Day 1 – Arrival and booking into a hotel in Sigiriya
According to your travel plans for six nights and seven days, you will arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport today. A representative from Lanka Budget Tours will greet you at the airport. After that, you’ll get in your car and head to the medieval city of Sigiriya, stopping first to tour the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
A unique location to see elephants is Pinnawala. The facility was built in 1975 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation to care for baby elephants that had been abandoned and lost in the wilderness. These cute animals are taken in, raised, and fertilized in captivity. It is situated 13 kilometers northeast of Kegalle town in Pinnawala village. The world’s largest herd of captive elephants resides at the Pinnawala orphanage. starting at 9:00 a.m. should occur when visiting the orphanage. to 1 p.m. Young elephants are thus bathed and fed milk at this period each day. It’s a wonderful chance for visitors to observe these domesticated elephants enjoying fun and bathing in the adjacent river.
Day 2 – Sigiriya to Kandy
On the second day, you will do rock climbing before heading to Kandy, which is well-known for the Sigiriya rock fortress. Sigiriya, often known as the “lion rock,” served as the nation’s administrative hub and capital during the reign of King Kashyapa. King Kashyapa is credited with constructing a huge lion-shaped entranceway halfway up a cliff close to Sigiriya. Its form led to the moniker “lion rock” (Sigiriya). The king’s death resulted in the castle being abandoned. It was still in use as a Buddhist monastery in the fourteenth century. The fortress’s remnants, which are still discernible today, have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Our subsequent adventure will take us to the Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Dambulla Golden Temple. The five-chambered structure is Sri Lanka’s largest and best-preserved cave temple. A total surface area of 2100 m2 has been covered with murals. There are 157 statues in all at the shrine. The existence of the temple is a natural wonder due to the enormous 150 m-tall rock that serves as its ceiling. After substantial modifications, the enormous, 15-meter-tall golden statue and pagoda were constructed. The temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our next visit will be to the Spice Garden, a stunning area overflowing with scents and vegetation. Additionally, you will have the chance to discover the various applications of spices in both cuisine and medicine. We’ll stop at the Matale Muthumariamman Temple next. The name Muthumariamman is a combination of the words Muthu, which means pearl, Mari, which means rain, and Amman, which means mother. It is a temple dedicated to Mariamman, the Hindu god of fertility and rain. Visits to the temple are enjoyable. Religious celebrations like marriages regularly take place in the temple. The chariot festival, a happy celebration, is the main religious ritual held in the temple throughout the month of March.
The Temple of the Tooth Relic, also known as Sri Dalada Maligawa, is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist attractions, so we’ll get there right away. It is a holy place that is highly important to all Buddhists throughout the globe. It is the temple where the Buddha’s left canine tooth is revered. It was designated a treasure of global culture by UNESCO in 1988. On our subsequent trip, we’ll attend the Kandy Cultural Dance Show. This spellbinding performance highlights Sri Lanka’s dance, emotions, and traditional heritage. You shouldn’t miss it since the dancers from the Kandy Lake club have been doing it since about 1982. Its main goal is to perform every Sri Lankan dance on one platform. You will then be driven to your hotel, where you will spend the night.
Day 3 – Kandy to Ella
On the third day, you will go to the quaint Ella, a little hamlet situated in the Central Province’s hills. You may come across mountains, waterfalls, and stunning foliage as you approach the highlands. You’ll stop a few times along the way, notably at the 109-meter-tall Ramboda Falls, Sri Lanka’s eleventh-tallest waterfall (358 ft). The Damro Labookellie Tea Centre and Tea Garden, Sri Lanka’s first tea establishment, is the destination of our next journey. There are tea samples and a free factory tour offered.
