Sri Lanka All-Island Tour

AYUBOWAN-! Welcome to Sri Lanka, the land like no other and 16 days of explorations giving you the opportunity to touch the ancient history and culture, the lush green tea estates & waterfalls, the wildlife and exciting adventures, the beautiful soft sandy and remote beaches. Upon arrival at Colombo CMB Airport, you will meet and greet by the tour leader and then will be transferred to your hotel. The first destination will be Negombo coastal town, which has long been known as the most popular beach in Sri Lanka, famous for its golden sandy beach, food and entertainments. For day one we haven‟t planned any activity, so you will have a relaxing day at Negombo beach or by the pool of your hotel.

Evening, perhaps you may walk along the seashore while enjoying the beautiful sun setting and the pleasant evening atmosphere of Negombo beach.

Overnight stay in a seafront hotel at Negombo

After enjoying a delicious breakfast with a hot cup of Sri Lankan tea or a coffee, you will take a wonderful journey across the stunning Sri Lankan countryside towards Anuradhapura ancient city (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). Sri Lanka has a rich heritage and Anuradhapura is one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world. It was the first capital, ruled by 113 kings for over 1000 years. The jewel in its crown is the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and that has stood with pride for more than 2200 years. One of the main attractions in Anuradhapura is Ruwanweliseya, a monument built in 140 BC that embodies the culture, heritage andsupremacy of the strongest kingdom in Sri Lankan history.

Overnight stay in a mount view hotel at Anuradhapura

After breakfast, your tour leader will drive you to Jaffna. En-route you will have the rare opportunity to witness the unique landscape of the northern part of the island along the A9 Highway. Jaffna, located on the top corner of Sri Lanka, is a city that was kept away from the tourist trail due to the 30-year civil war which ended in 2009. It is now rising as a must-see Sri Lankan holiday destination as it offers much to do and it has a fascinating culture that is markedly different from that of the rest of the island, influenced by many traditions from South India. Jaffna is full of hidden treasures including the famous Nallur Kandaswamy, a huge Hindu temple with golden arches and an ornate Gopuram tower. The star-shaped Jaffna Fort was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and it was later occupied by the Dutch and British. Jaffna Public Library is the symbol of the post-war regeneration. Jaffna Archaeological Museum has Dutch cannons and per-colonial artifacts.

Overnight stay in a city hotel at Jaffna

In the morning, explore around Jaffna and visit the Point Pedro, situated at the top end of Sri Lanka. Thereafter, visit Dambakola Patuna: if you are really interested in Sri Lankan history, this is your ideal destination. The history of this port, one of the most ancient in the country, started over 200 years ago. It is very famous among the Buddhist world because the first Buddhist monk came to Sri Lanka from India through
this port in order to establish the roots of Buddhism.

Overnight stay in a city hotel at Jaffna

In the morning, you'll travel towards the eastern coast of Sri Lanka and you will visit the city of Trincomalee, a fascinating place sitting on one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Trincomalee is an amazing multicultural town with lovely places such as Nilaveli Beach, Pigeon Island and Koneshwaram Kovil. With its white sands and gentle waves, Trincomalee beach is the ultimate getaway for those who desire a relaxing vacation in Sri Lanka. Here you will experience a quiet bliss on tropical heaven, far away from the busy and chaotic life.


Overnight stay in a beach resort at Trincomalee

In the morning, you will visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). In 1070 King Vijayabahu chose this place as his kingdom, one of the most ancient in the history of Sri Lanka. Cycling through Polonnaruwa ancient sites is a wonderful experience(INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE). Afterwards, your tour leader will take you to Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park for an afternoon safari, since it is the best time to spot wild elephants on their natural habitat. This National park is mainly a sanctuary for elephants, but it is also home to herds of deer, bulls, wild boars and colorful bird life. It is always a pleasure to watch baby elephants playing with water by the main lake of the park. This place is well known as the largest elephant gathering place in the World.

Overnight stay in a nature-friendly resort at Dambulla

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will travel towards Dambulla, which is the central point of the cultural triangle in the country. Upon arrival at Dambulla, you'll enjoy a wonderful cultural village tour while exploring the beautiful countryside
(INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE). It will start with a Bullock Cart ride, one of the most ancient and prime transportation systems in Sri Lanka, still used in some villages. While on the tour you will also enjoy a canoeing boat ride across the lake and a TukTuk drive, finally you will reach a farmer‟s house where you will experience the typical Sri Lankan countryside hospitality. In the evening, you will visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, where you may capture the beautiful scenery of sun setting. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE and it is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient architecture.

Overnight stay in a nature-friendly resort at Dambulla

In the morning, after breakfast, visit the Royal Cave Temple and the Golden Buddha
statue (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). Dambulla has the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C. The rock towers 160 meters over the surrounding plains and houses 5 cave temples with some of the most unique and significant historical drawings. It would be an amazing experience if you could climb up and enjoy the magnificent view from the top of the rock. Afterwards, you will visit Matale Spice Garden (INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE) en route to Kandy. Then proceed towards
Kandy, the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom. It's set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and bio diverse rain forests. Kandy is also famous for its sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). In the afternoon, you‟ll enjoy a walk around Kandy's busy city center, including a tour of the Central Market, before engaging with a cultural dance show which is inspired by Sri Lankan arts, traditional dance and cultural heritage (INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE).

