8 Day Group Highlights Tour of Sri Lanka

Spend 8 days exploring the essential Highlights that Sri Lanka has to offer (and perhaps want to spend a number of days afterwards on the beach relaxing).

Highlights of Sri Lanka Itinerary

  • Visiting historical and religious sites

  • Enjoy Sri Lanka's amazing lush jungles, wide rivers, many waterfalls and thousands of acres of tea plantations

  • Do a Game drive at Yala National Park to see amazing Wild Life

Prices start from : £740.00

Description

This tour is designed for those travellers who have less time but who wish to see the essential Highlights that Sri Lanka has to offer (and perhaps want to spend a number of days afterwards on the beach relaxing).

Sri Lanka often known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, is a very special Island with a history that is long and varied. It is well known for its beautiful beaches, ancient cities, stunning scenery and abundant wildlife. The people of Sri Lanka are as special as the Island being charming, full of fun and most of all, very welcoming.

Our highlights Sri Lanka tour will give you a taste of what Sri Lanka is about.


Itinerary

Day 1

Our airport representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to NEGOMBO (would only take 30mins.

NEGOMBO is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations and there are a lot of restaurants and bars close to the hotel.

Overnight at St Lachlan Hotel & Suites, Negombo or similar


Day 2

Drive to the heart of the Cultural Triangle and visit the magnificent DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Built in the first century BC, this is the largest painted cave temple in the world – there are five caves containing about 200 statues of Lord Buddha.

Do a GAME DRIVE INTO MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK (it may be that due to the location of the elephants that you will do a game drive into Hurulu Oya National Park or Kaudulla National Park instead which are very close to each other- Extra 35 pounds pp).

Overnight at Flower Garden Eco village, Habarana or similar


Day 3

Climb the LION ROCK AT SIGIRIYA (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which stands about 650ft high and was a capital of Sri Lanka in the 5th century and a magnificent rock fortress. There is much to see here including water gardens, mirror wall, frescoes, lions paws etc and from the top there is a fabulous uninterrupted 365° view of the surrounding countryside.

Visit POLONNARUWA (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which was the 2nd indigenous capital of Sri Lanka and dates from 10th century A.D. Some of Sri Lanka’s most famous monuments are here including: Royal Palace, Gal Pota (stone book of 27 feet long!, Vadatage (round temple), Rankot Dagoba, and the Gal Vihara (4 huge statues of Lord Buddha).

Overnight at Flower Garden Eco village, Habarana or similar


Day 4

Drive to KANDY (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – this Royal city was the last indigenous capital of Sri Lanka. Kandy is situated about 1500 ft above sea level and is said to be the most picturesque of all the Sri Lankan cities as it nestles in the hills with the Lake at the bottom.

On the way, visit a SPICE GARDEN, where you can take a walk around the garden to see how they grow and learn about Ayurvedic medicine.

In Kandy, visit the GEM MUSEUM where you can see the products of the traditional (and rather scary) methods of gem mining, especially the famous Sri Lankan sapphires of cornflower blue.

Take a leisurely walk round the beautiful ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS– these are the best gardens in South East Asia, the highlights being the Orchid House, Palm Avenue and Green Bamboo to name but a few.

Overnight at Hotel Thilanka, Kandy or similar


Day 5

Visit the TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH which is the most visited temple in Sri Lanka and is the only temple in the world with a tooth relic of Buddha. You will visit the Temple during the ceremony to soak up the atmosphere.

After visiting the temple of the tooth do a guided tour of the GARRISON WAR CEMETERY, In town visit a HINDU TEMPLE & the ST. PAUL`S CHURCH.
Later in the afternoon do a peaceful walk in the isolated UDAWATTHAKELE NATURE RESERVE for about two hours.

Drive back to Kandy and watch the CULTURAL SHOW – these are traditional Sri Lankan dances accompanied by folk music that derived from the Temples. This music and dance were used to cure patients at that time.

Overnight at Hotel Thilanka, Kandy or similar


Day 6

Take an astonishingly beautiful drive (one of the best on your tour) up through thousands of acres of TEA PLANTATIONS up to Nuwara Eliya. On the way, you will spot many TEA PICKERS on the hillsides and Ramboda Falls.

Visit a TEA FACTORY to see just how tea is produced.

Do a city tour of NUWARA ELIYA (known as “little England” as this is where the colonials used to escape to when it was too hot on the coastal plains) taking in the highlights – the racecourse, Hill Club (was the centre of all colonial life), Gregory’s Lake. You will see some of the buildings have a distinctly British feel about them. At over 6000ft above sea level, it is much cooler – the best tea is produced here.

Drive onto ELLA GAP – which has amazing views (some of the best in Sri Lanka) down the Valley to the coastal plain over 3,000ft below.

Overnight at Hotel Orient, Bandarawela or similar


Day 7

Drive to Yala and do a GAME DRIVE INTO YALA NATIONAL PARK where you can see elephants, crocodiles, deer, wild boar, monitor lizards, water buffalo etc. There is also a very rich birdlife and there is always a chance of seeing a LEOPARD (there is the highest percentage chance of anywhere in the world of being able to see a leopard) or if you are lucky, a SLOTH BEAR.

Overnight at Hotel Mandara Rosen, Kataragama or similar.


Day 8

Drive along the beautiful palm fringed south coast.

Visit a TURTLE HATCHERY to see 1, 2 and 3 day old baby turtles.

Pass by one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sites – the STILT FISHERMEN near Ahangama.

Take a walk round the DUTCH FORT AT GALLE (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The Fort was originally built by the Portuguese and was later taken over by the Dutch. The highlights are: The Museum, Amangalla Hotel, The Dutch Church, The Lighthouse, Clock tower and the Cricket Ground.

Drop at a hotel of your choice on the south or west coast. Please call 01264 889644 to discuss your requirements.

 

WEEKLY DEPARTURES – (MINIMUM TWO PEOPLE)

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Hotels


Flower Garden Eco Village


Area :

Cultural Triangle


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Orient Hotel, Bandarawela


Area :

Nuwara Eliya & Hill Country


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