Arrive at the Bandaranaike International airport, Katunayake. You will be met and assisted on arrival by our airport staff and transferred to Colombo, the commercial capital of the country. (30 km – approx. 1 hour drive). On arrival, check in at the hotel.
Afternoon commence a sightseeing tour of the city of Colombo. Drive through the commercial and city centre area known as the “Fort”, built by the Portuguese in the 16th century where grand colonial era buildings stand alongside modern office structures. See the busy markets and noisy bazaars of Pettah, the National Museum with its fine collection of lovely antiques and art of Sri Lanka. Drive past the Town Hall, Independence Square, the B.M.I.C.H (International Convention Centre) and Cinnamon Gardens residential area and visit a Buddhist temple and a Hindu Kovil to experience the diversity of religion, ethnicity and customs of the people.On completion, return to hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo.
Day 02 –Habarana / Polonnaruwa / Minneriya
After breakfast leave for Habarana, a small village with excellent hotel accommodation, a central location for all the ancient city sites. (172 km – approx. 4 hour drive). On arrival in Habarana, check in at hotel.
After a short break at the hotel, leave for Polonnaruwa,(UNESCO World Heritage Site) which was the Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century, a well-planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls (around 5 km. which still remain),graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation. Of these the ‘Vatadage’ and the ‘Thuparama Image house’ are the most spectacular. The ‘Gal Vihara’ which consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha have been cut from a single granite wall and rank among the true masterpieces of Sri Lankan Art.
On completion of sightseeing of Polonnaruwa leave for Minneriya for a Jeep Safari( 29 km, approx. ½ hour drive). Minneriya National Park is about 8889 hectares in extent and is an ideal eco tourism location in Sri Lanka. The park vegetation consists of dry mixed evergreen forest and scrub area and is home to Sri Lanka’s favorites such as spotted deer, Sambar, leopards, Sloth bear and elephants. However the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in the 3rd century). This tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants which come to bathe in the water and graze on the grasses and the huge flocks of birds, cormorants and painted storks to name a few that come to fish in the shallow waters.,
Overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana
On completion of sightseeing of Polonnaruwa leave for Minneriya for a Jeep Safari( 29 km, approx. ½ hour drive). Minneriya National Park is about 8889 hectares in extent and is an ideal eco tourism location in Sri Lanka. The park vegetation consists of dry mixed evergreen forest and scrub area and is home to Sri Lanka’s favorites such as spotted deer, Sambar, leopards, Sloth bear and elephants. However the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in the 3rd century). This tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants which come to bathe in the water and graze on the grasses and the huge flocks of birds, cormorants and painted storks to name a few that come to fish in the shallow waters.,
Overnight stay at a hotel in Habarana
Day 03- Sigiriya / Kandy
After breakfast leave for Sigiriya (25 km – approx. ½ hour drive) and climb the Rock Fortress( UNESCO World Heritage site) built by King Kassapa in the 05thcentury A.D. which was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years. The Lion Rock is a citadel of unusual beauty, rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The base of the rock is ringed by a moat and rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The majestic Lion’s Paw picturesquely guards the stairway of the palace on the summit. See the famous frescoes of the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya in a sheltered pocket of the rock and the 10 foot high Mirror Wall. Thereafter leave for Kandy (92 km – approx. 3 hour drive). En route visit a Spice Garden in Matale. On arrival in Kandy, check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.
Day 04 – Kandy / Bentota
After breakfast at hotel commence a sightseeing tour of Kandy, the bustling hill country capital which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the pink painted famous Temple of the Tooth which houses the most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Buddha. Kandy is also popular because of the annual festival known as the Esala Perahera where the inner casket covering the tooth relic of the Buddha is taken in a grand procession through the streets of the city held annually in the month of July or August. Drive past the picturesque premises of the University of Peradeniya and visit the Market Place, and an Arts & Crafts Showroom. Then drive along the Upper Lake road to get a panoramic view of the Kandy Lake built in 1807 and is an attractive centerpiece to the town. Also visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, where a rare collection of tropical exotic and indigenous flora including the famous Orchid House could be viewed. On completion proceed to Bentota, a tourist resort in the south with the most beautiful, wide and sandy beaches. (185 km – approx. 5 hour drive)
Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota
Day 05 - Bentota
Breakfast at hotel. Full day at leisure on the beach. Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.
Day 06 - Bentota
Breakfast at hotel. Full day at leisure on the beach. Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.
Day 07 - Bentota
After breakfast leave to the Airport (96 km, approx. 2 ½ hour) drive for your departure.
