Bon Voyage: Sri Lanka

The Bon Voyage Package is the most comprehensive tour that we offer at Travellation. This an ideal opportunity to educate yourself about Sri Lankan customs by visiting sites of historical importance and at the same time enjoy a wide variety of activities waiting for you to do.

Duration? 7 Days / 6 Nights When to Go? This is possible all year round

Description

Upon landing in Colombo, Sri Lanka you will be met by one of our representatives. Your tour will begin by visiting the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela. The orphanage was primarily designed to afford care and protection to the many baby elephants who become orphaned due to various reasons. Pinnawela is by far a large orphanage now and is quite well known worldwide. Today, the Orphanage is a popular place for locals and a must for foreign tourists – children, young and old alike. Shortly afterwards, we will proceed to the gigantic Dambulla Rock Temple ,15 minutes away from the hotel. Standing 500 feet high and with a circumference of 1 mile around the base, the caves of Dambulla date back to the First Century B.C. You will see a 47 ft recumbent image of the cut out of rock and spans 14 meters. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around along with 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures. The rest of the evening will be spent in calm bliss back at the hotel room in Dambulla. On the dawn of Day 2, our next stop would be the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Here you will get to witness the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the statue of King Parakramabahu and the lake built by King Parakramabahu himself known as Parakrama Samudraya. Our dinner and overnight stay will be in either Polonnaruwa or Habarana, depending on the situation. On Day 3, we will then head out to the sacred city of Anuradhapura, now in picturesque ruins. Anuradhapura was once a major centre of Sri Lankan civilisation. Here you will witness the Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo-Tree), the 1600 stone-columned Brazen Palace, the Ruwanweliseya Dagoba, the 'Samadhi' or commonly known as the deep meditation Buddha Statue and the Surumuniya Rock Temple. We will then head back to our respective hotel in either Polonnaruwa or Habarana. On Day 4, we would make our way to Sigiriya home to probably the most magnificent landmark of the country. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress raises 200m from the jungle and is thus known as the Fortress in the Sky. It is perhaps the most fantastic wonder of the island with its signature statue of a huge lion standing at the entrance to the fortress and its triple-moated defence. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace with extensive gardens. Soon after, we will head out to the hill country of Sri Lanka. Our first stop will be to the Matale Spice Gardens which is about 1.5 hours from Sigiriya. The spice gardens are among the best of its kind in the island. Here, you will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. You may buy spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics, taste a herbal brew and in some venues, enjoy the full flavours of Sri Lankan spices over lunch or an Ayurveda massage based on natural products from the garden. We will then head out to the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy, about 1 hour from Matale. In Kandy, you will proceed on a city tour which includes a visit to the famous Temple of the Tooth, a drive around the Kandy Lake and an opportunity to shop for some of the finest souvenirs, craft work and authentic gemstones famous in Sri Lanka. In the evening, if time permits, we will be able to witness a cultural show before heading back to the hotel. On Day 5, we will will wander into the luscious Peradeniya Botanical Gardens an hour away. It is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. The Garden boasts over 300 different varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. The classical Avenue of Palms is located in this Garden as well. Soon afterwards, we will make our way to Nuwara Eliya. On the way to Nuwara Eliya you will get to see the beautiful Ramboda Water Fall and stop over to enjoy a cup of Sri Lankan tea with the scenic views of the hill country. In Nuwara Eliya, you will proceed on a city tour that includes a visit to the famous Gregory’s Lake, driving past the President’s residence, visiting the Nuwara Eliya town and race course where horse-riding will be available (not included in tour cost). We will spend the night and most of the day of Day 6 enjoying the amazing climate of Nuwara Eliya before heading out to Yala to check-in for the evening and spend in leisure in your respective hotel room. On Day 7, we would proceed to an indulging jeep safari at the 126,786 hectare Yala National Park. Undoubtedly the most famous national park in the country, Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of elephants, leopards, spotted deer, sambhur, crocodiles, mongoose, wild boar, wild buffalo and many other animals. On Day 7, we will embark on an indulging jeep safari around the 126,786 hectare Yala National Park. Undoubtedly the most famous national park in the country, Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of elephants, leopards, spotted deer, sambhur, crocodiles, mongoose, wild boar, wild buffalo and many other animals. Thereafter, we will head down south to the ancient city of Galle. Galle is identified as the ‘Tarshis’ of the Bible where King Solomon sent his merchant vessels. Be prepared to witness the marvellous Dutch architecture originating from the mid 17th century as you’re taken out on a city tour. We will then head back to our hotel rooms in Galle where you will spend the rest of the evening enjoying yourself at the beach. The duration of the beach stay will be flexible as per your preference. At the end of your tour, you will be dropped at the airport where we will bid farewell. This is a private tour and you will have your very own chauffeur and air conditioned vehicle for the duration of the tour.

