Exclusive cultural roundtrip to Sri Lanka with UNESCO sites

Highlights of Sri Lanka with private chauffeur guide

7 days / 6 nights

Colombo - Dambulla - Habarana - Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Minneriya Nationalpark - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella - Yala

Itinerary

Day 1 Dambulla and Habarana
On arrival you will be welcomed by your chauffeur guide and transferred to Habarana with an en route visit to Dambulla and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Dambulla – located in the north central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 1st century BC, is an amazing complex of 5 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is a perfect location to view evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of the material from many eras.
Overnight in Habarana Village by Cinnamon (4 star)

Day 2 Rock Fortress of Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa
After breakfast leave the hotel around 8 AM and transfer to the base of Sigiriya and climb the majestic Sigiriya Rock and discover the ruins of a once beautiful royal palace at its summit, a testament to the aesthetic sense and technological prowess of the kings of old. (UNESCO World Heritage site) – (Approximately 4 hours)

Sigiriya – this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory. Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site.

Thereafter in the evening make a visit to Sri Lanka’s second ancient capital Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa – this medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rose to fame as the capital (10th - 12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour. The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite - a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Some of the best examples of the Hindu influence – the Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Budhist temples, the Lankatileka and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus bath, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights.
Return back to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Habarana Village by Cinnamon (4 star)

Day 3 Minneriya National Park, spice garden in Matale and Tooth Relic Temple Kandy
After breakfast at the hotel enjoy a morning game drive at the Minneriya National Park

Minnerriya National Park -As the drought in the Sri Lankan dry zone heightens every year in June and most national parks in the area are parched; there remains only one oasis - "Minneriya National Park". Here too the magnificent Minneriya Tank reduces in size by more than half giving rise to fresh grassland. Abundant grazing land and water draw many herds from the surrounding forests, which converge at Minneriya National Park during the months prior to the rains which are expected in September, resulting in an amazing GATHERING of over 300 elephants. An incredible experience....."

In the afternoon transfer to Kandy en route visit a spice garden in Matale.
Explore and see Sri Lankan spices growing in their natural habitat. Take your own spice trail around the gardens. A guided tour will let you see for yourself the humble origins of the exotic ingredients with which we spice up our lives.
Later take a tour of Kandy including a visit to the much revered Temple of the Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha.

Kandy – a lovely exotic city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which retains an aura of grandeur, time has not affected. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its centre, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens – home to one of the world’s best collections of Orchids. A cultural sanctuary where many legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive, Kandy and its satellite villages are the centre of the islands handicraft industry (items of wood, brass & silver) exquisite silver or gold jewellery and precious gems of many varieties including the world’s best blue and star sapphires.

Drive to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight in Cinnamon Citadel, Kandy (4 star)

Day 4 Nuwara Eliya and tea plantation
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya – Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate, Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country, producing some of the world’s best tea. The mountain slopes and valleys are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. Red or green roofed plantation bungalows, English country style homes and hotels with lovely flower gardens, a fine 18 hole golf course and a racecourse gives Nuwara Eliya a decidedly British character.

Thereafter in the evening visit a tea plantation.
Overnight in The Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (4 star)

Day 5 Train ride to Ella and drive to Yala
After breakfast enjoy a scenic train ride to Ella, the beautiful hill country of Sri Lanka.

Ella is blessed with some of the most beautiful views, you could find in Sri Lanka.
Only 8 km from Bandarawela, this small town is used as a base for plenty of trekking expeditions to the surrounding countryside.
A taste of the breathtaking scenery of Ella could be had, if you just walk into the Garden of the Grand Ella Motel (Formerly Ella Rest House), where you seem to be standing at the edge of the world, and everything around you seems to disappear at your feet. 
Some of the places you could see in Ella are the Ella Gap, Ravana Ella Falls, Little Adam's Peak and Bambaragala Peak among the other many varied pleasant walks with stunning scenery.

Thereafter, proceed to Yala and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.
2 overnight stays in Cinnamon Wild, Yala (4 star)

Day 6 Yala National Park
Enjoy a morning game drive at the Yala National Park.

Yala – Sri Lanka’s most known National Park is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. 97,800 hectares in extent, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. Vegetation is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth while several salt and fresh water lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. Areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide.

Day 7 Departure
Transfer for a beach extension or back to the airport

(*) Clients who would like to combine this tour with a Villa Rental Vacation extention can proceed to their Villa on the afternoon of Day 6 or the morning of Day 7. Kindly check our
Sri Lanka villa portfolio.
We will gladly reserve your flight to Sri Lanka and possibly a hotel stay extention of your choice.

Price includes:
* 6 nights’ accommodation on half board basis in hotels mentionned in itinerary or similar
* All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle.
* The services of an German speaking driver guide
* Entrance fees to ALL the places of interest as per the itinerary
* 1 jeep safari at the Yala National park and 1 jeep safari in Minneriya National Park
* One train ride from Nuwara Eliya to Ella
* 2 water bottels per day

Price excludes:
* Optional tours and excursions.
* Tips and other expenses of personal nature
* Lunch and beverages throughout the tour
* Flights to Sri Lanka

Rate 2024 for a tour based on 4 guests:
Starting from 2,090 EUR per person.

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