Day 1: Arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka. You are greeted
upon arrival at the airport in Colombo by an Easy Tours Travel Facilitator and ushered to a
chauffeur driven vehicle. You are then driven to your hotel in nearby Negombo for assisted
check-in.
The next few days’ plans are briefly reviewed and you are presented with your welcome package. Among other things, this package includes travel documents such as your air tickets and hotel vouchers, as well as copies of documents (such as our General Travel Guide) that were sent to you earlier.
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean and located south of the Indian subcontinent, is also known as the Island of Serendipity. With a land area the size of West Virginia, and a population of 20,000,000, the magical island encompasses beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes.
Day 2: Negombo - Anurahadpura. Depart with your driver / guide toward Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Your destination is Anuradhapura: Sri Lanka's ancient capital (450 BC - 950 AD) and the center of the island's Buddhist civilization. In interest and antiquity, it is the equal of any ancient 'buried city'. The island's oldest Buddhist shrines - some dating back to 3rd century BC are found here. Attractions in the area include impressive white 'dagabas' (relic chambers) and monuments, embellished with handsome stone carvings and sculpture, the oldest documented tree on earth - The Sri Maha Bodhi which is over 2000 years old, pleasure gardens, beautifully executed stone baths and ponds, and a superb irrigation system of reservoirs and canals.
You will also visit the mountain of Mihintale, which is purported to be the ancient site where Buddhism was founded in Sri Lanka. There are several historical ruins and religious edifices to enjoy here.
This tour serves as the perfect introduction to the history and culture of Sri Lanka on your first day of sightseeing. After your tour, you are driven to Habarana and assisted with check-in to your hotel.
Day 3: Habarana - Polonnaruwa - Habarana. After breakfast proceed to another ancient city on the island, Polonnaruwa. King Parakramabahu’s reign is considered as the golden age of Polonnaruwa, when trade and agriculture flourished under his leadership. His famous and adamant philosophy was that no drop of water falling from the heavens was to be wasted, and each be used toward the development of the land. As a result, irrigation systems far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age were constructed during his reign, which to this day, supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation during the scorching dry season in the east of the country. The greatest of these systems is the Parakrama Samudraya, or the Sea of Parakrama; a tank so vast that it is often mistaken for the ocean. Its great width makes it impossible to stand upon one shore and view the other side, and it encircles the main city like a ribbon, being both a defensive border against intruders and the lifeline of the people in times of peace. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was completely self-sufficient during King Parakramabahu’s reign.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Proceed for a visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress known as “The Fortress in the Sky”. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and garden complete with a swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting has survived in the form of frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color.
Day 4: Habarana - Kandy. After breakfast and assisted check-out, join your guide for the journey to Kandy. Continue the drive through the ancient and scenic landscape until you arrive at Matale. The Spice garden at Matale has long been renowned for its spices. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka brought their native cuisines to the island, resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Sri Lankan people use spices liberally in their dishes and typically do not follow an exact recipe. Here you will learn about fragrant clove,cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace and pepper, and many other favorites such as chocolate and vanilla.
Arrive at Kandy in the early afternoon and you are assisted with check-in to your hotel.
Kandy is the picturesque capital of the hill country, and the historical bastion of Buddhist power. It is built around a peaceful lake in a valley surrounded by lush hills. It is Sri Lanka’s current center of Buddhism, arts and crafts, as well as its cultural center.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Attend a cultural show – Sri Lanka, a country rich with culture & tradition offers a very vibrant and unique show of Sri Lankan traditional dances, in the form of the Kandy cultural show.
Evening - Visit the most important religious monument of Sri Lanka, the Temple Of The Tooth Relic. This famous temple is the abode of a tooth relic from the Buddha. The history of the relic states that it was smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century hidden in the hair of a princess from Orissa. In the almost two millennia that has passed since then, the Relic and the Temple have become Sri Lanka’s most prized treasure, and much of the rest of the Buddhist world considers it highly sacred.
Day 5: Kandy. Enjoy a guided exploration of Kandy this morning. Your stops will include the beautiful Botanical Gardens, Kandy Market, the arts and crafts center, and Kandy View Point, from where you get amazing views of this picturesque city.
