Luxury Serene Sri Lanka Holiday

Day 1 : Arrive Kandy

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by an airport representative. After the formalities at the airport, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle and then proceed to Kandy. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage About 90 KM from Colombo towards Kandy is the home to some 100 or more elephant orphans. A place you will really enjoy and never forget. Most orphans are accustomed to their curious human visitors and are harmless. The Orphanage is open from 8.30am to 5.45pm and visitors can interact a little with the elephants during the regulated bathing and feeding times. You can watch them feeding at 9.15 am, 1.15 and 5.00 pm. Bath times are from 10 am until 12 noon and from 2 until 4 pm. Later proceed for Spice Garden. Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine, and Coconut. When visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience first-hand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings.

At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden, you can learn of their medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day-to-day needs. Used worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurvedic concoctions. Check into the hotel. Overnight stay in Kandy.

 (Note: Standard check in time is 1400 hours, will request for early check in.

Day 2 : Kandy

Breakfast at the hotel. Today procced for Kandy City Tour. Start Sightseeing in Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Crafts Centre, Gem Museum. Kandy the hill capital, venue of the annual Perahera the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya. This majestic botanical garden is 147 acres in extent and was started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some which are rare and endemic, as well as flora from the tropical world, are found in the gardens. The Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest, Royal Palm Avenue, was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world, is one such avenue. Later Kandy Temple. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) was originally built by the Kandyan Kings in 1595, to house and honor the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. Attracting crowds of white-clad pilgrims bearing lotus flowers for means of worship, the Maligawa features a myriad of intricate carvings that speak volumes of the architectural values of Kandy. Today the City of Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in part because of the Temple of the tooth relic. Return to the hotel. Overnight Stay & Dinner at Hotel. 

Day 3 : Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out from the hotel. Then proceed to Nuwara Eliya. En route to visit Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple. According to the legend, this is where Hanuman searched for Sita in the jungles above and behind the temple. There is also said to be a pond - the ‘Sita Tear Pond' - here, which was formed from Sita's tears. The temple itself is one of the more enterprising establishments devoted to this legend and contains a granite statue of Lord Hanuman that is said to be over 40 feet tall. It is believed that Lord Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi from these hills of Ramboda. The Ramboda area is believed to be an area where Rama's forces were gathered against Ravana. Tea Production. The production of tea involves a tedious procedure of plucking, withering, rolling, oxidizing and drying – a process that requires heavy machines and plenty of manpower. Once in the tea factory, you would generally start out in the plantation itself to learn about how tea is cultivated, then visit the factory where ancient machines pre-dating the industrial revolution wither, roll and dry the tea. There is normally a little time at the end of the tour for a tea tasting, either of one specific type of tea or occasionally of the various specialties of that factory. Visit Seetha Amman Temple. Seetha Amman temple the stream that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashok Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. About a century ago of three idols was discovered in the stream, one of which was that of Sita. It is believed that the idols have been worshipped at this spot for centuries. Now there is temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that footprints akin to Lord Hanuman's are found by this river and some are of small size and some are of large size, which tells us of the immense powers of hanuman transforming himself into any size.

Later evening explores the City of Nuwara Eliya. Visit the highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old red-bricked post office as you purchase a postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park and on the shores of Lake Gregory. On completion, check into the hotel and relax. Dinner & Overnight Stay in Nuwara Eliya Hotel.

Day 4 : Nuwara Eliya – Yala

Breakfast at the hotel. Train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.1192 Train Ride: The train trip to Ella is not only taken by tourists but by locals themselves. This isn’t just a tourist attraction, it’s life for the people of Sri Lanka. The lush green hills are purely breathtaking. The train takes you high into the mountains, through dense forest & vibrant green tea fields, over bridges, through tunnels, local villages and beside smiling faces. If you look closely every so often, you’ll notice the colorfully dressed ladies pop their heads up amongst the tea fields as they carry on with their work. The stations are old & the trains are even older, but this adds to the journey. It adds so much character! On arrival to Ella, your chauffer will pick you up. Ella is a small mountain village near Bandarawela and boasts three locations linked to the Ramayana where local legend claims Ravana was hiding Sita. First there is the Ravana Ella Cave, located at the massive Ella Falls a breathtaking 1080 feet high waterfall that cascades into several falls. The rocky undergoes of the waterfall is Khondalite, a kind of limestone which undergoes faster decay as hard gneiss or granite. This has resulted in many caves being formed near the falls. King Ravana is said to have lived in one of the caves above the waterfall. A nearby pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters is where Sita is said to have bathed Ravana. Visit Flying Ravana Zip Line. The two-wire zip-line stretches for more than half a kilometer, slides at a maximum speed of 80kmph, and offers a bird’s-eye view of the beautiful hills of the island. Get on board at Mini Adam’s Peak and fly over iconic tea estates and lush greenery overlooking the famous Ella Gap. Visit Nine Arch Bridge, Ella. Nine Arch Bridge is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country. The construction of the bridge is generally attributed to a local Ceylonese builder, P. K. Appuhami, in consultation with British engineers. The chief designer and project manager of the 'upcountry railway line of Ceylon' project was D. J. Wimalasurendra, a distinguished Ceylonese engineer and inventor. The designer of the viaduct was Harold Cuthbert Marwood of Railway Construction Department of Ceylon Government Railway. The 1923 report titled "Construction of a Concrete Railway Viaduct in Ceylon" published by the Engineering Association of Ceylon has details of all the records including the plans and drawings.
Visit the Ravana Waterfall. The Ravana 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 area 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 at Ella. After that proceed to Yala. Check in to the hotel. Dinner & Overnight Stay at Yala Hotel.

