Sri Lanka with Luxury & Style (13 Days): Sample Itinerary Outline
ID #: DT-SL-13-6-7-10-RAIJ
DAY
1: Arrive Colombo, SRI LANKA
You are met on arrival at the airport, and taken to your hotel in
Colombo, a city that is a mix of Colonial and modern styles.
►Suggested hotel: Galle Face Hotel, Colombo
DAY 2: Colombo, SRI LANKA
Your full day of sightseeing starts with a tour through the Dutch Fort
and Pettah sections of the city. Visit St. Anthony’s Dutch era church
with its collection of 19th century artifacts, and see the Colombo Fort
railway station built in 1880. Visit the Hindu Kovil, a temple with
exquisite interior stonework, and the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple. See
the Town Hall, with its replica of the White House, and the prestigious
Cinnamon Gardens area. In the afternoon visit “Jana Kala Kendraya,” a
handicrafts village, and then drive to Mount Lavinia Hotel for a view of
the Indian Ocean at sunset.
►Suggested hotel:
Galle Face Hotel, Colombo
DAY 3: Colombo to Sigiriya, SRI LANKA
This morning drive north into the island’s interior plains to the city
of Sigiriya. In the afternoon explore the grand Sigiriya Rock Fortress,
built by King Kassapa in the 5th century, located 500-feet above a vast
expanse of rainforest. Drive to the base, then climb the stairs carved
between two boulders (“Lion’s Gate,”) to explore this royal citadel.
Explore the gardens, water gardens, and the “Heavenly maidens” of
Sigiriya frescoes. Climb further up carved staircases through the “Lions
Paws” to the summit of the rock to see the foundations of the Grand
Palace, the king’s throne and windmill-fed swimming pool.
►Suggested hotel: Vil Uyaa,
Sigiriya
DAY 4: Polonnaruwa & Minneriya National Park, SRI LANKA
This morning drive to the ancient medieval city of Polonnaruwa. The
country’s capital from the 11th to 13th centuries, it is full of
beautiful palaces, temples and shrines. Visit the ruins of the Royal
Palace of King Parakramabahu I, originally a massive 7-story wood and
stone structure, and the adjacent Audience Hall and Kumara Pokuna, the
royal bathing pool. In the Quadrangle complex, explore the Vatadage
relic house and its Praying Buddhist monks dogoba (shrine); Thuparama,
an example of the gedige style of temple architecture; and the Hetadage
relic house. Visit Lankathillaka Gedige, a massive temple ruin with a
headless colossal Buddha statue, and Gal Vihara, also known as the “Cave
of the Spirits of Knowledge” as it has three huge Buddha statues carved
out of its granite cliff face. This afternoon take a scenic Jeep safari
through Minneriya National Park, an area of wonderfully diverse nature -
tropical and evergreen forests, grasslands, wetlands and bamboo shrubs.
The 22,000-acre park hosts 24 species of mammals, including wild
elephants, Samburs, Sloths and the purple faced Langur.
►Suggested hotel: Vil Uyaa,
Sigiriya
DAY 5: Sigiriya to Kandy, SRI LANKA
This morning drive to Kandy, the former Hill Capital of Sri Lanka, en
route visiting a spice garden and the Aluvihare Buddhist Temple, where
the Buddhist cannons are written on Ola leaves. This afternoon drive
along the upper lake road for a panoramic view of the city and it
massive lake. Next visit a gem museum and witness a colorful cultural
performance. Explore the Temple of the Tooth, to observe a pooja
ceremony and see Sri Lanka's most valuable Buddhist relic, a tooth of
Lord Buddha.
►Suggested hotel: Hotel Earl’s Regency, Kandy
DAY 6: Kandy, SRI LANKA
This morning explore the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, a
140-acre early 19th century garden. It has 4000 species of flora,
including incredible orchids, aromatic spices and medicinal herbs. Next
visit the Kandy Arts & Crafts Showroom and a local batik factory.
►Suggested hotel: Hotel Earl’s Regency, Kandy
DAY 7: Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, SRI LANKA
This morning depart for Pinnawela and a visit to the endearing Elephant
Orphanage where you can observe these magnificent creatres in their
natural habitat. Continue your drive south to colonial Nuwara Eliya.
Visit a tea factory and a tea estate to learn about this valuable and
famous export, arriving at your hotel by mid afternoon.
►Suggested hotel: Tea Factory
Hotel, Nuwara Eliya
DAY 8: Nuwara Eliya to Yala, SRI LANKA
This morning tour Nuwara Eliya, also called “Little England,” because of
the large English settlement. Visit the town market place and admire
scenic views of Lake Gregory and Mt. Piduratalagla, Sri Lanka’s highest
peak. Depart for an afternoon drive to Yala, en route visiting Ravana
Ella Waterfalls and the Buduruwagala Buddha statue, the tallest upright
statues of Buddha in the country.
►Suggested hotel: Yala Village
Hotel, Yala
DAY 9: Yala National Park, SRI LANKA
Today enjoy both morning and afternoon jeep excursions into Yala
National Park, the biggest National Park in Sri Lanka. The park is
renowned for its variety of wildlife, including elephants, sloth bear,
water buffalo, toque monkey, mongoose and the leopards – there are about
35 in the park. There are also a large variety of water birds and
Raptors.
►Suggested hotel: Yala Village
Hotel, Yala
DAY 10: Yala to Bentota, SRI LANKA
Today’s full day drive starts with a visit to the fishing village of
Ussangoda. Next drive to the Galle Fort, built by the Dutch in the 17th
century, and today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tour the fort and
Galle’s National and Maritime museums. Next tour a mask factory in
Ambalangoda, before reaching Balapitiya, where you take a boat ride on
the Madhu River; to see the many prawn traps along the banks. Continue
to Kosgoda to visit a Turtle hatchery to see the hundreds of baby
turtles that will later be released to their naturl habitat in the sea.
Arrive at your resort hotel late afternoon.
►Suggested hotel: Taj Exotica, Bentota
DAY 11: Bentota Resort, SRI LANKA
Today enjoy a full day to relax and enjoy the facilities at your deluxe
beach resort.
►Suggested hotel: Taj Exotica, Bentota
DAY 12: Bentota to Seeduwa, SRI LANKA
After a morning at leisure drive to Seeduwa, near the international
airport.
►Suggested hotel: Airport Garden Hotel, Seeduwa
DAY 13: Seeduwa, SRI LANKA
Depart for home. Today you are taken to the airport for your flight home
or on to your next destination.