Day 1: Colombo / Negombo
Arrival at the Bandaranayake International Airport, to be met by our representative and transfer to Royal Oceanic Hotel, Negombo.
Afternoon City tour. Visit the Dutch Fort let, Dutch Church, Dutch Canal, Fish Market, Lagoon with Catamaran boats and other city sites.
Dinner and overnight stay at Negombo.
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Day 2: Pinnawela / Kandy
After breakfast leave for Kandy. On the way at Warakapola turn right and proceed about 05 miles on the Madeniya Estate Road, to Madeniya Junction. From the Bus halt here walk up to Dorawaka Kanda, a distance of about 1-mile. Trek through the paddy fields, Villagers gardens and houses and the rubber plantation all the way to the cave. See the engraving of 51 figures on the cave wall by the pre-historic men who had lived in the caves more than 10,000 years ago. Trek from the cave uphill and to "Galapitamada" town, where the vehicle is waiting for you. Return to Warakapola. After passing Kegalle town visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage to see more than 65 Elephants and some of the 23 baby elephants born in captivity. The best time to see them is at the time of feeding and when all are taken to the river for bathing. Lunch at a Restaurant at Pinnawela.
After lunch proceed to Kandy and at Peradeniya visit the Royal Botanical Gardens to see more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers in the 150-acre Gardens. Walk in the Garden - visit Spice section, 5 Palm avenues, Palm Tree section with more than 150 different species, Ferns and Orchid houses. In the evening visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, to witness the offerings ("Pooja") and then go for a Kandyan Dance Performance. Dinner and overnight stay at Kandy.
Day 3: Kandy / Matale / Dambulla / Sigiriya
After breakfast proceed to Udawattekele Sanctuary. Trek in the Sanctuary looking for birds, trees and plants, large creepers, caves, pool with several species of Kingfishers and Grey Langur, Mouse Deer and other animals. Return to Town. Visit the Kandy market, drive round the lake and visit Wace Park for a superb view of the town. Lunch at the hotel.
After lunch proceed to Sigiriya via Dambulla and Matale. At Matale visit a Spice Gardens to see different kinds of spice trees, plants and creepers and to see a good collection of spices. At Dambulla visit the Buddhist Cave Temples, to see more than 22,000 sq. feet of murals on the walls and ceilings of the 5 caves dating from the 2nd century B.C. up to 18th C. A.D. You could see more than 150 Buddha Statues and statues of Gods & Kings. Dinner & overnight at Sigiriya.
Day 4: Aligala / Kaludiya Pokun
After breakfast proceed to Kandalama and trek in the jungle to Aligala (Elephant Rock) cave. See the 1st C.B.C. cave inscriptions, remains of frescoes, and pillars of old buildings scattered in the jungle. See the large trees and plants, rich and varied bird life and if lucky few wild animals. From Aligala trek through the jungle to Kaludiya Pokuna ruins- a distance of more than 2 kilometers. At Kaludiya Pokuna see the ruins of the monastery complex of the 8 - 9th C.A.D., caves with Pre-Christian period inscriptions, several ponds, remains of paintings in the caves. See also the birds, butterflies and animals in the jungle. Be alert on Wild Elephants who roam the area in the night to enjoy the cultivated lands of Farmers close by. The vehicle will pick you up from Kaludiya Pokuna. Lunch at the Hotel. Afternoon relax at the Hotel. Dinner & overnight stay at Sigiriya
Day 5: Sigiriya
After breakfast visit the renowned 5th C.A.D. Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built by King Kassapa I (473 - 491 A.D). See the Moats and Ramparts, water and boulder gardens, the Mirror Wall with graffiti, remains of the Palace and the most beautiful frescoes of the Ladies.
Walk along the Moat to see some rare birds including, Three-toed Kingfisher, Stork-billed, Pied, and White-breasted Kingfishers, Shahins Falcon, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Shama, Cormorants, Copper smith Barbet, Fish Owl, and other birds. Lunch at the Hotel.