On the way to the quaint town of Nuwara Eliya, we’ll make a few interesting stops, such as Gregory Lake, where you may have a pony ride and enjoy a sumptuous lunch. We’ll then head to the Nuwara Eliya post office after that. It is one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka and has a unique design. Then, after being driven there, you will board a train for a breathtaking journey to the charming city of Ella. One of Sri Lanka’s most romantic train rides is this one. A must-do activity in Sri Lanka is to take in the breathtaking views of the island’s magnificent green tea gardens, mountains, bridges, valleys, and lush wildness. It is also the best way to understand Sri Lankan culture. While making delicious purchases from the vendors that board the train at each station, you can converse with other passengers and wave at children playing beside the tracks. You will be taken to your overnight destination after the train travel.
Day 4 – Ella to Yala
On the fourth day, we will go to Yala, stopping at Little Adam’s Peak, among other places. Since the two summits are similar, Little Adam’s Peak, also known as Mini Adam’s Peak, was given the famed Adams Peak’s name (Sri Pada). A magnificent mountain covered in tea plantations can be reached after a short ascent to Little Adams Peak, where you can see workers harvesting tea. The scene amid the dense bush is magnificent. This climb is one you won’t soon forget. The Nine Arch Bridge is the next structure, and it is well worth seeing to admire the engineering and beauty of the bridge. The Nine Arch Bridge is also known as The Bridge in the Sky. It is a Colonial-era building with a viaduct bridge design. On the way to Yala, you will stop at another beautiful waterfall called ‘Ravana Falls“. It is blended with Ravana folklore. The waterfall is considered as one of the widest waterfalls in Sri Lanka.
The subsequent safari adventure will take place in Yala National Park, the second-largest in the country and one that is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Ruhunu and Kumana national parks, two of the park’s five blocks, are the only ones that are accessible to visitors. Yala was established as an animal sanctuary in 1900. After the safari, you will be taken to the hotel for supper and a night’s stay.
Day 5 – Yala to Mirissa
On the fifth day, you’ll be brought straight to Mirissa. We’ll go to Coconut Tree Hill when you get to Mirissa. It’s possibly the most well-known site in Mirissa. There is a mineralized headland close to Mirissa that faces the Indian Ocean. From the street, it takes around 10 to 15 minutes to stroll down to the beach. You must take a picture in this beautiful frame as you reach the top, which offers a breathtaking view of the beach and Mirissa bay. After that, we’ll visit the waterfront and fish market to see fishermen bring in their catches and hold auctions. You might then browse the town before retiring to your accommodation for the night.
Day 6- Mirissa to Bentota
We’ve scheduled a whale-watching tour for the sixth day to give you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view whales. These amazing creatures enable you to go fairly close to them. One of the most exhilarating water activities in Sri Lanka is whale and dolphin watching, which is possible at Mirissa. Blue whales, killer whales, sperm whales, fin whales, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, spinner dolphins, striped dolphins, and Risso’s dolphins are just a few of the marine species that call Sri Lanka’s warm seas home. From November through April, when the seas are calm and warm, is the best time to watch whales.
We’ll next proceed to Bentota. On the way to Bentota, we will pass via Galle and make a stop to view the famous Galle Fort, which is situated on the Galle Coast. It was constructed by the Portuguese in 1588, and the Dutch refurbished it beginning in 1649. Despite being in existence for more than 432 years, it still has a spectacular look, and it is now regarded as a significant architectural monument. The Turtle Hatchery Farm in Galle, which seeks to improve the toughness of the young turtles, will be the location of our upcoming excursion. A guide will meet you at the main entrance and give you a tour of the structure. Then, we’ll go to the lovely Madu River in Balapitiya town to go boating. The neighboring creek creates a number of islands, and the area’s biological system also creates a magnificent wetland. It is the conclusion of the day, so you will be transported to the hotel.
Day 7 – Departure
On the seventh day of your fantastic seven-day Sri Lanka Sightseeing Tour, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you back to Colombo or the airport in time for your flight home. You booked a seven-day trip with Lanka Budget Tours, and it would be amazing and delightful.
