GalleWing Holidyas - Tour With Us - Have a Great Holiday in Sri Lanka

Tour Itinerary

Day 01- AIRPORT/COLOMBO

Arrival at the BANDARANAYAKE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT KATUNAYAKE, Welcome by Agency Representative
Transfer to HILTON COLOMBO in Air-Conditioned Car with English Speaking Chauffeur Guide
Arrive at COLOMBO Check-in at HILTON
Rest of the day free

Overnight at HILTON COLOMBO

HILTON COLOMBO - Faces the old Ceylon Parliament Building and the adjacent Colombo World Trade Centre. Hilton Colombo in Sri Lanka is built on a spacious site centrally located in the prestigious Echelon Square complex business centre in Colombo. Overlooking Beira Lake and the Indian Ocean seafront of Colombo on one side and Colombo harbour on the other. The Hilton Colombo is set within walking distance to the Fort, which is the commercial nerve center of Colombo. The hotel is close to the city centre yet detached from the hustle and bustle of city life. <More Info - Colombo Hotels >

Day 02 – COLOMBO STGHT SEEING

Breakfast at the Hotel
City Tour of City visits to include:
COLOMBO
- The Fort and The PETTAH
- The HINDU KOVIL in Sea Street
- The SEEMA MALAKAYA Temple
- The INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
The KELANIYA BUDDHIST TEMPLE where Lord Buddha is believed to have graced KELANIYA on his third visit to the Island; the serenity prevailing here is of great significance to most visitors.
SHOPPING visits - ceramics corporation showroom and Colombo’s Lifestyle store ODEL. and Barefoot
Overnight at HILTON COLOMBO

Day 03 - COLOMBO / PINNAWALA / DAMBULLA

Breakfast at the Hilton
The Tour commences from COLOMBO
Proceed on Route A1 in the direction of KANDY, travelling via Pineapple and Cashew Country.
Stop-by at a fruit vendor and taste the juicy pineapple peeled and sliced right in front of you!
Continue onwards not missing to tarry a while by the colourfully attired damsels in the varied cashew stalls by the roadside.
Visit PINNAWALA The Elephant Orphanage - a novel concept set up is to save abandoned and orphaned wild elephants, which is indeed the most popular “elephant attraction” in Sri Lanka.
Controlled by their keepers, bottled fed at the right times, these Baby Giants of the Jungle endanger no one - a rare place indeed, where you meet over 50 young elephants - some of them so young and small, where an elephant may step on your foot but you might walk away with only a smile!
This is a heart-warming experience. Meal times are very interesting with the really small baby elephants guzzling down many huge bottles of milk.
Continue to SIGIRIYA - Proceed via RAMBUKKANA through KURUNEGALA to arrive in DAMBULLA
Comfort stop - at the town of KURUNEGALA at a Restaurant
Visit DAMBULLA

DAMBULLA - The Rock Cave Temples - some dating back from 500 BC to 1400 AD, where the story of Buddhism unfolds in stone, wood and mud The way to the summit of this rocky mountain of caves is as fascinating with the many monkeys that one may encounter.

Proceed to SIGIRIYA
Overnight at KANDALAMA HOTEL or SIGIRIYA VILLAGE HOTEL

KANDALAMA HOTEL - Tropical jungles, calm waters and the rocky mountain countryside of Kandalama, occupying a most unique site in the cultural triangle's heartland, is surrounded by rocky outcrops, lakes and forests, and is home to a variety of indigenous birds and wildlife.

SIGIRIYA VILLAGE - located almost on the foot of the Sigiriya Rock, surrounded by virgin jungle is a cluster of exquisitely designed luxury earth-toned cottages, decorated with the themes of the rustic village life. A well-equipped and comfortable property

Breakfast at the Hotel
‘Elephant Safari’ - One-hour trek in the jungles of HABARANA on elephant back - an exiting interlude.
Onwards to POLONNARUWA Travel via GIRITALE to POLONNARUWA - the medieval capital of Sri Lanka.
Site-Seeing Visit :
POLONNARUWA
- The ROYAL PALACE - carved prince's bathing pool
- The VATADAGEYA - the circular relic-house with four seated Buddha
- The GAL POTHA - the stone book with intricate writings
- The GAL VIHARA - the group of Buddha images
All visits in POLONNARUWA may be by bicycles if so desired
Visit to MEDIRIGIRIYA - 1300-year-old temple site of Mandaligiri Vihara. The circular relic temple here, dating from the 8th century AD, is similar in architectural style to the Vatadage at Polonnaruwa
Return to SIGIRIYA - part-way along the route travelled and de-tour via a jungle track to SIGIRIYA
Overnight at KANDALAMA HOTEL or SIGIRIYA VILLAGE HOTEL

