Programme details
14 Day Sri Lanka
Day 1: Airport – Sigiriya
Upon arrival at the Colombo International Airport you will be welcomed by our local representative. Thereafter transfer to Sigiriya via Pinnawela. A visit to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Kassapa Lions Rock. (or similar Hotel) http://kassapalionsrock.com/resort-kassapa-srilanka.html
Day 2: Anuradhapura/Mihintale
After breakfast visit Anuradhapura. Aaccording to legend, it was first settled by Anuradha, a follower of Prince Vijaya the founder of the Sinhala race. Later, it was made the Capital by King Pandu kabhaya about 380 BCE. Among the other tourist attractions at Anuradhapura are magnificent rock carvings of monumental richness and remarkable grace; colossal stone pillars that stand proud amidst the ruins of royal palaces, Buddhist monasteries and temples; magnificent stone cut swimming pools of sophisticated hydrology. The temples & monumental dagobas, amongst greatest architectural feats of its age, have been surpassed only in scale by the great pyramids of Khufru & Khafra at Gizeh. Jetavana Dagoba, Abayagiri Stupa & Ruwanweliseya Stupa.
Mihintale – No matter what your faith is, the beautiful shrines, stupas (dagobas), rock caves enhanced by the wondrous setting, make Mihintale unforgettable. Although modern Mihintale is still mainly a large village, the site being sprawling in scale, environmentally enchanting, spiritually enlightening & culturally immensely significant, it has been deeply loved by the Sinhalese Buddhists.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel Kassapa Lions Rock.
Day 3: Polonnaruwa
After breakfast excursion to Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital. Polonnaruwa a UNESCO World Heritage site, rose to fame as the capital after the decline of Anuradhapura. Its period of greatness was from the 10th – 12th centuries AD. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, veritable inland seas the most famous of which is the Prakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbor. The monuments of this medieval city are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka’s past. See the Royal Palace complex, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient Heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite – a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel Kassapa Lions Rock.
Jan 08: Sigiriya
After breakfast climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya. This UNESCO World Heritage site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’ s glory.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel Kassapa Lions Rock.
Day 4: Dambulla/Aukana/Sesaruwa
Dambulla temple complex dates back to the 1st century BC. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry. In 1938 the architecture was embellished with arched colonnades and gabled entrances. Inside the caves, the ceilings are painted with intricate patterns of religious images following the contours of the rock. There are images of the Lord Buddha and bodhisattvas, as well as various gods and goddesses.
Aukana: The Aukana Buddha is 13m tall, and stands on a decorated lotus plinth. The Buddha statue is believed to have been built during the period of King Dhatusena (459-477AD).
Sesaruwa: Unfinished Buddha statue carved out of a rock.
Dinner and overnight in Hotel Kassapa Lions Rock.
Day 5: Sigiriya – Kandy
Proceed to Kandy visiting a spice garden in Matale where you will learn the versatility of the Lankan spices which made the island famous amongst the ancient European travellers, During the visit to spice garden we will arrange 10 minutes head or foot herbal massage.
On arrival, check in at hotel. Evening city tour of Kandy including a visit to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth, this will be followed by a cultural dance performance. Home to the sacred relic of the tooth of the Buddha, a visit to the DaladaMaligawa or Temple of the Tooth, is an experience no tourist should miss said to have been snatched from the Buddha’s funeral pyre and smuggled to Sri Lanka in the hair of a princess, the tooth relic is of great spiritual significance. Dinner and overnight at hotel Topaz, Kandy. (or similar Hotel)
http://mclarenshotels.lk/hotels/topaz.html
Jan 11: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya. Proceed to Nuwara Eliya through tea plantations visiting a Tea factory. Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest exporters of tea. The finest tea in the world
Nuwara Eliya region was “discovered” by a hunting party led by the colonial administrator, legendary Dr. Major John Davy in 1819. The town still boasts of fine colonial hotels, along with scattered atmospheric villas & guest houses. The town is also brightened up with luxuriant green spaces of 18-hole golf course, trout streams (brown trout in the lake for anglers), the Victorian style old pink-brick post office, race course & English-country-house-styled Hill Club. The club displays an array of hunting pictures, mounted fish & hunting trophies. Houses with mock Tudor half-timbering & hedges, extensive private gardens where dahlias, snap dragons, petunias & roses grow amongst well-kept lawns are scattered around.
Dinner and overnight at Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya. (or similar Hotel)
Day 6: Nuwara Eliya – Hambantota
After breakfast, proceed to Hambantota. Check-in at Hotel. Afternoon, jeep Safari at Yala national park. This National Park is the second largest and most visited national park in Sri Lanka. Yala is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. It had originally had been designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of its wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan Elephants and aquatic birds.
Dinner and overnight at Hibiscus Garden Hotel, Tissa. (or similar Hotel)
http://www.hibiscus-garden.com
Day 7: Hambantota – Dickwella
After breakfast, proceed to Dickwella. Check-in at Hotel.
Afternoon, visit the famous Buddhist Temple at Dickwella.
Dinner and overnight at Dickwella Resort, Dickwella. (or similar Hotel)
www.dickwellaresorts.com
Day 8: Dickwella
Morning breakfast at hotel. Rest of the day free for leisure activities. Dinner and overnight at Dickwella Resort, Dickwella.
Day 9: Dickwella – Induruwa
After breakfast, proceed to Bentota.
