Day 01: Arrive Colombo
On your early morning arrival at International airport, transfer to your hotel for overnight stay.

Colombo the capital of Srilanka and is located on the west coast of the island. The city is a bustling metropolis, the city is an attractive blend of old and new. It has the lazy charm of the bygone era combined with the verve and vivaciousness of a modern city. Colombo is an ideal location to start the Sri Lanka sojourn.nad the city is also home to a majority of the Srilanka corporate office and entertainment venues. 

In the morning you will proceed for a city sightseeing tour

Visit the Fort, Slave Island, where the slaves had their night quarters, Mount Lavinia – the famous beach, Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara – the famous Buddhist temple, Wolvendaal Church – the oldest Dutch church. Also visit House of Fashion, ODEL, Noritake ceramic shop & a local souvenir shop.

Stay overnight at your hotel.

 Day 02: Colombo – Anuradhapura (206 Kms / 05 Hrs)
In the morning you will leave for Anuradhapura and on arrival check-in into the hotel.

Visit the sacred ancient city founded in the 04th century B.C a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982. It has the largest number of ancient monuments of the great Sinhala civilization which flourished in this region. You will see some of the most famous as well as the tallest dagobas of Sri Lanka, Ruwanweliseya Dagoba, 2nd century BC with its famous elephant walls and the 3rd century BC Thuparama Dagoba. Ruins of ancient royal palaces specially the pillars of the Brazen Palace, which once had nine storeys, temples, the image of the Samadhi Buddha one of the finest pieces of Buddhist sculpture, monasteries, the twin ponds, guard stones and the moonstone. The ‘Sri Maha Bodhi’ or the sacred Bo tree is over 2200 years old grown from a branch of the very tree under which “The Buddha” attained enlightenment – the oldest historically documented tree in the world.

Continue to Habarana, a small village with excellent hotel accommodation which is a central location for all the ancient city sites. (57km, approx. 1 ½ hour drive)

 Stay overnight at a hotel.

 Day 03: Anuradhapura - Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa
In the morning you will leave for leave for Sigiriya and climb the Rock Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage site : 1982) built by King Kassapa in the 05thcentury A.D. which was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years.  The Lion Rock is a citadel of unusual beauty, rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The base of the rock is ringed by a moat and rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The majestic Lion’s Paw picturesquely guards the stairway of the palace on the summit. See the famous frescoes of the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya in a sheltered pocket of the rock and the 10 foot high Mirror Wall.

Thereafter, leave for Polonnaruwa, UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, the Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century. On arrival in Polonnaruwa visit the well:planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls (around 5 km. which still remain), graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation. Of these the ‘Vatadage’ and the ‘Thuparama Image House’ are the most spectacular. The ‘Gal Vihara’ which consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha have been cut from a single granite wall and rank among the true masterpieces of Sri Lankan art.
Stay overnight at a hotel.

Day 04: Dambulla – Kandy (25 Kms / 1/2 Hrs)
In the morning you will leave for Dambulla and visit the famous Golden Rock Cave Temple which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, a vast isolated rock mass with its five caverns is the largest best preserved cave: temple complexes in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 sq. meters) are of particular importance as are the 157 statues including a 47 foot long statue of the recumbent Buddha. The ceiling of one cavern is fully illustrated with paintings that follow the natural folds of the rock so closely that it appears to be made of cloth. The complex of caves is one of the most impressive Buddhist Temples in the world.

Thereafter leave for Kandy (79 km – approx. 3 hour drive) a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. En route visit a Spice Garden in Matale. On arrival in Kandy, check in at the hotel. After a short break, commence a sightseeing tour of Kandy, the bustling hill country capital. Visit the pink painted famous Temple of the Tooth which houses the most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Buddha. Kandy is also popular because of the annual festival known as the Esala Perahera where the inner casket covering the tooth relic of the Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city held annually in the month of July or August. Also visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, where a rare collection of tropical exotic and indigenous flora including the famous Orchid House could be viewed. Late evening enjoy the Kandyan Cultural Show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre. The show features the graceful and rhythmic dancers and drummers culminating in an impressive fire walking display.

Stay overnight at a hotel.

Day 05: Pinnawela - Ratnapura
After breakfast leave for Pinnawela and visit the Elephant Orphanage. (50 km, approx. 1 hour drive). This orphanage was set up by the government to take care of baby elephants lost or abandoned in the wild. Witness the feeding of the elephants. The baby elephants being bottle fed with milk is a heartwarming sight. Thereafter observe them as they take their daily bath in the river nearby, which affords marvelous photo opportunities. Bath time is enjoyed by all elephants, young and old alike and it is a good time to closely observe their tightly knit family structure. The young elephants are protected and cared for, by the older ones in the group and the leader of the group is respected by all.  (Open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.  Daily feeding times: 9.15 a.m., 1.15 p.m. 5.00 p.m. Bathing times – 10.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m., 4.00 p.m.).
Thereafter leave for Ratnapura, the Sri Lanka’s Gem city (142 km, approx. 4 hours). On arrival in Ratnapura commence a sightseeing tour of the city. Ratnapura is the world’s richest treasure house of gems. Rare sparkling precious and semi:precious stones are found in the rich soil that covers the entire district. A visit to this city of gems is a must for any visitor. It is a city set amidst a mix of paddy fields, rubber and tea plantations which give a scenic backdrop to this legendary city of a thousand gems. On completion, check in at the hotel.
Stay overnight at a hotel.

Day 06: Ratnapura / Sinharaja / Galle
After breakfast leave for the Sinharaja Forest Reserve (22 km, approx. 1 hour). It is the least disturbed and biologically unique lowland rain forest remaining in Sri Lanka. It is a treasure trove of endemic species including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Because of the dense vegetation wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry zone national parks as Yala. Bird watching is particularly interesting as it is home to 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka.

Afterwards proceed to Galle. (210 km, approx. 5 hour drive). Galle, the capital of the Southern Province lies 116 km south of Colombo. Its historic Fort 90 acres in extent was originally founded by the Portugese and later extended by the Dutch in 1663. It was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The Fort houses many important Dutch buildings including a Dutch period museum. Galle is famous for hand made lace, tortoise shell curios and ebony elephants.

Stay overnight at a hotel.

Day 07: Galle - Mt. Lavinia                                               
In the morning you will proceed for sightseeing tour of Galle.

Visit the Fort, a Dutch Church, the Natural Harbour, the Dutch Cultural Museum and the National Maritime Museum.
Stay overnight at a hotel. 

Day 08: Lavinia – Colombo
In the morning you will be free for your independent activities.

Late evening as per scheduled you will be transferred to airport to the flight for onward journey.