After the tour you will return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 6: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya. After breakfast and assisted check-out, you will enjoy the scenic drive to Nuwara Eliya. On this journey you will stop at Ramboda Falls for a photo opportunity, then again for a tea break at the Mackwoods Tea Factory. The undulating plantation views are a visual treat as you enjoy the delicious fresh tea.
Upon your arrival at Nuwara Eliya you will be assisted with your check in at your hotel.
Nuwara Eliya is known as the Little England of Sri Lanka. It is nestled in the middle of lush, beautiful mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. Although it is one of the coldest places on the island, the temperatures here are warmer than what most westerners are used to. A light to medium jacket is recommended. You have the option of enjoying a city tour this afternoon, which includes a stroll through scenic Victoria Park.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya. You are at leisure with your guide/chauffeur from 10 am until 6 pm. Enjoy the many scenic and cultural opportunities around town on this day. A nature walk at Horton’s Plains is highly recommended. This can be the total three hour roundtrip trek to World’s End, which is an amazing experience. You can make the trek shorter and you can also hike up to the Baker’s Falls, a gorgeous symphony of water as it cascades down the rocky mountain outcrop. An iconic temple of Hinduism is nearby and well worth a visit. Located where Ravana imprisoned Goddess Sita, the massive imbedded footprints created by Lord Hanuman’s landing are awe-inspiring.
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya - Yala. You are assisted with your check-out and then you proceed on yet another incredibly scenic drive as you head to Yala National Park. This is Sri Lanka’s most visited National Park, and for very good reason. The scenery is amazing and you will see lots of wild elephants, including herds with their children. The crocodile is commonly found in Yala, as is the wild boar. There is a vast array of wildlife and birds in the park, including the largest concentration of the elusive leopard on the planet.
You will stop at Rawana Falls and and Ella Gap for photo opportunities before arriving in Yala, where you are assisted with your check-in to your jungle lodge.
Afternoon: Enjoy an afternoon safari into the park, if you feel like it. If not, this safari can be moved to the next day, giving you two on that day.
Day 9: Yala. After breakfast, enjoy a safari into the park. The afternoon today is at your leisure.
Day 10: Yala - Galle. You are assisted with check-out in the morning and then you proceed on the drive to Galle. You will pass many interesting sights, including the area where the much publicized Stilt Fishermen used to practice their trade off the coast. This activity is no longer practiced in real life as technology has allowed them to be able to catch fish in easier ways, but the fishermen will perform the unique activity for you for a fee, upon request. You will stop at a Turtle Hatchery where the non-profit that operates it is focused on saving the lives of sea turtles whose parents lay eggs on the beach. Most of the sea turtle breeds on this planet are represented on this part of Sri Lanka’s coast and the hatchery retrieves their eggs (and pays the locals for them) before the eggs are poached by humans for other purposes. You will see turtles of many types, from large, fully grown specimens to tiny, just born creatures in a tank. If you are fortunate, you may actually see a hatching where a large number of turtles make their way out of the sand that their eggs were buried in.
Arrive at Galle and you are assisted with check-in to the hotel.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Enjoy a guided excursion to the historic fort city. Explore the Dutch architecture and various monuments, much of it still the same as it was centuries ago.
Day 11: Galle - Colombo - International Flight. After breakfast and assisted check-out, you will join your guide and driver for the trip to the capital city of Colombo.
En route, stop at Balapitiya for a river cruise on the Madu River. The estuary of the Madu Ganga River is a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands. It may be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. A boat trip is a wonderful way of seeing some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals; monkeys eat fruit in the trees, a water monitor lizard glides slowly through the water, and cormorants, egrets and kingfishers wait patiently on the banks, eyeing the water for prey. There are around 64 islands and lagoons in the river, from a tiny speck housing a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families connected to the mainland with a very long footbridge. Continue the journey to Colombo and you are assisted with check-in to the hotel.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Enjoy a city tour of Colombo: the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Located on the west coast, it is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern and colonial impressions. Colombo has wildly varying architecture that span centuries and depict various styles. Many colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and contemporary architectural styles. No other place is this more evident in the heart of the city at the Fort area. Colombo also boasts many shopping malls and department stores that offer brand name clothing at highly discounted prices. Therefore, it has become an important shopping destination among tourists.
You are driven to the airport at the appropriate time to board your international flight. Services and logistics can be added / modified to match with your international flight departure time, once that is known.
Our services end at Colombo airport.