Breakfast at the Hotel
Proceed via KEKIRAWA toAUKANA - an image of the Buddha, a colossus carved out of living rock, supposedly around the year 500 AD. This exquisitely sculpted image of the 12 metre high standing Buddha called Aukana meaning "sun-eating" is best viewed in the morning. One of the more interesting facets of this work of art of a by-gone era is that although the statue is narrowly joined at the back to the Rock face, the lotus plinth on which it stands is altogether a separate piece of artistry.
Proceed to ANURADHAPURA - The most ancient Capital of Sri Lanka, founded in the 5th century BC - well known even before the advent of Buddhism. Here is found the largest number of ancient monuments of a great civilization that flourished in this region.
Visits may include:
- The RUWANWELISAYA DAGOBA with its famous elephant wall
- The THUPARAMA DAGOBA, The ABEYAGIRI and the JETAWANARAMA DAGOBAS
- PILLARS BRAZEN PALACE which once had nine stories
- SAMADHI BUDDHA a fine piece of Buddhist sculpture
- THE ISURUMUNIYA ROCK TEMPLE, with its rock carvings of the famous 'lovers' and the 'elephant' and the 'horse and rider'
- The TWIN PONDS – another piece of magnificent design
  magnificent indeed is its sculpture.
If time permits
Visit MIHINTALE - 12 KM east of ANURADHAPURA to MIHINTALE - a forest clad mountain, sacred to the Buddhist because it was on this summit that a great Bhikshu (monk), MAHINDA, son of Emperor Asoka of India - preached the first sermon on Buddhism to the then king of ANURADHAPURA - king Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BC. As a dedication to this
memorable event shrines and monuments were built on this sacred mountain - with a remarkable stairway leading up - made of 1540 granite slabs - arranged in four flights - popularly known as 'the stairways to heaven!'
Back to the Hotel
Overnight at KANDALAMA HOTEL or SIGIRIYA VILLAGE HOTEL

Day 06 - SIGIRIYA / MATALE / KANDY

Breakfast at the Hotel
ClimbSIGIRIYA ‘The Rock Fortress in the sky’ is a huge rock out-crop that arises almost sheer to a height of nearly 200 metres, the only known work of Sinhala secular paintings survive here: the frescoes of life-size "heavenly maidens of SIGIRIYA” in all the freshness and delicacy of their original colours.
Proceed to MATALE- visit a Spice Garden. Follow a conducted tour of the spice plantation where cinnamon, cardamom, the pepper creeper, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, and turmeric and almost of other spices, some of which indigenous to Sri Lanka will be introduced.
Visit ALUVIHARA - Where the Buddhist Scriptures were written in ‘Pali’ in around the 1st century BC.
Continue to Kandy - Travel through MATALE and proceed on to KANDY
Arrive at KANDY
Check in at HOTEL
Overnight at MAHAWELI REACH HOTEL or EARLS REGENCY HOTEL

Day 07 - KANDY

Breakfast at the Hotel
Visit The Royal Botanical Gardens with its many beautiful avenues dotted with floral plants providing a burst of tropical trees, the attraction of the Orchid House with over 300 rare, indigenous, natural and hybrid varieties.
Visit of Temples visit the Temples of LANKATHILAKA, GADALADENIYA andEMBEKKE
- LANKATHILAKA with an image house and paintings of the Kandyan period.
- GADALADENIYA - a Buddhist Shrine with a Hindu Devale
- EMBEKKE - an architectural masterpiece of the period of the Kandyan Kingdom.
Evening visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth of Lord Buddha and participate in the "POOJA" ceremony
Attend a Cultural Performance with KANDY Dancers and Drums.
Overnight at MAHAWELI REACH HOTEL or EARLS REGENCY HOTEL

Breakfast at the Hotel
Proceed on to the Upper-lake drive for a picture post card View of the KANDY city
Train Journey - Proceed to the KANDY Railway Station and take train to NUWERAELIYA Proceed by train via scenic country through some small villages passing by old and colonial railway stations and enter the hill country where the train slows down for the climb winding its way through scenic country and miles of tea plantations spread over like green carpets. <More Info >
De-train at NANU OYA where the Car and driver awaits for the 8 kilometre journey to NUWARA ELIYA - Little England – the hill station of British times located in the heart of the tea country with an year-round spring climate is yet reminiscent of the days of the British times. The lovely English styled houses, the colonial styled hotels and the fine 18-hole golf course add charm to this ‘City of Lights’
Proceed to a TEA FACTORY - Tea, the cornerstone of the Sri Lanka economy is manufactured in multi-storied Tea Factories; study the difference of the high-grown, and low-grown teas, and their subtle flavours, the secrets of names such as Broken Orange Pekoes (BOP) and Fanning, and all this directly from the Tea Maker himself, who is the master brew-man responsible for the process by which the "two-leaves and a bud" brings you the "cup that cheers"
Arrive at NUWERA ELIYA
Overnight at TEA FACTORY HOTEL or ST ANDREWS

TEA FACTORY HOTEL - A hotel of character set in an emerald teascape is 6,800 feet above sea level, In the mountain range, the hotel began as a factory built in the days of the British Raj. It has been converted so that much of the original style and machinery remains, a reminder of the past in perfect blend with innovations of the present.

