Day 1
On arrival at the airport, you will be met by a representative of Jetwing Travels and assisted at the airport and then transferred directly to your hotel in Sigiriya / Habarana.
Afternoon at leisure.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (Standard) or Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya (Superior)
Day 2
After your breakfast at the hotel, visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Sigiriya – is a “UNESCO World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” a visit to Sigirya Rock should be one everyone’s itinerary. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed.
Transfer back to hotel.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (Standard) or or Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya (Superior)
Day 3
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Polonnaruwa ancient city and commence sightseeing.
Polonnaruwa - The Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th -13th Century contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatileke, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest shrine ruins and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankot Vihara and Kiriwehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists.
Later transfer back to hotel, en route enjoy a 4 X 4 jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park.
Minneriya National Park - This National Park is situated in 8889 hectares is famous for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Aside from the wild Elephants there are, Wild Buffalo, Boar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bears, Sambhur, Leopards, Crocodiles, Jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds,78 varieties of butterflies. This safari is the perfect start to your evening.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Lake, Dambulla (Standard) or or Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sigiriya (Superior)
Day 4
After breakfast transfer to Kandy, en route visit the Dambulla Cave Temple.
Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) - is a World Heritage Site. It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka and well worth a visit. Be sure to hire a local Temple Guide (for a few pennies). The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented Caves in the surrounding area. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres.
Arrive in Kandy and check in to your hotel
In the evening watch a cultural show featuring the various dance types of Sri Lanka.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy (Standard) or Earls Regency, Kandy (Deluxe)
Day 5
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a city tour of Kandy which includes Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gadaladeniya, Lankathilake, Embekke and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha’s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess’ hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka’s most prized possession.
Option to visit the Kandy British Garrison Cemetery afterwards - Open for just 50-odd years between 1822 and the mid-1870s, the British Garrison Cemetery holds 195 graves of men, women, and children who succumbed, mostly, to tropical diseases of the time such as malaria, cholera, and heat stroke. If you are fortunate the caretaker of the cemetery, Charles Carmichael will show you around with an illuminating story tour. For some this has been a highlight option and we do not surcharge this visit. It is just around the corner from the Tooth relic. Please let your guide know you would like to visit the Cemetery.
Royal Botanical Gardens - Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees and plants. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue (Royal Palm Avenue) was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seychelles.
Later transfer back to hotel.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Amaya Hills, Kandy (Standard) or Earls Regency, Kandy (Deluxe)
Day 6
After your breakfast at the hotel, head for Nuwara-Eliya and enjoy a half day city tour. En route visit Ramboda Falls.
Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is one of the more temperate places on the Island, the weather like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Anne style mansions.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Blackpool, Nuwara-Eliya (Standard) or Langdale by Amaya, Nuwara-Eliya (Deluxe)
Day 7
After breakfast enjoy a tour of Tea Plantations.
Late transfer back to hotel.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Blackpool, Nuwara-Eliya (Standard) or Langdale by Amaya, Nuwara-Eliya (Deluxe)
Day 8
After breakfast transfer to Yala National Park. Spend the afternoon at leisure.
Early evening enjoy a 4 X 4 jeep safari in the Yala National Park.
Yala (National Park) - the Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938. Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephant, Leopard, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodile, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded including resident and winter visitors.
Later transfer back to hotel.
Dinner & Overnight stay at Cinnamon Wild, Yala (Jungle Chalet) or Leopard Trails, Yala (Tents)
Day 9
After an early breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a morning safari in the Yala National Park.
Later transfer back to hotel.
Evening at leisure
Dinner & Overnight stay at Cinnamon Wild, Yala (Jungle Chalet) or Leopard Trails, Yala (Tents)
Day 10
After your breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport or desired beach resort
PLEASE NOTE: If you wish to go straight back to the airport after the tour the transfer time is approx 5-6 hours
