Itinerary
Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, meet & greet by "Seerendipity Tours" Representatives and proceed to hotel in Galle.
Overnight stay in Galle
Breakfast at the hotel and leave for Galle city tour.
The ancient port city of Galle has a history that stretches back hundreds of years. According to Sir James tenant, Galle was the “Tarshish” referred to in the Bible as the port where ships trading with King Solomon obtained gemstones, ivory, spices and scented woods. Most certainly the place where the Galle fort now stands, as well as other areas in Galle all had historic connections which go back long before the Portuguese era. International traders, Persians, moor traders from the Persian Gulf, south Indian trader, Malay and a host of other nationalities lived and traded in Galle.
TURTLE HATCHERY
Visit a sea turtle hatchery at Kosgoda where the endangered sea turtles eggs are hatched and babies are leased to the sea. Large numbers of volunteering organizations are actively engaged in the effort of conserving the sea turtles along the beaches of the west coast. Here you have the rare opportunity to see many species of endangered sea turtle species and you will be educated about the lifestyle of the animal, threats for the animal, and conserving effort of turtles in Sri Lanka.
OPTIONAL WHALE WATCHING
Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa is one of the most exciting water activities you can do in Sri Lanka during your holiday.
Mirissa is the best place to start your whale and dolphin watching tour in Sri Lanka.
In the warm Indian Ocean you can see Blue whales, Bryde´s whales, Sperm whales, Fin whales, sometimes Killer whales, and Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins and Striped dolphins. Sometimes you can see turtles and various fish species, for example, Bluefin tuna and flying fish.
Overnight stay in Galle
Breakfast at hotel and leave for Yala, en-route visit one of another colonial heritages, in the city of Matara.
STAR FORT MATARA
Star fort and the Dutch fortress are most prominent colonial construction in Matara. Both are located near the city centre and only ten minutes walk away. Star fort houses the archaeological museum with a collection of a large number of valuable artefacts. As the name suggests star fort takes a shape of a star and surrounded by a ditch and a huge wall.
BLOW HOLE
The blowhole is just 30 minutes s drive away from Matara and can be accessed very easily on the Matara-Tangalle main road. It is one of the most awesome natural attractions in the country. This natural fountain is located on the beaches of Kudawella and the waters rise up to 30 meters. The fountain came being due to the pressure generated by the high tide of the sea. The blowhole is located in a rocky outcrop, where the water is pressed through a natural hole, making a huge fountain.
Another uncrowned beach resort near Matara, that you never see so busy like Bentota or Kalutara. Still the beaches in Mirissa are well worth making a visit. The beaches are very wide and clean providing the best setup for beach holiday enthusiasts. Mirissa is not only suitable for beach hopping but also for diving, snorkelling and mainly for surfing.
KATARAGAMA TEMPLE Held in awe by Buddhists, Hindus & Muslims
Kataragama, the domain of God Skanda (Lord Murugan Katirkaman, Kadirkamam, Subrahmanya, Kandasamy, Kadiradeva, Katiradeva, Katiravel, Karttikeya, and Tarakajith) located in the Deep South of Sri Lanka, adjoining the popular Ruhuna Yala National Park and ancient Sithulpawwa Buddhist Monastery, is a multi-religious sacred city that contains a Buddhist temple, Hindu shrine and Islamic Mosque. Kataragama, one of the solosmasthana (Sinhala: 16 principal sites of Buddhist pilgrimage), features in the history since the era of King Dutugamunu (161-137 BC), the Hero of the Nation. Mahawamsa, the great historical chronicle of Sri Lanka reveals the participation of warriors of Kshatriyas clan from Kataragama on the occasion of the arrival of the Bo sapling of Bodhi Tree, under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya (Gaya district of the modern Bihar state of India), was brought to the city of Anuradhapura 2,300 years ago.
Overnight stay in Yala
YALA NATIONAL PARK
Yala is considered to be one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka same time it is the biggest national park in Sri Lanka with 97880 hectares extent. Initially, it was used as a hunting ground during the British rule in Sri Lanka. It is said people had to pay for the hunting in Yala. As the number of animals drastically reduced due to hunting, Yala is declared as a national park in 1900 and became a safe place for animals.
