Tour Program (4 nights / 5 days)
Day 1 :
Meet on arrival & transfer from Airport to Pinnawala
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but is soon became a conservation and educational centre. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawela 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 mate. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard, and in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawela was born. The success story of Pinnawela has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawela have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawela herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
Proceed from Pinnawala to Sigiriya / Dambulla. Overnight stay in Sigiriya / Dambulla.
Day 2 :
Sigiriya to Trincomalee
This part of the east coast is well known is for its beautiful deserted beaches.
Trincomalee is also well known for its natural harbour. At any one point it is only possible to see sections of the magnificent Bay which gives Trincomalee its reputation as one of the finest natural harbours in the world. The British explorer Samuel Baker described Trincomalee thus "few things surpass the tropical beauty of this harbour , lying completely land - locked, it forms glassy lake surrounded by hills covered with the waving foliage of coconut trees and palms of great variety”. The small fishing village of Nilaveli north of Trincomalee is considered to be one of the best beaches in Sri Lanka . The hot springs at Kanniyai are known for their therapeutic qualities and whale watching which is seasonal are the other interesting activities which is possible in Triconmalee. The Koneswaram temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Swamy Rock also known locally as lover's leap are the other interesting attractions to visit.
Rest of the day at leisure – (No Transport), Overnight stay in Trincomalee.
Day 3 :
Trincomalee to Dambulla
Dambulla rock temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. It is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and ceilings, is the largest area of paintings found in the World. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 metres. Thereafter proceed from Dambulla to Matale. 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. Witness a Cookery demonstration. In the evening, witness a cultural show in Kandy. Transfer from Matale to Kandy and overnight stay.
Day 4 :
Kandy sightseeing
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendour 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. 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 from kandy to Colombo. In the afternoon, do a shopping tour. Do a city & shopping tour of Colombo. Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar - where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). Also, visit Noritake, Odel and House of Fashion. Thereafter proceed to Colombo and overnight stay.
Day 5 :
Drop at Colombo Airport.
Proceed from Colombo to Airport for departure to hometown or onwards journey.