WELCOME TO SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is a lush, tropical island paradise, known to Arab traders as Serendib – hence "serendipity", meaning discovery by happy accident. It was famously described by Marco Polo as "undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world". This is a culturally rich and environmentally diverse country, with nine World Heritage Sites (the oldest dating back to the 3rd Century BC); 86 species of mammals (including elephant and leopard) and more than 400 bird species (including 26 endemics); a colourful array of flowering plants and trees, and a Hill Country famous for tea; 14 National Parks out of 100 areas protected by the government; and an Indian Ocean coastline boasting palm-fringed and sandy tropical beaches.
DAY 01 AIRPORT TO KANDY VIA PINNAWALA AND MAWANELLA Upon your arrival at the Colombo International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative of our supplier & transfer to hotel in Kandy by an air conditioned vehicle. In route you can visit the famous Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage for a one of a kind viewing and interacting experience with the magnificent elephants within. APPROX. TRAVEL TIME FROM THE AIRPORT TO PINNAWALA - 2 TO 3 HOURS Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is the home for young Elephants who have been displaced or lost from their natural habitat. This is the only such sanctuary in the world where you will watch the beasts gambolling in the water and being fed their quota of milk. [Entrance Fees Direct by client at site]
Thereafter proceed to Mawanella. APPROX TRAVEL TIME FROM PINNWALA TO MAWANELLA IS 25 TO 30 MINS.
On completion proceed to Kandy. APPROX TRAVEL TIME FROM MAWANELLA TO KANDY IS 01 1/2 TO 02 HOURS. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple. On arrival check in to the hotel, PM- Cultural Dance These classical dance forms are associated with the performance of various rituals and ceremonies which are centuries old and are based on the folk religion and folk beliefs going back to times before the advent and acceptance of Buddhism by the Sinhalese people in the third century B.C. These rituals and ceremonies reflect the values, beliefs and customs of an agricultural civilization of Sri Lanka.
On completion proceed back to the hotel,
OVERNIGHT STAY AT OZO KANDY 4* or similar
DAY 02 KANDY CITY TOUR AND DAY EXCURSION TO NUWARA ELIYA After Breakfast Proceed to do a short city or shopping tour in Kandy. Peradeniya Botanical Garden The Royal Botanical Gardens at ‘Peradeniya’ is where you could treat your eyes to an amazing, wide and rare collection of tropical and temperate, exotic and indigenous flora, and an orchid house with the largest collection in Asia. (Entrance fees direct by the client)
Thereafter you will have the time to do some shopping in Kandy, where you could fetch souvenirs in wood, copper, silver, brass, ebony, bronze, ceramics, lacquer work, handlooms, batiks, jewellery and reed-ware at bargain prices!! Next- Sightseeing of Kandy with Upper lake drive, Market square etc After breakfast, check out of the hotel around 11:00 hours and proceed to Nuwara Eliya. En-route visit a Tea Factory. On completion proceed to Nuwara Eliya, APPROX TRAVEL TIME FROM KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA 2 TO 2½ HRS Visit a Tea Factory and a plantation where you would see how the world’s famous “Ceylon Tea” is manufactured. In 1824 a tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya for non-commercial purposes. James Taylor was a British citizen who introduced commercial tea plantation in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). He arrived to Sri Lanka in 1852 and settled down in Loolecondera estate in Kandy. Today even people who have never heard of Sri Lanka are familiar with Ceylon tea, which is known for its quality.
Nuwara Eliya is set in the heart of tea-country is a beautiful town where the British succeeded in creating a replica of the English countryside, with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne. Well-kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican church, a famous golf course and beautiful parks give the place an air of nostalgia. Situated 6,200 feet above sea level, the air is cool and fresh – a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Check in to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. On completion return to the hotel in Kandy
OVERNIGHT STAY AT OZO KANDY 4* or similar
DAY 03 KANDY TO WADDUWA APPROX TRAVEL TIME FROM KANDY TO WADDUWA 5 TO 6 HRS After breakfast at hotel proceed to Wadduwa check in to the hotel and relax, Wadduwa's stripe of golden sands is well worth writing home about. In fact, the shores here are said to be one of the most beautiful in the region, envied for its long sandy curve and gin-clear seas. It's also home to masses of palm trees, which provide welcome shade - and of course, up the ante in the paradise stakes. It's not all about sunbathing here, though. And on terra firma, you've got games like beach volleyball going on. And as Wadduwa's still a working fishing village, nothing beats a stroll down to the boats as the fishermen bring in the day's catches
OVERNIGHT STAY AT CITRUS WASKADUWA 5* or similar
DAY 04 WADDUWA After breakfast at hotel, proceed to Wadduwa, The town of Wadduwa is found nestled among tall coconut groves by the magnificent Indian ocean and is located about 36km south of Colombo along the South Western coast of Sri Lanka. Wadduwa with its extensive cultivation of coconut palms is a major producer of Coconut Toddy and Coconut Vinegar. It has been famous for its practitioners of Ayurvedic medical treatments: the name Wadduwa itself is a transformation of the words Weda Duwa (Sinhala: island of Ayurvedic medical practitioners)
Also visit the Turtle hatchery in Kosgoda and do a boat safari on Madu River, On completion proceed to the hotel. OVERNIGHT STAY AT CITRUS WASKADUWA 5*or similar
DAY 05 WADDUWA TO AIRPORT As per the flight details proceed to the Airport for Departure APPROX. TRAVEL TIME FROM WADDUWA TO AIRPORT IS 2 TO 2 1/2 HOURS.
The End
Good to know:
Sri Lanka being a tropical county, ideal clothing would be cotton and comfortable clothing. Shorts and T shirts are ideal other than when visiting the temples. Ladies are required to cover the shoulders as well.
Temperature throughout the year in lowland areas ranges between 25 to 35 C and in hill country between 20 to 25 C during day time. During the nights it can drop little below 15 C in certain months of the year.
Tipping is customary, but not obligatory. But if you are keen to know what is acceptable in local terms, it ranges between US$.5/- per day up to US$.25/- per day depending on the level of satisfaction of your driver when it comes to individual / family travel. For group travel other than the guide, the coach crew is to be tipped too. The amount for a day can vary depending on group size, but the recommended amount is US$.15/to 40/- per day.