Yala is the biggest national park is divided into 5 zones. Yala is holding a prominent place as far as bio-diversity is a concern. Yala is a famous high density of wildlife such as Leopards, Elephants, Deer, Wild boar, Bear, monkey’s etc.
Yala is considered to be one of the best places to witness leopards in the world. There were 17 ½ leopards in every 100 square kilometres in Yala national park. Block 1 of Yala National park could be home to the densest population of leopards in the world, the densities in this tiny area has maintained around a leopard every 2 sq. kilometers. Unlike most other national parks where leopards can be seen in dark Sri Lanka leopards are in a move during the day as well.
Overnight stay in Yala
After the breakfast leave for the hotel in Nuwara Eliya,
RAVANA WATERFALL
The Ravana Falls (popularly known as Ravana Ella in Sinhala) is a popular sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in height and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals. But this is not the case in the dry season, where the flow of water reduces dramatically. The falls form part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary and is located 6 km (3.7 mi) away from the local railway station.
The falls have been named after the legendary Sinhala king Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of the wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. They believed that Ravana has played the Ravanahatha over here.
SITA AMMAN KOVIL
Nuwara Eliya also is known as Little England for its cool climes, British architecture and natural beauty is also promoted as a sacred city because of its link to the “Rama Seetha” love story. Seetha Amman kovil is dedicated to Seetha, wife of Rama who is believed to be one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu. There are many temples dedicated to Rama and Hanuman, especially in North India, but the Seetha Amman Kovil in Sri Lanka is unique in that it is the only one in the world dedicated to Seetha alone. According to legend King Ravana who ruled the country from Badulla.
kidnapped Queen Seetha. Queen Seetha was married to King Rama of India. Finally, king Ravana went to India and brought queen to seethe to Badulla.
NUWARA ELIYA
As the largest city in the mountains, Nuwara Eliya plays an important role in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Undoubtedly Nuwara Eliya is the most popular health resort in the island and features a blend of colonial charm, modern development and slum areas, inherited from the colonial plantation culture. Nuwara Eliya was an important seat of British colonial administration. It was first developed as a holiday destination in Sri Lanka under the British administration, due to the cool, healing climate.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at hotel and leave for Kandy, En-route visit the tea plantation and tea factory
TEA FACTORY
Visit a Tea Plantation and a Tea Factory en-route. Sri Lanka is famous for its “Ceylon Tea” has added cheers to many the world over for more than a century.
KANDY
A ruled in Kandy up to 1815 although the rest of the island was under the British regime. Finally, it was ceded to them by the Chieftains of Kandy who were disappointed over the king’s cruel deeds. Today Kandy is one of the most important cities owing to the presence of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth of the Buddha.
Visit Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy enjoy a typical Sri Lankan Cultural Show of Drumming Dancing music and fire walking.
TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH
Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala) or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a world heritage site partly due to the temple.
BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Botanical Garden of Peradeniya was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and later made into a Botanical Garden during the British regime. This gardens; one of the best in Asia is a place of beauty and site for bird watchers. Next,
Sightseeing of Kandy including Upper Lake Drive and visit Art and Craft Centers, Udawattakele sanctuary and then proceed to Kandy lake for a boat ride.
KANDY LAKE
Kandy Lake (Boat Rides) Built-in 1807 by King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of Sri Lanka next to the Temple of the Tooth. Over the years it was reduced in size. It is a protected lake, with fishing banned. There are many legends and folklore regarding the lake. One such is that the small island at its centre was used by the Kings helm for bathing and was connected to the palace by a secret tunnel.
THE CULTURAL DANCE SHOW
The Cultural Dance Show. Sri Lanka's culture is so closely connected to dance and drama and no function will be complete without displaying a dance or even a drama. As a multi-ethnic land Sri Lanka boasts of a rich conflux of dance and drama. The two main ethnic groups share two spectacular dance and drama traditions which enrich the fame Sri Lanka has gained in this sphere.
