The flight from LHR to CMB takes approximately 10 hours (Via Sri Lankan Airline)

COLOMBO AIRPORT-COLOMBO
22 Miles Approx 30 Minutes over the express highway

Relax On Arrival At Colombo
The Mount Lavinia Hotel (1877) is an ideal place to relax upon arrival in Sri Lanka. The hotel has a private stretch of beach for its guests and wonderful Indian Ocean sunsets can be seen from its Terrace Bar.

YOUR CHOICE OF HOTEL:

First Class Hotels :
The Mount Lavinia Hotel

Special Choice :
Lake Lodge Colombo

COLOMBO – DAMBULLA
94 Miles Approx 4 Hours

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Pinnawela is Sri Lanka’s most visited attraction, and provides a very relaxed place to spend a few hours watching elephants. Set in a pretty riverside location, this is home to about 70 Elephants- the largest group of orphaned Elephants in the world! Most have been found injured or abandoned in the wild. Baby calves, some only a few weeks old are fed by bottle and the whole herd is then bathed in the adjoining river. A tour highlight for many visitors to Sri Lanka.

The Golden Cave Temple At Dambulla
The 5 Cave Temples Of Dambulla are a series of rock temples that have been hewn from a gigantic boulder that contain a very beautiful collection of sculptures, paintings and frescoes from various periods of the island’s history.

Cave No 2 – The Temple Of The Great Kings is the biggest and most spectacular cave temple with over 150 statues and 1500 paintings! The ceilings and walls are covered by the finest murals to be seen in Sri Lanka.

YOUR CHOICE OF HOTEL:

First Class Hotels :
Chaaya Village , Habarana

Special Choice :
Thilanka Resort And Spa , Dambulla

The Ancient City Of Polonnaruwa
The Medieval capital of Polonnaruwa has the feeling of a city that was once ‘lost in the jungle’ – which indeed it was, until it was ‘rediscovered’ by colonial administrators in the 19th Century. Ruins of royal palaces, stupas and monasteries are scattered over several square kilometers around a vast lake known as the Sea Of Parakrama.

The Inner Quadrangle area of the ancient city contains the most exquisite historical remains in the whole of Sri Lanka. The highlight of any visit to Polonnaruwa is The Gal Vihare (Temple Of The Rock) consisting of 4 rock cut Buddhas that are among the masterpieces of Buddhist Art, and one of the world’s great artistic treasures.

YOUR CHOICE OF HOTEL:

First Class Hotels :
Habarana Village By Cinnamon

Special Choice :
Thilanka Resort And Spa , Dambulla

DAMBULLA – KANDY
44 Miles Approx 2.5 Hours

The Magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress
The amazing rock fortress of Sigiriya is often listed as 8th Wonder Of The Ancient World and is easily the most impressive historic sight in Sri Lanka. You enter through The Royal Pleasure Gardens with a series of ponds and landscaped terraces until the ascent of the rock fortress begins through a series of dramatic staircases.

Hidden half-way is a cave that reveals the Sigiriya Frescoes. This is Sri Lanka’s premier artistic treasure and is a must for all visitors. If you have a head for heights, you can reach the top via the gigantic Lions Paws, which are the remnants of a huge stone lion that used to guard the entrance. There are stunning views of the forested plains below from the top.

Spice Gardens Of Matale
The low hills of Matale are ideal for growing spices such as cardamom, pepper, vanilla, cloves and nutmeg. You can have a look around a spice garden and buy some aromatic spices here too!

Kandyan Dance Performance
Spend the evening in Kandy watching a colourful Kandyan Dance And Cultural Performance, to the sound of rhythmic temple drums.

YOUR CHOICE OF HOTEL:

First Class Hotels :
Cinnamon Citadel , Kandy

Special Choice :
Ozo Kandy , Kandy

Peradeniya Gardens And Its Beautiful Orchid Houses
The gardens at Peradeniya were one of the jewels of colonial era Ceylon. Initially developed to try out introduced tropical crops like rubber in the island, it soon expanded to become one of the great tropical collections of the world.

During WW2, the Supreme Headquarters of Lord Mountbatten Of Burma were hidden inside the gardens. The Orchid House at Peradeniya contains 300 varieties of orchids that are wonderfully displayed.


Temple Of The Buddha’s Tooth
Delightfully located in a valley surrounded by hills, Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings. The UNESCO protected Old Town area is a lovely place for an afternoon walk along a maze of streets leading to the Temple Of The Buddha’s Tooth and the Kandy Lake, magnificently framed against forest clad hills in the background.

Visit The Temple Of The Buddha’s Tooth in the evening, for the ‘’pooja ceremony’’ that starts around 6:30 pm. At this time crowds gather to offer flowers and prayers to the sacred relic in the inner sanctum and the temple drummers are in full swing – a magical experience.

YOUR CHOICE OF HOTEL:

First Class Hotels :
Cinnamon Citadel , Kandy

Special Choice :
Hotel Thilanka , Kandy

KANDY – HILL COUNTRY (Nuwara Eliya)
A Train Journey Of Approx 4 Hours

By Train Through The Hill Country
The Highland Queen leaves Kandy Railway Station for a spectacular journey through the Hill Country. There are lovely views of waterfalls and tea estates among the glorious scenery of the Great Western mountain range. Clients are booked on the super luxury Expo or Rajadhani Carriage or the Observation Car when available.

Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya (Sinhala: plain of the city) is a resort city in the Central Mountain Range of Sri Lanka. Blessed a with salubrious climate, breathtaking views of valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery; it’s hard to imagine that Nuwara Eliya is only 180 Km from the hot and humid Colombo.

Nuwara Eliya, also known as ‘Little’ England’, was the favorite hill station of the British who tried to create the resort into a typical English Village. The old brick Post office, country house like hill club, with its hunting pictures, mounted hunting trophies and fish, and it’s strict formal dinner attire; the 18 hole golf course, race course etc., evoke nostalgia of Colonial British Ceylon.

YOUR CHOICE OF HOTEL:

First Class Hotels :
Ferncliff , Nuwara Eliya

Special Choice :
The Grand Hotel , Nuwara Eliya

HILL COUNTRY – SOUTH WEST COAST
A Journey Of Approx 5 Hours

Devon And St Clair’s Falls
The spectacular descent of the Hill Country towards Sri Lanka’s beaches passes two of the island’s most famous waterfalls, Devon and St Clair’s Falls, which are easily viewed from the roadside.

The Mlesna Tea Centre overlooking St Clair’s Tea Estate has a nice viewing platform and a Tea Museum. A great place to stop for a cup of tea.

Kithulgala
Kithulgala is a very pretty location with tropical rainforest and luxuriant vegetation in the valley of the Kelani River. This is where Sir David Lean’s classic wartime film ‘The Bridge On The River Kwai was filmed.

Sri Lanka’s Beach Resorts
A beach stay on Sri Lanka’s famous palm fringed coastline combined in addition to this tour will make for an excellent 2 week holiday on the island.

Depart Sri Lanka – Daytime flights arrive back in UK the same day.