ITINERARY 15

• Arrival on UL 504 at 1300 hours. You will be met and assisted at the airport by our representative from Traveller Global and transferred directly to Negombo. Lunch at the hotel and afterwards, explore Negombo. In addition to the beaches for which it is known, the town itself presents a style influenced by its colonial past and the Catholic Church. Attractions include holdovers from the Dutch period, including the Dutch Canal and the old Dutch fort gate. There’s a selection of centuries-old churches, small fishing villages in the immediate area and some interesting temples a bit farther inland.
  Dinner and overnight at St. Lachlan Hotel, Negombo 

• After breakfast, proceed to Sigiriya visiting the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela en-route Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is an orphanage, nursery and captive breeding ground for wild Asian elephants located at Pinnawala village, 13 km (8.1 mi) northwest of Kegalle town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. Pinnawalla is notable for having the largest herd of captive elephants in the world. In 2011, there were 88 elephants, including 37 males and 51 females from 3 generations, living in Pinnawala. Lunch will be at a restaurant in Pinnawela.  Afterwards, check in to the hotel and evening at leisure.
  Dinner and overnight at Kassapa Lions Rock, Sigiriya

• After early breakfast, climb the famous “Rock Fortress”. Sigiriya which was the Royal Citadel of King Kasyapa who ruled in the 5th Century A.D. You will see moats, terrace / water / fountain and boulder gardens, stone stairways and the beautiful ancient frescos of heavenly maidens in a pocket of the rock. On top of the rock are ruins of the palace & two intact man-made pools of water.After lunch, visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which is the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka during 11th and 13th Centuries AD. Declared as the World Heritage Site for its historical importance, it shows the ancient Sri Lankans’ master sculpture work and irrigation systems which are still mysterious to the present world. King’s palaces, Buddhist Shrines, Manmade ocean, Rock sculptures, rock inscriptions; complexes etc. prove the ancient value.
  Dinner and overnight at Kassapa Lions Rock, Sigiriya

• After breakfast, depart for Kandy visiting the Dambulla Rock Temple and the spice gardens in Matale en-route. Located at an elevation of 1118 feet from the sea level rises a massive rock from the surrounding plains of Dambulla of 600 feet high and over 2000 feet in length. It is home to the Worlds most acclaimed Cave complex of magnificent Buddha Images and rock paintings of vivid colours and shapes constructed and painted from around 2nd Century BC (Anuradhapura era ) and continued up to the Kandyan era of the 18th Century. Sinhalese people call it as ‘ Dambulu Gala’ ( Dambulla Rock) and the Temple is called as the ‘ Rangiri Dambulu Viharaya’ (Golden Rock Dambulla Temple). Check in to the hotel for lunch. Evening visit the famous Temple of the Tooth and thereafter enjoy viewing a cultural dance performance.
  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hilltop, Kandy

• After breakfast, proceed on a city tour of Kandy visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens, Upper Lake Drive, Market Square, gem lapidary and museum,and an Arts and Crafts Centre.Lunch will be at a restaurant in Kandy.Kandy – the last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings retains an aura of grandeur, which time has not affected. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its center, it is the site of the renowned “Temple of the Tooth” and the Royal Botanical gardens. Kandy and its satellite villages is the centre of theislands handicraft industry and its traditional dances are the most spectacular in the country. The town and the countryside around it are lush and green and there are many pleasant walks both from the town or further a field. The town centre, close to Kandy’s picturesque lake set in a bowl of hills, is a delightful jumble of old shops, antique and gemstone specialists and a bustling market. As night falls, the city becomes really quiet and peaceful.
  Dinner and overnight at Hotel Hilltop, Kandy

• After breakfast, leave for Nuwara Eliya visiting a tea plantation and tea factory en-route. Check in for lunch at the hotel.Nuwara Eliya – is the heart of Sri Lankan hill country. Located 5199 ft above sea level, it nestles at the foot of Mount Pidurutalagala, the country’s highest peak and is home to the famous “Ceylon Tea”. Therolling mountains are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. The salubrious climate and misty glens make Nuwara Eliya a must on any Sri Lankan travel itinerary. Here the air that’s distilled by forestation provides a purity that prompted the British in the 1820’s to build a military sanatorium. The British influence is still visible with Victorian and Tudor style homes edging the pretty blue lake.
  Dinner and overnight at Ashley Resort, Nuwara Eliya

• After breakfast, depart for Tissamaharama. Check in at the hotel and after lunch; proceed on a jeep safari to Yala National Park. Of all the National Parks in Sri Lanka, Yala National Park affords the greatest opportunities to sight the Sri Lanka’s broad variety of wildlife: colorful painted stork in troops are seen perched at the shores of lagoon where the crocodiles too have chosen to doze off; lovely fantailed peacocks in their resplendent blues and greens parade about amidst the woods where monkeys hang, leap andchatter; in the bush jungle are the elephants; crossing the tracks and wandering off into the thorny scrub jungle is the star attraction of the park: the leopard. A total of 32 species of mammals have been recorded. The threatened species are sloth bear, Leopard, elephant, water buffalo, Wild boar, spotted deer, sambar and golden jackal.
  Dinner and overnight at Taprospa Tissa, Tissamaharama

• After breakfast, depart for Colombo. En-route, you can observe the stilt fishermen in Weligama and afterwards visit Galle with lunch at a nearby restaurant.The old part of the city within the Dutch Fort built in the 17th century has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. A walk on the ramparts from Point Utrecht bastion to Flag Rock bastion will give you an excellent view of the ancient harbour which was known as Tar shish in the Bible. From here, the tours head to the Dutch Reformed Church built in the 17th century, the District Court, and the original entrance to the Galle Fort. The New Town to the north of the Fort was badly affected by the tsunami in 2004 and is the home of the famous international cricket stadium which is being re-built.Afterwards visit the mask factory in Ambalangoda and the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda before proceeding to Colombo. Check in at the hotel and after wards proceed on a city tour of Colombo.Colombo – like many capital cities in developing countries Colombo is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood, yet in some parts; the old world charm is retained. A 100-year-old clock tower and several British built colonial buildings are still to be seen in the city. The Pettah bazaar – where one can shop for bargains, a Hindu Kovil and also to the famous Gangarama Temple, an important place of worship for the 16 million Buddhist living in Sri Lanka, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent and Independence Square are some of the places of interest that one can visit to.
  Dinner and overnight at Pearl Grand Hotel, Colombo

Leave hotel at 1030 hours
in order to check in at 1130 hours to
meet flight UL 115 departing to Male at 1345 hours.
Check-In on board Yasawa Princess.

• Cruise on Yasawa Princess in the Maldives.

Departure