Luxury Tour Trip Notes (page 1)

		Day 1 - Horathapola Estate Drive to Horathapola Estate which is about an hour and a quarter's drive from the airport. The small delightful boutique hotel is in the centre of a huge coconut plantation. This is a perfect place to relax after a long flight. Overnight at Horathapola Estate.
		Day 2 - Vil Uyana, Sigiriya Drive to Sigiriya. On the way, you can visit the magnificent Dambulla Cave Temple. This is the largest painted cave temple in the world which was built in the 1st century BC. There are 5 caves that were transformed by a Sinhalese king when he was forced into hiding here. There are over 200 statues of Lord Buddha and just about every surface of the caves (including the roof) are covered in the most intricate murals, the finest in Sri Lanka. There are over 200 statues of Lord Buddha. Dambulla temple is one of the few living world heritage sites in the country. Have the afternoon to relax and enjoy the fabulous surroundings of your hotel. Overnight at Vil Uyana Hotel, Sigiriya.
		Day 3 - Vil Uyana, Sigiriya In the morning, you can drive to Habarana where there is an opportunity to do an elephant ride (optional) which will take about 2 hours. The elephant camp is situated next to Habarana Lake, a really beautiful spot where over 130 species of birds have been recorded. The elephants will walk beside the lake for a while and will then cross the river which as you can imagine, is quite an experience and go in to the forest. The trekkers will spot some birds, lizards and if you are lucky, crocodiles, for you. Then, you can drive onto Polonnaruwa which will take about an hour. This was the 2nd indigenous capital of Sri Lanka and the temples, stupas and other monuments date back to the 10th century AD. Polonnaruwa is the most visited ancient city in Sri Lanka. Everything here was built between the 10th and the 12th century and includes some of the Island’s most famous monuments. The ruins are well preserved and offer a fascinating snapshot of medieval Sri Lanka when Sri Lankan civilisation was at a real highpoint. You can spend over two and a half hours here, and then drive back to your hotel. Overnight at Vil Uyana, Sigiriya.
		Day 4 - Vil Uyana, Sigiriya Visit Lion Rock at Sigiriya. It will take about 3hrs in total from your hotel. This excursion can be done either early in the morning or in the late afternoon when it is cooler. Sigiriya stands about 650ft high and was a capital of Sri Lanka in the 5th century. This was a rock fortress of a king who was hiding away from his brother. From the base, you walk through the royal pleasure gardens comprising the magnificent water gardens, and moat. You then make your ascent, seeing the Boulder Garden, Mirror Wall and oldest unpreserved frescoes (dating from the 5th century AD), to mention but a few. Arriving at the two huge lions paws, this is all that is left of a gigantic lion statue which was the final staircase to the summit containing the Royal Palace and ramparts. The views from the top are stupendous and will take your breath away. Have the rest of the day free to relax at your hotel. Overnight At Vil Uyana, Sigiriya.
		Day 5 - Vil Uyana, Sigiriya You can take a bike ride and cycle through little villages and explore the unspoilt countryside of the area. There is very rich birdlife in this area which can be really appreciated with the slow pace of a bicycle. This is an amazing opportunity to get off the beaten track and see Sri Lankan life. Have the rest of the day free to relax at your hotel. Overnight At Vil Uyana,Sigiriya.
		Day 6 - Theva Residency, Kandy After breakfast, you will leave for Kandy. On the way, the drive will take you through a fertile spice growing area with plantations of coffee, cacao and rubber. You can visit a Spice Garden where there is the opportunity to see how Sri Lankan spices and herbs grow. You can also learn about Ayurvedic medicine and buy some spices, if you so wish. The royal city of Kandy was the last indigenous capital of Sri Lanka which resisted capitulation for over 300 years despite the coastal areas having surrendered to European dominance. It is said to be the most picturesque town in Sri Lanka as it nestles in the hills beside a small lake. Arrive at your hotel in time for lunch. Rest of the day to relax in the beautiful gardens or swim in the pool. There are plenty of small restaurants in Kandy for dinner, if you wish. Overnight at Theva Residency, Kandy.
		Day 7 - Theva Residency, Kandy Today is a visit to The Temple of the Tooth which houses the tooth relic of Lord Buddha and is the most secret of the Buddhist temples. The visit coincides with the Ceremony (of offerings accompanied by drumming) so you can see the Casket of the Tooth. The tooth of Buddha was taken from the funeral pyre in the 5th century BC and thousands of worshippers visit the Temple every day to pay homage. You will spend about an hour at the Temple. You can then visit the Royal Botanical Gardens which contain many of the indigenous trees of the country. The highlights being the orchid house and the amazing Ficus Benjamina, said to be the largest specimen in the world. You will have commonly seen this as a houseplant in the UK! After the gardens, there is an opportunity to visit the Gem Museum to see the products of the traditional (and rather scary) methods of gem mining, especially the famous Sri Lankan sapphires of cornflower blue. In the early evening, you can visit the Cultural Show with its magnificent costumes accompanied by amazing drumming. The Kandyan dancing dates back to the 3rd century BC and was performed by witch doctors to cure patients. There will also be some self-mortification activities like fire walking! There are plenty of restaurants in Kandy for dinner, if you wish. Overnight at Theva Residency, Kandy.
		Day 8 - Theva Residency, Kandy Today, is a visit to Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage where you can see over 75 elephants playing in the river. These elephants have been rescued by the wildlife department and had it not been for the Orphanage, most of these elephants would have died. You can watch the elephants for about two hours and then return to Kandy. On the way back, you can visit a tea factory to have a fascinating tour to see just how your English cup of tea is produced. Much of the machinery is as it was in the 19th Century when it was first installed! Enjoy a brilliant cup of Ceylon tea at the end of your tour. Return to your hotel and rest of the day to relax by the pool. There are plenty of restaurants in Kandy for dinner, if you wish. Overnight at Theva Residency, Kandy
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