ST. ANDREWS HOTEL - cradled amidst misty mountains and tea gardens, this large Tudor-style colonial mansion is over hundred years old. With over 50 cosy and spacious rooms with its antique four-poster beds, chintz cushions and drapes, and large picture windows is indeed reminiscent of a little bit of England.

Breakfast at the Hotel
Early AM Excursion to HORTON PLAINS - The Jeep trip commence from NUWARA ELIYA proceeding Along rough terrain, but genuinely natural surroundings to the 3125 hectares

HORTON PLAINS - indeed a place of eye-catching scenic beauty. On arrival at the entrance to this undulating plateau over 2000m high, the trek begins through the beautiful, silent and strange world of HORTON PLAINS; trek along the footpaths along refreshing, cool and clear streams and ponds, Proceed along to WORLD'S END where you see the most famous, wesome and stunning feature, where the southern HORTON PLAINS come suddenly to an end, and drop almost straight down to 700m.

Back to Hotel
Proceed to BANDARAWELA - travel through hill country roads to BANDARAWELA
Arrive at BANDARAWELA
Overnight at KIRCHHAYN BUNGALOW

KIRCHHAYN BUNGALOW - A beautifully maintained five roomed villa in the midst of Tea Gardens in the Hills with its manicured slopes of expansive green lawns, is extraordinarily evocative of the old ways of life of the British planting days. Breakfast on the veranda with the scenery of Tea Pluckers in the distant fields, dinner in the Candlelit Dinning Room and after dinner Coffee in the Drawing Room is indeed an experience to be remembered for long.

Breakfast at the Bungalow
Proceed to RATNAPURA continue through changing terrain via HAPUTALE, BALANGODA,PELMADULLA to RATNAPURA
Special visit to a “GEM PIT” and see the operation as to how the gemstones of Sri Lanka are excavated, very often in primitive ways, digging deep into ground, and cutting through horizontally until ‘vein’ of the gem mine is found. Be prepared for the roadside vendors of precious gems and not so ‘precious’ trying to help you make a bargain, more often than not making only a bargain for themselves!
Proceed to KALAWANA for the overnight stay
Overnight at BOULDER GARDEN - (A rock Cave concept)

BOULDER GARDENS - Kalawana , a paradise for nature lovers that offers both nature and luxury enlivened by understanding and nature oriented staff. Located in idyllic and unspoiled surroundings on south western lowlands of Sri Lanka, this spell bounding destination offers a series of Eco-related activities.

Day 10 - KALAWANA / SINHARAJA / BENTOTA

Breakfast at the Boulder Gardens
Proceed to SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST - a world heritage site as declared by UNESCO, is a primeval forest. This is a 2/3 hour diversion but an absolutely profitable visit in the midst of nature surrounded by dense, dark and lush jungle. Part jeep journey along rough terrain up to the entrance of main Forest Reservation. From there the trek begins accompanied by a Naturalist. Walking along jungle pathways in the serenity and tranquility through virgin forests under the canapoy of giant and lofty trees. Virtually being one with the nature.
Return to Hotel for Refreshments
Proceed via MATUGAMA through low-grown tea country and Rubber Plantations and travel onwards to arrive at the Beach in BENTOTA
Arrive at BENTOTA - Check in at Hotel
Rest of the Day Free on the Beach
Overnight at TAJ EXOTICA HOTEL or EDEN RESORT & SPA

TAJ EXOTICA HOTEL - Perfectly located on gentle rise shaded by slender palm trees, overlooking the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean beside the long golden stretch of Bentota beach. This Luxury beach resort is a paradise of fine accommodation set in carefully tended gardens around a glistening water pool.

EDEN RESORT & SPA - Beautifully landscaped modern 5-star hotel catering for the discerning traveller. The resort nestles in five acres of tropical gardens fronting the “golden mile” of Beruwela beach on the Indian Ocean and offers a wide selection of activities and facilities including a dedicated Spa set in lush grren foliage and soothing cascading waters.

Day 11 - BENTOTA

Breakfast at the Hotel
Free on the Beach & Pool
Overnight at TAJ EXOTICA HOTEL or EDEN RESORT & SPA

Breakfast at the Hotel
Transfer to Airport - Air-Conditioned Car with English Speaking Chauffeur Guide Agency Representative from GALLEWING HOLIDAYS in attendance
Arrival at the Airport
Tickets re-confirmed
Check in through Emigration

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