Discovery Tours

Classical Ceylon

On arrival clients will be met by Chauffeur Guide / Guide and transferred to Mount Lavinia Hotel. En-route City Tour of Colombo including visits to the Commercial, Residential and Bazaar areas. Colombo - the trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Sri Lanka’s largest city, it is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions' and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of colour. The original traders and settlers - the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and the British have left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankan. Today, Colombo is a fascinating city - a happy blend of east & west, past & present, with a charm of its own. A less known but amazingly true fact is that Colombo has a superb range of high quality restaurants serving food from all over the world and some of the best, shopping opportunities in Asia. The main seaport of Sri Lanka is in Colombo <& adjoining it, is Pettah, a local bazaar & trading area. Other places of interest are the beautiful Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, mosques, the historic Wolfendhal church, (1749) residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo Museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, the New Parliament in Sri Jayewardenepura, the Folk Art Centre, Art Galleries, Parks, Independence Square, the Zoo, the Ceramic Corporation famous for its well known brand ‘Noritake” and ODEL the renowned shopping centre. Overnight stay at Mt. Lavinia Hotel or similar, Mt. Lavinia.

Accommodation

Mount Lavinia Hotel or similar  

2.5

| AC Bed and Breakfast Wi-Fi |

After breakfast leave for Habarana driving through typical village scenery, rice fields and coconut plantations. Afternoon optional to relax in the extensive gardens of the hotel, take a 01 — 02 hour walk on the hotels bird and nature trail or relaxing massage/herbal bath at the hotels Ayurveda “Wellness” centre. Overnight stay at Chaaya Village or similar, Habarana.

Accommodation

Chaaya Wild Hotel, or similar  

2.5

| AC Wi-Fi Bed and Breakfast |

After breakfast excursion to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. 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 plaform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory. Built by King Kashyapa (477495 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. Afterward visit a Batik workshop to watch Sri Lankan girls at the complicated and time consuming home industry of hand made batik. Afternoon excursion to Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital. 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 ParakramaSamudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour. The monuments are relatively wellpreserved 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 ofour 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 Buddhist temples, the Lankatileka and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus bath, the KiriVihareDagaba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights. Overnight stay at Chaaya Village or similar, Habarana. Meal Plan HB After breakfast Proceed to Kandy en-route excursion to Dambulla Rock Caves. Dambulla - located in the north centralprovince this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 01st century BC, is an amazing complex of 05 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 19lh 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. Visiting a Spice Garden en route to see spices growing in their natural habitat. Learn about spices and their use in Sri Lankan cuisine.

Accommodation

Chaaya Wild Hotel, or similar  

2.5

| AC Wi-Fi Bed and Breakfast |

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 eP silver) exquisite silver or goldjewellery and precious gems of many varieties including the world’s best blue and star sapphires. The highlight of the city’s calendar is the EsalaPerahera, when a replica of the casket enclosing the Tooth is taken in procession for ten glittering nights in July/August by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and approximately 100 Elephants. Overnight stay at Chaaya Citadel or similar, Kandy.

Accommodation

Cinnamon Citadel  

2.5

| Wi-Fi |

After breakfast visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. The Botanical Gardens is 147 acres in extent, stated in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Kandy. There are more than 5000 species of tree andplants. Some rare and endemics as well as flora from the tropical World Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourist This is haven not only for Scientist but to every nature lovers as well (02 hours Excursion) Afternoon sightseeing of Kandy including visit to the Temple of the much revered Tooth Relic of the Buddha, Arts & Crafts Workshop, Oriental Market Place, Bazaar and a Gem Lapidary- where clients can see how rough gems (particularly the famous Blue and Star sapphires) are mined, cut and polished using traditional methods. Evening witness a Cultural Show with a display of several ancient and modem dance forms, exorcism and drum rhythms.

Accommodation

Cinnamon Citadel  

2.5

| Wi-Fi |

After breakfast climb in to the scenic mountains passing waterfalls and through Tea plantations to Nuwara-Eliya Nuwara Eliya — Sri Lanka's premier hill resort with a fine bracing mountain climate, NuwaraEliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country, producing some of the world’s best lea. The mountain slopes and valleys art a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. Red or green mfed plantation bungalows, English county style homes and hotels with lovely flower gardens, a fine 18 hole golf course and a racecourse fives NuwaraEliya a decidedly British character. Visit a Tea Plantation and Factory to watch the process of turning the raw green leaf into die familiar black / brown final product, thereafter a walk through die Tea Plantation.

Accommodation

The Grand Hotel  

2.5

| AC Bed and Breakfast Wi-Fi |

After breakfast Descend from the hill country to Yala en-route visit the Elephant Transit Home The Elephant Transit Home which is supported by ‘Born Free Foundation ” at Udawalawe is a must. This facility was established by the Sri Lankan government in 1995 with the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating baby elephants that have become separated from their herd — and then returning them to the wild. This means that the wellbeing of these orphans is the primary objective of the facility, and visitors have to work around the demands of the rehabilitation programme.

Accommodation

Chaaya Wild Hotel, or similar  

2.5

| AC Wi-Fi Bed and Breakfast |

Early Morning Jeep Safari at Yala National Park Yala — Sri "Lanka's most known National Lark 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 Larks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, hut 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 Lark 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 andfresh 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. Afternoon Jeep Safari at Yala National Park

Accommodation

Chaaya Wild Hotel, or similar  

2.5

| AC Wi-Fi Bed and Breakfast |

After break-fast proceed to Galle. Drive along the coast passing golden beaches to be the famous Tarshish of the Bible where King Solomon obtained gems and spices, this “Living” UNESCO World Heritage Site is the port where the Portuguese first landed in Sri Lanka in 1505. Captured and fortified by the Dutch who ruled maritime Sri Lanka in the 17th and 18th centuries, the city still retains the air of old Holland. Within the well preserved 90 acre fort and ramparts built in 1663 are old Dutch churches and monuments with armorial bearings, an imposing crested and monogrammed gateway dated 1669, many well preserved old Dutch houses and narrow alleys still bearing Dutch names. The New Oriental Hotel, built for a Dutch governor in 1684, a colonial gem now converted to the internationally renowned Amangalle Hotel and several other excellent boutique hotels are testimony to the importance of this location.

Accommodation

Tamarind Hill  

2.5

| AC Bed and Breakfast Wi-Fi |

After breakfast Clients will be dropped at Colombo. For any Beach extensions/departure a private transfer will have to be booked.