The next few days’ plans are briefly reviewed and you are presented with your welcome package. Among other things, this package includes travel documents such as your air tickets and hotel vouchers, as well as copies of documents (such as our General Travel Guide) that were sent to you earlier.
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean and located south of the Indian subcontinent, is also known as the Island of Serendipity. With a land area the size of West Virginia, and a population of 20,000,000, the magical island encompasses beautiful tropical beaches, verdant vegetation, ancient monuments and a thousand delights to please all tastes.
Day 2: Negombo - Anurahadpura. Depart with your driver / guide toward Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Your destination is Anuradhapura: Sri Lanka's ancient capital (450 BC - 950 AD) and the center of the island's Buddhist civilization. In interest and antiquity, it is the equal of any ancient 'buried city'. The island's oldest Buddhist shrines - some dating back to 3rd century BC are found here. Attractions in the area include impressive white 'dagabas' (relic chambers) and monuments, embellished with handsome stone carvings and sculpture, the oldest documented tree on earth - The Sri Maha Bodhi which is over 2000 years old, pleasure gardens, beautifully executed stone baths and ponds, and a superb irrigation system of reservoirs and canals.
You will also visit the mountain of Mihintale, which is purported to be the ancient site where Buddhism was founded in Sri Lanka. There are several historical ruins and religious edifices to enjoy here.
This tour serves as the perfect introduction to the history and culture of Sri Lanka on your first day of sightseeing. After your tour, you are driven to Habarana and assisted with check-in to your hotel.
Day 3: Habarana - Polonnaruwa - Habarana. After breakfast proceed to another ancient city on the island, Polonnaruwa. King Parakramabahu’s reign is considered as the golden age of Polonnaruwa, when trade and agriculture flourished under his leadership. His famous and adamant philosophy was that no drop of water falling from the heavens was to be wasted, and each be used toward the development of the land. As a result, irrigation systems far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age were constructed during his reign, which to this day, supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation during the scorching dry season in the east of the country. The greatest of these systems is the Parakrama Samudraya, or the Sea of Parakrama; a tank so vast that it is often mistaken for the ocean. Its great width makes it impossible to stand upon one shore and view the other side, and it encircles the main city like a ribbon, being both a defensive border against intruders and the lifeline of the people in times of peace. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was completely self-sufficient during King Parakramabahu’s reign.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Proceed for a visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress known as “The Fortress in the Sky”. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and garden complete with a swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting has survived in the form of frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color.
Day 4: Habarana - Kandy. After breakfast and assisted check-out, join your guide for the journey to Kandy. Continue the drive through the ancient and scenic landscape until you arrive at Matale. The Spice garden at Matale has long been renowned for its spices. Since ancient times, traders from all over the world who came to Sri Lanka brought their native cuisines to the island, resulting in a rich diversity of cooking styles and techniques. Sri Lankan people use spices liberally in their dishes and typically do not follow an exact recipe. Here you will learn about fragrant clove,cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace and pepper, and many other favorites such as chocolate and vanilla.
Arrive at Kandy in the early afternoon and you are assisted with check-in to your hotel.
Kandy is the picturesque capital of the hill country, and the historical bastion of Buddhist power. It is built around a peaceful lake in a valley surrounded by lush hills. It is Sri Lanka’s current center of Buddhism, arts and crafts, as well as its cultural center.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Attend a cultural show – Sri Lanka, a country rich with culture & tradition offers a very vibrant and unique show of Sri Lankan traditional dances, in the form of the Kandy cultural show.
Evening - Visit the most important religious monument of Sri Lanka, the Temple Of The Tooth Relic. This famous temple is the abode of a tooth relic from the Buddha. The history of the relic states that it was smuggled to Sri Lanka in the 4th century hidden in the hair of a princess from Orissa. In the almost two millennia that has passed since then, the Relic and the Temple have become Sri Lanka’s most prized treasure, and much of the rest of the Buddhist world considers it highly sacred.
Day 5: Kandy. Enjoy a guided exploration of Kandy this morning. Your stops will include the beautiful Botanical Gardens, Kandy Market, the arts and crafts center, and Kandy View Point, from where you get amazing views of this picturesque city.
After the tour you will return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.
Day 6: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya. After breakfast and assisted check-out, you will enjoy the scenic drive to Nuwara Eliya. On this journey you will stop at Ramboda Falls for a photo opportunity, then again for a tea break at the Mackwoods Tea Factory. The undulating plantation views are a visual treat as you enjoy the delicious fresh tea.
