Sri Lanka: Unveiling the Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Discover the beauty of Sri Lanka, a captivating island nation located south of India. With over 1,300 kilometers of coastline, it offers endless opportunities for relaxation and adventure.

Sri Lanka boasts a history exceeding 2,500 years. Explore the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, remnants of powerful Buddhist kingdoms. Witness the influence of European colonization in the architecture and cultural remnants left by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, and today offers a fascinating blend of ancient heritage and modern charm.

Despite its small size, Sri Lanka boasts vibrant cities, lush rainforests, misty mountains, sprawling tea plantations, captivating ancient ruins, and stunning wildlife sanctuaries. Explore the bustling metropolis of Colombo, the country's capital, and experience the seasonal splendor of this tropical paradise.

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Itinerary

10 Days / 9 Nights

$3,275 per person sharing (+$1,100 single supplement)

Day 1

Arrive in Colombo

Welcome to Sri Lanka! You will be met and assisted on arrival at the airport by a Learning Journeys representative. After your transfer from Airport to Colombo you will Check in at The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. Located in the heart of Colombo, Galle Fact hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Sri Lanka with rich history & legendary traditions.

Refresh and Rest for a while and then enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

In the late afternoon / evening take a walk along the Galle Face Green, facing the hotel & visit the Street Food Vendors to indulge in local specialties. That will set the tone about the Sri Lankan culture from the taste buds to a longing feel to get more out of this fantastic trip you are going to go!

During late evening you can witness the historic international flag-lowering ceremony of the hotel, accompanied by the stirring melodies of a Scottish bagpiper.

Then dinner and overnight stay at Galle Face Hotel

Day 2

Colombo - Chilaw - Anuradhapura

After breakfast, you will take a self- guided visit to the hotel’s Museum / carry out a fascinating tour with our hotel’s historian who ‘s extremely knowledgeable on the facts, (based on availability) learning about the hotel's rich past and its famous guests. Don’t forget to note down the fun facts to carry with you!

Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

After lunch, continue to Chilaw (Approx-85km- 2 Hrs 15 mins). At Chilaw, visit the Munneswaren Hindu Temple and offer Fruits, flowers, insence sticks and other offerings to collect blessings in the Hindu way where you will be witnessing the “Iyer” AKA the priest who will be a Tamil speaking Brahmin performing the act of pooja with your offerings chanting mantras, ringing bells, lighting lamps, something that is way different and unique to experience.

He will share the offerings after offering it to the deities which is considered as food blessed from God.

Transfer from Chilaw to Anuradhapura. (Approx-130km- 3 Hrs)

In the late evening, visit Ruwanweli Stupa, and the Sacred Sri Maha Bodhi, the world’s oldest recorded tree.

Commanding a rich Sri Lankan heritage, Anuradhapura - one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world starring 113 kings & spanning over 1300 years in its peak - avows of being the greatest city of ancient Sri Lanka following its reign as the first capital. The sapphire of its crown is certainly the Sri Maha Bodhi - the sacred Bo sapling extracted from the tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment - standing more than 2200 years in its pride. Stroll through the sacred trails of the venerated city to adore the legacy that interweaves Ruwanweliseya - the gigantic dagoba resting alongside the Basawakkulama Tank.

Dinner and Overnight Stay at The Lake Forest, Annuradhapura (4-star hotel)

Day 3

Anuradhapura - Village Visit

Breakfast at The Lake Forest.

In the early morning proceed to Nekutunuwewa village (Approx- 31km- 1 hr ) for a firsthand authentic experience on local village life. This picturesque village is located near Anuradhapura, close to the underdeveloped town of Kahatagasdigiliya, and boasts of its natural green beauty with lakes, forest patches etc.

Its villagers primarily rely on agriculture for their livelihood, cultivating paddy during the rainy season and other crops like sesame, corn, finger millet, and nuts during the dry season.

Experience the heart-warming hospitality and the reliant spirit of a village where the community thrives despite challenges like wildlife encounters, limited irrigation, and scarce resources. Discover a place where humanity shines bright against the odds.

