THE ISLAND WITH MANY ATTRACTIONS

TEMPLES | HISTORY CITY | WILDLIFE | MOUNTAINS | TEA GARDENS | BEACH
LUXURY | SPA | CULINARY | AYURVEDA |SMILES

THE HERITAGE AND CULTURE TOUR

Day 01
Meet and greet…
Private transfer to Negombo, a 30-minute drive
Dinner and overnight stay at the resort in Negombo

Plan
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Stay at a hotel close by to the airport, get over jetlag and rest after the long flight

Negombo
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Negombo is a small fishing village township that is situated at the western cost of the island. Broad beaches and palm trees are picture perfect, while the warm water of the Indian Ocean is very inviting. The local industry is fishing, and a small fishing harbor sits at the center of the town with the fish market next. The Negombo lagoon opens up to the largest marsh land of the island, and the Muthurajawela Mash Lands are a protected area owing to its biodiversity.

Suriya Resort and Spa – Maaravila Negombo
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 Nestled on 11 acres of breathtaking natural beauty featuring friendly world-class service. A unique feature of the resort is the combination of the turquoise blue Indian Ocean and the serene tranquility of the Ging Oya River that surrounds the premises. The resort also features a lush tropical landscape inundated with coconut trees, palms, and mangroves.

Accommodation
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Suite room
01 double room| 01 night

Express check in | Direct Sea view | Jacuzzi in Balcony | Spa | 42 m2

Day 02
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Breakfast
Drive to Sigiriya – 4 hours
Dinner and overnight stay at the resort in Dambulla

Plan
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Visit Dambulla Cave Temple & Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Dambulla Cave Temple
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A stunning cave temple created back in 01st Century BC with a breathtaking view is a UNESCO world heritage site. The amazing paintings and the 157 statues of Buddha stands example to the rich culture of the island.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress
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A magnificent fortress now in ruins speaking of an ancient magical kingdom, your guide will explain the advance technology that existed long back taking your imagination to how spectacular the creation could have been to be named the “impenetrable fortress in the sky” and the ever so interesting story behind the creation of this monument. The climb is a little steep at some points and requires some endurance but is worth with the stunning views of the endless landscapes surrounding at the 660 feet high rock summit.

Signature by Amaya Resort – Dambulla
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A holiday haven nestled under the shade of towering trees and located on the edge of Kandalama Lake awaits you at Amaya Signature, Dambulla. Find the highest class and splendor in the heart of the Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle during your stay with us at Amaya Signature, one of the most preferred luxury hotels in Sigiriya area. We offer spacious and comfortable accommodation with high-end amenities, giving careful attention to even the most minute of details. Experience complete privacy and solitude while being shrouded in nature’s warmth at Amaya Signature, where nature and luxury blend together seamlessly, setting us a cut above the rest of the hotels in Dambulla, Sri Lanka.

Accommodation
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Luxury Suite
01 Double | 03 nights | Dinner & Breakfast

771 Sq FT| BALCONY

Day 03
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Breakfast
Leisurely visit local attractions
Dinner and overnight stay at the resort in Dambulla

Plan
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Visit Polonnaruwa & Jeep Safari at Minneriya Park

Polonnaruwa
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Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO world heritage site. The Second capital of the Sri Lankan kingdom the city is rather compact compared to Anuradhapura. At Polonnaruwa you can see monuments dating back to year 1100. The rock temple with four magnificent Buddha statues carved out on one single rock is an example of the skill level of the artists of the past. Watadage, Hatadage, Nissankalatha Mandapa, Lankathilaka and the Gal Vihara are the must visits. Polonnaruwa has amazed the modern architects as a well-planned city having advance drainage, hospitals and meeting halls showing signs of an advanced city of its time. Also visit the Maha Parakrama Statue, made in tribute to a grate king who served the island nation progressing the nation’s agriculture to achieve self-sufficiency.

Minneriya National Park
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Minneriya National Park, renowned for its large herds of wild elephants sometimes numbering to 400+, seen frequently near the Minneriya tank is a must to be witnessed as it’s a rare phenomenon with wild elephants only seen in Sri Lanka. The Gathering peaks during April to July when the dry season hits the area, and Elephants from nearby national parks gather to feed at the lush green vegetation at the banks of the Minneriya tank, an ancient manmade lake that still holds as the lifeline to many animals as well as the local; farmers providing them with water throughout the year.

The drive through the shrub jungle on a basic open jeep is a unique experience… Jeeps are open jeeps with customized seating for game drives. As one can expect the parks do not have maintained roads and the drive can be bumpy.

Minneriya – Declared a protected area in 1938, the park is the key catchment area for the historical Minneriya tank built by King Mahasen in 3rd Century AD. The tank provides much needed water to the herds of wild elephants living in the area during dry season. The park provides a guaranteed sighting of wild elephants at any time of the year. Large numbers of Elephants are attracted to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. Individuals of elephants gathered here is numbering around 150-200. Some reports account number of elephants to as high as 400+. Survey records indicate the national park’s faunal species to include 24 species of mammals, 160 species of birds, 9 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 26 species of fish, and 75 species of butterflies

The park is an important habitat for the two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka, purple-faced langur, and toque macaque. Large herbivorous mammals such as Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer frequent the park. Rare and endangered species such as Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan sloth bear inhabit in Minneriya. Minneriya is one of the areas where the gray slender loris another endemic mammal species that has reportedly found in Sri Lanka.

