Day No | Time | Day Title | Itinerary | Meal Plan | Night Halt |
1 | 00:00 Hrs | Arrival in Colombo International Airport | Arrival in Colombo International Airport and meet with our representative
Transfer to Colombo – 1 hour drive approximately
Colombo by Jeep afternoon (3 PM) tour of Colombo city covering historical colonial era British built buildings, a Buddhist temple and Pettah market in vintage open top jeeps
Overnight stay in Hilton Hotel Colombo
| | Colombo |
2 | 00:00 Hrs | Colombo-Habarana | Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Habarana. Habarana is a small town in north central province of Sri Lanka and is a good base to explore the heritage sites and it also a very good wildlife destination – 5 hours drive approximately
Afternoon safari in Minneriya National Park from 3 to 6 PM to photograph Elephants who come to drink water in the back drop of large lakes. (Minneriya is very good in the month of July and August as the largest Elephant migration takes place)
Dinner and overnight stay in Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana
| Continental Breakfast | Habarana |
3 | 00:00 Hrs | Habarana | Breakfast at the hotel
Take walk in a typical village near Sigiriya to photograph local village life, lakes, paddy fields, farming fields and village vendors. This is near Sigiriya Rock Fortress. We also go to ancient rock monastery of Pidurangala too.
In the afternoon take a Jungle walk/Nature trail in the Habarana to see lakes, Crocodiles, water monitors, birds, lizards and other wildlife you may encounter. If you are lucky you may even encounter wild Elephants. Followed by a sun-downer on a rock cliff overlooking the dense Habarana jungle sipping local arrack cocktails.
Dinner and overnight stay in Cinnamon Lodge in Habarana
| Continental Breakfast | Habarana |
4 | 00:00 Hrs | Habarana-Kandy | Breakfast at the hotel
Visit another UNESCO World Heritage site of Dambulla Cave Temple, inhabited from 1st Century this largest cave complex is the best preserved cave in Sri Lanka. There are nearly 80 recoded caves in this complex but main attractions are in 5 caves where ancient paintings of Lord Buddha’s life is artistically painted.
Transfer to Kandy – 2 hours drive approximately. Kandy is the most venerated and visited city of Sri Lanka as it houses Lord Buddha’s tooth relic in Kandy Royal Palace, now a temple. Kandy is know the as the capitol of hill country of Sri Lanka.
On the way visit Muthu Mariamman Hindu Temple in Matale
Evening visit Temple of Tooth relic in Kandy during the sermon
Dinner and overnight stay in Grand Kandyan Hotel in Kandy
| Continental Breakfast | Kandy |
5 | 00:00 Hrs | Kandy-Eliya | Breakfast at the hotel
Get on board the scenic train to Ella from Kandy at 8.30 AM. This is a very scenic train route where you could photograph the moving locomotive through tea plantation, villages and forests. The railway line was built by British’s during their colonial days to transport tea harvest to Colombo Port. We suggest you take the 2nd class (non AC) tickets to better experience an authentic train journey. Train is expected to arrive in Ella by 3.15 PM
You will be met by our representative in Ella train station and transfer to Nuwara Eliya – 1 ½ hours drive approximately.
Dinner and overnight stay in Araliya green city Hotel Nuwara Eliya
| Continental Breakfast | Eliya |
6 | 00:00 Hrs | Eliya | Leave to Horton Plains National Park at 5 AM with a picnic breakfast – 1 ½ hours drive approximately. Horton Plains is a very important bio diversity hot spot in Sri Lanka which is very scenic and is vast grassy plains surrounded by a thick sub montane forest (Cloud forest). Horton Plains is also home for scenic Baker’s waterfall. Early morning photos of Samber Deer against a back drop of grassy plains is a nice shot.
Return to Nuwara Eliya
In the afternoon take a walk in Nuwara Eliya town to photograph British built bungalows, buildings in the town, tea estates, and a market followed by visit to a tea factory and estate to photograph tea plucking and producing experience.
Dinner and overnight stay in Araliya green city Hotel Nuwara Eliya
| | Eliya |
7 | 00:00 Hrs | Eliya-Comombo | Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Colombo – 6 hours drive approximately.
Lunch enroute Colombo
Dinner and overnight stay in Colombo.
| Continental Breakfast | Comombo |
8 | 00:00 Hrs | Departure | Transfer to airport for your return / onward flight | | Tour concludes |