After lunch trek through the jungle with a tracker from the area to Pidurangala Temple. At the temple see the caves with paintings and climb to the rock to see 34 foot Buddha statue in one of the caves. Ponds and remains of two small dagobas on the summit.
Trek back to the vehicle and return to hotel in the evening. Dinner & overnight stay at Sigiriya
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Day 06: Matale - Elkaduwa
After breakfast leave for Elkaduwa via Matale. Visit Matale Alu-Vihara Buddhist Temple dating from 1st C.B.C. See the process of writing on Ola-leaf books and the caves with Buddhist murals.
Lunch at Hotel.
Afternoon walk in the Spice and Tea plantations. Walk up to the waterfalls (175 ft. high) and play golf in the 6-hole, 3-par mini-golf course and bath in the pool.
Dinner & overnight stay at Kandy.
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Day 7: Pattipola - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast drive up to Pattipola and start the trek to Horton Plains, a distance of 6 miles and a climb of about 2000ft. Trek through the jungle and select edible wild berries that are found in the jungle (5 different types) enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area.
Look for Wild Orchids, Red flowered Rhododendron (Rhododendron Zeylanicum) Plants, stunted trees with hanging ' Old man's beard' moss, dwarf marsh bamboo, Strabilenthus or 'Nilu' plants, that bloom once in 10-12 years and all die together, tree-ferns, and many species of endemic and rare Butterflies and Birds, including Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Orange-billed Babbler, Sri Lanka Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Hill Munia, Dull-blue Fly Catcher, Pied Bush Chat, Grey Tit, Zitting Cisticola (Ashy-headed Babbler), Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush (Arrenga) - found near the 'Arrange pool' or at the Baker's falls.
After lunch trekking in the Plains. Climb Totupala-third highest mountain in Sri Lanka (7741 ft).Then enter the National Park and walk (this is the only National Park in Sri Lanka where visitors are allowed to walk) in the Park, along the footpaths made for trout fishing. Trek through the 'Patana' grassland and enter the jungle. See wild animals such as Sambhur (more than 3000 in the Horton Plains), the Bear Monkey (endemic) the Dusky Toque Monkey, two types of jungle Squirrels, the Dusty Striped Jungle Squirrels, the Dusty Striped Jungle Squirrel and the Highland Giant Squirrel, the Leopard, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Rusty spotted Cat, Fishing Cat, Wild Boar and other animals.
Visit the 'World's End' where the escarpment drops 3000 ft. to the 'Nagrak' Tea Estate up to the distant sea, and the 'Little Worlds End'. Trek to Baker's fall.
Kirigalpotta (2nd highest 7857 ft.) is to the Northwest and is more than 5 miles away.
Dinner & overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya.
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Day 8: Adam's Peak
After breakfast leave for Adam's Peak (Delhousie) via Hatton and Maskeliya. On the way see St. Clair (241 ft. high) and Devon (281 ft. high) Waterfalls. Stop at the Tea center (near the fall) for a good cup of tea.
Adam's Peak - All four major religions of Sri Lanka claim Adam's Peak as a holy mountain. Buddhists call the mountain Sri Pada ("the sacred footprint") and say it was visited by Gautama Buddha himself. To Hindus, the peak called Shivan Adipatham ("the creative dance of Shiva") preserves Lord Shiva's footprint. Muslims insist it is the place where Adam first set foot on earth. And Roman Catholics say the footprint impressed in the boulder at the summit is that of St. Thomas, the early Christian apostle who preached in South India.
Dinner & overnight stay at the Nuwara Eliya.
Day 9: Colombo - Negombo
Morning leave for Colombo.
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 Goldsmith's 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. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.
Visit the Mlesna exquisite tea boutique, cashew nut shop, ready made garments and all sorts at Majestic City. Visit the Lanka Ceramics Centre, a place where you can buy "NORITAKE SET" or other ceramic items, visit the Odel shop at Lipton place and' House of Fashion' Then leave for Negombo. Dinner & overnight stay at the Negombo.
Day 10: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.
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