Private Tour - 'The Essence of Sri Lanka' with Pinnawala, Dambulla, Sigiriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Bentota and Colombo

Itinerary

•   Day 1

  Airport - Pinnawala - Dambulla

  On your arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka,  meet your private car with an expert driver and travel to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Established in 1975 in a 25 acre coconut property adjoining the Maha Oya River the Elephant orphanage takes care of orphan Elephants in Sri Lanka. 

  Enjoy exceptional views of elephants bathing in the river and baby elephants fed by the mahouts and volunteers. The elephants are taken to the river twice a day for a bath. Drive to Dambulla after your visit to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and check in at your hotel in Dambulla. 

  Later, in the afternoon visit World Heritage Site of Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla. The complex consist of more than 80 cave with statues and paintings depicting life of Gautam Buddha. Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

•   Day 2

  Dambulla - Sigiriya - Dambulla

  Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before departing in your air-conditioned vehicle for your excursion to Sigiriya (48 Kms / approx 01 hours drive).  

  Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and most visited historic site in Sri Lanka. On arrival in Sigiriya climb the famous Sigiriya rock and then take a village tour before returning to your hotel in Dambulla. Stay overnight in Dambulla.

•   Day 3

  Dambulla - Kandy

  After breakfast drive in your air-conditioned vehicle to Kandy from Dambulla  (80 kms) . On arrival in Kandy visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a Buddhist temple located in the Royal Palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. 

  Kandy is second largest city in Sri Lanka after Colombo and is home to The Temple of the Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred places of worship and a UNESCO world heritage site. Watch a cultural show also in the evening. Enjoy a night stay at your hotel in Kandy. 

•   Day 4

  Kandy - Ramboda / Kitulgala - Nuwara Eliya

  Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking-out and drive for an hour approx in your air-conditioned vehicle to visit Temple dedicated to Hanuman in Ramboda, according to ancient stories forces of Rama gathered to fight against King Ravana in Ramboda. Later visit a tea factory and tea plantations before proceeding to Nuwara Eliya. 

  You may also choose to travel to Nuwara Eliya via Kitulgala, the wettest place in Sri Lanka and known for its rain forest and as a site for the Academy Award winning film 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' filmed on the river Kelani near Kitulgala. Have fun with river water rafting that takes you along the river for 5 km.

  Visit a tea factory and tea plantations before proceeding to Nuwara Eliya. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya 

•   Day 5

  Nuwara Eliya

  Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Nuwara Eliya, overlooking Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka is a city which literally means "city on the plain (table land)" or "city of light". Located at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) Nuwara Eliya has picturesque landscape and temperate climate and is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. 

  Drive to visit Seetha Amman Temple in the village of Sita Eliya this morning. The place, believed to be the site where Sita was held captive by Ravana, and where she prayed daily for Rama to come and rescue her in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya 

•   Day 6

  Nuwara Eliya - Bentota / Beruwala

  Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking-out and drive in your air-conditioned vehicle to Bentota ( 215 Kms ). Bentota is a beautiful coastal town in Sri Lanka, located in the Galle District of the Southern Province.

  The lovely tropical beaches of Bentota and Beruwala ( Close to Bentota ) makes it ideal for a perfect beach holiday with plenty of sun and sand through out the year. On arrival, enjoy a backwater boat ride in Madhu river, visit a Cinnamon plantation, Kosgoda turtle farm and stay overnight in Bentota or Beruwala.

•   Day 7

  Bentota / Beruwala

  Breakfast at hotel. This day is at leisure for you. With an array of luxury hotels, facilities and amenities, both Bentota and Beruwala serves as the best locations for an extended beach holiday.

  Furthermore, with many water sports opportunities in Bentota, in addition to its pristine palm fringed beaches makes it more pleasurable compared to any other beach in Sri Lanka. Overnight in Bentota or Beruwala.

•   Day 8

  Bentota / Beruwala - Colombo - Departure

  Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Later checkout and proceed to Colombo (85 kms). Colombo is the capital and a bustling city in Sri Lanka.

  On arrival in Colombo your driver will take you on a short orientation tour of Colombo before you depart for Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka on time for your flight back home.