Overnight stay in a mount view hotel at Kandy

After breakfast, you will visit the Peradeniya Royal Garden, which is known as one ofthe best botanical gardens in Asia. Thereafter, you‟ll enjoy a wonderful journey through the lush green tea plantations, the scenic view of the mountains and the waterfalls towards the tea region of Nuwara Eliya. It is often referred to as “Little England” because many of the buildings in this city retain from the British colonial period, such as the Queen's Cottage, the General's House, the Grand Hotel, the Hill Club and the Town Post Office. Since this amazing town is located in the mountains, it is characterized by a cool climate all year long. Visit a tea plantation (INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE). Sri Lanka, tea and tourism are words which cannot be separated. Explore the cold and misty hills that host lush green blankets of tea plantations. You also have the opportunity to visit a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date. Make sure to end your day in style over a perfectly blended cup of tea.

Overnight stay in a modern cottage bungalow at Nuwara Eliya

In the morning, you will enjoy a spectacular train journey from Nanu-oya station to Ella village. It is known as one of the most picturesque hill country train journeys in the world (Train ticket class categories are subject to availability since they can’t be pre-booked). Ella is everyone‟s favorite hill country village due to the fact that it‟s a wonderful nature-friendly location. The Nine Arch Bridge, a major tourist attraction in Ella, is a massive bridge built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel. Ella is a great place for walking and climbing and its most famous trekking route is to “Little Adam‟s Peak”. In the evening, you could chill out at the village center where there are lots of restaurants, pubs and also evening entertainments. Ella is a stunning location that anyone who is visiting Sri Lanka should not miss out.

Overnight stay in a mount view hotel at Ella Village

After breakfast, continue your journey towards Yala National Park, the largest and most stunning national park in Sri Lanka. Thanks to a river running through it, Yala National Park is divided into two sections. Because the river makes crossing to the other side difficult, Yala is really treated as two separate parks. But that doesn’t change the fantastic offerings! Encompassing a range of diverse ecosystems, the park has an impressive variety of wildlife, including sloth bears, leopards and lots of colorful birds. Enjoy a 4x4 jeep ride searching for leopards hanging on trees or whispering through the bushes, crocodiles patrolling the river or wild elephants drinking water and playing around.

Overnight stay in a safari lodge at Tissamaharama

After breakfast, depart from Ella towards Mirissa while enjoying the magnificent view of the Indian Ocean. En-route you will visit Ravana waterfall, one of the most popular sightseeing attractions in Ella. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country; in fact, this waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft). After an amazing journey through the mountains and waterfalls, you have finally arrived at the world-famous beachside of Sri Lanka. Mirissa/Dickwella is a delightful sandy beach that was a well-kept secret in the past, but now more restaurants and pubs are opening up to visitors. Mirissa/Dickwella is also characterized by white sands and coconut palms growing right from the edge of the sea as if in imitation of a postcard of the perfect tropical beach. Upon arrival at your hotel, you could grab a towel to relax on the beach while enjoying a cocktail or a chill beer under the shade of a beach umbrella.

Overnight stay in a seafront Hotel at Mirissa/Dickwella

After an amazing journey through the mountains and waterfalls, you have finally arrived at the world-famous beachside of Sri Lanka. In the morning, you could take a Whale and Dolphin watching boat tour. Mirissa is one of the best places in the world to spot the biggest creature on the planet. If you are up to it, jump into a boat to watch as blue whales swim and dive around you and be blown away by their size. Please note that whale watching is a seasonal activity. In the evening, perhaps you could walk down along the seashore while enjoying the beautiful scenery of sun setting and find a seafront restaurant to try some authentic Sri Lankan seafood - a wonderful crab curry is likely to be on the menu.

Overnight stay in a seafront hotel at Mirissa/Dickwella

In the morning, you will enjoy a wonderful drive along the southwest coast towards Galle. En-route you will visit Dondra Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Sri Lanka and also one of the tallest in South Asia. It is a boundary stone that marks the southern end of Sri Lanka. This will be the most significant landmark on your trip since you have completed the journey between the north end and the south end of the country. (Pedro Lighthouse is located on the north end of the island and Dondra Lighthouse is situated on the south end of the island). Continue your journey to Galle, a city well known for its Fort (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). It is the intersection where classic Dutch and British architecture meets a tropical setting, creating a vivid atmosphere in beauty. Walk through the streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions nowadays flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale. Historical Galle Lighthouse stands proudly on the southeast tip of the fort.

Overnight stay in a seafront hotel at Hikkaduwa

After breakfast, you’ll visit the capital city of Colombo, which has an interesting history running back to the fifth century. Even in ancient times, this was an important port city in the East-West sea trade. Nowadays it has become a bustling modern town with a unique atmosphere. The colourful streets, restaurants and modern shopping malls attract hordes of locals and tourists alike. In Colombo, you have the opportunity to visit the most highlighted places in the city and also do some last-minute shopping as well. Perhaps, you may intend to pop into a famous and internationally renowned restaurant in Colombo to end your trip over an unforgettable meal. Thereafter,proceed to the airport in time for the return flight or we drop you back to your hotel in Colombo or Negombo.