Wild Sri Lanka tour 08 days / 07 nights

Wild Sri Lanka tour 08 days / 07 nights

DAY 01

Airport /Negombo/ Pinnawala /Dambulla
On arrival we pick up clients from the Airport and proceed to Negombo and visit the Negombo Fish Market.
Negombo is the heart of Sri Lanka’s fishing industry. The sea and catamarans are the backdrop of the Negombo scenery. Visit the Negombo lagoon and a fish auction.
Transfer from Negombo to Pinnawala and visit the Elephant Orphanage.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grand children born in the same location. The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but is soon became a conservational and educational centre. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants. The free movement of the herd enhanced the chances for respective individuals of both sexes to get together and sex. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard, and in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawala was born.
The success story of Pinnawala has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawala have been published in several languages. The members of Pinnawala herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
Thereafter we proceed to Dambulla. Rest of the day you can enjoy your leisure time.
You can have your dinner from Amaya Lake. ( 4 star) and spend your night there.

DAY 02

DAMBULLA/SIGIRIYA / ELEPHANT BACK RIDE ( 01 HR ) HABARANA/DAMBULLA
DAMBULLA / SAFARI AT MINNERIYA OR KAUDULLA NATIONAL PARK /DAMBULLA
Breakfast at Amaya Lake.
Transfer from Dambulla to Sigiriya, and visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Thereafter we proceed to Habarana and carryout an Elephant Back Ride appx 01 hr. On completion return to hotel, for a short rest.
In the afternoon we proceed you to Minneriya / Kaudulla and carryout safaris of Minneriya / Kaudulla National Park by jeep.
The extent of the Minneriya National Park is about 8,889 hectares. There are wet-lands in this National Park, which have international importance, animal and plant species, which are plenty in dry zone are found in this park. Wild elephants, various amphibians, local and immigrant bird species are plenty in this park. About 160 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. The significant feature is that these elephants can be seen going closer to them.
On completion we arrange to return to the hotel. You can have your dinner from Amaya Lake hotel spend your night there.

DAY 03

DAMBULLA/ SPICE GARDEN IN MATALE / TREK IN THE AREA / KANDY & CITY TOUR
Breakfast at Amaya Lake.
Transfer from Dambulla to Matale and visit a spice garden.
Visit a spice garden in Matale to see different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. Here, clients could see different spices and how some of these spices are grown and processed.
Thereafter carryout a trek in the area, trekking by the village area, through, rubber plantations, up & down a small hill, by a paddy field and getting across a suspension bridge and a water-ways bare-foot ! (appx 2 – 2 ½ hrs )
On completion of the trek proceed to Kandy. In the late afternoon carry out city tour of Kandy.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site. 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 1798. Visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Also visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Thereafter witness a cultural show. ( No cultural show during the days Kandy Pageant is taking place )Dinner and overnight stay at Amaya Hills. ( 4 star)

DAY 04

BIRD WATCHING TREK IN THE HOTEL PREMISES
Breakfast at Amaya Hills. In the early morning we carryout you to bird watching trek in the area.
Thereafter we proceed to Peradeniya and visit the Botanical Gardens.
Peradeniya botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.
Proceed to Nuwara Eliya, enroute visiting a Tea Plantation.
Visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. Here you can observe all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. You have the opportunity to taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.
Visit to Nuwara Eliya.
Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lankan tea which produces a significant share of the world’s best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Piduruthalagala (8282 feet) is also located here. Nuwara Eliya has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia.
Next we proceed up to Kandapola.
Dinner and overnight stay at Tea Factory Hotel. ( 4 star )

DAY 05

TREK AT HORTON PLAINS
Picnic breakfast from Tea Factory Hotel.
In the early morning we proceed to Horton Plains and carryout a trek app. 12 – 14 km.
We visit Horton plains, which is located on a high windswept saddle at about 2134 meters above the sea level. The plains are an expanse of misty grassland with scraggy trees and ice-cold rivulets. Visit the World’s End, considered as the finest view in all of Sri Lanka. The awesome escarpment drops vertically for about 4,000 feet, as it is named. You can also see the beautiful Backer’s falls. (Walk is about 14 km)
The park shelters mammals such as sambhur, leopard and endemic bear, monkeys and the lizards which are famous for its endemic nature. This area is a home for over 20 endemic bird species including Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Orange-billed Babbler and Yellow-eared Bulbul.
On completion we return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Tea Factory Hotel.

DAY 06

KANDAPOLA/NUWARA ELIYA/ WHITE WATER RAFTING IN KITULGALA /WEDDAGALA OFF RATNAPURA
Breakfast at Tea Factory Hotel.
Transfer from Kandapola to Nuwara Eliya to Kitulgala. Enroute view of waterfalls St Clares & Devon.
We carryout white water rafting activity in Kitulgala.
This thrilling adventure on the white water section of the Kelani River is suitable for amateurs as well as professionals alike. During the run, you will experience the thrill of shooting rapids and euphoria of making it through. As the river widens, you will pass the scenic location used to film – “Bridge over the river Kwai” which was filmed in 1956, a good place to jump in for a refresh swim. On a clear day, you may even dive to see the remains of the actual bridge and the carriages used for the film (only for experienced divers with proper equipment).
Thereafter we proceed to Weddagala, off Ratnapura. Dinner and overnight stay at The Rain Forest Edge Hotel. ( Boutique hotel, ONLY SRI LANKAN COUSINE, NO WESTERN MENU)

DAY 07

SINHARAJA/SINHARAJA/RATNAPURA/MOUNT LAVINIA
In the morning we proceed to Sinharaja Rain Forest and carryout a trek in the Forest.
This is Sri Lanka’s only remaining primeval rain forest. A single foot path cuts through the heart of its 50 sq. miles. The vegetation is many layered as in the Amazon or Congo. Rare orchids blossom and cicadas chirp around the area. The only other sound is the sound of the rain : 200 inches rain fall annually through ot the year.
We return to the hotel in the mid afternoon. Thereafter we proceed to Mt Lavinia .
Dinner and overnight stay at Mount Lavinia Hotel. ( Sea & Garden Wing rooms , 3 star)

DAY 08

MOUNT LAVINIA /AIRPORT
Breakfast at Mount Lavinia Hotel.
Transfer from Mount Lavinia to Airport .