Your experience begins with a 30-minute ride on a land master, passing through paddy fields, lakes, and village residential areas. A hike to a boulder reveals carved beds believed to have been used by soldiers during ancient wars. The top of the boulder offers a breathtaking panoramic view making it a perfect spot to capture your next cool Instagram post! Continuing through the village, one can witness buffalo herds, home gardens with vegetables, houses built with clay, lakes, paddy fields, and tree huts.

Visit the home of a villager for a short chat and to refresh with local snacks & drinks. After a short break, visit the village school to interact with students and a 30-minute language training session to boost their foreign language skills.

Following the school visit, enjoy a delicious lunch with appx 15 different authentic Sri Lankan dishes and locally made desserts. After lunch, visit the mini Dhambulla cave temple, which features similar characteristics to the famous Dhambulla cave temple. A local house visit for a snack with tea marks the end of the excursion before departing back to Annuradhapura.

In the evening take part in a Pooja Ceremony offered to the Bodhi Tree, at a village Temple to invoke blessings.

Thereafter Return to hotel for Dinner and Overnight stay.

Day 4

Anuradhapura - Habarana - Minneriya

Breakfast at The Lake Forest

Transfer from Anuradhapura to Habarana. village (Approx- 59km- 75 mins)

Take part in offering Mid- day meal (alms giving), to monks of a village temple in Habarana.

Meals will be prepared by a local family at their home and brought to the temple. Clients will join at the village temple. Enjoy serving of first portion of the meal, to Lord Buddha, while offering flowers, incense sticks, lighting oil lamps etc. Thereafter serve the meal (alms) to the monks, followed by chanting of ‘Pirith’, by the monks, to invoke blessings. Entire activity will take place before 12:00 noon, as it is customary for all monks to partake their mid-day meal before 12:00 noon each day!

After the meal, you can speak with monks for few minutes and have a Sri Lankan meal at the temple itself.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

In the late afternoon continue to Minneriya village (Approx-25km- 40 mins) and carry out a safari at the Minneriya National Park.

If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then Minneriya is your Colosseum! Spreading over 8800 hectares, this is a sanctuary for elephants. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, but its spotlight remains between swaying trunks & flapping ears. Park your jeep on the bank of the reservoir and switch off its engine. Watch carefully as herds of elephants - one by one - roll on to the grass-covered banks, to feed on tender shoots. In fact, this is the largest elephant gathering in the world - over 300 at a time - which has garnished the park into a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe.

Thereafter drive to overnight stay hotel in Habarana for check in. (Approx-25km- 40 mins)

Dinner and Overnight Stay at Cinnamon Lodge (5 star)

Day 5

Habarana - Sigiriya - Matale - Kandy

Breakfast at Cinnamon Lodge

In the morning head to Sigiriya (Approx-17km- 45 mins) and climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

The 5th century rock citadel of King Kasyapa and World Heritage Site - Sigiriya - doesn't only boasts of ancient Sri Lankan engineering & urban planning supremacy but also acclaims to be one of the finest monuments of art & culture. Step through the gigantic 'Lion Paws' - overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below - to comprehend the absolute splendor that once dominated this rock fortress. Surrounded by ramparts & moats the Lion Rock - resembling the mythological 'City of Gods' - is coated by frescoes that relate to Gupta style paintings found in Ajanta caves of India.

Walk in the shade of an eminent 'mirror wall' embracing the Western face of Sigiriya representing an artistic hundred meters laminated with graffiti. Wander into the well-fabricated museum downstairs for an epic journey of yesteryears to realize how the citadel floated above citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water right onto its summit with an ingenious hydraulic system describing a colossal masterpiece of the great king which remained a wonder in Asia for centuries.

After your climb down, refresh and proceed to Matale (Approx-64km- 1 Hr 45 mins). Visit a Spice Garden in Matale

An agricultural zone in the Central Province, Matale seldom drops off the maps due to its remarkable contribution through flagship crops of the island extending from tea, rubber & vegetables to spices. Spearheading the Rebellion back in 1848, Matale today takes immense pride in its story woven around spices. Stop by the side of a spice garden - into which you will be most welcome - and observe the therapeutic values of spices & processes over a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Or spend some time idling on the hardened streets if you mean a real town adventure filled with voices and colors.

