Sri Lanka, Colombo
04 Nights / 05 Days
Day 1
Arrival at Colombo - Day Excursion to Kandy
Arrive in Colombo in the morning before 9 am.. You will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-in and relax for some time. Later take a trip to Kandy the garden city of Sri Lanka. Our full day tour of Kandy is a great way to see the city of Kandy and Pinnawala Elephant orphanage. You will be picked from your hotel and drive to to Kandy. Enroute stop at Pinnawala Elephant orphanage where you can see the elephants being raised with great care and affection. You can take pictures of elephants as they take bath at the nearby river. Later continue to Kandy this royal city, sheltered by the hills and looped by the Mahaweli the longest river of Sri Lanka. We will take you straight to the temple of the tooth relic. Later you will visit the botanical gardens of Kandy and spice and fruits market. While visiting Royal Botanical Gardens located at Peradeniya you may like to stop at the University of Peradeniya - the spacious green campus laid out near the banks of the Mahaweli is a must for any visitor to Kandy. Afternoon a drive thru the hills of Kandy and head back to Colombo.
Note: This tour can conducted only if the arrival wll be 9 am.
Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic (Entrance Fee)
Overnight stay at Pegasus Reef Hotel
Day 2
Colombo City Tour
Colombo is the business and commercial center and the new capital is Sri Jayawardhanapura Kotte, only a few miles away. Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbor took place during the British period. Colombo became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1815 after Kandyan Kingdom was ceded to the British. The remains of the buildings during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city. None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kayman’s Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple dating to 6th C.B.C., Davatagaha Mosque, Colombo Museum and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites to be visited. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha in front and the Independence Memorial. Take out time for some shopping before returning back to your hotel.
Overnight stay at Pegasus Reef Hotel
Day 3
Transfer from Colombo to Nuwara Eliya
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel in Colombo before we check-out. We are heading out to Nuwara Eliya, which is a 4.5-hour drive away. While on our way to Nuwara Eliya, we’ll make a quick stop at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage which has become one of Sri Lanka’s most popular attraction. Tourists and locals all love meeting the residents here and interact with the 65 captive elephants who were saved from many situations. Some of them were orphaned and abandoned since babies, others were elderly matriarchs who can’t survive in the wild anymore or adults that had suffered from unethical treatments while in captivity.
We then continue driving through Rambodha before finally reaching Nuwara Eliya, a beautiful city that means the “city of light.” It’s known for the tea produce and the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. Nuwara Eliya earned the title as the “Little England” of Sri Lanka after tea was first brought in here from China. As one of British most iconic drinks, it quickly became the dream city that has been heavily influenced by English architecture. Enjoy a stunning experience as you take in the view of the valleys, waterfalls, and hills, as if you’ve been teleported to England on a beautiful spring day. There are cottages and mansions mimicking Queen Anne features, such as the wide porches and steep roof with huge dormers.
After you check-in at the hotel in Nuwara Eliya, rest up for a bit before we head out again in the evening. The Tea Factory and Tea Plantations are the next destinations we’re visiting to look around the plantations and observe how they process and brew the Ceylon Tea.
We are heading back to the hotel in Nuwara Eliya after looking around the plantation to spend the night.
Overnight stay at Galway Heights Hotel
Day 4
Day Sightseeing in Nuwara Eliya
Enjoy your breakfast today before we set off on our tour of the day. We’re going to Sita Amman Temple as our first destination, a Hindu Temple dedicated to Princess Sita that was also mentioned in the epic of Ramayana. The story goes that Sita was rescued by Rama 5000 years ago and to commemorate her, the temple was built here. Many devotees visit the temple to worship Sita Mata. Visitors are advised to wear modestly when they visit the temple.
Just a kilometer away is the Hakgala Gardens. The Hakgala Gardens is actually five Botanical Gardens as one, and they’re the Royal Botanical Garden, Hakgala Botanical Garden, Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden, and Seetawaka Botanical Garden.
It is the largest garden of Sri Lanka where you can find many tropical and sub-tropical plants when it was previously used for tea cultivations and Cinchona. The Hakgala Gardens also have a history and legend as it is believed that it was gifted by Ravana to Sita as an Ashok Vatika. Hence while the area is called Sita Eliya and you can find a Temple of the Goddess Sita.
We don’t want to miss out on Victoria Park, it’s a public park located next to Nuwara Eliya which was originally the research field for the Hakgala Botanical Garden. It is a beautiful garden that cares for many varieties of flowers and was renamed to Victoria Park in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. There are lakes naturally created by the River Nanu Oya that truly made this place beautiful.
We’ll head back to your hotel after visiting the gardens for your overnight stay.
Overnight stay at Galway Heights Hotel
Day 5
Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo for Departure
After breakfast, we’ll check-out of Nuwara Eliya and head to Colombo. After 5 hours of ride, we’ll bring you to the Colombo Airport in time for your departure flight.Transfer from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo for Departure
Inclusions
Colombo
Nuwara Eliya
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