Sri Lanka takes the utmost pleasure in welcoming its visitors to its many wonders that delight every visitor. This tiny island nation located towards the south of the Indian subcontinent is home to ancient Buddhist temples and ruins dating back to as early as the 1st century B.C.; the temple of the Tooth Relic houses the tooth of Lord Buddha, which attracts a large number of pilgrims and visitors. During the tour, see the oldest human-planted Mahabodhi tree, a sapling from the tree where Buddha attained enlightenment, visit ancient cave temples in Dambulla, opportunity to experience typical Sri Lankan village life in Hiriwadunna village, go for encounters with the wildlife at the Minneriya National Park where you will see a large number of elephant population, check-out the renowned and beautifully painted frescoes at Sigiriya fort, and simply enjoy the resort towns of Bentota. This tour is for everyone who wants to see the best that Sri Lanka has to offer.
Meet and greet by MCI-GeTS Holidays representatives at the Airport and transfer to the hotel close to the Airport to refresh and rewind.
After breakfast, transfer to Anuradhapura. Visit Dambulla caves en-route. Dambulla Rock Temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. It 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 breakfast, visit Anuradhapura archaeological sites, which is also the first capital of Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura is located in the north central part of the island; it was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two world heritage sites. Many places of historical and archeological interest could be visited. Sri-Mahabodhi (sacred Bo-tree), brought as a sapling of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. Brazen palace (2nd century B.C.), the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. Ruwanweli Seya (from 2nd century B.C); it is the most famous of all the Dagobas (Sinhalese term for a Buddhist stupa). It originally depicted the perfect “water-bubble” shape that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. Samadhi Buddha (3rd cent. B.C.) is one of the finest statues in Sri Lanka, depicting the Buddha in a state of “Samadhi” or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd century B.C.), well known for its rock carving of “the lovers”. Kuttam Pokuna – the twin ponds (3rd cent. B.C.), used by the monks as a bathing pool. Thuparama Dagoba (3rd century B.C.), the oldest Dagoba in the island. It enshrines a relic of the Buddha.
Thereafter, transfer to Jaffna.
After breakfast, transfer to the port city of Trincomalee. On the way, visit the ancient famous city of Jaffna and a few scars of the civil war. Visit Nallur Temple and then do a city tour of Trincomalee.
Trincomalee is one of the finest deepwater harbours in the world that had been in use from the days of the early Sinhala kings. The Old Dutch/Portuguese Fort aka Trincomalee Fort is reminiscent of the colonial rule of the Island and has the year 1676 inscribed above its entrance by the Dutch. It was subsequently named Fort Frederick by the British. Visit Hot springs and Trinco Shankari Devi Temple.
After breakfast, transfer to Sigiriya. Evening, visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which is a world heritage site built by King Kashyapa (473 – 491 A.D). Sigiriya meaning “lion rock” in Sinhalese is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock is the innermost stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town. The base of the rock is rung by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The world-renowned frescoes of the “heavenly maidens’ of Sigiriya which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are one of the main attractions. The frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
After breakfast, do a village tour of Hiriwadunna, a tiny village of roughly 2500 people, to experience the typical Sri Lankan lifestyle. Evening, do a Jeep safari at the Minneriya National Park. The extent of this national park is about 8,889 hectare. There are wetlands in this national park which have international importance. Wild elephants, various amphibians, local and immigrant bird species are plenty in this park. About hundred and sixty species of birds, 09 amphibians, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species, and more than 78 butterfly species have been found in this area. There are bamboo trees which are rare in other parks and wild elephants can be seen conveniently.
After breakfast, transfer to Kandy. Visit Matale Spice Gardens to see the different spices that 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.
After breakfast, go on a city tour of Kandy.
Kandy is the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions, and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1806, visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts center and a gem museum and lapidary. The evening is the best time to visit the Temple of the Tooth relic (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha, and thereafter witness a traditional cultural dance show.
After breakfast, transfer to Ella by Train on a famous scenic route; Ella is a small laid-back town surrounded by the beautiful greens of tea. Then travel back to Nuwara Eliya.
After breakfast, go for a city tour of Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country producing 50% of the world’s best tea. Sri Lanka's highest mountain Lagala (8282 ft.) is located here. Nuwara Eliya is the location for one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in Asia.
After breakfast, transfer to Bentota. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel. Rest of the day is free to relax by the beach side.
After breakfast, set off for a city tour of Bentota. Sri Lanka’s resort town of Bentota is situated on the Northern limit of the Southern Province, at the confluence of the sea and the Bentota River, 62 km from Colombo. Its location in the sun-drenched southern coast and its picturesque, sandy, palm-fringed beaches which border the warm, sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean made it a natural choice for development as Sri Lanka’s first planned tourist resort. Today it’s famed in Sri Lanka’s global tourist markets as a highly attractive holiday resort with a wide and varied choice of distinctive hotels to suit every taste and purse. Bentota also has a complete range of tourist facilities within the resort complex including a very popular water sports center.
After breakfast, go for a city tour of Colombo. Visit Fort and Pettah areas and drive past the 100-year-old clock tower, the old parliament and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). Also visit the ceramics corporation showrooms, the ODEL unlimited dress boutique, and the majestic city shopping complex.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.
Alternatively, you can choose to extend this tour with a stay at any of the options available in Sri Lanka or the Maldives.
| Duration | : | 13 Nights / 14 Days |
| Starting price | : | 970 Per Person |
| Route | : | Seeduwa – Anuradhapura – Jaffna – Trincomalee – Sigiriya – Kandy – Nuwara Eliya – Bentota – Colombo |
