 45 minutes)

After breakfast, you'll visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation. It is located about 2 km from Pinnawala, on the Karandupona - Kandy road. You'll have the rare opportunity to feed and bathe the elephants. The working men will guide you to scrub the jumbos with a coconut shell. Perhaps you can enjoy an elephant ride. It appears that the elephants love to have baths as they are hardly scrubbed simultaneously. (95km approximately 2,5 hours)

Lunch at a local restaurant and then go on to Sigiriya. Known as the centre of the cultural triangle, Habarana sits in the middle of the many cultural attractions in the island such as Sigiriya, the Rock Fortress, the ruins of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, the sacred city. The Minneriya National Park, famous for the Great Gathering of Elephants, and Ritigala, the ancient Buddhist monastery, are only 15 minutes away. The Cultural Triangle is rich in agriculture and fertile soil due to the many artificial bodies of water, rivers and canals and reservoirs connected by an elaborate network of canals designed by the ancient kings. These water infrastructures enrich the whole environment and have kept the biosphere sustainable for many years. There has been no confirmed idea about how the kings had made this epic tanks. (85km approximately 2,5 hours)

Free time during the afternoon.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you'll climb the Rock Fortress, in Sigiriya, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The fort is one of Sri Lanka’s most important attractions. The Water Gardens are the most fascinating aspect of the complex, as well as the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was entirely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya glory. The so-called "Lion Rock" is a citadel built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), it unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) are worldwide famous, they are sheltered by a pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway led through the mouth of a crouching lion, but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the great proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site. (12km approximately 10 minutes)

Then, you'll move to Polonnaruwa, the capital city ages ago. It is surrounded by big artificial reservoirs designed and built during the 10^th century and is considered one of the best planned archaeological sites in the country. Nowadays, it is possible to enjoy the ruins that give information about the organisational structure of the ancient kingdom such as the Kings Palace, the Audience Hall, the Quadrangle the former Temple of the Tooth as well as the Gal Vihare complex paying homage to Buddhism with 4 large statues of Buddha. The site, declared Unesco World Heritage Site in 1982, can be discovered by bicycle, a great way of traversing the large complex. The city also hosts the Polonnaruwa Nature Sanctuary where the Smithsonian Institute has been conducting research into primates for over forty years. (55km approximately 1,5 hours)

After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll go back to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel and departure for Hiriwaduna for a Sri Lankan Village trek. It begins with a picturesque walk along a bund of a Wewa (man-made reservoir). En route it is possible to admire the rich and amazing birdlife, butterflies and spot crocodile. You'll learn something about the villagers daily life, as they go about their early morning tasks of fishing or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake. You'll wade through a shallow stream and cross a wider tributary in a catamaran of an obliging farmer to inspect Chena cultivation.

Then, you'll move to Matale to visit Spice Garden and discover how spices grow in their natural habitat, as well as something about their use in Sri Lankan cuisine. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and black pepper are some spices you can find in the Spice Garden. It is possible to buy the products in their natural state or in the form of oils and potions that are used by Ayurvedic medicine, during the Dutch rule, very famous spices of Sri Lanka were exported to different countries. Boasting so many spices has earned the country the name of "Island of the spices”. (55km approximately 1,5 hours)

After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll reach Kandy. It is the fortress of the Sinhala Kings and the most beautiful city of the country. The main attraction of the town is the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa. The highlight of the year is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and elephants during ten glittering nights in July/August. Here, there are also several shrines and temples, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings.

In the afternoon you'll enjoy the visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic followed by the cultural show. This temple is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world. It was built during the 16^th century and during these last years the complex has been enlarged. (47km approximately 1,5 hours)

After breakfast, you'll leave for Pussellawa Tea Plantation to visit tea factory/plantation. Here you can discover how the tea leaves are plucked. (37km approximately 1 hour)

Lunch at a local restaurant and then you'll reach Negombo. It is also known as “Little Rome” due to its dense catholic population and many churches, Negombo is a fishing town on the North West coast of Sri Lanka. Enjoy its wide golden beach and several beach hotels or its attractions that include the fish market, Dutch Fort and the Dutch Canal. (125km approximately 3 hours)

After breakfast at leisure (check- out time from the hotel will be at 14.00hrs).

Departure transfer to the airport (travel time: 10kms - approximately 20 mnts).