Upon your arrival at Nuwara Eliya you will be assisted with your check in at your hotel.
Nuwara Eliya is known as the Little England of Sri Lanka. It is nestled in the middle of lush, beautiful mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. Although it is one of the coldest places on the island, the temperatures here are warmer than what most westerners are used to. A light to medium jacket is recommended. You have the option of enjoying a city tour this afternoon, which includes a stroll through scenic Victoria Park.
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya. You are at leisure with your guide/chauffeur from 10 am until 6 pm. Enjoy the many scenic and cultural opportunities around town on this day. A nature walk at Horton’s Plains is highly recommended. This can be the total three hour roundtrip trek to World’s End, which is an amazing experience. You can make the trek shorter and you can also hike up to the Baker’s Falls, a gorgeous symphony of water as it cascades down the rocky mountain outcrop. An iconic temple of Hinduism is nearby and well worth a visit. Located where Ravana imprisoned Goddess Sita, the massive imbedded footprints created by Lord Hanuman’s landing are awe-inspiring.
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya - Yala. You are assisted with your check-out and then you proceed on yet another incredibly scenic drive as you head to Yala National Park. This is Sri Lanka’s most visited National Park, and for very good reason. The scenery is amazing and you will see lots of wild elephants, including herds with their children. The crocodile is commonly found in Yala, as is the wild boar. There is a vast array of wildlife and birds in the park, including the largest concentration of the elusive leopard on the planet.
You will stop at Rawana Falls and and Ella Gap for photo opportunities before arriving in Yala, where you are assisted with your check-in to your jungle lodge.
Afternoon: Enjoy an afternoon safari into the park, if you feel like it. If not, this safari can be moved to the next day, giving you two on that day.
Day 9: Yala. After breakfast, enjoy a safari into the park. The afternoon today is at your leisure.
Day 10: Yala - Galle. You are assisted with check-out in the morning and then you proceed on the drive to Galle. You will pass many interesting sights, including the area where the much publicized Stilt Fishermen used to practice their trade off the coast. This activity is no longer practiced in real life as technology has allowed them to be able to catch fish in easier ways, but the fishermen will perform the unique activity for you for a fee, upon request. You will stop at a Turtle Hatchery where the non-profit that operates it is focused on saving the lives of sea turtles whose parents lay eggs on the beach. Most of the sea turtle breeds on this planet are represented on this part of Sri Lanka’s coast and the hatchery retrieves their eggs (and pays the locals for them) before the eggs are poached by humans for other purposes. You will see turtles of many types, from large, fully grown specimens to tiny, just born creatures in a tank. If you are fortunate, you may actually see a hatching where a large number of turtles make their way out of the sand that their eggs were buried in.
Arrive at Galle and you are assisted with check-in to the hotel.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Enjoy a guided excursion to the historic fort city. Explore the Dutch architecture and various monuments, much of it still the same as it was centuries ago.
Day 11: Galle - Colombo - International Flight. After breakfast and assisted check-out, you will join your guide and driver for the trip to the capital city of Colombo.
En route, stop at Balapitiya for a river cruise on the Madu River. The estuary of the Madu Ganga River is a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands. It may be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. A boat trip is a wonderful way of seeing some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals; monkeys eat fruit in the trees, a water monitor lizard glides slowly through the water, and cormorants, egrets and kingfishers wait patiently on the banks, eyeing the water for prey. There are around 64 islands and lagoons in the river, from a tiny speck housing a deserted shrine to one housing 250 families connected to the mainland with a very long footbridge. Continue the journey to Colombo and you are assisted with check-in to the hotel.
There is a break for lunch.
Afternoon: Enjoy a city tour of Colombo: the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Located on the west coast, it is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern and colonial impressions. Colombo has wildly varying architecture that span centuries and depict various styles. Many colonial buildings influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British exist alongside structures built in Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Indian and contemporary architectural styles. No other place is this more evident in the heart of the city at the Fort area. Colombo also boasts many shopping malls and department stores that offer brand name clothing at highly discounted prices. Therefore, it has become an important shopping destination among tourists.
You are driven to the airport at the appropriate time to board your international flight. Services and logistics can be added / modified to match with your international flight departure time, once that is known.
Our services end at Colombo airport.
