| Day No | Time | Day Title | Itinerary | Meal Plan | Night Halt |
| 1 | 00:00 Hrs | Arrive in Sri Lanka – Colombo - Dambulla | Welcome to your Southern Travels Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour. Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by an airport representative and a designated guide. After the formalities at the airport, you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle and then proceed to Kandy.
Proceed to Dambulla. En-route visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: About 90 KM from Colombo towards Kandy is the home to some 100 or more elephant orphans. A place you will really enjoy and never forget. Most orphans are accustomed to their curious human visitors and
are harmless. The Orphanage is open from 8.30am to 5.45pm and visitors can interact
a little with the elephants during the regulated bathing and feeding times. You can watch them feeding at 9.15 am, 1.15 and 5.00 pm. Bath times are from 10 am until 12 noon and from 2 until 4 pm.
Visit Dambulla Cave Temple. - The Dambulla temple has five caves and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasis the artistic talent of ancient days. The history of the caves, rock and temple dates from the 1st century BC. The fascination of these caves is not only the statues but also the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints. Because of the history, archaeological and artistic implications, the premises were declared as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1991. The temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality.
Overnight stay at Dambulla.
| | Dambulla |
| 2 | 00:00 Hrs | Dambulla - Kandy | Breakfast at the hotel. Sigiriya Rock Fortress: Called by many names including “The Lion Rock” for its initial name of “Sinhagiri”, Sigiriya is near the town of Dambulla and is a colossal column of rock nearly 200m high. It was a royal citadel for 18 years (477-495) when it was fortified by King Kasyapa. The architectural and irrigational technologies of Sigiriya, such as the Water Gardens, still baffle engineers. The climb up steep steps of metal with railings passes a wall decorated with frescoes of bare-breasted women. Art experts consider them unique.
Later Proceed to Kandy. En route visit Matala Spice Garden & Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil. Esna Holidays (Private) Limited•www.esnaholidays.com Visit Spice Garden Sri Lanka is world renowned for its valued spices and healing herbs. Our lush spice and herbal gardens feature many important herbs such as Sandalwood, Margosa, Cocoa, Citronella, Almond, Jasmine, and Coconut. When visiting us, make the most of the chance to experience firsthand how cloves, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron are grown in their natural surroundings. At Regent Spice and Herbal Garden, you can learn of their medicinal healing properties and how to use them in your day-to-day needs. Used worldwide in many medicines, the healing powers of spices have been respected from the time of the Pharaohs and Chinese Dynasties, while our herbs are used in Ayurvedic concoctions.
Optional - Later evening experience at the Kandy Cultural Show.
The Kandy Cultural Show gives an opportunity to experience some of the traditions of Sri Lanka. Enjoy this hour-long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Be wowed by fire dancers and sword dancers. Watch the colorful Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming primal beat of the drums.
Visit Kandy Temple - The Temple of the Sacred Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) was originally built by the Kandyan Kings in 1595, to house and honor the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. Attracting crowds of whiteclad pilgrims bearing lotus flowers for means of worship, the Maligawa features a myriad of intricate carvings that speak volumes of the architectural values of Kandy. Today the City of Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in part because of the Temple of the tooth relic.
| Breakfast | Kandy |
| 3 | 00:00 Hrs | Kandy – Nuwara Eliya | Breakfast at the hotel. Explore Kandy City - Start Sightseeing in *Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Crafts Centre, Gem Museum. Kandy the hill capital, venue of the annual Perahera the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
This majestic botanical garden is 147 acres in extent and was started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some which are rare and endemic, as well as flora from the tropical world, are found in the gardens. The Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest, Royal Palm Avenue, was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world, is one such avenue
Then proceed to Nuwara Eliya. En route to visit Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple.
Sri Bhaktha Hanuman Temple: According to the legend, this is where Hanuman searched for Sita in the jungles above and behind the temple. There is also said to be a pond - the ‘Sita Tear Pond' - here, which was formed from Sita's tears. The temple itself is one of the more enterprising establishments devoted to this legend and contains a granite statue of Lord Hanuman that is said to be over 40 feet tall. It is believed that Lord Hanuman was searching for Sitadevi from these hills of Ramboda. The Ramboda area is believed to be an area where Rama's forces were gathered against Ravana.
