Depart the USA:
International airfare is not included in the tour price, as many wish to use air miles and favorite airlines. You may book your individual air transportation to Sri Lanka or if you wish, we will be happy to assist with your air bookings.

Day 1 - February   2017 (Sun)      Arrival in Colombo  
Arrival in Colombo,Sri Lanka.  You will be met and welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Colombo.
Overnight in Colombo

Accommodations for Tour:  Please note there are two options for hotels on this tour a 4 & 5 star, and  3 & 4 star facilities. These are all listed at the end of the itinerary under Tour Details and Tour Price.

Day 2 - February 2017  (Mon)             Colombo Sights & Nawam Perahera
Late morning enjoy a 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 Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarter in Pettah, the bazaar area, a Hindu Temple, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1794, the historical Davatagaha Mosque.  Also visit Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara (Buddhist Temple) believed to be the site visited by Lord Buddha 2500 years ago.

Evening, view the Nawam Perahera or pageant, a significant event in Colombo.  The Perahera comprises of nearly 100 elephants and more than 5000 dances, drummers, jugglers, musicians and wends its way along the route of the Beira Lake. The perahera is officially inaugurated when the sacred relics are paraded in a gilded casket placed on a majestic tusker, which is elegantly clothed and walks calmly amidst the hive of activity.
Overnight in Colombo  B D

Day 3 - February  2017 (Tue)                  Colombo, Elephant Orphanage & Sigiriya, Dambulla
Morning, leave for the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala.  The feeding of the baby elephants is at 9:00 AM. Then watch as the elephants are herded to the river for their daily bath.
Next we will drive to the city of Dambulla. Later in the day, leave for Sigiriya to climb the 5th century A.D. Rock Fortress.  The vision of a patricidal king named Kasyapa transformed an awesome monolith into a cloud swept city.  The mirror wall, which, protects a series of exquisite murals (frescoes of celestial maidens using natural pigments) and the Lion’s Paw entrance to the ruined palace on the summit are well worth the effort of the ascent.
Overnight in Dambulla    B D

Day 4 - February  2017  (Wed)                  Dambulla / Anuradhapura / Aukana / Dambulla
After breakfast leave for Anuradhapura, the capital of Sri Lanka in the 3rd century B.C.  It is the city of stupas and monasteries, steeped in antiquity.  Visit the oldest historically documented tree in the world.  This is a branch from the Original Peepul or Bo (Bodhi) tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment and has been continuously guarded for over 2000 years.  The tree continues to be venerated today after an unbroken period of 23 centuries.  The ruins of the "Brazen Palace", the twin ponds, the queens’ baths and other relics of a bygone age speak of an ancient grandeur that is almost tangible even today.

Visit Aukana, which is one hour's drive from Anuradhapura which is famed for its magnificent 39 foot rock-cut statue of Lord Buddha, considered one of the finest ancient stone sculpture in Asia.
Evening return to Dambulla.
Overnight Dambulla    B D

Day 5 - February  2017 (Thu)           City of  Polonnaruwa, Habarana / Dambulla
After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa, a former capital of Sri Lanka in the 11th to 12th century. A.D., an obvious South Indian influence on the architecture is noticeable.  The Gal Vihare comprises of four colossal statues of the Buddha carved out of the living rock stand testimony to the skill of master craftsmen.  Visit also the Tivanka Pilimage with its priceless murals and the vast man made lake that is the Sea of Parakrama – a feat of ancient engineering. This afternoon undertake an elephant back safari in the Habarana jungles.
Overnight Dambulla  B D

Day 6 - February 2017 (Fri)                Rock Cave Temple, Spice Garden, Kandy
This morning we will visit the Rock Cave Temple, which is comprised of a series of 5 caverns with ceilings of natural rock covered with intricate paintings.  The natural folds of the rock have been skillfully used to given the illusion of cloth.  Forty eight statues of the Buddha and images of the various deities can be seen inside the cave.

