Starting
$1260.00/Person
(Twin/Double Sharing)
Single supplement $426.00
Welcome Page > Sri Lankan Holiday Packages > History and Culture Tour
History and Culture Tour
Tour Duration: 14 Days
We travel to some of Sri Lanka’s greatest sights: from ancient Buddhist monuments to tea plantations and historic cities. We visit the Temple of the Tooth, search for elephants in Yala National Park and relax by the warm sandy Sri Lankan tropical coast.
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Day 1
Beach side rest, Watching Fisherman
Negombo
Our tour begins once all have Checked-In to our hotel in the small coastal town of Negombo. Our hotel is on the beach allowing you a great view of fishermen and the sunset.
Overnight stay in Negombo.
Day 2
Fishing village, Cave Temple
Negombo, Dambulla
Today we visit a nearby fishing village where the catch is made in traditional style large outrigger
canoes, known locally as ‘oruvas’. We may also see the toddy tappers climbing tall coconut trees and collecting sap from the flowers to make Arrack, a locally produced spirit.
We then leave Negombo and drive to Dambulla, where a great series of caves have been turned into temples dating from the 1st century BC. We will visit five separate caves, which contain a large number of Buddha images and a few sculptures of Hindu Gods. The Reclining Buddha is 14m long. This World Heritage Site is visited by crowds of worshippers.
Overnight stay in Dambulla.
Day 3
Lion Rock Fortress
Sigiriya
In the morning we drive to Sigiriya. A morning climb brings us up to the redoubtable Sky Fortress.
The ruins of this 5th century fortress are one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, a stupendous sight to
behold and a feat of consummate engineering skill. A switchback series of steps and steel stairways
(sometimes steep and challenging to some) ascend to the top. Halfway up, tucked beneath a
sheltering overhang of rock, are the famous frescoes – the Sigiriya Damsels, their colors still glowing.
Magnificent views can be enjoyed from the summit of the rock palace.
Heading to Habarana, we make an elephant back safari through the shrub jungles and across the
Habarana ponds. Here we should encounter a variety of small wild animals and birds amidst
fascinating plants and flowers.
Overnight stay in Dambulla.
Day 4
Visit an ancient city
Polonnaruwa
Today we explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which reached its height of glory in the 12th
century. The city still has many interesting and spectacular buildings and monuments. There is the
Royal Palace Group with its Audience Hall, Bathing Pool and Quadrangle – a very compact collection
of ruins. Close by is the Circular Relic House, a curious round structure with a beautifully preserved
‘moonstone’ carved at the foot of a flight of steps. Another famous feature of the deserted city is the
group of carved images of the Buddha known as Galvihara. Here there are four colossal figures, all of
which are carved out of solid granite. Later in the afternoon we return to Dambulla.
Overnight stay in Dambulla.
Day 5
Last Kingdom
Kandy
Lying in the mountains 120km northeast of Colombo, Kandy is, in climatic terms, a world apart due
to its altitude of 500m above sea level. The town was captured by the British as late as 1815, and is
known more for its cultural and spiritual importance rather than its history. Buddhists from all over
the world come to this delightful old highland town, specifically to visit the Temple of the Tooth, the
Dalada Maligawa. The costly jeweled shrine of the Holy Tooth is kept in the upper floor of the
original building. This relic was brought from India 1,700 years ago and every year, at the time of the
August full moon, it is paraded round the town with the Easala Perahara. During this ten-night
festival of Perahara, the Tooth is borne along on a richly attired elephant, surrounded by saffron
robed monks and Kandyan dancers. Kandyan dancers can also be seen performing every night at a
few locations around town. This morning’s sight-seeing includes attending the Temple of the Tooth
Ceremony and a visit to the Peradeniya Botanical garden. Your afternoon will be free to continue
your exploration of this charming mountain town.
Overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 6
Kandy
Kandy
A full free day to continue your exploration of this charming mountain town or simply relax and
enjoy the amenities at our hotel.
Overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 7
Hill country
Nuwara Eliya
This morning we head off across the highlands, through green rolling hills covered in tea plantations,
on a panoramic train ride up hill. Afternoon we will be visiting a working tea factory. After checking
into our hotel we’ll take a tour around this little town, known as ‘Little England”, famous for its lake,
golf and race course and well manicured gardens.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.
Day 8
Visit Worlds End
Horton Plains
We head out this morning to the Horton Plains, situated on Sri Lanka’s highest plateau between altitudes of 2000m and 2300m. Traditionally named “Mahaeliya” the park’s main attraction is the thrilling cliff known as World’s End which offers stunning views across the tea plantations. We aim to trek to World’s End in the morning when the air is clear and the views are best. Although the area is now devoid of elephants, we may be lucky enough to see other flora and fauna such as the Sambar deer. Returning to the hotel in the early afternoon, there is time to refresh and relax; maybe even a round of golf on the adjacent golf course!.
Overnight stay in Ella.
Day 9
Safari
Ella, Yala National Park
A long but scenic journey today as we descend from the central highlands to the coast. At Ella we visit Little Adams Peak, Nine arch bridge and Rawana Ella Falls. We then continue south through the hill country until we eventually meet the plains at the small town of Wellawaya, which stands at a major national crossroads. Continuing southwards, we reach Yala National Park where we’ll take a late afternoon game drive. This huge nature reserve covers a wide range of habitats, from dense jungle to open parkland with huge rocky outcrops which gives way to huge sand dunes before meeting the sea. The park is notable for its leopard population and though sightings of these are rare, we hope to spot many of the other 3 species native to this area such as elephant, crocodile, wild boar and langur monkey. Yala is also home to over 130 species of bird, including orioles, hornbills and a wide variety or migrating birds who stop to rest and water here.
Overnight stay in Tissamaharama.
Day 10
Dutch Fort
Galle
This morning there is a chance to take an optional game drive in Yala National Park. Game drives are
taken in jeeps with local naturalists who will help you spot the native wildlife. For those not wishing
to take a game drive there is free time to relax at the hotel.
In the late morning we head out of the park and on along the coast to Galle. Although there is still
evidence of damage from the 2004 tsunami all along this coastline, the international relief effort has
put the area on a fast path to recovery; and the brand new infrastructure is allowing local
communities to benefit from tourism once again.
Overnight stay in Galle.
Day 11
Tropical Beach
Galle, Bentota
This morning there is a chance to take an optional game drive in Yala National Park. Game drives are
taken in jeeps with local naturalists who will help you spot the native wildlife. For those not wishing
to take a game drive there is free time to relax at the hotel.
In the late morning we head out of the park and on along the coast to Galle. Although there is still
evidence of damage from the 2004 tsunami all along this coastline, the international relief effort has
put the area on a fast path to recovery; and the brand new infrastructure is allowing local
communities to benefit from tourism once again.
Overnight stay in Galle.
Day 12 - 13
Relax By The Beach
Free time in Bentota
Our final days are spent relaxing on the Indian Ocean coast. If you feel like exploring further
however, we recommend a trip into Colombo by train for more sightseeing and shopping.
Overnight stay in Bentota.
Day 14
Tour End
Bentota
Our tour ends this morning after breakfast and transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.
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We are a registered Travel agency offering guided tours and holidays in Sri Lanka since 2010. Our team has over 30 years experience in providing all kinds of vacation packages and services while leaving a very good experience with all our guests. Talk to us today to explore a personalised holiday in Sri Lanka.
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