Visit Seetha Amman Temple
Seetha Amman temple the stream that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashok Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. About a century ago of three idols was discovered in the stream, one of which was that of Sita. It is believed that the idols have been worshipped at this spot for centuries. Now there is temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that footprints akin to Lord Hanuman's are found by this river and some are of small size and some are of large size, which tells us of the immense powers of hanuman transforming himself into any size.
Later evening explores the City of Nuwara Eliya.
Visit the highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old redbricked post office as you purchase a postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park and on the shores of Lake Gregory. On completion, check into the hotel and relax.
Overnight stay at Nuwara Eliya.
| Breakfast | Nuwara Eliya |
| 4 | 00:00 Hrs | Nuwara Eliye - Bentota | Breakfast at the hotel. En route cover Devon waterfalls, St Clair waterfall & Kitulgala Water rafting. Optional - White water rafting Boasting about adventure sporting, Kitulagala is a town located West of the road from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. It's a town located in amid tickly forest hills. It has been once a filming place for David Lean's 1957 Oscar-winning epic "Bridge on the River Kwai" on the banks of Kelani River. Most visitors for the adventure sporting are from Colombo. The Kitulgala's main attraction is White water rafting where you can ride the tides of Kelani River. Other than that it's popular
for sports like confidence jump, Stream Sliding, Waterfall abseiling, and Jungle trekking. Bird watching and cave exploration and finally river trips and expeditions. After that proceed to Bentota. Check in to the hotel and relax
Overnight stay at Bentota.
| Breakfast | Bentota |
| 5 | 00:00 Hrs | Bentota | Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Balapitiya for a Boat Safari at Madhu River.
Madu River Ride - Enjoy a scenic cruise along the Madu River, a relaxing trip with plenty of interesting stops. You pass dozens of islets forested with mangroves and can appreciate the timeless natural rhythms of rural life. You cruise in canopies, outboard motors powered boats, en route take in the view of a 200-year-old temple and watch the local’s cultivating cinnamon. You may also see traditional fishing techniques in action and can view demonstrations of coir manufacture and rope making. You can also see 46 species of birds reside in the area including 14 aquatic varieties. You will also spot huge water lilies and colorful butterflies.
Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project ("KSTCP")
Dudley Perera's project has been underway since 1988. The main aim of the project is to monitor local sea turtle activity and conserve the local nesting sites. We aim to make the public more aware of how endangered these beautiful creatures are and just how important it is to help protect them before it is too late. One of the most important activities of the project is its hatchery. Within the sanctuary of the project, collected and rescued eggs can hatch safely away from predators before being released into the sea at night-time. In addition, a certain number from each hatching are kept back for a short period for 'headstarting' before release. The hatchery program is designed to maximize the number of hatchlings reaching the sea and surviving through the critical stages of their early life. Only a few hatchlings from each batch will ever make it to adulthood. Therefore, every nest-ground, every egg, every hatchling, and every turtle is crucial to the survival of the species. Unfortunately, sea turtles face many dangers.
Overnight stay at Bentota.
| Breakfast | Bentota |
| 6 | 00:00 Hrs | Bentota – Colombo | Breakfast at the hotel. Explore the City of Colombo - The city tour of Colombo a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens, Visit Fort, the former British administrative centre and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmiths quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square.
Evening Start Shopping in Colombo - The 5-hectare ribbon of beach stripe, the Galle face green is now the largest open space in Colombo that attracts hundreds of tourists and locals alike. Cotton Collection, House of Fashion and Odel, the largest departmental store in the island offers you stylish clothes to cute souvenirs with elegant Sri Lankan touch, also Beverly Street, visit bargain market in Colombo Pettah, Visit Noritake Showroom, Barefoot, Laksala, One Galle Face & Colombo City Center.
Night Life – Casino drop only will be provided. Overnight in Colombo.
| Breakfast | Colombo |
| 7 | 00:00 Hrs | Bentota to Airport | Today you will be transferred to Airport for your flight back home. We trust that you enjoyed your Vacation. Please do give us your valuable suggestions on feedback@southerntravels.in. | Breakfast | Tour Concludes Here... |