Day 1: Arrival Negombo

Meeting & assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Later visit fish market, also watch fishing in lagoon. Overnight Negombo.

Day 2: Negombo - Pinnawala - Habarana (Around 4 Hrs Drive)

After breakfast drive to Habarana via Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – was started in 1975 to house abandoned and wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well more than 25 babies born as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0915-0945 hrs and 1415-1445 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-11.00 hrs and 1500-1600 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by. Overnight Habarana.

Day 3: Habarana - Sigiriya Rock - Elephant Ride - Kandy (Around 2 Hrs Drive)

After breakfast, proceed to Kandy via visiting Rock Fortress.
SIGIRIYA – is a “UNESCO World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colors. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed. Commence on an Elephant Back Ride.

On arrival, transfer to hotel. Enjoy cultural dance show. Overnight stay at Cinnamon Citadel Kandy.

Day 4: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya (Around 2.5 Hrs Drive)

After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya after completing Kandy city tour.

Kandy – the hill capital is another “World Heritage Site”. It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (“Maha Wasala”), “Palle Wasala”- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, “Meda Wasala” where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated close by. The Bathing Pavilion (“Ulpenge”) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city.

Temple of The Tooth Relic – When King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592-1604 A.D.) became King in Kandy, he searched for the Tooth Relic and the bowl Relic of the Buddha and found that it was kept at the Delgomuwa Buddhist Temple at Kuruwita, for more than 44 years, hidden in a grinding stone. The King had gone there personally and brought the Sacred Tooth Relic to Kandy in a procession accompanied by the King. The first Temple of the Tooth Relic was constructed by Wimaladharmasuriya I to house it next to the Royal Palace.

Royal botanical gardens, peradeniya (spice garden) – This majestic botanical garden is 147 acres in extent and was started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some which are rare and endemic, as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. The Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest, Royal Palm Avenue, was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world, is one such avenue. Overnight at Heritance Tea Factory Nuwara Eliya.

Day 5: Nuwara Eliya – Yala (Around 3 Hrs Drive)

After breakfast, proceed to Thissamaharama via visiting Nuwara Eliya.
Tea plantation & tea factory - Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839.In 1867, a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings in 8 hectares of forestland, in the Loolkondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23 lbs. being shipped to London. Tea will grow only on rolling terrain and is classified by elevation into low grown, medium grown and high grown into 3 main groups. Today more than 200,000 hectares in highlands and other areas are under Tea and around 300 million Kilograms, with a 25% of world tea exports are done by Sri Lanka as the World’s largest Tea exporter.

Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. Check in to the hotel & Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at Cinnamon Wild Yala.

Day 6: Yala National Park

Breakfast at hotel. Yala National Park - The Ruhuna National Park covers 126,786 hectares including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this were established in 1938. Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors. Overnight at Cinnamon Wild Yala.

Day 7: Yala – Galle - Colombo (Around 6 Hrs Drive)

After breakfast proceed to Colombo via visiting galle dutch fort, mask museum etc. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Colombo Night Life - Colombo has such an active nightlife. After-dark entertainment takes place around the Fort and Cinnamon Gardens area of the city. A few bars that are popular with both locals and visitors include In On The Green adjoining Galle Face Hotel, Cheers Pub in Cinnamon Grand Hotel, White Horse on Navam Mawatha, and Koluu's Tulips on Duplication Road. If you plan to go dancing and clubbing, dress well and show up late. Most of the action doesn't get started until around midnight, and there is some competition for admittance. It is not unusual for parties of single men to be turned away. Once you're in, though, the party goes on all night. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Colombo / Departure

Breakfast at hotel. Later visit Colombo sightseeing & shopping. CHECK-OUT NOON. Colombo, like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood. Yet in some parts, the old world charm is retained. For example, there is a 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings. Other places of interest are the Pettah bazaar - where one can shop for bargain, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).
Later transfer to airport for onward destination