Cultural Highlights
Duration : 7 DAYS/6 NIGHTS. Period/Dates : 15-APR-06 TO 31-OCT-06
Tour Itinerary
DAY 01: AIRPORT/KANDY
Transfer from airport to Kandy. Overnight stay at Earl’s Regency Hotel.
DAY 02: KANDY/PINNAWALA/KANDY
Breakfast at Earl'S Regency Hotel. Transfer from Kandy to Pinnawala.
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but is soon became a conservation and educational centre. With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawela started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants. The free movement of the herd enhanced the chances for respective individuals of both sexes to get together and mate. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard, and in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawela was born. The success story of Pinnawela has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawela have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawela herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
Transfer from Pinnawala to Kandy.
Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and bazaar, the arts and crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Also visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Thereafter witness a cultural show.
Overnight stay at Earl’s Regency Hotel.
DAY 03: KANDY/ PERADENIYA/ MATALE/ /DAMBULLA/ KANDALAMA
Breakfast at Earl'S Regency Hotel. Transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya.
Peradeniya botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.
Transfer from Peradeniya to Matale.
Visit a spice garden in Matale to see different spices for which Sri Lanka is famous for. Here, clients could see different spices and how some of these spices are grown and processed. Witness a Cookery demonstration.
Transfer from Matale to Dambulla
Dambulla rock temple was built by king Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. It is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. metres of painted walls and ceilings, is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It contains over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock and spanning 14 metres.
Transfer from Dambulla to Kandalama.
Overnight stay at Kandalama Hotel.
DAY 04: KANDALAMA/ POLONNARUWA/ SIGIRIYA/KANDALAMA
Breakfast at Kandalama Hotel. Transfer from Kandalama to Polonnaruwa.
Visit Polonnaruwa, which was the 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and which is a world heritage site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in 'Upright', 'Sedentary' and 'Recumbent' postures carved out of rock could be seen, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of king Parakramabahu, and the Parakrama Samudraya - a lake built by King Parakramabahu the great. There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple, the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Transfer from Polonnaruwa to Sigiriya.
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Transfer from Sigiriya to Kandalama. Overnight stay at Kandalama Hotel.
DAY 05: KANDALAMA/AUKANA/ANURADHAPURA
Breakfast at Kandalama Hotel. Transfer from Kandalama to Aukana.
The Aukana Buddha statue beyond doubt is the most magnificent, undamaged statue in Sri Lanka. It was built in the reign of King Dhatusena in the 5th century and is 39 ft (12 metres) high. The Name "Aukana" means "Sun-eating".
Transfer from Aukana to Anuradhapura.
Visit Anuradhapura. It was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Ceylon. It is the home of two World Heritage Sites. Many places of historical and archaeological interest could be visited. Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo-Tree) was brought as a sapling of the tree under which Prince Siddhartha attained to enlightenment and it is over 2200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. The Brazen Palace (2nd century B.C), the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. Ruwanweliseya (2nd century B.C) is the most famous of all the Dagobas. It originally depicted the perfect 'bubble shape" that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. 'Samadhi' Buddha statue (4th century AD) is one of the most famous statues, depicting the Buddha in a state of 'Samadhi' or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd century B.C) is well known for its rock carvings.
Overnight stay at Palm Garden Village Hotel.
DAY 06: ANURADHAPURA/COLOMBO
Breakfast at Palm Garden Village Hotel.
Transfer from Anuradhapura to Colombo.
Do a city tour of Colombo. Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar - where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH)- an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the People's Republic of China.
Overnight stay at Colombo Hilton.
DAY 07: COLOMBO/AIRPORT
Breakfast at Colombo Hilton.
Transfer from Colombo to Airport to connect the departure flight
Quotation – (U.S. DOLLARS)
Price per person sharing double room for groups of:
2 persons 3 persons
Amount 525.00 480.00
Single Supp 320.00
Compulsory Perahera period supplement in Kandy. (31-Jul to 10 - Aug) US $ 50.00 per room per day
Please Note:
The above rates are nett and include all government taxes.
These rates are subject to change without prior notice in the event government change the tax policy.
Discount for children from 2-12 years sharing parents room |
- : 30% on the per person sharing double room rate |
Discount for the 3rd person sharing a triple room |
- : 10% on the per person sharing double room rate |
(Please note that the extra bed in a triple room will be foldable and rolling bed) |
|
The above prices include :
- Accommodation in standard room on bed and breakfast basis for 6 nights from breakfast on day 2 to breakfast on day 7 at hotels specified or at hotels specified or of similar standard.
- Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle.
- Services of an English Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
Above prices does not include :
- Video and Camera permits.
- Lunch, dinner and entrance fees to places of interest as per the above itinerary throughout the tour.
- Supplement for accommodation in Kandy during Kandy Esala Perahera period. (31-Jul to 10 - Aug)
- Cost of ticket to view the Kandy Esala Perahera which will be held in Kandy
- Expenses of a personal nature.
- Any other services not specified above.
Cancellation Charges
- 5 days or less - 100% cancellation charge.
- Between 5 days and 7 days - 50% or the equivalent of the first two days charges.
- Above 7 days - No cancellation charges provided no commitment or advances are made
to 3rd parties.
Important
The official check-in time at all hotels will be 1200hrs.
The official check-out time at all hotels will be 1100hrs.
Cancellation policy will be applicable for any reduction of rooms after the release period.