|
DEPARTURE WASHINGTON DC
Evening around 6.00pm
IN TRANSIT
Welcome to Sri Lanka
Airport – Mount Lavinia – approximately 1.5 hr. drive.
Meet your representative who will assist you to your vehicle where your guide awaits. Transfer to
Mount Lavinia Hotel. Spend the day at
leisure at this beautiful colonial property with its private beach.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight stay at Mount Lavinia Hotel. [Colonial Rooms]
MOUNT LAVINIA /KANDY
Early Breakfast at Mount Lavinia Hotel
7.30 am proceed to Kandy via Pinnawala
Mount Lavinia to Pinnawala – approximately 2 hr. drive
PINNAWALA -The Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is one of Sri Lanka's most popular
attractions. Situated halfway between Colombo and Kandy, The orphanage has a
population of about 75 elephants, making it the world's largest collection of orphaned elephants. The elephants here range from newborn calves to elderly
matriarchs and include orphaned and abandoned elephants, as well as those injured
in the wild. Experience the sheer delight of watching these great pachyderms frolic in
the river at bath time or the baby elephants being fed twice a day.
Proceed to Kandy
Pinnawala to Kandy – approximately 1.5 hrs drive
Afternoon at leisure
KANDY CITY TOUR Locally referred to as Maha Nuwara, meaning The Great
City, Kandy is the Hill Capital and one of the most scenic cities in the country. It is also
home to one of the most revered places of the Buddhist community in Sri Lanka, and
around the world. The sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha, is housed in the temple,
known as the Dalada Maligawa. Steeped in history
and located at the foothills of the central highlands, the city was designated a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Its not only its places of historical significance that make Kandy a popular tourist
destination, but also the shops displaying precious and semi precious stones, skillfully
crafted jewellary, handicrafts, colourful batiks and silks; and of course there is the
expansive Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the largest and finest in Sri Lanka - a must
do!
Udawatte Kelle - a primeval forest is Kandys lure for nature and adventure enthusiasts.
This forest reserve contains a variety of trees and is a haven for a variety of fauna and
flora, ideal for an early morning nature walk.
Overnight stay at Amaya Hills 4* [Standard Room]
KANDY / NUWARA ELIYA
Breakfast at Hotel.
Proceed to Nuwara Eliya via Labukelle.
Kandy to Labukelle – 2.5 hrs drive approximately
LABUKELLE TEA PLANTATION - Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best
tea in the world is produced. Here you could observe all about the process of
manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon
tea in the factory. Transfer to Nuwara Eliya
Labukelle to Nuwara Eliya – approximately 45 minutes drive
Dinner and overnight stay at Hill Club [Standard Rooms]
[Dress code applies for dinner]
NUWARA ELIYA / HABARANA
Breakfast at Hotel.
NUWARA ELIYA - Once called, Little England, nestling at the foot of Sri Lanka’s tallest
mountain Pidurutalagala, is Nuwara Eliya, the islands most elevated town and home
to some of the best tea plantations in the world. Surrounded by wooded mountains
and its picturesque lake, its cold temperatures call for sweaters, log fires and blankets,
a pleasant contrast to the islands otherwise hot and steamy tropical weather. In terms
of entertainment it is home to the famed Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and Race Course. It
is the perfect base for hikes, picnics and trout fishing in the surrounding lakes and
rivers.
Nuwara Eliya To Habarana – approximately 5 ½ hrs drive
Afternoon visit Minneriya (Safari)
MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK - An elephant encounter at this reserve will not
disappoint the adventurous in pursuit of an adrenalin rush. The Minneriya tank, a
manmade lake of historical significance serves as the feeding ground for the
elephant population in the surrounding areas, during the dry season. Set amidst a
beautiful landscape of rolling plains, lush green jungle, the tank itself and water holes,
it is famous for witnessing of the largest elephant gatherings at any one time in the
country. It has been reported that gatherings of 150-200 elephants and even numbers
as large as 700 have been sighted.
Dinner and overnight stay at Chaaya Village [Standard Rooms]
HABARANA / TRINCOMALEE
Breakfast at Hotel and proceed to Trincomalee.
Habarana To Trincomalee – approximately 2 ½ hrs drive.
Check in to Chaaya Blu. After Lunch Tips on interesting places to visit in Trincomalee
****Koneshvaram Hindu Temple
The Koēsvaram temple attracted pilgrims from all parts of India. The Konesvaram
shrine itself was demolished in 1622 by the Portuguese (who called it the Temple of a
Thousand Columns), It has an emblem including two fish and is engraved with a
prophesy stating that, after the 16th century, westerners with different eye colors will
rule the country for 500 years and, at the end of it, rule will revert back to
Vadugus.The Hindu temple was also documented in several late medieval texts such
as the Konesar Kalvett and the Dakshina Kailasa Puranam.
