Day 01

Airport - Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - Dambulla

Drive Time – Approximately 4 Hours

(Optional)  PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE – Approx. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawela. Here an 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.

Day 02

Dambulla - Sigiriya Rock Fortress – Dambulla Cave Temple – Dambulla

(Optional)  Dambulla Cave Temple first came to use as a refuge for King Valagambahu in 1st century BC. Concealed by the local monks upon returning from exile to his throne at Anuradhapura he had the magnificent cave temple built for them. The cave temple consists of a complex of Buddhist image houses. Its rock ceiling is one large sweep of colourful frescoes, some of which dates back to over 2,000 years, which depicts Buddhist mythology, and the tales of the Buddha's previous births. This cave temple has the largest number of Buddha statues all housed in one place, including a 14 meter long, colossal figure of the recumbent Buddha carved out of the rock.

(Optional)  Sigiriya Rock Fortress is home to 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 fortress.  Within its triple- moated defence the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft.  On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original colour.

Day 03

 Dambulla - Matale Spice Garden - Kandy

Drive Time – Approximately 2 Hours

(Optional)  Spice Garden in Matale to see the different spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for.  You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed

Kandy, including Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, Arts & Crafts Centre, Gem Museum & Temple of Tooth Relic. Kandy the hill capital, venue of the annual Perahera The last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Kandy is an example of the Buddhism's influence in Sri Lanka today. Temple's shrines and monasteries keeping alive Buddhist traditions are everywhere.   

Day 04

Kandy – Temple of Tooth Relic – Peradeniya Botanical Garden – Cultural Show

Drive Time – Approximately 2 Hours

City tour in Kandy, visit the Temple of Tooth Relic and Peradeniya Botanical Garden, in the evening enjoy Cultural Show.

(Optional)  Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha's Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess' hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka's most prized possession.

By the night experience a colourful show where you will be taken to mind blowing Sri Lankan culture extravaganza… Get ready for Heavy drumbeat and acrobatic act.

(Optional)  ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, PERADENIYA 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

(Optional)  Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - ever since 4th Century A.D, when the Buddha's Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess' hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka's most prized possession.

(Optional)  ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, PERADENIYA 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.  

By the night experience a colourful show where you will be taken to mind blowing Sri Lankan culture extravaganza… Get ready for Heavy drumbeat and acrobatic act.

Day 05

Kandy – Tea Plantation – Ramboda Falls – Nuwara Eliya

Drive Time – Approximately 5 ½ Hours

Enjoy “Tea experience”, which involves a visit a plantation to observe firsthand the process, starting from the plucking field where it all begins with the picking of “two leaves and a bud” to the factory where the processing begins. Originally introduced to the island around 1850 by the British, Ceylon Tea is world famous for its high quality and has remained a major contributor to the island’s economy for generations. Currently, Sri Lanka is one of largest exporter of tea worldwide. The high altitudes produce the best flavors, so Sri Lanka’s hill-country is the ideal environment to grow the most flavorsome tea. A guided tour around a Tea Factory is an enlightening experience.

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. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park.

Day 06

Nuwara Eliya – Yala

Drive Time – Approximately 3 ½ Hours

Yala, situated in the south-east corner of the island, is home to the greatest variety of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. Its varying habitats, consisting of scrub plains, jungles, rocky outcrops, fresh water lakes, rivers and beaches, provides home to many species of animals including sloth bear, herds of elephants, buffalo, monkeys, sambar, deer, crocodiles and the endangered leopard subspecies, Panthera Pardus Kotiya, which is only found in Sri Lanka.

(Optional)  At dusk, visit the Yala National Park with a total protected area of 126,768 hectares, Yala consists of scrub plains, lagoons and rocky sections and offers the broadest cross-section of the country’s flora and fauna. In terms of game-viewing this is probably the best place to see all of the ‘big three’: elephant, leopard and water buffalo. It is estimated that Yala is home to about 35 Leopard making it one of the world’s densest leopard populations. Countless other animals including sloth bear, deer, wild boar, crocodiles, monkeys and numerous species of birds can also be seen.

Day 07

Yala – Galle City Tour – Madhu River Boat Ride – Kosgoda turtle Hatchery - Bentota

Drive Time – Approximately 4 ½ Hours

Visit Galle world heritage site and Bentota.

One of the most iconic scenes you’re bound to see in Sri Lanka is stilt fishing. An old tradition around Sri Lanka, stilt fishing had disappeared after the devastating tsunami that hit the country and other parts of the Indian Ocean, but soon the people returned to their customs, and now you can spot them sitting on their uncomfortable stilts, hoping to catch something.

(Optional)  Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally built by the Portuguese and then further developed by the Dutch and the British, covers nearly four sq kms, and is protected by 12 bastions and connecting ramparts. During the early 18^th century the Old Dutch Gate was the entrance point to the Fort. Subsequently the British built the Main Gate which is still used today. Buildings of interest include the Dutch Reformed Church, All Saints Church, Amangalla Hotel (formerly the New Oriental Hotel), and the lighthouse and bell tower.

(Optional)  Marine Turtle Conservation in Kosgoda… Globally, all seven species of marine turtles are endangered. Of these seven, five come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka. The process of marine turtles nesting, hatchlings being born, and swimming back to sea is fascinating to observe. The Kosgoda Conservation Project is an ideal way to learn and observe this endangered species

(Optional)  MADU RIVER BOAT RIDE in the 915 hectare Maadu Ganga Estuary is connected by two narrow channels to the Randombe Lake, forming a complex wetland system encompassing 64 mangrove islets. In the year 2000, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) undertook a detailed biodiversity survey of the region & revealed the existence of no less than 10 major wetland vegetation types supporting over 300 plant species & 248 species of vertebrates. This remarkable diversity has led to its being classified under RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands in 2003.

Day 08

Bentota – Colombo Shopping & City Tour 

Drive Time – Approximately 1 ½ Hours

After breakfast proceed to Colombo.

Colombo a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens, Visit Fort, the former British administrative centre and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmiths quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a    Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square.

Start shopping in Colombo, Visit ODEL, House of Fashion, Arcade Independence square, Race Course, and Beverly Street, visit bargain market in Colombo Pettah.

Day 09

Colombo - Airport

Drive Time – Approximately 1 ½ Hour

Hotels used or Similar

Prices Include:

• Accommodation in hotels specified or similar on BB Basis.
• Transportation in a private a/c car or micro van with an English speaking chauffer guide as per the program.

Price Excludes

• Tips & personal expenses.
• Visa Charges.
• Entrance fees.
• Flight ticket.

Complimentary from Pioneers Travel:

• 2 Mineral water bottles per person per day.
• Discounted shopping vouchers.
• 1 SIM Cards (On Request).

• Rates are subject to availability and time of booking.
• Valid until 30 April 2017 except from 15 December 2016- 15 January 2016 as it’s peak season. Peak period supplements will be added.
• Rates not applicable during exhibitions and peak periods.

Entrance fees: