DISCOVER SRI-LANKA

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will meet our representatives and will be transferred directly to Sigiriya. En-route visit Pinnawala Elephant orphanage.

The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is situated northwest of the town of Kegalle, halfway between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. It was established in 1975 by the Sri Lanka wildlife department on a 25-acre coconut property near the Maha Oya River. The orphanage was originally founded in order to afford care and protection to the many orphaned Elephants found in the jungle.

Visit the Dambulla cave temple. This UNESCO heritage site is the largest and the bestpreserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.

Dambulla Rock Temple - was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. Dambulla is a world heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings is the largest area of paintings found in the world. The caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 meters. After checking into your hotel, you are free for the rest of the day. Overnight Stay in Sigiriya.

Early Morning, you will be heading to Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park for a morning 4x4 jeep safari, since it is the best time to spot wild elephants in their natural habitat. If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then Minneriya/Kaudulla is your ideal destination! Spreading over 8890 hectares, this park is mainly a sanctuary for elephants. It is always a pleasure to watch baby elephants playing at the lake. Among the 24 species of mammal’s resident in the park are Elephants, Leopards, Sloth Bear, Spotted Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Buffalo, Wild Pig, Grey Langers, Purple-faced Leaf Monkey, three species of Mongoose, Porcupines, and Indian Pangolin. Minneriya National Park has recorded over 170 species of birds. On completion proceed back to the hotel & have breakfast. Afternoon, you will visit the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE), since it is the best time to witness and capture the sunset from the summit. King Kasyapa (477 – 495 AD) built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. Known as one of the wonders of the world due to the amazing architecture & technology being used. Call it a day after checking into your hotel. Thereafter, spend your evening on your own walking around and enjoying the surrounding nature. Overnight stay in Sigiriya

After breakfast drive towards Kandy city. It is set on a plateau surrounded by mountains that are home to tea plantations and rainforests. Kandy is also famous for its sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic. En route visit a Spice Garden, and learn about Sri Lankan Spices. Check-in at the hotel. Afternoon, visit the Temple of Tooth Relic (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). Temple of the Tooth Relic: OPTIONAL VISIT – US $ 10 net per person Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple. Evening, you’ll explore on your own walking around Kandy's city centre before engaging with a cultural dance show which is inspired by Sri Lankan arts, traditional dance, and cultural heritage. Overnight stay in Kandy.

After a fantastic journey through the coconut palms, mountains, and waterfalls, you will finally arrive at the world-famous beachside of Sri Lanka. Bentota is a delightful sandy beach that was a well-kept secret in the past, but now few restaurants and pubs are opening up to visitors. It's a magnificent place characterized by white sands and coconut palms growing right from the edge of the sea as if in imitation of a postcard of a perfect tropical beach. Upon arrival at your hotel, you may grab a towel to relax on the beach while enjoying a cocktail or a chill Overnight stay in Bentota.

After breakfast, Visit a Turtle hatchery Farm. The Turtle Hatchery Project at Bentota Beach is another important attraction. Up to five endangered species of turtles have been frequenting a stretch on this undisturbed beach for a long time now. The turtles are allowed to hatch and thrive in a protected area before being set free. Leave for a river cruise along the Madu Ganga, the estuary of the Madu Ganga River is a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands. It may be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. The boat trip is a wonderful way of seeing some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals – monkeys eat fruit in the trees, a water monitor lizard glides slowly through the water, and cormorants, egrets and kingfishers wait patiently on the banks, eyeing the water for prey. There are around 64 islands in the river and lagoon, from a tiny speck housing a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families connected to the mainland with a very long footbridge. The main occupations of the local inhabitants are producing cinnamon and prawn fishing – if you take the trip in the evening, you will see the fishermen in their canoes lighting lanterns to attract the shellfish into their traps. Overnight stay in Bentota.

After breakfast, drive towards the commercial city of Colombo. City tour of Colombo followed by shopping tour. Colombo – the trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Sri Lanka’s largest city, it is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions, and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of colour. The original traders and settlers - the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and the British have left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankan. Today, Colombo is a fascinating city - a happy blend of east & west, past & present, with a charm of its own. A less known but amazingly true fact is that Colombo has a superb range of high-quality restaurants serving food from all over the world and some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia. As all the good things must come to end, our chauffeur guide will take you to the airport to catch the departure flight.