Next leave for Kandy enroute visiting the Spice Gardens at Matale.  Sri Lanka has long been renowned for its spices. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka brought their native cuisines to the island, resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Here you will learn about fragrant clove, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace and pepper, and many other favorites such as chocolate and vanilla.  Sri Lankan people use spices liberally in their dishes.

Kandy was the seat of the Kandyan Kings from the 14th century A.D. and is a repository of Sinhala culture. This afternoon enjoy a city tour of Kandy, the second largest city in the country.  You will drive around the beautiful lake and the upper lake drive.  Visit the Arts and Crafts Center where you can buy Kandyan silver and brass ware, metal work, lacquer work, wood and bone carvings, pottery and hand-woven fabrics.  Demonstrations of artisans at work. 

Evening, view a cultural dance performance by Kandyan dancers and then visit the famous Temple of the Tooth also known as the Dalada Maligawa, one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world.
Overnight in Kandy  B D


Day 7 -  February  2017 (Sat)        Kandy    (B/D)
Morning visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, formerly the pleasure gardens of the Sinhala Queens.  The gardens contain over 4000 species of plants.  The avenue of the Royal Palms, the bamboo fringed Riverside Drive, the Bat Drive with a vast collection of flying foxes who spend the daylight hours hanging upside down, are some of the special features of this lovely garden.  There is also an orchid house, a spice garden, a herb garden and glass house of Anthuriums, Begonias, African Violets and other greenhouse plants.

In the evening visit the Gadaladeniya, Lankatilaka and the Embekke Temples belonging to the 14th century.  Gadaladeniya is built of stone and reminds us of the South Indian influence of the period.  Lankatilaka temple is a magnificent brick building in white and in the shrine room is found a superb seated image of the Buddha.  Embekke temple is famed for its carved wooden pillars with intricate designs.
Overnight Kandy   B D

Day 8 - February  2017 (Sun)      Nuwara Eliya Village & Tea Factory 
In the morning leave for Nuwara Eliya in the heart of the tea country, established by the British as a replica of a little English village reminiscent of the Lake District.  Even today Tudor and Victorian style houses with trim English gardens speak of a gentler age. 
 
An 18 hole golf course and the picturesque lake are a year round attraction.  Tour this unusual little city and en route visit a tea factory where you can see the intricacies that go into the manufacture of the world’s best loved brew.
Overnight in Nuwara Eliya   B D

 Day 9 - February   2017 (Mon)             Yala National Park or Ruhunm National Park Safari
This morning depart for Yala.   Later today enjoy a half day safari at the Yala National Park or the Ruhunu National Park
which is a sanctuary for a variety of exciting wild life.  The Ceylon elephant roams freely here and close encounters are not uncommon.  Leopards, deer, sambhur, wild buffalo, crocodiles and monitor lizards are among the larger mammals that can be observed in their natural habitat.
Overnight in Yala  B D

Day 10 -  March  2017  (Tue)                Galle & the Dutch Fortress, Mask Museum, Southern Beach 
This morning you leave for Galle, the seafarer’s capital, to visit the natural harbor and the Dutch Fortress with its towering ramparts and the mediaeval Dutch buildings. Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by the Portuguese (17th century) in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. Plus the shopping in Galle is great too.

Next we leave for Ahungalla en route visiting the Mask Carving Centre at Ambalangoda.  The city is known for its fine mash carvers. Evening at leisure.  Try a stroll on the beach!
Overnight in Ahungalla.  B D



Day 11 - March  2017 (Wed)               Southern Beach  At Your Leisure
At leisure to enjoy the golden sandy beaches and explore the local villages (on your own – no guide).
Overnight Ahungalla  B D

Day 12 - March  2017 (Thu)               Southern Beach / Colombo / Seeduwa 
This morning we say good bye to the beach and leave heading for Colombo.  En route visit the turtle hatcheries at Balapitiya. Here the tiny turtles are protected and then they return to the sea.  Time is available for your last minute shopping in Colombo.

After picking up those last minute gifts or a last look at Colombo, you will  proceed to Seeduwa, near the International airport.  Here you will have day use of a hotel room until your departure.  Bid your travel companions farewell and transport to the airport.  
Day Room until departure.    B