Destinations: Colombo - Nuwara Eliya - Kandy - Peradeniya - Pinnawela - Colombo
Duration: 4 Nights/ 5 Days
Day 01: Colombo
Upon arrival to the Colombo airport, you will be greeted by our courteous tour representative. After checking into a modest hotel of the city, you will be taken for a shopping tour. Colombo, like other capital cities in the developing countries, is changing with a fast pace. Colombo is the largest city of the Sri Lanka and was the former capital. This busy and vibrant city has a mix of modern lifestyle and old colonial buildings. The city is filled with skyscrapers standing on the place of old buildings. Colombo still holds its old world charm in some parts with several British-built colonial buildings. There are several places of tourist interest which includes a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, the stately homes of the rich people, the famous Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH). You will get enough leisure time in the afternoon to enjoy the surrounding of this cultural city. Overnight stay will be at a hotel in Colombo.
Day 02: Colombo - Nuwara Eliya
Next morning, after enjoying a lip smacking breakfast at hotel, you be taken to Nuwara Eliya via Kitulgala. The Kelani River which is the broadest river in Sri Lanka flows through Kitulgala. This river was the central location where the Oscar winning movie "Bridge on the River Kwai" was filmed. In the town, there is a hill where a prehistoric cave was recently discovered containing large middens of shells from some unknown civilization. In the afternoon, you will visit Nuwara Eliya. Nuwara Eliya is famous for its invigorating mountain climate and scenic beauty. Also, it is the most popular hill resort in Sri Lanka. It is also the center of Sri Lanka's tea industry producing a significant share of the world's best tea. You will also see the highest mountain of Sri Lanka, Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) which is located here. Nuwara Eliya also contains one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in South Asia. You will be accommodated in a good hotel in Nuwara Eliya where you would suspend for the night.
Day 03: Nuwara Eliya - Kandy
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will proceed to Kandy. On the way, you will get a golden opportunity to visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea of the world is produced. This visit will help you to know the basic process of manufacturing tea. You can also see the process of grading the tea. Enjoy a cup of pure Ceylon tea that is sure to refresh your senses with its great aromatic taste. After reaching Kandy, you will be checked into a good hotel. In the afternoon, you will be taken for a city tour of Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is now a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" brings visions of splendor and magnificence. There are several legends, traditions and folklore that are associated with the city. You will get a chance to drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. You will also visit the Kandy town and bazaar, which is the arts and crafts centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. This city tour also includes visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. After the city tour you will witness a cultural show. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Kandy.
Day 04: Kandy - Peradeniya - Pinnawela - Colombo
Next morning, after enjoying the breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was later expanded by the British. The garden is spread in an area of 147 acres and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. After enjoying the flora of the garden, you will proceed to Colombo. On the way you will visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. It was established in 1975, commencing with just seven orphans. Even though the original objective of establishing the orphanage was inclined more towards tourism, it soon became a conservation and educational centre. This orphanage with the help of some local and foreign elephant experts started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants.
Pinnawela also provides free movement of the herd, hence enhancing the chances for respective individuals of both sexes to get together and mate. The nearby river also played a significant role in this context and the first baby of Pinnawela was born was born in 1984. This success story of Pinnawela drew the attention of scientists from all over the world. Since the birth of first elephant baby in 1984, a considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawela have been published in several languages. For years, the members of the Pinnawela herd have been filmed, videoed and clicked thousands of times by professionals. After reaching Colombo, you will be checked into a good hotel. Late in the afternoon, you will get to do a shopping tour of Colombo which will include visiting House of Fashions, ODEL, Noritake ceramic shop & a local souvenir shop. Overnight stay will be at the hotel in Colombo.
Day 05: Departure
Next morning, after enjoying a scrumptious breakfast you will be taken to the Colombo Airport by our representative who would help you board a flight for your onward destination.
