Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour

05 Days / 04 Nights - Sri Lanka Experience Tour

Day 01 Arrival / Colombo

Meet on arrival at Colombo Airport - Check in at Cinnamon Lake Side Hotel.

NB. Depending on flight arrival time City Tours and itinerary open to change

Afternoon proceed on a sightseeing Tour of Colombo driving through the Commercial area of the " Fort" so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a Fort at this point. Drive passed "Pettah" - a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of Humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques & temples. Visit Hindu temple & drive pass Jumi-UL Alfar Jumma Mosque, Continue the tour through the Wolvendaal Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall. And also visit Gangaramaya Temple and also absolve religious excites – Return to Hotel for Dinner and Overnight stay.

DAY 02 COLOMBO / DAMBULLA / HABARANA / POLONNARUWA / HABARANA

Breakfast at Hotel – Leave for Habarana - En-route visit the Dambulla Rock Temple. Climb up to the temple, which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and the ceiling is the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters

On completion continue to Habarana – Check-in at Chaaya Village 4* – Late afternoon proceed on a sightseeing tour of  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, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, king Parakramabahu's statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya 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

On completion return to Hotel – Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.

DAY 03   HABARANA / SIGIRIYA / MATALE / KANDY

Breakfast at Hotel – Morning proceed 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 meters 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.

On completion leave for Kandy – En route visit a Spice garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

Proceed to Kandy – Check in at Cinnamon Citadel 4* - In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing - Return to hotel for Dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 04  KANDY / PINNAWALA / NUWARA ELIYA

Breakfast at hotel –   Morning Proceed to visit the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela - This orphanage is the home for about 89 elephants, out of which some are baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Also could accompany the elephants to a river close-by and see them having their daily bath.

Afternoon leave for Nuwara Eliya – En-route visit a Tea plantation and a Tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory. 

On completion, proceed to Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort.  Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the world’s best tea.  Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here.  Nuwara-Eliya also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia - Check in at Grand Hotel 4* - Evening leave on a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya - Drive through "Little England” Return to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 05  NUWARA ELIYA / DEPARTURE TRANSFER OR BEACH STAY

Breakfasts at Hotel – End of Tour and leave for Airport or to the Choice of Beach Resort for your extension. Tour Price above includes 2 Nights extension at Jetwing Beach Negombo on a B&B basis.

*Price Quoted includes: Return flights and taxes, 4 nights 4* accommodation on Tour Programme and  Meals included as per Itinerary above plus 2 Nights at the Jetwing Negombo Beach B&B with Transfers. Includes services of an English speaking driver guide, all entrance fees, meet and greet service, air-conditioned transport throughout tour.

VISA REQUIREMENTS IRISH PASSPORT HOLDER

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR IRISH NATIONALS

Irish nationals require passports valid for at least six months on arrival. A visa is required and can be purchased by tourists on arrival for a stay of 30 days. Those who prefer to arrange visas in advance can do so online or at a Sri Lankan embassy. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) can be issued on arrival but can also be filled in prior to travel to Sri Lanka - this can be done online at www.eta.gov.lk. Visas and passports are the sole responsibility of passengers.