Sri Lanka Vacation with Whale Watching (Nov. - Apr.)

Itinerary

• Day 1: International Arrival, Negombo

  Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon your arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be welcomed by our chauffeur guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax.

  Note: Buddhism is extremely respected in Sri Lanka, any disrespectful words or acts may cause deportation or denial of entry, e.g. Buddha tattoos, kissing/climbing/riding Buddha statue, drinking inside the temple, etc.

  • Negombo

• Day 2: A Moment with Elephants, Pinnawala - Sigiriya

  After breakfast, check out and head to Pinnawala (about 2 hours' drive) where you will get close with elephants during their morning feeding and river bathing at the Elephant Orphanage. Drive to Sigiriya afterward (about 3 hours' drive). Visit a local family for coconut break en route.

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  • Sigiriya

• Day 3: Citadel of Sigiriya

  Enjoy your moring climb for an unforgettable sunrise at the top of the 5th-century legendary sky citadel of "Lion Rock" - arguably the most impressive site in Sri Lanka; although a steep climb is requested, the views and frescoes are definitely worth the effort.
  

  Afternoon, you will enjoy a rewarding Hiriwadunna Village safari, in which you not only observe dry-zone bird life and a variety of other native wildlife, but also savor the unbeatable view of Lion Rock when cruise around the scenic Hiriwadunna Lake by a catamaran. After it, you will take an Oxcart around the village. 

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  • Sigiriya

• Day 4: Sigiriya - Kandy

  Ealry morning, you will take the morning safari in Minneriya National Park to track the elephant. Later, head for Ceylon's old capital of Kandy (about 3 hours' drive), en route stop for an interesting visit to learn a wide range of spices at the Spice Garden, whose 15-minute complimentary Ayurveda Massage is also highly recommended.

  After arriving in Kandy, appreciate a vivid and traditional cultural dance (Kandyan Dance) before walking to the nearby Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic - Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine, the Puja Ritual held in the temple with all the fanfare, drums, trumpets and brightly colored Monks definitely show you how special and spiritually important the temple means to Sri Lanka.

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  • Kandy

• Day 5: Kandy City Tour

  In the morning, take an interesting visit to Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya which boasts 300+ varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. This afternoon is free at your own leisure. 

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  • Kandy

• Day 6: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

  After breakfast, set off for Nuwara Eliya by train (subjected to availability), a picturesque journey packed with beautiful moutains, waterfalls and tea plantations. The train takes about 4 hours. Upon arrival at Nanuoya Railway Sation, get escorted to your hotel for check-in, and the rest of the day is at leisure. 

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  • Nuwara Eliya

• Day 7: Nuwara Eliya Highlights

  Early morning, drive to Horton Plain and enjoy short walk there to visit "world's End", catch a breathtaking glimpse of Adam's Peak if the weather allows. Later, drive back to hotel for rest. Afternoon, take a visit to a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the world's best Ceylon Tea is produced. After learning about the process of manufacturing tea, get hands-on experience of tea picking, and don't forget to sip a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory. The rest of the day, you can take your time to stay in hotel or walk around the Downtown Nuwara Eliya, this "Little England" town.

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  • Nuwara Eliya

• Day 8: Nuwara Eliya - Ella

  Morning after breakfast, drive to Ella and make photo stop at Cascading Rawana Water Falls, thereafter visit mini Adams peak, a beautiful tourism site in Sri Lanka. After the tour, drive back to your hotel to relax. 

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  • Ella

• Day 9: Cooking Class in Ella

  Morning after breakfast, you will drive to the local family and have a great chance to attend Cooking class conducted by a villager. Sri Lankan cuisine is one of the most complex cuisines of South Asia. Firstly, following your chef to visit the local market to pick the good material there. Later, you will learn from her that how to cook the real Sri Lanka Meal. Afterward, you will drive back to hotel for rest. 

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  • Ella

• Day 10: Safari Park in Udawalawe

  Head for Udawalwe in the morning, along with the charming scenery of Ella. Upon arrival in Udawalwe, enjoy the jeep safari at Udawalawde National park (appmix. 3 hrs) this afternoon. In addition to sighting the large herds of wild elephants, there are spotted deer, Monitor lizards, Sambar deer, Wild boar, Common Langurs, Jackals, Toddy cats and the endemic Toque Macaque. The Sri Lankan Leopard has also been sighted here, but unlike in the Yala National Park these sightings are very rare. 

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  • Udawalawe

• Day 11: Udawalawe - Mirissa

  After breakfast, see the baby elephants get fed at the Elelephant Transit home before heading for Mirissa (about 2 hours' drive). Located in the Southern tip of Sri Lanka, Mirissa is the very place to sit back and spoil yourself in some of the best beaches and most stunning sunrise & sunset in the island.

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  • Mirissa

• Day 12: Whales Watching in Mirissa (Oct. - Apr.)

  Mirissa is known as the best place to see the blue whales and dolphines in the world during October to next April. You will take early moring boat (departs at 6:30 am) into the ocean with a long haul journey of 3 to 4 hours. This amazing experience needs to be patient and lucky. Afterward, drive to Unawatuna. The rest day is leisure for you on the beach. 

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  • Unawatuna

• Day 13: Unawatuna Free Day

  Today is a free day. Relaxing on the beach may be a ideal idea. 

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  • Unawatuna

• Day 14: Unawatuna Leisure Time

  Spend a full day relaxing on the beach or strolling around the beach. 

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  • Unawatuna

• Day 15: Unawatuna - Galle - Colombo, Departure

  Morning after breakfast, drive to Galle with a short visit of this colonial port, fortified by Portuguese first then Dutch. Afterward, set off for Colombo by the Rajadahani Express Train, a picturesque journey packed with beautiful scenery along with southern coastal belt. Upon arrival in Colombo, transfer to airport to catch the departure flight back home. 

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