Meet up with an Ayurvedic Doctor at the Spice Garden for a short discussion of 15 -20 minutes, followed by a visit to a small factory therein, producing Ayurvedic Medicine.

At the end of the visit, enjoy a 10-minute massage on Head & Shoulder / Foot.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

Thereafter continue up to Kandy. (Approx-25km- 1 Hr )

In the evening view a Cultural Show in Kandy!

Fine tune your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music & drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka.

Thereafter visit Kandy Temple housing the Lord Buddha’s Tooth Relic at Pooja Time.

Dinner and Overnight Stay at Earl’s Regency (5 star)

Day 6

Kandy - Pinnawala - Kandy and Balance City Tour

Breakfast at Earl’s Regency

After breakfast drive to Pinnawala (Approx-39km- 1 Hr 30 mins)and visit the Elephant Orphanage there, a conservation project for orphaned & injured elephants in semi wild conditions.

The Pinnawela Elephant orphanage is a 25-acre coconut property, that is home to many orphaned elephants who roam freely. But why does a visit to Pinnawela create so much excitement? This is the one place you would get to see these gentle giants up close when they stroll to the nearby river at 10.00am and 2.00pm daily. It’s an opportunity to take lots of pictures of them taking a bath, enjoying the water, playing, and socializing with the rest of the elephants. If you are adventurous, you could volunteer your time for a ½ day or full day session to be a caretaker!

After visiting a Paper Re-cycling center, where the main fiber ingredient is Elephant Dung!

See how fiber is retrieved into recycled paper, produced and how end products such as photo frames, greeting cards, note pads etc. are made from recycled paper, mostly by ladies from surrounding village. Feel free to exchange a few words with working ladies, as you watch them bring to life and create attractive products out of recycled paper!

Then it's back to Kandy and carry out the rest of the city tour from the previous day! Last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe - before it was brought under the British rule in 1815, Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings - crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe A stroll across this small lakeside town - cradled among the misty hills - will feature the Kandy City Centre - bundled with latest and world class brands, bazaar, an arts & crafts center, as well as a gem museum & lapidary. Walk in color as you glide through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

Dinner and Overnight Stay at Earl’s Regency

Day 7

Kandy - Peradeniya - Tea Plantation - Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast at Earl’s Regency

After breakfast, transfer from Kandy to Peradeniya (Approx-6km- 25 mins) and visit the Royal Botanical Garden.

First developed as a pleasure garden under royalty and later harmonized by the British, the Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya - today bundled with the most welcoming facilities located just 4 miles off Kandy - is a flourishing national asset in the Wonder of Asia. Walk into this 147-acre bliss of an experience, passing well-tended lawns, pavilions & an octagon conservatory to be greeted by the vast expanse of a magnificently landscaped lush green turf which will encourage you for an exhilarating break. Towards the north of the entrance rests a cafeteria that one might come across before stepping into some of the highlights - the orchid house & giant Javan fig tree - of this place which overflows in grace.

Then continue to Nuwara Eliya. ( 3 hrs ) Enroute visit a Tea Plantation and a Factory. Take part in Tea Picking activity.

For Sri Lanka, Tea and Tourism are words which cannot be separated. Take a tour to the cold & misty hills that take pride of an ultimate tea tour, covering lush green blankets of tea plantations. Or just step into a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date. As you observe the hissing and swishing of machines, inhaling the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, make sure to end your day in style over a perfectly blended cup of pure Ceylon Tea.

Afterwards, drive up to Nuwara Eliya and carry out a city tour.

