Tour route: Sri Lanka: Negombo - Pinnawala - Sigiriya - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Yala - Galle - Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be greeted by your chauffeur guide and then be escorted to your hotel for check-in. 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 a temple, etc.
Overnight: Negombo
After breakfast, check out and head for to Pinnawela where you can visit the Elephant Orphanage and get up-close and personal with an elephant during their morning feeding and river bathing. After lunch, proceed to Sigiriya, en route you get opportunity to visit a local Sri Lankan family for coconut break.
Note: Driving time in the program is approximate, subject to the traffic, weather and road conditions.
Overnight: Dambulla
Meals: Breakfast
Today we suggest an early wake-up for an unforgettable sunrise visit to 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, enjoy the 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.
Overnight: Sigiriya
After arriving in Kandy, appreciate a vivid and traditional Rangahala 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 shows you how special and spiritually important the temple means to Sri Lanka.
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 at. Afternoon is free at leisure.
Overnight: Kandy
After breakfast, set off for Nuwara Eliya by the Train (subjected to availability), a picturesque journey packed with beautiful mountains, waterfalls and tea plantations. Upon arrive at Nanuoya Railway Station, transfer to hotel and check in, rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Nuwara Eliya
In the morning, take a visit to a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the world’s best Ceylon Tea is produced. After learn 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.
Overnight: Nuwara Eliya
Meals: Breakfast
Check out after breakfast and head for Tissamaharama, en route enjoy the beautiful scenery of Ella. Upon arrival at Tissamaharama, check in to the hotel and have a rest before your evening jeep safari at Yala Natinoal Park, home to a diverse range of wildlife including elephants, leopards, wild buffalo,sambhurs deer, musk deer, black bears, macaques, jackals and a numerous variety of birds.The park is renowned as the best park in the world to observe and shoot pictures of leopards.
Overnight: Tissamaharama
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we take a second jeep safari in Yala National Park. Afternoon is left for relaxation. If possible, don’t forget to taste the sea food at one of local restaurants here, which is so popular among locals and travelers.
Overnight: Tissamaharama
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to Galle, a colonial port fortified by Portuguese first then Dutch. Afternoon spend your time at the Galle Dutch Fort, regarded as one of the best preserved fortress in Sri Lanka. Later in evening take in the sunset from the rampart will make today unforgettable in your Sri Lanka tour.
Overnight: Galle
Meals: Breakfast
Today is free for you own exploration, a stroll around within the Fort district and discover the exotic vibe so distinguished from the rest of Sri Lanka could be a good choice.
Overnight: Galle
Meals: Breakfast
Today you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Colombo. Upon arrival in Colombo, take a guided city tour to explore Colombo's colonial legacies including the Independence Square, Gangarama Temple of Colombo, mile-long promenade of Galle Face Green and Colombo's National Museum etc. Stop for taking pictures when drive by the former British Administrative Center etc.
In the late afternoon, you will be escorted to airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Recommended Accommodation for Your Journey
Good accommodation choice will in no doubt enhance your tour experience. Our well-established partnership network with key hotel chains in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri-Lanka will bring you the benefits of competitive hotel rate and guaranteed room availability.
We pick hotels for you based on:
Location: geographically convenience values for your precious holiday time. So properties we use are either in downtown area close to main city attractions and amenities, or convenient for sightseeing or transportation.Hotel Criteria for Each Tour Class
Note: Bhutan is less developed with fewer hotels criteria for choice, and most of the hotels there aren't as high standard as those in Western society.
Hotel Arrangement for Standard Tour Class
Usually conveniently located and meet the basic requirements of a comfortable stay: decorative lobbies and nice guest rooms with AC, TV, hot water, shower and private bathrooms. On-site restaurants may be average in size but offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. In most cases, staffs have basic command of English. Usually 3 star hotels are adopted.Hotel Arrangement for Comfortable Tour Class
Normally you'll stay at formal and large hotels conveniently located with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby. Quality service, fully furnished rooms, restaurants, room service, fitness center and swimming pool (in some cases there is no pool) all together offer an above-average accommodation experience.
Usually good 4-star hotels are adopted or boutique hotels at request. Hotels best available will be arranged if no qualified choice, e.g. in remote area.
Hotel Arrangement for Superior Tour Class
Usually properties are conveniently located with shopping, dining and entertainment facilities nearby and offer a better service and hotel facility than that in hotels of Comfortable Tour Class. Usually 4-4.5 star hotels or boutique hotels are adopted.
Hotel Arrangement for First Tour Class
Deluxe hotels with high-end service and an extensive range of facilities for an excellent accommodation experience. Multiple restaurants on site with extensive menus for choice, room service available 24/7, fitness center and concierge service round out the experience. Usually 5 star hotels are adopted.
Hotel Arrangement for Deluxe Tour Class
The most luxury hotels are used and only available in some particular cities. These properties have top-notch service and unique location, such as a lake or a historic site, and usually incorporate some of the country’s most exquisite architecture traditions. Usually top 5 star or the best available hotels are adopted.
Meals
Normally, India Odyssey Tours put breakfast in your itinerary except for in Bhutan (all meals included). Lunch won’t be included for the sake of tour convenience, while dinner is also excluded as some travelers might want a little culinary adventure themselves. But surely your tour guide/driver is always glad to offer their advice.
It is normally served at the hotel where you stay. Depending on the hotel, the breakfast would be in western style, local style, or a combination.
Usually lunch won’t be included considering the fact that sometimes travelers may want to stay somewhere longer/shorter or need other minor changes during daily sightseeing, and it’s better to decide the lunch site then rather than pre-arranging it. For sure our tour guides/drivers will be happy to advice good places to you, and we strongly suggest qualified local restaurant or hotels around the scenic spots for the sake of your health.
Dinners will not be included in your meal plan unless you have that requirement. Enjoying the local food could be one of your best experiences in the incredible India & South Asia. This is why we offer you this flexibility of food choice, and you can always get advice from your tour guides/drivers.
If you have certain food allergies or special requirements such as vegetarian food, let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Private Guide & Transfer
You will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel across South Asia. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.
All tour guides of India Odyssey Tours are qualified professionals and registered English Speaking Tourist Guides who are reassessed annually. All of our tour vehicles are clean and in excellent condition, manned with licensed & experienced drivers.
You will always be greeted punctually on arrival at each destination airport. At every departure, you’ll be escorted & assisted until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint.
All of our tour guides in every destination are locals. Knowing the area well, they are good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for best photos.
If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience.
With our comfortable and safe private transportation, your tour will be more relaxing and less tiresome, keeping you in the best spirits to make the most out of your journey across South Asia.
Your vehicle in each destination is air conditioned, insured, clean, and regularly maintained. Your private driver is licensed and always put your safety first.
Reviews on: Best of Sri Lanka: Heritage, Tea Plantation & Wildlife Safari
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