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LK10GBF011

Discovering Serendib (16 Days)

Discovering Serendib (16 Days)

£694.00 GBP
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The call of the hills, the shores and the wilderness beckons you to answer the island mother of Sri Lanka. Visit the Sigiriya ‘Lion Rock’ Fortress and the last Sri Lankan Kingdom, Kandy. Witness the ancient monuments which withstood the test of time and are now deemed ancient architectural wonders. Embark on Wildlife Safaris in the wilderness of Yala and Minneriya national parks, and get the chance to spot the elusive leopards and sloth bears. Walk through the old Colonial city of Galle and visit the Galle Dutch Fort to learn of its story and culture. Finally, roam the streets of Sri Lanka’s commercial hub and capital, Colombo and uncover the many secrets buried beneath its skyline.

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1 Day in Negombo

Your first day will be spent in Negombo, since this tourist destination is the nearest to the International Airport in Katunayake. Negombo is located along the Western coastal belt of Sri Lanka and there are many things that you can enjoy here during your stay. From fishing boats to various water sports activities and also deep sea diving.

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by a designated chauffeur guide from Lakpura. After the formalities at the airport you will be escorted to your air-conditioned car and proceed to Negombo and check in to the hotel.

2 Days in Sigiriya

Driving towards Sigiriya, which has a significant history, we will first stop over at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. While in Sigiriya, we will go exploring the Dambulla Cave Temple with its many caves filled with figurines and the ancient city if Polonnaruwa with its ruins. You can also enjoy a safari jeep ride with the Minneriya National Park.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is the home for young Elephants who have been displaced or lost from their natural habitat, located at Pinnawala village in Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is the best place for an up close and personal experience with the world’s largest land mammals! Today with 70 elephants herein, Pinnawela has become the home to the largest captive group of elephants in the world.

Dambulla Cave Temple

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.

The Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka’s ancient history.

Minneriya National Park

This safari takes you on a ride through the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy the sight of over 150 elephants congregating in one place during the famous Great Elephant Gathering, which happens in the dry season between May to October. In addition to elephants, get a chance to also see many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the scrublands, forests and other areas.

2 Days in Kandy

Heading towards Kandy, we will first visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and then enjoy a spice tour learning about the many local spices and herbs. You will be presented with a memorable cultural show highlighting various dance forms. We will visit some of the main temples in Kandy and then enjoy a leisurely stroll at the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Climb the 5th century AD rock fortress, Sigiriya, where the King Kasyapa ruled. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ‘ the Lion Rock’. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns. Walk through the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past.

Matale Spice Tour

The Matale Spice Tour gives you a hands on experience of a Spice & Herbal Garden within the Spice capital of Sri Lanka, Matale. Here you will learn about Sri Lanka’s famous spices such as coriander, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and their uses. The garden is enriched with herbs, spice groves and plants with fragrant greenery shading from the tropical trees that heighten the unique aroma of each spice and herb. Apart from gaining knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, this unique tour also let’s you learn about Ayurvedic medicine. The tropical climate in which the plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality.

Kandy Cultural Show

Watch the Kandyan Cultural Show with its colourful traditional dances and delightful music. The Kandy Cultural Show gives you an opportunity to experience some of Sri Lanka’s traditions. Enjoy this hour-long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Get mesmerized by fire dances, sword dances, and watch the talented Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming, primal beat of the drums.

Temple Trio

Get amazed by the wood crafting masterpiece that is the Embekke Temple. Wander through the historic and beautiful Gadaladeniya Temple and view its wonderful paintings and sculptures. Visit the Lankatilaka temple that was quite architecturally advanced for its time. See awe-striking sight of the Degaldoruwa Cave Temple, the inside walls of which are covered in painstakingly restored paintings. Visit the internationally famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic with its palatial cream and gold interiors.

Royal Botanical Garden

Which were formed in the early 19th century. Walk through the vast area containing over 4000 species of plants. Enjoy the learning more about the orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Wander down avenues shaded by large and rare trees, or bordered by flowering plants. Enjoy seeing the cannonball tree, walking over the wobbly suspension bridge and through the short hedge mazes or even climbing the twisty trees that make wonderful jungle gyms.

2 Days in Nuwara Eliya

We will then whisk you away in a train from Kandy while the journey will take you through some of the most beautiful landscapes that Sri Lanka has in store. We will visit a tea factory and learn about the process of making Ceylon Tea from scratch, explore the city and even venture into the Horton Plains National Park.

Scenic Train Ride to the Hill Country

The Kandy to Nanu Oya train journey takes you on a scenic ride through some of the most beautiful highland countryside areas in Sri Lanka. Watch the brilliant greens carpets of the tea plantations. See the picturesque villages with misty mountain backdrops pass by. Peer through drizzle and mist to look at the magical landscapes of Hill Country. Enjoy the amazing sights of intimidating mountains, deep and dark woodlands, and magnificent waterfalls as they go by your windows.