Day 04
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Breakfast
Drive to Kandy
Dinner and overnight stay at the resort in Kandy

Plan
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Visit a Spice Garden & explore Kandy city

Spice Garden
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Explore the heritage of spice and gem trade of the country with a visit to a Spice-garden and a Germ Display. See the locally grown spices and there many uses – from ancient times the island has been in the center of the world spice and gem trade, giving the world spices such as cinnamon and pepper of cinnamon has been a endemic plant to the island.

Kandy
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Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan monarchies and is the home to the sacred temple which is a UNESCO world heritage site that shrines the tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A city where the traditions and customs native to the island has somewhat been preserved is a doorway between old and modern Sri Lanka culturally. Witness the cultural show at that take place daily and get a firsthand experience of the rich culture that created a nation that was in harmony with its nature… The cultural Dance show is a must to the program, an entertaining 45 minutes of local dance performances that will give you an insight on to the rich culture of the island, the highlights will be the Kandyan Dance that has its origins close to 2000 years back, the colorful Mask dance and fire walking…

Grand Kandyan Hotel
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Situated at the heart of the City, the Grand Kandyan is the perfect heaven for those who want to explore Kandyan warm hospitality and diverse cultures, just 10 minutes from ‘Dalada Maligawa’, the sacred tooth relic of Buddha and Kandy Main City shopping area. The hotel can be considered the best location for anyone looking at a luxury hotel to stay in Kandy city.
As its name suggests, The Grand Kandyan is the epitome of extravagance and profusion with a beautiful and scenic atmosphere with the makings of an unforgettable stay.

Accommodation
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Deluxe Room
01 Double | 01 night | Dinner & Breakfast

Day 05
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Breakfast
Sightseeing of Kandy City

Plan
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Peradeniya Botanical Garden & Gem Lapidary, & Kandy city

Peradiniya Botanical Garden
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Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, the finest of its kind in Asia, the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka, couldn’t be better located. In the Mediterranean climate of Kandy, the gateway to the Central Highlands, the Gardens, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level, were tightly bounded on three sides by a loop of River Mahaweli, the largest river of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka and Gems
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Sri Lanka’s gem industry has a very long and colorful history. Sri Lanka was affectionately known as Ratna-Dweepa which means Gem Island. The name reflects its natural wealth. Marco Polo wrote that the island had the best sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other gems in the world. Ptolemy, the 2nd century astronomer recorded that beryl and sapphire were the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s gem industry. Records from sailors that visited the island states that they brought back “jewels of Serendib”. Serendib was the ancient name given to the island by middle – eastern and Persian traders that crossed the Indian Ocean to trade gems from Sri Lanka to the East during the 4th and 5th century. the islands famous gemstones are available to be seen at a gem exhibitor where you can witness a replica of a lapidary and the process of an unearthed rough stone worked to a beautiful piece of jewelry.

DAY 06
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Breakfast
Drive to Colombo
Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel in Colombo

Plan
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Tea Factory, Pinnawala, Pottery, Cane, Cashew & Colombo City

Tea Factory
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Visit a tea factory enroute your drive, witness the process of making the worlds best tea with a factory visit. Tea has still been made the traditional way that continued from colonial times. The factory also has a sales outlet where can buy factory fresh quality tea to take back home

Pinnawala
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An institution to look after abandoned and injured wild elephants of all ages, whilst you get to enjoy a close encounter with the gentle giants your contribution as an entrance ticket will be added to the fund that manages the location. The bathing time of the herd is the highlight event at the orphanage

Pottery, Cane
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On route from Kandy to Colombo you can observe clay pots and products displayed for sales by the road at an area called Molagoda. They display from cooking pots, water containers to large ornamental clay work for sale and is an interesting stop for few photographs. Similarly, you will see Cane products displayed at another location and cashew sellers selling freshly baked cashew for those traveling calling them by hand.

Hilton Colombo
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Located at the center of the city the hotel provides easy access to all the key attractions, the hotel is just a minutes’ walk away from the famous Galle Face Greens and just next to the Dutch Arcade Mall, and area with many restaurants, pubs, and bars to explore and a minute walk the other way to the busy local shopping area of Pettah. The Baileys casino is also around the corner and can be walked to in 2 minutes.

Accommodation
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Deluxe Room
01 Double | 01 night | Dinner & Breakfast

Galle Face view / King Bed

Colombo
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A relatively busy city it has its own charm with colonial era buildings to modern era skyscrapers. The outer harbor city is one of the major projects to ever take place at the island and one can see the work in progress of this project from the Galle Face greens.

Though one feels that Colombo is just another metro this coastal city has some amazing hidden attractions to explore. The Colonial buildings in the fort area, the floating market at Pettah, the Lotus Tower are some closer to the hotels.
The Independence square, the queens park and Gangarama temple are some one should not miss out. The Gangarama Buddhist Temple is a stunning Buddhist with few shrine rooms over the water and impressive shrine room at the main temple building, also houses a rate and valuable artifact collection kept display that has been donated over the years to the temple by local and foreign devotees from all over the globe. One can see rare vintage cars, vehicle and machinery to even Ivory and other valuable minerals including gemstones kept on display for visitors to the temple to see.

The coastal city is full of clubs, pubs and restaurant options to explore, for the more awaked the city does not sleep – Nightclubs are open till morning hours and Casinos never close. The sky lounge at the Kingsbury Hotel is an ideal location to spend the evening and Ministry of Crab – the most popular sea food restaurant in the city is a must to try…

Day 07
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Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to the airport