On the way visit Galle Fort, Hikkaduwa, stilt fisher at Weligama.
Dinner and overnight at Induruwa Beach Resort. Bentota (or similar Hotel)
http://www.induruwabeachresort.com
Day 10– Day 13: Induruwa – Turtle farm
Visit Turtle farm. Rest of the day free for leisure activities.
Dinner and overnight at Induruwa Beach Resort.
Important information
Visa.
For Sri Lanka a paid visa is required, which should be requested in advance by www.eta.gov.lk (USD 30) or can be purchased upon arrival (USD 35). Detailed information is available from the Foreign Office or the competent diplomatic mission.
Nationals from 80 countries who visit Sri Lanka for tourist purposes are exempt from visa requirements and automatically receive a free 30-day visa on arrival. Those from these countries who visit for purposes other than tourism should obtain prior visas from a Sri Lankan Consular Office. For nationals of other countries there is a varying fee for the 30-day visa.(Those who hold passports of listed countries and travel to Sri Lanka from 01.08.2019 to 31.01.2020 for Tourist purposes are exempted paying ETA fee, in view of enhancing tourist arrivals from designated countries) http://www.eta.gov.lk
The 30-day visa can be extended up to 90 days on the payment of a fee. You’ll need to show a return or onward airline ticket out of Sri Lanka, along with proof of funds, such as traveler’s cheques or credit card, and provide a copy of the bio-data page of your passport and 02 photographs.
Department of Immigration and Emigration,
“Suhurupaya”
Sri Subhuthipura Road
Battaramulla.
Tel:+94-11-5329000,+94-11-5329316/20/21/25
www.immigration.gov.lk
Currency:
1 Sri Lanka Rupee = 100 cents. Currency Symbol: RS, LKR (ISO code). Banknotes are in denominations of 2,000, 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10 RS. Coins worth 5, 2 and 1 RS and 50 and 25 cents (extremely rare). In addition, numerous commemorative coins in circulation.
Currency Exchange:
Foreign currency may only be exchanged at authorized banks, exchange offices and hotels; the transactions must be in the output at entry form D Enter. One should inquire prior to entry into a bank, as some currencies (eg. B. of Pakistan and India) will not be exchanged.
Credit Cards:
Visa, MasterCard / Euro Card and American Express are widely accepted, Diners Club is less common. For details of the credit card.
Traveler’s checks:
Are recommended as the exchange rate is more favorable than for cash. Traveler’s checks should be issued in US Dollars or Euros. However, it can be redeemed only in major cities. Travelers checks from American Express are often not accepted.
Foreign exchange regulations:
The import and export of local currency is limited to 1,000 RS. Imports of foreign currencies (not permitted import Indian and Pakistani currency) from an amount equivalent to US $ 10,000 declarable. The export of foreign currency is up in the amount of the declared amounts, net of exchange amounts allowed (declaration and Exchange documents must be available).
Opening times of banks:
Mon-Fri 09.00-13.30 clock, z. T. evenings and Saturday mornings.
Link to currency update: Euro to LKR (Sri Lankan Rupee)
Required vaccinations:
Precautions recommended? Vaccination required?
Food & Drink 4 –
Malaria 3 –
Typhoid and Polio Yes –
Cholera 2
Yellow Fever 1
Health care:
The treatment in public hospitals is free. The General Hospital in Colombo is open day and night. Some hotels have family doctors. However, the medical care does not meet the usual in Europe.
The travel insurance with return flight is strongly recommended.
Health certificate:
Foreigners who are suspected of AIDS, himself may have to undergo an HIV test; with a positive result which may be refused entry.
Note:
[1] A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers arriving within 6 days of stay in the designated from infected areas and more than a year old. Except for travelers who do not leave the transit area in the infected areas, as well as transit passengers who do not leave the transit area in Sri Lanka. About people without a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate, a quarantine may be imposed.
[2] A cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry, the risk of infection, however, but with tourists should be classified as very low. Cholera comes V. A. in the northern and western parts of the country and on the Jaffna peninsula before. To protect yourself you should apply a careful drinking water and food hygiene. Since the effectiveness of vaccination is controversial, it is advisable to seek medical advice in good time prior to travel. Vaccination is recommended only in rare cases.
[3] Malaria, mostly in the less dangerous form Plasmodium vivax occurs throughout the year in the whole country especially in the northwest. No malaria risk there is in the districts of Colombo, Kalutara, Nuwara Eliya, Galle, Gampaha and Matara. The also occurring falciparum strain (about 12%) should be strong chloroquine. Protection provide long-sleeved clothing, mosquito repellent and rescue medication.
[4] Because of the potential for intestinal infections is to pay attention to a careful drinking water and food hygiene. Water should be bought before are generally used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled or otherwise sterilized or either packaged. Buyer of packaged water should be taken to ensure that the original packaging is not dawned. Milk is unpasteurized and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk only with pure water. Avoid dairy products from raw milk. Meat or fish dishes only thoroughly cooked and served hot. The consumption of pork, mayonnaise and raw salads should be avoided. Fruits and vegetables should be peeled cooked. Before eating and buying food from cheap street restaurants and markets is warned.
Insurance for cancelation.
I am an intermediary of services between customers and airlines and tourism companies. In flight cancellation or name and date changes arising cancellation fees. Think time of vaccination and visa regulations. Stated times, and hotel Itineraries can be changed due to special reasons. It is recommend to take a travel cancellation insurance.
Route map