Tea Factory Visit

Tea Factory to learn how tea is manufactured in Sri Lanka. You can observe the tea pickers, locally known as ‘tea pluckers’ as they move between the lush green rows along the mountains with their large baskets.Thereafter you will be given a guided tour explaining fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and the grading of tea. Finish with a tea tasting process and learn of the history, and why Ceylon Tea is considered among the best in the world.

Explore the Beautiful City

The highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas, and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old red-bricked post office as you purchase an inexpensive and colorful postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park or on the shores of Lake Gregory.

Horton Plains National Park

Visit the beautiful Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, with its montane grasslands and cloud forests. Enjoy the majestic views from the precipice of World’s End and the cooling sprays from Baker’s Falls. Catch glimpses of the many endemic fauna that make their home in the plains. Get to know more about the archaeological finds that were discovered in the area.

1 Day in Ella

While driving towards Ella, we first explore the beauty of Haputale which has many scenic locations that are hidden from the public eye. From the well known Adisham Bungalow and the Lipton’s Seat to the lesser known St. Andrew’s Church and the Thangamale Bird Sanctuary, there are many places that you can visit while passing through to Ella.

Hidden Beauty

Explore the most famous landmarks of Haputale. Visit Lipton’s seat, one of the most famed observation points in Sri Lanka, which gives views of the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces. Roam over the grounds of Adisham Bungalow, a beautiful Tudor mansion built in the early 1900s. View the neo-gothic architecture of St Andrews church, walk through its graveyard which is the resting place of many British tea planters, and much more. This is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the calming beauty of Haputale and its sights.

1 Day in Yala

Heading towards Yala, passing the Central Highlands, we explore the hidden beauty of Ella which is a hiker’s paradise. A walk up to the Nine Arches Bridge, and the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop design along with many mountainous landscapes, tea estates, waterfalls, grasslands and many more will keep you yearning to come back for more.

Marvelous Scenery

Explore Ella’s most interesting places. Pass through bright green tea fields, and tough stretches of rock, and get to see the magical views of Little Adam’s Peak. Walk over the history seeped Nine Arches Bridge and listen to the story of its construction. End your hike at the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop-over track design. This tour gives you the chance to see the best sights of Sri Lanka.

5 Days in Galle

Enroute to Galle, you will enjoy a safari at the Yala National Park which has a very dense population of the Sri Lankan leopard. Other than enjoying the sun, sand and surf in Galle, you will be visiting a turtle hatchery, witness the stilt fishermen and tour the old city area of Galle with its magnificent Fort.

Yala National Park

This amazing Safari offers the opportunity to visit Yala National Park, the second largest in the island based off the Southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. Get a chance to see the famous Sri Lankan leopards, indigenous wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear and large herds of Sri Lankan Elephants. The park is also home to many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates.

Turtle Hatchery

Learn more about the five kinds of endangered sea turtles that visit the shores of Sri Lanka and their conservation. Do the Day time turtle watch and have a chance to see turtles come to nest. Have fun volunteering for a few hours at the Rekawa Turtle Hatchery.

Stilt Fisherman

Watch the captivating sight of fishermen perched on stilts in the waters along the coast of Koggala. Hear the stories of how stilt fishing came to Sri Lanka, from the mouths of the fishermen who have practiced the craft for generations. Learn how the stilt fishing is done in detail and marvel at the level of skill that goes into it. Get some amazing photographs of the fishermen silhouetted against the shoreline at sunset.

Old Colonial City of Galle

Discover the city of Galle, where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters, and its secrets. Visit the Galle Fort which is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. View the Maritime Museum, Galle National Museum and the lighthouse. Walk through the cobblestones streets with their Dutch names as you learn more about their histories.

1 Day in Colombo

Prior to the last stop of our tour, we will enjoy a boat safari along the calm waters of the Madu River, home to rich bio diversity. With mangroves everywhere and a flourishing eco system, you will enjoy it thoroughly. Finally, we head towards Colombo and visit some of the most important sites and then enjoy some shopping too.

Boat Safari in Madu River

Go on a wonderful boat ride down the Madu River with its flourishing ecosystem. Pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves. See the basking crocodiles and water monitors. Visit one of the small islands with its cinnamon harvesting natives. Enjoy the restorative qualities of the famous fish massage. Observe the water birds natural habitats.

Colombo

Experience the colorful lights and bright life of Colombo, the capital City of Sri Lanka. Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple, the National Museum and more. Enjoy the malls of Independence Square or the Race Course. Visit boutique shops and designer stores.

Departure

After the breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to airport after spending a memorable time in this island.

Includes:

  • Transport in a Private Vehicle, Fuel, Parking & Highway tolls.
  • Service of English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
  • All prevailing taxes and service charges.
  • 2 x 500ml Water Bottles per Person per Day.

Excludes:

  • Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
  • Entrance fees to the respective sites.
  • Chauffeur Guide's Accommodation.
  • Expenses of personal nature.
  • Visa and Related Expenses.
  • Tips & Portages.

Complimentary:

  • 1 x 1 Litre water bottle per person per day.
  • 1 x Local SIM card per room.

Services of Lakpura LLC

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