TOUCH OF SRI LANKA I.

TOUCH OF SRI LANKA I.

CLASSICAL JOURNEY (7 days) + STAY AT THE BEACH

The following itinerary is suitable for journeys between September and May.

ITINERARY SUMMARY
1	AIRPORT – NEGOMBO
2	NEGOMBO – SIGIRIYA
3	SIGIRIYA
4	SIGIRIYA – KANDY
5	KANDY
6	KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA – ELLA
7	ELLA – UDAWALAWE – SOUTHERN COAST
X	STAY ON THE SOUTHERN COAST
X	AIRPORT TRANSFER WITH SIGHTSEEING (SOUTHERN COAST – GALLE – BENTOTA – AIRPORT)

1^st DAY: AIRPORT – NEGOMBO

A warm welcome to Sri Lanka! A representative of WNG Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your first stop on your Sri Lankan adventure – Negombo. You will be accommodated in a hotel where you can spend the rest of the evening relaxing and enjoying the tropical sandy beach. The first night will be spent in Negombo.

Admission fees:

• No fees

2^nd DAY: NEGOMBO – SIGIRIYA

Your driver will meet you at the reception and together you will begin your journey towards Millennium Elephant Foundation. We learn about this amazing creatures up close. The MEF charity was founded in August 1999 with the assistance of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and has been working continually to improve the care, protection and treatment of elephants in Sri Lanka by providing a place of care, medical services and facilities. Here at MEF they provide an alternative, the elephants receive specialist care with their individual mahout and the supporting team here. They do not do heavy manual work and are well provided for with food, water and medical treatment. Regular exercise is good for the elephants and we have an enrichment program in place. They also aim to help the elephant wild counterparts and raise awareness on responsible tourism.  You can feed the elephants, bath them walk with tem and get to know them up close.

We will also visit a local Herbal and Spice garden where you can learn more about Sri Lankan Ayurveda medicine, natural herbs and spices used for cooking. The arrival to Sigiriya will be in the evening.

Admission fees:

• Herbal and Spice garden – Free guided tour
• Millennium Elephant Foundation 2000/= – 5000/= (Different packages)

3^rd DAY: SIGIRIYA

In the early morning we will head to Sigiriya. Sigiriya is a 650 feet high rock fortress, a masterpiece of construction, artistry & irrigation. The world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you prefer a more alternative option you can visit the nearby brother of Sigiriya, where an old Buddhist jungle monastery used to reside, called Pidurangala.

Time for a Village tour! We have an interesting excursion available in Habarana, in the form of a traditional bullock cart ride. This maximum three hour program is designed for you to experience the real traditional Sri Lankan rural village style, where you will travel in a Bullock cart to a rural village through lush green paddy fields where you will be served with lunch made according to authentic Sri Lankan cooking methods. Traditional cooking methods, and a visit to field to see how the local farmers protect their crops from the wild animals, will be demonstrated. The finale of this excursion will be a traditional canoe ride in a lake. You will return to the starting point in a tuk tuk.

Admission fees:

• Sigiriya 30$ (The equivalent amount in LKR is Paid)
• Pidurangala – 1000/= (Alternative to Sigiriya)
• Village tour (Bull cart ride, canoe ride, village tour, meal, tuk tuk) 3500/=

4^th DAY: SIGIRIYA – KANDY

First stop of the day – The Golden Rock in Dambulla is a cave temple which dates back to the 1^st Century BC. Its rock ceiling is one large sweep of colourful frescoes which depict Buddhist mythology and the tales of the Buddha’s previous births. The caves house the largest collection of Buddha statues in one place.

From Dambulla we will drive to Matale, where you will be able to see one of the most beautiful Hindu temple in Sri Lanka, even though it is not a tourist attraction. By nightfall we will end our day with the visit of the Dalada Maligawa golden roofed temple of the sacred Tooth relic of the Buddha in time to witness the ‘pooja’ ceremony. Night will be spend in Kandy.

 

Admission fees:

• Dambulla – 1500/=
• Matale tempel – 100/=
• Dalada Maligawa – 1500/=

 

5^th DAY: KANDY

We will start our day with the visit of the jungle near the city Udawata Kale. Not many people know this interesting jungle area, which is full of life and interesting local plants (Or visit the Peraddeniya botanical gardens). After that we will continue our day with visiting the big statue of Buddha on the hill that is overseeing the city and a local Hindu temple that is hidden in the streets and combines Hindu and Buddhist culture.

We will also stop at the local market that is full of interesting objects, fruits, vegetables and other products. If you would like to we can also take you to a local gem shop, where they will show you how mining in Sri Lanka is done by hand without electricity. Did you know we have the best natural sapphires in the world and all the jewellery is handmade? Later in the day you will have some time to walk around the famous Kandy Lake and enjoy its beauties.

In the evening a Cultural show awaits us in Kandy. We can witness the unique Kandyan dancing and drumming with traditional costumes and mask to scare away the evil spirits. Night will be spend in Kandy.

