Tour Of Sri Lanka & Maldives

AYUBOWAN-! Welcome to Sri Lanka, a land like no other, tour around the island exploring ancient history and culture, the lush green tea estates and waterfalls, the amazing wildlife, authentic foods, and the beautiful golden sandy beaches.

DAY PLAN:

# Upon arrival at Colombo CMB airport, you will meet your tour leader and you will be transferred to your hotel (we can pick you up from any hotel in Colombo or Negombo as well). The first destination will be Negombo coastal town (20min away from the airport), which has long been known as the most popular beach in Sri Lanka, famous for its golden sandy beach, food, and fun.

# For day one, we haven’t planned any activity, thus you are free to arrive in Sri Lanka at any time. If your flight arrives early in the day, relax at the beach and pool of your cosy hotel.

# Evening, you may have a walk along the seashore while enjoying the beautiful sunset and the pleasant evening atmosphere of the beachside.

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 Dambulla city, which is the central point of the cultural triangle on the island.

DAY PLAN:

# En-route to Dambulla, you'll visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation. Take the opportunity to feed them and give them a bath at the nearby river.

# Upon arrival to Dambulla, visit the Golden Buddha Statue and the Royal Cave Temple (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.

DAY PLAN:

# In the morning, you will visit Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGESITE), King Kasyapa (477 – 495 BC) built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. Sigiriya refuses to reveal its secrets easily; in fact you have to climb a series of vertiginous staircases to reach the top. On the way you‟ll pass quite remarkable frescoes and a pair of colossal lion paws carved into the
bedrock.

# Upon arrival to 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 enjoy a canoeing boat ride across the lake and a pleasant Tuk-tuk ride before reaching the farmer’s house where you will experience the typical Sri Lankan countryside hospitality.

After breakfast, 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 rainforests. Kandy is also famous for its sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

DAY PLAN:

# En-route, you will visit Matale Spice Garden (ADMISSION FEES INCLUDED).

# Afternoon, visit the Temple of Tooth Relic (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE) and Kandy viewpoint.

# Evening, you’ll enjoy a walk around Kandy's city centre before engaging with a cultural dance show which is inspired by Sri Lankan arts, traditional dance, and cultural heritage (ADMISSION FEES INCLUDED).

After breakfast, you’ll have a wonderful journey towards Sri Lanka's 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.

DAY PLAN:

# In the morning visit Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden, which is known as one of the best botanical gardens in Asia

# En-route to Nuwara Eliya, while driving through the cold and misty hills that host lush green tea plantations, stop at a tea factory to observe the rich tradition of making Ceylon tea kept alive up to date. Make sure to end your factory visit in style over a perfectly blended cup of tea.

# Afternoon, you will walk through Nuwara Eliya city centre and the fruit and vegetable market.

DAY PLAN:

# In the morning, you will enjoy a spectacular train journey from Nanu-Oya station to Ella village (Train tickets will be arranged at the station / Class category is subject to availability). It is known as one of the most picturesque hill country train journeys in the world.

# Upon arrival explore the village, Ella is everyone’s favorite hill country village due to the fact that it’s a wonderful nature friendly location. Ravana waterfall and Nine Arch Bridge are the most popular sightseeing attractions in Ella

# Afterwards, continue your journey towards Udawalawe National Park. Udawalawe National Park for an afternoon safari since it is the best time to spot wild elephants on their natural habitat. If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then this is your ideal destination! Spreading over 8800 hectares, this park is mainly a sanctuary for elephants, but it is also home to herds of deer, bulls, wild boars and colorful birdlife. It is well known as one of the largest elephant gathering places in the world.

Galle is 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. Walkthrough 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.

# After breakfast, your tour leader will drive you along the southwest coast towards Galle,

# Thereafter, you’ll visit a turtle hatchery Centre where baby turtles learn to take that first swim and injured adults are rehabilitated back into the wild. Both locals and international volunteers are battling for the protection of sea turtles since they are endangered creatures.

After breakfast, you will check-out from your hotel and you will be transferred to the airport for your short flight to Male (approx. 1.5 hours flight). After a wonderful tour around Sri Lanka now slow things down with a four-night relaxing beach stay in the Maldives.

DAY PLAN:

# Upon arrival to Male, you will meet a hotel representative, who will transfer you to the hotel by a shared speed boat. For day one we haven’t planned any activity, so you will have a relaxing day at the hotel or by the beach.

# Note: We give shared speed boat transfers which leave at scheduled times or private speed boat transfers can be arranged anytime, but there will be an additional cost.

DAY PLAN:

# After breakfast, you will enjoy a half-day island hopping. Your day starts with a speed boat ride that will take you to 3 different spots, perfect for going snorkeling and dolphin watching. As you snorkel in these unbelievably beautiful reefs, you will come across an abundance of marine life and a multitude of colorful fish. Manta rays, turtles and even sharks may be the highlight of the trip. Experience the thrill of a tiny desert beach, surrounded by crystal clear waters and the coral reef with the ultimate privacy. A packed lunch and bottled drinks are served to each guest on the sandbank.

# A full day trip to a resort where you will be able to see the luxury beauty of the Maldives. This is truly an alternative option for spending your holiday in a resort without having to pay a hefty hotel bill. Picture yourself crossing the pure white sands of the beach and stepping onto a boardwalk hoisted a few feet above the water by sturdy columns. This optional day tour to a nearby luxury resort island costs between USD 125 and USD 150 per person, based on the island you choose to visit. The price includes speed boat transfers, buffet lunch, unlimited drinks including alcoholic beverages, full use of the resort pools, sunbeds.

# It's a free day: after breakfast, you could spend your time relaxing on the beach or exploring the underwater sea life. Enjoy the island sunset and perhaps you may interest in evening fishing safari by boat. The hotel can give you a chance to catch fish to be prepared for dinner. Sit back and relax while the fish is being cooked over a glass of wine.

#Optional activities: Male city tour>scuba-diving >Shark bay snorkeling>jet-ski >kayaking

# After breakfast, you will check-out from your hotel and you will be transferred to Male Airport by shared speed boat in time for your flight. NOTE: We arrange shared speed boat transfers that leave at scheduled times or private speed boat transfers can be organized with an additional cost