***** Lovers Leap
Next to Koneswaram Temple is Lovers Leap. The name kind of gives it away but it is
indeed a favorite suicide spot, with a sheer drop to the ocean crashing against the
rocks below. There's a memorial and shelter, commemorating the legend behind the
name. Apparently the daughter of an old Dutch official here threw herself off the cliff
when her forbidden lover had to sail back to Europe, never to see her again. The story
was dampened slightly when records revealed that the girl in question in fact grew
old in the town, married with children. But the name and memorial remains anyway.
Dinner and overnight stay at Chaaya Blu [Superior Rooms]
TRINCOMALEE / HABARANA
Breakfast at hotel.
Spend the morning at leisure. Lunch at hotel.
Transfer to Dambulla.
Trincomalee to Dambulla – approximately 2 ½ hrs drive
Visit Dambulla Golden Rock temple
DAMBULLA - The city is home to one of Sri Lanka’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites;
the richly painted cave temple complex, is the islands largest and best preserved.
Though there are more than 80 documented caves in the area, the most significant
are spread over 5 caves, which comprise of statues and paintings related to Lord
Buddha and his life.
The latest archeological site of significant historical importance, the Ibbankatuwa
Prehistoric Burial Site, is also found in this great city, within 3 km of the cave temple. At
this site, bones of 2700 year old human skeletons were found, which according to
scientific analysis, is evidence of civilizations existing long before the arrival of the
Indians to the island.
Ancient history aside, Dambulla is home to the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket
Stadium, well known for being built in just 167 days. Its Iron Wood forest (Namal
Uyana) and the largest Rose Quartz mountain range in South Asia make this city
special.
Dinner and overnight stay at Chaaya Village [Standard Room]
HABARANA / SIGIRIYA / COLOMBO
Early Breakfast at hotel and proceed to Sigiriya.
Habarana to Sigiriya – approximately 45 minutes drive
SIGIRIYA - Thought to be one of the oldest tourist attractions in the world, and
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, Sigiriya offers its visitors nothing less
than a breathtaking experience. Standing more than 200m tall over the surrounding
plains, the rock is said to be a solidified magma plug, from a long eroded and extinct
volcano. On its summit are the remains of a palace, built (by King Kasyapa) in the 5th
century AD. Hidden in a cave along the citadel are some of the most magnificent
ancient frescoes in South Asia. Seen today are, what’s said to be left of the 500
paintings of maidens that once covered a large area of the face of the rock. The
Mirror wall that leads up to the Lion staircase, its brick masonry wall built of Lime
plaster was said to have been so well polished, that it reflected the paintings of the
opposite rock wall. Today, 15 centuries later the shine on this wall can still be seen. A
total of nearly 1500 writings on the wall, include verses that date to the 8th century, most of which have now been deciphered. After visiting Sigiriya
transfer to Colombo.
Sigiriya to Colombo - approximately 4 hrs drive
Dinner & overnight stay at Galle Face Regency Wing [Standard Room]
COLOMBO
Breakfast at hotel
Enjoy Colombo city tour
COLOMBO CITY TOUR & SHOPPING - Bursting with life and color, the islands largest city
which was once the Capital of Sri Lanka, is now its Commercial hub.
This modern city with an ancient heart is a monument to its colonial history. Its
architecture is influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Today, it is a mix of
modern architecture among colonial buildings. The remnants of Dutch and
Portuguese domination, is seen primarily in the Fort, located north of the city. In stark
contrast, are modern buildings such as The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center
and five start hotels in the same location. Since the end of its civil war, the skyline is
constantly changing with investment in to the City’s infra structure.
Pettah, where daily life overflows on to the streets, not too far from the Fort is a Traders
hub and home to a few unique examples of architecture in its churches and kovils.
With its network of streets each specializing in one thing or another, where anything
and everything, from garments to toys to electronics and sweet-meats could be
found, it provides an interesting insight in to life as it is in a busy, tropical cosmopolitan
city.
For a more sober and tranquil experience, visit the Sima Malaka Meditation Island (on
the Beira Lake), designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most famous architect. The
island is landscaped with collections of Thai Buddha Statues, beautiful stone carvings, Buddhist paintings and a small museum.
Colombo’s public transport is largely based on buses and a limited network of trains,
either government owned or operated privately. The more adventurous mode of
transport is the auto rickshaw, also known as the three-wheeler or tuk tuk operated by
individuals.
As Bella Woolf once said, It is the meeting place of the world. It palpitates with life
and with the romance of those who wonder the earth.
Lunch at Curry Leaf Restaurant. Transfer to Hotel.
Dinner at Galle Face Regency Wing and All Rooms will be given until mid night
COLOMBO / AIR PORT
Transfer to the air port. Flight leaves Colombo at 02.00am and you will reach
Washington at 02.30pm on August 20th
|