Bucket List Sri Lanka Tour

10 nts Tour visiting Colombo, Habarana, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Kandy, Yala & Beruwala

This 10-night tour includes flights, private transfers, hotel stays & excursions

Sri Lanka contains an astonishing seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within its compact shores.  The most intriguing and popular World Heritage site is Sigiriya dubbed "the eighth wonder of the world".  The rock face was covered with sensual frescoes of celestial maidens, described as the world’s largest picture galleries.  

Bucket-List Trip Highlights:

 - Enjoy a climb up the UNESCO Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
 - Visit the UNESCO Dambulla Cave Temples.
 - See the Elephants at Minneriya National Park
 - Visit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy.
 - Take the train to Nuwara Eliya in the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country.
 - Early morning drive through the Yala National Park 
 - Visit the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda

This 10-night tour includes flights, private transfers, hotel stays on a Half board basis throughout & excursions

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport you will be met by our Travel Representative and transferred to your hotel in Colombo. Check in at the hotel and relax till evening before explore Colombo city. 

Colombo City tour Colombo tour includes a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Lotus tower, Fort, the former British administrative centre and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. If time permits, you may also see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square. You will be taken to visit the lotus tower to get mesmerizing views of the city line.

Return back to the hotel - Jetwing Colombo Seven and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

Day 2
After breakfast you will proceed to Habarana. 
Check in to the hotel and relax till afternoon before heading to Minneriya National park.

In the afternoon, visit the Minneriya National park for a safari. The park extends to 8,889 hectares and is well known for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Other wildlife that can be sighted include wild buffaloes, wild boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, sambhar, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, and numerous species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and butterflies.

Return back to your hotel in Habarana - Cinnamon Lodge Habarana and spend the rest of the day at leisure

Day 3
An early morning start, you will be taken to climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

One of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress was built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD) for the purpose of protecting him from his rivals. An UNSECO World Heritage listed site, also known as the “Fortress in the Sky”. The climb up to the top of the fortress doesn’t only offer the reward of breathtaking views but there is so much to discover during your climb to the top. 
Highlights of the climb include water gardens, artistic frescoes, mirror wall, the lion gate and the magnificent views from the rock summit.

Return back to your hotel in for breakfast and relax till afternoon before heading to Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa was founded in the 11th Century AD and was governed by many Kings. King Parakrambahu I’s reign was considered the most significant for this ancient kingdom. During his reign (12th Century AD) this second Kingdom of Sri Lanka (after Anuradhapura) was known as the Golden Age of Polonnaruwa, as Parakrambabu ruled during an era where trade and agriculture was at its peak.

Return back to the hotel - Cinnamon Lodge Habarana and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

Day 4
After leisurely breakfast you will be taken to visit Dambulla Cave temple.

Dambulla cave temple is part of the Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka and is encrusted into a magnificently large rock. It sits more than 160m above the surrounding land and spans for more than 1.5 km around the base. Also known as the “Golden Temple” it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. This ancient complex was initially established in 3rd Century BC and is truly a wonder as it is the largest and best preserved cave temples in Sri Lanka. The cave temples are home to numerous religious and cultural paintings and sculptures. 

Continue your journey to Kandy, check in to the hotel and relax till evening before heading to Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic.

The Temple of Tooth Relic (“Dalada Maligawa” as known to the locals) is located in Kandy. This sacred temple is also home to the palm-leaf transcripts and its history dates back to 1687. This stunning piece of architecture is instantly recognised by its octagonal shape and golden roof. Although you are not able to view the actual tooth itself, the casket within which it is held is displayed twice a day. 

Return back to the hotel -  Cinnamon Citadel Kandy and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

Day 5
Today after early breakfast you will get on board to the local train which is how the British used to travel during the colonial times in the late 1800’s. You will have reserved seats for you and witness the beautiful ride along forests, villages, Waterfalls and tea estates.

Train journey from Kandy station to Nanu Oya station
Train leaves Kandy by 08:45 am and reach Nanu Oya by 12:45 pm.
Approx. 04 hours’ journey

Your chauffer guide will take you to the hotel - Galway Heights, Nuwara Eliya from Nanu Oya railway station, check in to the hotel and relax enjoying the hotel facilities.

Day 6
After breakfast you will proceed to Yala, on your way you will stop for lunch in Ella, thereafter you will visit and experience Curd Processing in Tissamaharama.

Though buffalo curd is a quintessential favorite in the Sri Lankan pantry, its arduous journey, from teat to table, is often unheeded. This excursion provides you the opportunity to witness the ins and outs of a dairy farm and take part in learning how to make the curd. Step into a dairy farm in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka, where buffalo curd production is done as the chief livelihood of most locals. Assist the farmers in leading the buffalos to graze or observe the milkmaids at work. Help yourself to a fresh sip of milk after trying your hand milking a buffalo. Lend a helping hand to the farmers to carry the pots of milk back to their houses and study how the curd is made the traditional way. Dust off this Sri Lankan traditional experience by finally relishing on a fresh pot of curd sweetened with treacle.

Continue your journey to Yala, check into the hotel - Cinnamon Wild Yala and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

Day 7
Pick up time 05:30 am early morning you will be taken on a Yala jeep safari.
*You will get packed breakfast from the hotel*

Embark on an adventure of a lifetime with a Wildlife Jeep Safari at the Yala National Park! Yala National Park is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 24km Northeast of Tissamaharama. Yala is the best location to sight and photograph the rare and remarkable leopards. Other highlights of Yala include the herd of wild elephants, bears, wild boars, buffalos, deer, crocodiles and many species of birds. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. There are also an abundance of water supply for animals and birds ranging from waterholes, streams, small lakes to lagoons

Return back to the hotel and relax for some time, before heading to Beruwala.

Check into the hotel - Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

Day 8
After breakfast you will be taken for Madu River Boat Safari.

Madu River is a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands. A boat tour is an ideal way to experience hundreds of species of plants and animals in their natural habitat. There are around 64 islands in the river and lagoon, from a tiny speck housing, a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families, connected to the mainland via a long footbridge. You can visit an island with a Buddhist monastery, where the friendly young monks will show you a 150-year-old book made of palm leaves and how they cook on cinnamon wood on an open fire.

Thereafter you will visit a Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda.

Visiting the Turtle hatchery in Sri Lanka is one of the most recommended things to do by Lonely Planet. The small town of Kosgoda on the southern strip is famous for its turtle hatchery which is operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka.At the hatchery, fishermen are paid for rescuing the vulnerable eggs which they collect at night, along the sandy beach. Visitors can witness the exceptional sight of them hatching or even see tanks filled with new born hatchlings. After being fed, the baby turtles are returned back to the sea where they are released when they are 2-4 days old. Once placed on the beach, most baby sea turtles start moving towards the water, flapping their tiny flippers. Children in particular love to visit the hatchery and watch the turtles being released back into their natural habitat.

Return back to the hotel - Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.

Day 9
Spend the rest of your stay at leisure enjoying the beach and hotel facilities - Cinnamon Bey Beruwala

Day 10
Spend the rest of your stay at leisure enjoying the beach and hotel facilities - Cinnamon Bey Beruwala

Day 11
Today, your stay in Sri Lanka comes to an end. Check out from the Cinnamon Bey Beruwala and you will be transferred to Bandaranayke International Airport for your departure flight.

Flight Details:

Depart London Heathrow at 21.30 hrs arrive Colombo at 12.45 hrs ( next day )
Depart Colombo at 13.05 hrs arrive London Heathrow at 20.00 hrs