Travel to Sri Lanka’s ancient Buddhist sites, temples, local markets, historical ruins, all of which speak of its unparalleled rich cultural heritage dating back to as early as the 2nd century BC. You will be visiting a local fishing village in Negombo, take a tour to the ancient relic of the Buddha’s tooth at the highly revered 17th century “Temple of the Tooth”, check-out Sri Lanka’s “Little England” - Nuwara Eliya, where you can also taste Ceylon tea, tour the garden of the exotic Sri Lankan spices and herbs. This 5 nights and 6 days of Sri Lanka assures the best cultural experience.
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On arrival at the Colombo airport, you will be welcomed by a MCI GeTS Holidays representative and transfer to hotel in Negombo. Check-in at the hotel. Afternoon, information and briefing of the tour. Make a city tour of Negombo. Visit the fishing village, fish market, bazaar, the Dutch Fort, Angurukaramulla Temple with 6-m long reclining Buddha, and St. Mary’s church.
After breakfast, leave for Anuradhapura (a World Heritage Site), the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo-Tree) was brought as a sapling of the main tree under which Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment. It is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. At Lovamahapaya, also called the Brazen Palace (dating 2nd Century B.C.), with its 1600 stone columns see the remains of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. Proceed to see the Buddhist sites of Ruwanweliseya stupa (dating 2nd century B.C.) contains sacred Buddhist relics, and the Isurumuniya rock temple (dating 3rd Century B.C.) is known for its rock carvings.
Visit Mihintale temple on a mountain peak, the place believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. This is now a pilgrimage site and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures. Annually in June around and on the full-moon Poson Poya festival is held here in a grand way.
After breakfast explore the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which is a World Heritage site of 5th century AD, built by the King Kashyapa. It is home to water gardens, frescoes, and ancient graffiti, and commands an amazing view of Sri Lanka’s greenery.
Afternoon visit Polonnaruwa, the capital of ancient Sri Lankan kingdom and a World Heritage Site. This second capital city of Sri Lanka was built in the 11th and 12th centuries. See the ruins of the Royal Palace, Lotus Bath, and Polonnaruwa Statue and visit the Gal Vihare which is splendid statues of the Buddha carved out of the rock.
After breakfast, visit the Dambulla rock cave temple built by king Walagambahu, in the 1st Century B.C., a World Heritage Site and the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples.
Leave for Kandy, en route visit the spice garden in Matale to see many different types of spices Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. Gardens are open to visitors, a delightful place to stroll in fragrant greenery and learn about nutmeg, pepper vines, clove trees and curry, cinnamon and the precious cardamom. It grows in the shade of high jungle trees and can only be harvested by hand.
Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth relic for the morning ceremony; the stunning 17th century Temple of the Tooth (also called Sri Dalada Maligawa), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is believed to house the left upper canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day. In the evening enjoy a cultural dance show.
After breakfast, leave for the elephant orphanage in Pinnawela, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans in 1975. Today, it has the largest herd of captive elephants in the world that cares and protects this giant animal.
Leave for Nuwara Eliya, known as “Little England”. See the mountains covered with tea bushes and cascading waterfalls. Visit the tea plantation and a tea factory, on the island where the best tea in the world is produced. Watch the tea-pickers plucking new leaves with deft hands. Then proceed to the factory; the machinery used is of very traditional British design, some as old as 100 years. The process is a very artisanal one, unchanged for a century. Observe the process of manufacturing tea, tea grading and taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea. Afternoon, take a walk in the British period city and visit a local market.
After breakfast, leave for the Colombo Airport to board your onward flight.
Alternatively, you can choose to extend this tour with a stay at any of the options available in Sri Lanka or the Maldives.
| Duration | : | 5 Nights / 6 Days |
| Starting price | : | 555 Per Person |
| Route | : | Negombo – Anuradhapura – Dambulla/ Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Matale – Kandy – Pinnawela – Nuwara Eliya – Colombo |