Admission fees:

• Kandy Lake – Free
• Peraddeniya botanical gardens – 1500/=
• Local market – Free
• Gem shop – Free guided tour
• Udawatta Kele – 670/=
• Cultural show – 1000/=

6^th DAY: KANDY – NUWARA ELIYA – ELLA

We will leave Kandy after breakfast and heat towards Nuwara Eliya. On the way we will pass Ramboda view point, where we will stop and take a moment to admire the beautiful scenery of the amazing Ramboda waterfalls (329 ft. high). It’s time to admire the beautiful Tea carpeted uphill county scenery. You will be able to see some of the beautiful tea plantations and tea puckers at work. We will continue with a visit of the tea factory to see how the world’s favourite drink is prepared and enjoy a cup of real Sri Lankan tea.

The early afternoon will be filled with outdoors sightseeing in Nuwara Eliya which resembles an old English town. An interesting lake, race track, well- kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican Church, an 18 holes golf course and so much more. In the evening you are up for the train ride of your life an amazing journey through the tea plantations and uphill country of Sri Lanka. Bring your cameras! The night will be spend in Ella.

Admission fees:

• Tea factory – Free guided tour
• View point Ramboda – Free
• Nuwara Eliya town – Free
• Train ride – Maximum 1500/=

7^th DAY: ELLA – UDAWALAWE – SOUTHERN COAST

Welcome to Ella a small village located in the hills of Sri Lanka. Ella is also known for excellent Ayurveda massages. The definition of Ayurveda in simple terms means “the science of life”. Ayurveda represents a system of healing that has been perfected over more than five thousand years. After breakfast we will hike up little Adams peak and enjoy the amazing view, a nearby famous Rawana waterfall and nature. 

In the afternoon you will drive to Udawalawe National Park. Time for a unique adventure – Safari. The park is rich with diverse flora and fauna. You can meet crocodiles and other reptiles, wild buffaloes, grey foxes, tropical coloured birds and much more … Driving through the wild will allow you to observe wild and exotic animals in their natural surroundings. Did you know that Sri Lanka is famous for the largest wild elephant herds in south-east Asia? Who will first notice the wild elephant? After the sightseeing is done we will drive through small villages and interesting towns all the way to the south coast where we will drop you in the hotel of your choice. (Also drops in other locations are possible).

Admission fees:

• Little Adams Peak – Free
• Rawana waterfalls – Free
• Safari
  • National park entrance fee 3500/=
  • Jeep per group 6000/= – 7000/=

 

X.-X.DAY: STAY ON THE SOUTHERN COAST

The tour is followed by an independent stay on the coast, where guests can choose any number of days spent on the coast. Accommodation can be booked by the client or by us according to specific wishes of each individual traveller. On the last day, we can arrange airport transfer or even an airport transfer with a sightseeing tour. The price depends on the location of the hotel on the coast.

AIRPORT TRANSFER WITH SIGHTSEEING (SOUTHERN COAST – GALLE – BENTOTA – AIRPORT)

After breakfast, we will head towards the north. We will stop at Ahangama, where we will observe the famous fishermen on sticks, which were a protective tourist symbol of Sri Lanka that is slowly disappearing. Our next stop is one of the most famous cities on the southern coast of Galle. The city is known for its fortress called “Galle Fort”. We will walk through the oldest part of the city and enjoy the colonial life of the Dutch and the Angles.

Bentota is famous for its river boat safari between the forests of mangroves. We’ll board the boat and the adventure can begin. The Maadu River offers a lagoon ride where you can see ancient temples, cinnamon plantations and other natural treasures. A beautiful river full of wildlife, where we can detect monitors, crocodiles and a huge variety of birds; some living only in Sri Lanka. In addition, we will be impressed by the interesting nature where the land intertwines with the river and forms a unique ecosystem. We will also stop at one of the small islands where you will be able to explore the surroundings and perhaps discover something new.

Conservation of turtles is a major and important project in Sri Lanka. That is why egg hatcheries were created to protect these fragile creatures. Often these hatcheries buy eggs from local fishermen and then place them in a safe environment until the turtles hatch (approximately 48h). Small turtles are then placed in pools for about 2-3 days to increase their chance of survival. After three days they are released into the Indian Ocean. Did you know that in the world there are only 8 ancient species of sea turtles, and from that, there are 5 species that regularly visit the sandy shores of Sri Lanka? We will be able to see all this and much more…

In the afternoon there will be a time for relaxation, dinner and the last photos on a tropical beach. You will be dropped at the airport at the agreed time.

Admission fees:

• Still fishermen tip for pictures – 100/=
• Galle – Free
• Private river boat safari – 3000/=
• Turtle hatchery – 500/= (small) / 1000/= (large)

The price includes: Fully A/C Car , Driver (EN Speaking), All fuel charges, Parking tickets, All drivers expenses, Government taxes, ½ Room With Attached Bathroom And Breakfast (A/C)

Please note the price is based on 2 people traveling in a standard car with AC rooms. The prices are subject to change without prior notice due to increase of the cost.

Please note the ENTRANCE FEES are NOT included.