Sri Lanka

On arrival you will be met and welcomed by the local representatives and proceed to Kandy via Pinnawala. Pinnawala Elephant orphanage Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage - App. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from ious parts, as well as some of the more than 25 babies born, as a result of the captive breeding programme. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by. Proceed to Kandy En-route visit Spice Gardens You will see many spice gardens at Mawanella on the Colombo-Kandy road where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them in food preparations.

After breakfast visit Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens 147 acres in extent; Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 4, 000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some rare and endemic as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest Palm Avenue 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.

After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya Visit Seetha Amman temple. - The streams that runs from the hill, catered to the needs of Sitadevi during her stay at Ashoka Vatika. She is said to have bathed in this stream. Now there is temple for Lord Rama, Sitadevi, Luxshmana, and Hanuman by the side of this stream. It is interesting to note that foot prints akin to Lord Hanuman’s are found by this river and some are of small size and some are of large size. Nuwara Eliya is known as, “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 coldest places on the island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence. Houses are like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.

Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rain forest which gets two monsoons each year and one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month. The Kelani River is wide at Kitulgala, but it is shallow apart from a deep channel near the opposite bank, so in the drier months it provides a safe and attractive place to swim, wash and play. The river can be crossed by walking out across the shallows and crossing the deep channel in a dug out canoe, which is stabilized with an outrigger.

After breakfast commence the sightseeing in Bentota Visit Turtle Hatchery Kosgoda turtle hatchery - Where you can see five species of turtles-Green Turtles Chelonia mydas, Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata, Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta, Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys coriacea and Olive Ridley Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. The eggs collected by the Villagers and Fishermen are purchased by the Kosgoda Hatchery and kept in sandy pens until they are hatched. The newly hatched ones are kept in seawater tanks and released to the sea in the night. This Hatchery alone has released more than 1, 750, 000 young turtles to the sea. An endowment by the Hasselblad Estate was responsible for the establishment of this hatchery Boats ride in Madu Ganga River

Get the Breakfast at the Hotel and proceed to Colombo Commence city tour in Colombo with shopping 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 center and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith's 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. The historic Dawatagaha Mosque and the former Eye Hospital are two buildings in Cinnamon Gardens worth looking at. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.

After Breakfast leave for airport your connecting departure flight.