HIGHLIGHTS OF SRI LANKA 8D 07N

After breakfast at the hotel leave to Dambulla. En route visit the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela - This orphanage is the home for about 89 elephants, out of which some are baby elephants found abandoned or orphaned in the wild. They are being cared, fed and trained by the wild life authorities. The best time to visit is during the feeding times, when one will have the opportunity of seeing the baby elephants being bottle-fed. Also could accompany the elephants to a river close-by and see them having their daily bath. On completion check in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla

Breakfast at hotel – Morning proceed to climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the
renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’
of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are
painted in earth pigments on plaster.

On completion leave to Kandy. Do a city tour of Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings, and is a World Heritage Site. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the Nlegends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798.
Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts centre and a gem museum and a lapidary.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast at Hotel – Morning visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure
garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of
trees, plants and flowers.

Evening proceed to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Breakfast at hotel – Leave for Nuwara Eliya – En route visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.
On completion, proceed to Nuwara Eliya, because of its invigorating mountain climate and scenery, is Sri Lanka’s
most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the
world’s best tea. Sri Lanka’s highest mountain Pidurutalagala (8282 feet) is located here. Nuwara-Eliya
also has one of the finest 18 hole golf courses in South Asia.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwaraeliya

After breakfast at the hotel leave to Bentota. Check in at the hotel & rest of the day at leisure on the beach.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota.

After breakfast at the hotel leave to visit the Dutch Fort in Galle. Galle fort was built first by the Portuguese, then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Even today, after 400 years of existence, it looks new and polished with reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

Today Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.

The Dutch fort also known as Ramparts of Galle withstood the Boxing Day tsunami which destroyed the Galle town. There are many Moor families who live inside this fort along with Sinhalese, Dutch, English, Portuguese and Germans.

More details regarding the history of the fort can be found at the visitors centre and at the Dutch period museum inside the Fort. Also visit the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda. Turtle eggs are collected or bought from local villagers and buried in the sand hatchery.

If there is lot of sunshine they hatch after 48 days If it is raining it can take up to 60 days before the turtles emerge from the eggs. They are then placed in the tanks and for first 3 days remain without food to cleanse them of material ingested form the eggshell.

They are then given small pieces of fish for a further 7 days. Learning to dive down into the tank to take the food. When they an do this.

They can be safely released into the sea where they can fish for themselves on the coral reefs. Turtles are frequently injured at sea. Many get caught in fishing nets. Others are attacked by people attempting to catch and kill them for their meat. Surviving turtles are cared for by the Turtle Farm and those who make a good recovery can be re-released back the sea. On completion return back to the hotel for Overnight stay.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Bentota

Leave for the airport to connect with the departure flight.