Day 1 -

Arriving in Colombo airport you will be picked up by our representative and driven to Kandy ,the capital city of hill country. Kandy is home to sacred shrines, landscaped gardens, cultural museums and fascinating arts and crafts. Set amongst forested hills this charming city with its cool climes and spiritual vibes is the perfect holiday destination in Sri Lanka's lush green hills. Checking into your hotel and having a couple of hours rest you will be visiting the The Temple Of The Tooth. The world heritage site temple is the most important place for Buddhists in Sri Lanka. This impressive16th century edifice which used to be the royal palace of Kandian kings houses the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha.The relic was historically held by Sinhalese kings as it was believed that whoever holds the relic holds the rightful claim to the throne. Afterwards you can have a leisurely stroll along the walk way by the kandy lakeside.   

 

Day 2 -

Visiting Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya will occupy most of the morning. The spectacular garden, full of wonderful trees and plants is the largest and the most extensive garden in Sri Lanka with over 10000 trees and plants. During the time of Kandian kings this was exclusively reserved for royals to stroll through, Later ruling Britishers transformed it into its present form. Today the garden displays an extraordinary array of Sri Lankan, Asian and international flora with over 4000 different species. During the time of world war 2  Lord Louis Mountbatten, the supreme commander of the allied forces in Asia, used the garden as his headquarters. Next to the Lanakthilaka ancient temple , a magnificient architectural edifice of 14th century built on a huge granite rock. It is renowned for its unique architecture, Kandian era murals and carvings. Set amongst green forests and yellow paddy fields this elegant ancient structure is one of  the most impressive archaic temples to visit during a trip to Kandy. After lunch you can have a couple of hours rest before attending cultural dance show, a magnificent display of Kandian folk dances, acrobatics , costumes and drumming associated with religious ceremonies and rituals over centuries. Some of the dances are depicting the graceful movements of birds and animals which is very unique to Kandian school of dance. This spectacular cultural show is a must for a visitor to Kandy. Evening visit to the Buddha on the hill top to take in breathtaking views over the city at dusk falling time.

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Day 3 -

Leaving Kandy for Sigiriya. Visting world heriatge site Cave temple of Dambulla on the way. a well preserved cave complex dating back to1st century BC and a world heritage site. Elevated above the plains below, the Cave Temples at Dambulla are a series of caves dating back to the 2nd century BC. These caves are crammed with about 150 absolutely stunning Buddha images and decorated with some of the finest murals depicting sinhalese buddhist art at its finest.Once a refuge for Buddhist monks in 1st century BC, these caves used to shelter kings defeated in the battle field and fleeing their enemies. Back in power those kings contributed immensely to transform these caves to their magnificent form that we see them in  today. At the foot of the cave temple hill stands this modern temple, on top of which sits a huge golden Buddha image. Overnight stay in Sigiriya. 

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Day 4 -

Today we set out on climbing the Rock Fortress Sigiriya somewhat early in the morning. Sigirya, also known as Lion Rock, a towering sheer rock rising 200 m above the surrounding plains is a world heritage site and the most iconic and important national monument in Sri Lanka. Complete with palaces, shrines , art galleries , archaic frescoes and other architectural formations this fascinating city in the clouds was the capital of Sri Lanka in 5th century during the reign of King Kashyapa who built it up . Its world famous murals of alluring Sigiriya Damsels are among the most preserved archaic murals of that era in the south Asian region up to this day. The Mirror Wall of Sigiriya, once a wall so shiny that the king could admire himself while walking past is now covered with ancient graffiti, mostly commentaries written by ancient tourists admiring the beauty of semi nude Sigiriya Damsels. At the entrance to the top terrace of the rock stands a pair of colossal lion's paws carved into the rock face. Originally a part of a larger lion-statue, the final ascend to the top terrace led through its open mouth, this monumental pair of lion’s paws give a glimpse of its former splendor. At the base of the Sigiriya rock is a beautifully  landscaped area dotted with terraced gardens ,pretty water features, natural boulders , sparkling ponds and cascading fountains. These elegantly landscaped gardens which extend a few hundred meters from the base are said to be some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. After lunch you can take a couple of hours rest before going on safari in Minneriya national park for elephant watching. Minneriya is one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see Elephants in large herds. 

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Day 5 -

Leaving for Galle. This exotic old trading port city blessed with massive ramparts , imposing colonial buildings ,ancient churches, grand mansions and museums is a delight to visit. Enjoy a relaxing evening in Kokgala beach, the realtively unexplored, tranquil beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in southern coast. You can take a dip , just relax or explore the beach. Find the stilt fishermen who use an unique method and style in fishing , look for chance encounters of turtles or go on surfing ,kite surfing or diving & snorkeling.(Tour will cover one sport activity)  

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Day 6 -

After beach time in the morning you will set out on a visit to Dutch fort in Galle, a magnificent world heritage site. This 16th century awe-inspiring architectural structure with striking views over Galle city, harbor and the indian ocean is one of the most iconic images of Sri Lanka. First built by the Portuguese in 16th century, then overtaken and further fortified by the Dutch in 17th century and later further improved by the British this immaculately preserved Dutch fort is said to be the best surviving European built fortress in Asia. Much of the old Fort and the township still remain within its well-preserved ramparts. Its imposing public buildings, churches, mansions and a maze of narrow cobbled streets are a constant reminder of its former splendor and glory. Among the fort's main attractions are the ramparts, the light house, the clock tower, ancient churches , museums and the old Dutch headquarters, now the luxury Amangalla hotel. Get lost amongst its rambling laneways and explore the beauty of Galle fort. Immerse yourself in the charming culture of this fascinating place. Stroll the ramparts to enjoy the cool breeze sweeping across the indian ocean. The Dutch fort in Galle is a wonderful delight and a must see for any tourists to this beautiful city. On your way back you will climb up the famed Rumassala hill to see Japanese peace pagoda for a few epic photographs of the surrounding forests, Galle harbour and Indian ocean. Next pay a visit to a beautiful cave temple in a nearby village. Pay your homage to the shrine , walk along the sandy yards, sit under the large bo tree and listened to the gentle rustling of the leaves soaking in the calm and serene ambience of the place. The evening is free for you to have a relaxing time lying down on beautiful Kokgala beach and witness a glorious sun set.

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Day 7 -

After a morning beach time we go out to see Martin Wickramasingha folk museum. Mr. Wickramasingha was the most prolific writer in the 20th century here. This is his ancestral home converted into a museum. You can see a lot of artifacts related to his life and work. There are many other artifacts depicting the simple, unsophisticated life style of rural villagers a century ago and .  Tastefully designed, the museum offers an insight into the folk culture and history of Sri Lanka.The house is surrounded by a lush, landscaped garden, consisting of a number of indigenous trees and shrubs. Winding up a fantastic Sri Lankan tour we leave for the airport. If time permits we will probably take a visit to the Beautiful Ganagarama temple in Colombo and have a evening stroll along Galle Face Green.

 

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