Overnight stay at Hotel in Kandy.
After breakfast leave for Kandy, En-route visit Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala and spice garden.
PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the foster – home of elephants of different age and size feeding, bathing, playing together and even mating. These have been found injured or left abandoned in the wilderness. There are even little baby calves born in captivity.
SPICE GARDEN
Just 25 km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Mawanella spice gardens are among the best on the island. 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. Visitors may buy spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics, taste a herbal brew and in some venues, enjoy the full flavours of Sri Lankan spices over lunch or an Ayurveda massage based on natural products from the garden.
OPTIONAL ELEPHANT RIDE
The Elephant that was the limousine, Bulldozer, War Tank, Status Symbol, Wealth Asset and Domestic pet in the past is today an element that adds colour to pageants or the gentle Giant that gives pleasure rides.
The Elephant Safari Pinnawala (At Village) has become a highlight event to tourist for its excitement and adventure or even for the "Chance of a Life Time" of riding an Elephant.
The Elephant Safari is a ride on an Elephant with a safely secured seat that takes around two hours. The ride takes you on a bund of an ancient lake built for irrigation then through the jungle and even crosses a part of the canal where you could get your feet wet whilst seated on Elephant Back. This is fun never to be missed when in Sri Lanka.
COLOMBO
Colombo city had been a well-known city in the region among the Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Roman traders as early as the pre-Christian era. Sri Lanka is located in the East-West sea route and visited by traders in order to exchange their goods with the local traders. Even though Colombo was a well-known city among the ancient traders 2,000 years ago, the capital city of the country had been Anuradhapura. There was an Arabian settlement in the city of Colombo at the mouth of Kelani River. Arab traders were exporting the goods from the port of Colombo. Goods such as Cinnamon, ivory, gems, elephants were exported by the king of Kotte with the help of Arabs. With the beginning of the British colonial period, Colombo city received a prominent place as the capital of Ceylon. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978 until the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
GALLE FACE
This had been a well-known Racecourse during the British colonial period in the country. This racecourse which located bordering the Indian Ocean had to be abandoned later on due to the Sea crabs, which are making holes in the track. Afterwards it was developed as a promenade for the city dwellers and named as Galle face green. Today Galle face green contains an open theatre, spacious open space for a picnic, sports and walking.
BUDDHIST TEMPLE GANGARAMA
It is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the country. Temple is one of the three places where Buddha visited in the 6th century B.C. well known Kelaniya dagoba is located within the border of the temple. Kalyani River, which flows next to the temple, adds more value for the scenic beauty of the temple. This temple holds a reputation for its attractive wall, which considered being the best painting of the modern Era.
VIHARAMAHADEVI PARK
Viharamahadevi is located in the Colombo 7 or Cinnamon gardens. It is the largest and most popular park in the city. It is believed that there had been a twenty square kilometre cinnamon plantation in the area. Today most of the palaces of wealthy people can be seen in the area and Colombo 7 is the most picturesque part of the city.
WOLFENDAAL CHURCH
The Wolvendaal Church is located In Fort and walking distance from the centre of the city. It has a large collection of tombstones of important Dutch personalities. Fort is made in the highest point of the city and dates back to 1813. The church is built in the Doric style of the period. In the form of Greek cross, with five feet thick walls and the gables raised over. The transepts are roofed with brick barrel arches and a centre dome.
AUKANA BUDDHA STATUE / INDEPENDENCE HALL / PETTAH AND BMICH
Facing the Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall stands a beautifully executed statue of the Buddha in the standing posture. The statue is 36 feet tall and is the largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo. It is a replica of the Avukana Statue on the banks of the Kalawewa Anuradhapura.
CITY & SHOPPING
The City Tour will also include places of Tourist interest such as
Old parliament, Bandaranaike Memorial International, Conference Hall, Buddhist Hindu Temple and Town Hall.
Shopping at
Odel, House of Fashion, Bare foot and etc
Overnight stay Colombo
Breakfast at the hotel and leave for Katunayake international Airport
End of Sri Lanka Tours.......