09 Nights / 10 Days – Sri Lanka Packages

Meet on arrival at the Bandaranayake International Airport by an Ceylon Roots Representative and transfer to Colombo. Check in at the hotel. 

Evening proceed on a city tour of Colombo. Drive through the Commercial area of the “Fort” so named, because both the Portuguese and Dutch had a Fort at this point. Drive passed “Pettah” – a noisy Oriental bazaar with a hotchpotch of Humanity, ancient vehicles, bargains, mosques & temples. Visit Hindu temple & drive pass Jumi-UL Alfar Jumma Mosque, Continue the tour through the Wolvendaal   Dutch Church, Hultsdorf Law courts, to the residential area of Cinnamon Gardens and on to the Independence Square and Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall, and the new malls of Colombo city (One Galle Face / Colombo City Centre & Havelock City Mall).
Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo.

After breakfast at the hotel leave to Dambulla. 

Visit Dambulla rock cave temple. Climb up to the temple, which was donated by king Walagambahu in the 1st century BC to Buddhist monks. Dambulla is a World Heritage site and is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters painted walls and the Ceiling is the largest area of paintings found in the world. These caves contain over 150 Images of the Buddha of which the largest is the colossal figure of the Buddha carved out of rock spanning 14 meters.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla.

After breakfast at the hotel visit Sigiriya and climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.

Also visit a spice garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for, you will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

On completion leave to Kandy. Check in at the hotel. 
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

After breakfast at the hotel proceed on a city tour of Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum and a lapidary.

Thereafter visit the Royal botanical gardens. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.

Evening visit the Temple of the tooth relic & Evening witness the cultural dance show in Kandy.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

After breakfast at the hotel leave to Nuwaraeliya via Ramboda waterfalls. Visit a tea plantation & factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.

On completion check in at the hotel. 
Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwaraeliya

After breakfast at the hotel proceed on a city tour of Nuwaraeliya. This town situated at an elevation of 1890 meters. This town was the most popular hill station of the British during their rule. You will see their influence as you pass through areas very much reminiscent of the countryside of England which has earned Nuwaraeliya the name “Little England”. This is also the very centre of the Tea Growing regions of the island. The golf club of Nuwaraeliya has an excellent 18 hole course.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwaraeliya.

After breakfast at the hotel leave to Bentota via Kitulgala. Check in at the hotel.

Optional – White water rafting in Kitulgala. The white-water rafting will take place in Kitulgala on the Kelani River. This is an adventure sports that increase your adrenalin rush. The sides of the Kelani river is surrounded by bamboo trees and you will paddle and past very stunning surroundings. The white-water rafting is done with five rapids and it takes around two hours to complete the White water rafting tour and you will paddle around 5 – 8 Km in Kelani river. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

After breakfast at the hotel proceed to visit and tour the Dutch Fort in Galle. Galle fort was built first by the Portuguese, then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Even today, after 400 years of existence, it looks new and polished with reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. Today Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The Dutch fort also known as Ramparts of Galle withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which destroyed the Galle town. There are many Moor families who live inside this fort along with Sinhalese, Dutch, English, Portuguese and Germans. More details regarding the history of the fort can be found at the visitors centre and at the Dutch period museum inside the Fort.

On completion return back to the hotel. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

After breakfast at the hotel rest of the day at leisure on the beach. 

Optional – Madhu river safari. Proceed to do a picturesque boat trip on the ‘Madhu Ganga’ river. The primitive life style of the inhabitant of the island of the Madu River is only a boat ride away. The boat ride takes us through the thick mangroves and abundant the bird life, to reveal the primitive style of fishing and prawn trapping still practiced by the inhabitants of the islands. 

Optional – Turtle Hatchery visit. Turtle eggs are collected or bought from local villagers and buried in the sand hatchery. If there is lot of sunshine they hatch after 48 days. If it is raining it can take up to 60 days before the turtles emerge from the eggs. They are then placed in the tanks and for first 3 days remain without food to cleanse them of material ingested form the eggshell. They are then given small pieces of fish for a further 7 days. Learning to dive down into the tank to take the food. When they an do this. They can be safely released into the sea where they can fish for themselves on the coral reefs. Turtles are frequently injured at sea. Many get caught in fishing nets. Others are attacked by people attempting to catch and kill them for their meat. Surviving turtles are cared for by the Turtle Farm and those who make a good recovery can be re-released back the sea.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

After breakfast at the hotel leave for the airport to connect with your departure flight.