Splendours of Sri Lanka
No matter where you’re going from, we take you there
DAY 1: Warm welcome to Sri Lanka at Bandaranayake International Airport by Serenite Lanka.
DAY 2: Arrive Colombo.
On arrival in Colombo you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy an included tour of this bustling city. Highlights include the Ul Alfar Mosque, St Lucia’s Cathedral and the Pettah Bazaar. The remainder of the day is free to explore at your leisure, perhaps taking a stroll along the ocean front promenade. Note: Depending on flight times, sometimes it may be necessary to do the Colombo sightseeing on day 8. (D)
DAY 3: Colombo - Anuradhapura - Mihintale - Sigiriya
Today we travel to Anuradhapura to visit the ruins of Sri Lanka’s one time capital, which dates back to the 4th century BC. Here you will see an array of ancient palaces, temples, stupas and the holy Bo-tree, the oldest recorded tree in the world. After lunch we visit Mihintale and then continue to Sigiriya for two nights. (B, L, D)
DAY 4: Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya
This morning visit the fascinating Sigiriya Rock Fortress or Lion’s Rock, built on by controversial King Kasyapa, as a retreat from his enemies. It is surrounded by a moat and network of gardens and rises majestivally 656 feet above the green forests. Climb to the top for breathtaking views of the beautiful Sri Lankan countryside, and on the way, you will see the famous ‘Cloud Maidens’ frescoes painted on the rock wall. In the afternoon, visit Polonnaruwa and enjoy a sightseeing tour of its ancient ruins, featuring the remains of the Royal Palace, the statue of King Parakramabahu, the Thuparama Image House, and the majestic Buddha statues of the Gal Vihara. (B, L, D)
DAY 5: Sigiriya - Kandy
In the morning you’ll visit the fascinating Dambulla Rock Cave Temple which comprises of five caverns, each amazingly preserved, containing frescoes and statues of the Buddha. Lunch will be taken in Matale en route to Kandy, the cultural centre of Sri Lanka. Tonight, visit a cultural show and be entertained by Kandyan dancers and drummers. (B, L, D)
DAY 6: Kandy
Today, visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are renowned for their collection of orchids, spices and medicinal plants, and the famous Temple of the Tooth, where it is said that the tooth of Buddha is enshrined. (B, L, D)
DAY 7: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya
Enjoy wonderful scenery as you drive up through the mountains to Nuwara Eliya, a little slice of England. The town was a favourite hill station of the British, and has a post office, a golf club, an old race course and even a cooler climate – all straight out of the Home Counties. En route you’ll visit a tea estate and see how tea is manufactured, and your overnight stay will be in a colonial-style hotel. (B, L, D)
DAY 8: Nuwara Eliya - Kitulgala - Colombo (or beach resort)
Today, enjoy an included visit to Kitulgala, the site used for the filming of the famous film ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’, before returning to Colombo for an overnight stay. (B,L) Note: Passengers taking the Beruwela option will transfer to their resort on Day 8.
Accommodation on Tour
Colombo: Ramada Colombo; Sigiriya: Sigiriya Village Hotel; Kandy: Mahaweli Reach; Nuwara Eliya: St Andrews, Grand Hotel or Hill Club.
Note: Tour hotels will be as specified or alternatives of a similar standard.