The Honeymoon Package: Sri Lanka

Marriage is a sacred union between two people and there's no better way to celebrate this great union than a romantic getaway to an enchanting island such as Sri Lanka. We offer you newlyweds a comprehensive tour across the country giving you the chance to visit sites of cultural importance such as the Rock Temple in Dambulla and the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, activities such as climbing the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and an elephant back safari ride, and serene environments such as Matale and Nuwara Eliya for both of you to relax and enjoy.

Duration? 6 Days / 5 Nights When to Go? This is possible all year round

Description

Upon landing in Colombo, Sri Lanka you will be greeted by one of our representatives. Your tour will begin by visiting the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela. The orphanage was built to care for orphaned baby elephants and is one of the largest elephant orphanages in the world. Today, the Orphanage is a popular place amongst the locals and a must-see for foreign tourists – children, young and old alike. We will then proceed back to Sigiriya where you will be able to enjoy the rest of the day exploring the hotel and enjoying the various facilities provided. On Day 2, we will proceed to the gigantic Dambulla Rock Temple ,15 minutes away from the hotel. Standing 500 feet high and with a circumference of 1 mile around the base, the caves of Dambulla date back to the First Century B.C. You will see a 47 ft recumbent image of the cut out of rock and spans 14 meters. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around along with 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures. Thereafter, we will proceed back to Sigiriya to visit to the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress, approximately 15 minutes away from Dambulla. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress raises 200m from the jungle and is thus known as the Fortress in the Sky. It is perhaps the most fantastic wonder of the island with its signature statue of a huge lion standing at the entrance to the fortress and its triple-moated defence. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace with extensive gardens. Following our descent from the Rock, we will head out on an Elephant Back Safari Adventure. It’s an unforgettable experience where you will be able to interact with the elephants while enjoying enjoy a ride through wilderness areas with beautiful riverine scenery before heading back to our hotel in Sigiriya to spend the rest of the evening in leisure. On Day 3, we will head out to the hill country of Sri Lanka. Our first stop will be to the Matale Spice Gardens which is about 1.5 hours from Sigiriya. The spice gardens are among the best of its kind in the island. Here, you will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. You may buy spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics, taste a herbal brew and in some venues, enjoy the full flavours of Sri Lankan spices over lunch or an Ayurveda massage based on natural products from the garden. We will then head out to the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy, about 1 hour from Matale. In Kandy, you will proceed on a city tour which includes a visit to the famous Temple of the Tooth, a drive around the Kandy Lake and an opportunity to shop for some of the finest souvenirs, craft work and authentic gemstones famous in Sri Lanka. In the evening, if time permits, we will be able to witness a cultural show before heading back to the hotel. On Days 4-5, we will make our way to Nuwara Eliya, via Nanu Oya on a scenic train journey (approximately 2 hours from Kandy). In Nuwara Eliya, you will proceed on a city tour that includes a visit to the famous Gregory’s Lake, driving past the President’s residence, visiting the Nuwara Eliya town and race course where horse-riding will be available (not included in tour cost). You will also visit a tea factory at the famous Mackwood’s Tea Estate to witness the gathering, processing and manufacturing of tea. On Day 6, we will spend the day at the Southern coastlines (Winter) or Eastern coastlines (Summer) of Sri Lanka for a beach stay. The duration of the beach stay will be flexible as per your preference. At the end of your tour, you will be dropped at the airport where we will bid farewell. This is a private tour and you will have your very own chauffeur and air conditioned vehicle for the duration of the tour. Follow us on Pinterest.