Misty steep roads, twisting through lush green blankets of tea bushes in a cool climate, remind visitors that they are within the range of the renowned British colonial retreat, Nuwara Eliya. Augmented by an English countryside atmosphere, the city of light - once governed by English & Scottish planters - is still studded with colonial bungalows, hedgerows & one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the world. A hike through the green grass and red-brick walls should present breathtaking views of a buzzing countryside hamlet. Drive through green valleys of the hill country pierced by endless waterfalls & dotted by tea pluckers draped in bright-colored saris. Or rent a bike for a gentle ride along the banks splashed by the waters of Lake Gregory.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

If time permits head to Single Tree Mountain viewpoint to get a bird’s eye view of Nuwara Eliya.

Dinner & Overnight stay at a Colonial Hotel in Nuwara Eliya / Tea factory hotel which is an old Tea Factory converted into a modern-day hotel.

Day 8

Nuwara Eliya - Kandapola - Nuwara Eliya - Bentota

Breakfast at Heritance Tea Factory.

After breakfast drive to Kandapola (Approx-12km- 40 mins) a village off Nuwara Eliya, to learn about lifestyle of the Tamil community living in the hill country.

Meet up with inmates of a Line House, enjoy traditional welcome and see how they live in a Line House. Thereafter take part in a demonstration to prepare a colorful Rangoli drawing using colored rice grains. Enjoy a cooking demonstration in preparing a local snack, followed by dressing up in Saree/Dhoti. View home shrine, where inmates of line houses offer pooja & surrounding vegetable plots in the area.

After the experience, return to hotel, freshen up and check out.

Thereafter continue to Beach ( Appx 5 -6 hrs ) on the southern seacoast, enroute view St Clare’s and Devon Waterfalls.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

Dinner and Overnight Stay at Taj Bentota Resort & Spa.

Day 9

Bentota - Ambalangoda - Bentota

Morning at leisure and in the afternoon to carry out a river cruise in the Madampae River, in Ambalangoda, (Approx-24km- 45 mins) of the Southern Sea Coast in Sri Lanka.

During the boat ride clients will see much bird life associated with the river. Visit some cottage industries carried out by the villagers living on the small islands on the river. See how they produce rope from coir, cinnamon peeling, extraction of cinnamon oil, vegetable plots in the stands etc. Thereafter visit ‘Nagenahiru Foundation ‘who concentrates on the conservation of Mangrove vegetation on the riverbanks.

Take part in planting a Mangrove tree sapling and see the areas where the Foundation has replanted mangroves during the past 15 years.

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant and thereafter return to the beach hotel for dinner & an overnight stay.

Day 10

Bentota - Colombo Airport

Breakfast at Taj Bentota Resort & Spa

After breakfast transfer from Bentota to Columbo Airport.

We look forward to welcoming you on another Learning Journeys experience!

Inclusions and additional information:

09 nights accommodation in standard rooms
All meals starting with dinner on day 01 ending with breakfast on day 10 at hotels specified or local restaurants.
Air-conditioned vehicle from Colombo to Colombo as per the itinerary.
Entrance fees to Sri Maha Bodhiya, Anuradhapura, Isurumuniya Temple, Minneriya National Park, Kandy Temple, Sigiriya Entrance, Cultural Show ,Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage & Botanical Gardens as per the itinerary.
English-Speaking Chauffeur and an English-speaking National guide to accompany throughout the tour.

Special activities included:

Pooja of Fruits at Munneswaren Temple on day 2
Village visit, local school and local lunch on day 3
Bodhi Pooja on day 3
Alms Giving activity in Habarana area
One Safari at Minneriya National Park
Tamil Lifestyle Experience in Nuwara Eliya
Boat ride in the Madampae River and visit to Nagenahiru Foundation

ABOVE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:

Video Camera permits at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
- Video Camera and Still Camera permits at the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy.
Entrance fees to sites to places not specified above.
Christmas and New Years eve supplements at hotels.
Additional beverages throughout the tour.
Expenses of a personal nature.
Any other services not specified above.
SPECIAL NOTES:
The above rates are net and include all currently applicable government taxes
If any taxes are revised the rates quoted will be revised accordingly.
Visits to wildlife parks will be at the client’s own risk.
Safari vehicles are non-air-conditioned and are very basic with minimum insurance cover (not the comprehensive cover)

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