Day 5 : Yala - Galle

Breakfast at the hotel. Yala National Park Safari. (Morning Safari). The Park is situated in a dry semi-arid climaticregion and rain is received mainly during the northeast monsoon. Yala hosts a variety of ecosystems ranging from moist monsoon forests to freshwater and marine wetlands. It is one of the 70Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Sri Lanka. Yala harbours 215 bird species including six endemic species of Sri Lanka. The number of mammals that have been recorded from the park is 44, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world. Yala National Park is the most visited and second- largest national park in Sri Lanka.
After that proceed to Galle. Explore the Galle Fort Galle is a historical jewel to Sri Lanka and wonderful to explore on foot. Among the endlessly exotic old trading port blessed with imposing Dutch-colonial buildings, ancient mosques and churches, grand mansions and museums the ancient Dutch fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts the hearts of tourists. Stroll around the ancient city where you will find a gourmet of fancy restaurants and coffee shop to chill and relax. The beach side is surely bliss which will make you want to lock yourself up in this sun-kissed island and indulge in the sea breeze and endless blue waters. Check in to the hotel and relax Dinner & Overnight Stay at Galle Hotel.

Day 6 : Galle

Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning proceeds to Mirissa for Whale Watching. (Whale Watching starts at 06 am) South coast of Sri Lanka, the jewel in the Indian Ocean, swims the majestic blue whale, the largest creature on earth. Nowhere in the world is it possible to see these ocean giants so close to shore. Your whale watching guide will talk to you about the whale experience in Sri Lanka, the marine lifestyle, the conservation of the same and help you see these creatures in the wild as they are meant to be seen. Keep in mind that you are not allowed to snorkel or swim with the whales without prior permission. Such can be obtained only on special requests. We are unable to guarantee the approval for this. Mirissa is one of the most popular beach destinations in southern Sri Lanka, and for a good reason! The area has it all, beautiful Sri Lankan beaches, great waves for surfing, and waters teeming with marine life, from turtles to big blue whales. Spend your days enjoying fresh coconuts in your hammock, eating delicious food from beachside restaurants, and zooming around by motorbike. Four days is the perfect amount of time to absorb the laidback culture of this sunny beach town, enjoying all the top things to do in Mirissa.

 Visit Coconut Tree Hill. Coconut Tree Hill is one of the most Instagram Mable spots in Sri Lanka and one of the top things to do in Mirissa. The private coconut farm is just a 15-minute walk from Mirissa Beach and offers some of the best views in the area. once you reach the top of the hill, the headland stretches out ahead of you, allowing you spectacular views over the ocean through the many leaning palm trees. We recommend when there are fewer people around. Return to the hotel & Relax. Dinner & Overnight Stay at Galle Hotel.

Day 7 : Galle – Bentota

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Balapitiya for a Boat Safari at Madhu River. Madu River Ride - Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Madu River, a relaxing trip with plenty of interesting stops. You pass dozens of islets forested with mangroves and can appreciate the timeless natural rhythms of rural life. You cruise in canopies, outboard motors powered boats, en route take in the view of a 200-year-old temple and watch the local’s cultivating cinnamon. You may also see traditional fishing techniques in action and can view demonstrations of coir manufacture and rope making. You can also see 46 species of birds reside in the area including 14 aquatic varieties. You will also spot huge water lilies and colorful butterflies. Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project Dudley Perera & project has been underway since 1988. The main aim of the project is to monitor local sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites. We aim to make the public more aware of how endangered these beautiful creatures are and just how important it is to help protect them before it is too late. One of the most important activities of the project is its hatchery. Within the sanctuary of the project, collected and rescued eggs can hatch safely away from predators before being released into the sea at night time. In addition, a certain number from each hatching are kept back for a short period for & before release. The hatchery program is designed to maximize the number of hatchlings reaching the sea and surviving through the critical stages of their early life. Only a few hatchlings from each batch will ever make it to adulthood. Therefore, every nest-ground, every egg, every hatchling, and every turtle is crucial to the survival of the species. Unfortunately, sea turtles face many dangers. 

Day 8 : Bentota

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we proceed for Water Sports at Bentota (Jet Sky + Banana Boat+ Tube Ride). Dinner & Overnight Stay at Bentota Hotel.

Day 9 : Bentota - Colombo

Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the City of Colombo. The city tour of Colombo a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens, Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmiths quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square. Evening Start Shopping in Colombo the 5-hectare ribbon of beach stripe, the Galle face green is now the largest open space in Colombo that attracts hundreds of tourists and locals alike. Cotton Collection, House of Fashion and Odel, the largest departmental store in the island offers you stylish clothes to cute souvenirs with elegant Sri Lankan touch, also Beverly Street, visit bargain market in Colombo Pettah, Visit Noritake Showroom, Barefoot, Laksala, One Galle Face & Colombo City Center. Dinner at an outside restaurant.

Night Life – Casino drop only will be provided. A few years ago, Colombo was lacking in a variety of nightlife. Recently, however, a rash of nightspots has popped up in a short space of time giving everyone who likes to indulge in such activities, more options. Although there are several nightclubs and bars catering to young adults, those with live bands (mostly of excellent standard), are very popular with a more mature clientele. Check into the hotel & relax Overnight Stay at Colombo Hotel. 

Day 10 : Colombo – Airport

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to the Airport for your departure flight back home with all the memories you had on this beautiful island.