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LK10NBW011

Temples and Nature (23 Days)

Temples and Nature (23 Days)

£862.00 GBP
£928.00 GBP £862.00 GBP
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Sri Lanka though a renowned leisure destination for its mesmeric hill country, exquisite beaches, and fascinating cultural attraction of ancient cities and shrines is not a destination that readily comes to mind for a golfing holiday. If you look up the Sri Lanka Map you will learn to your delightful surprise that you can easily fit in three fabulous golf courses of all Asia located at three elevations.

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1 Day in Negombo

This tour brings you two of the main aspects of Sri Lanka travel – Temples and Nature that you will find in abundance across the island. Upon arrival, you can relax in a cozy hotel in Negombo or head towards the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. Negombo is a fishing hub and a much loved venue for water sports.

Negombo

Enjoy the sun on the sandy beaches of Negombo on the Western Coast of Sri Lanka. Watch the flourishing fish industry, which is a centuries-old tradition. Ride an adrenaline high with some fun water sports. Enjoy the corals and underwater life while diving. See the 50-year-old ship-wreck just off the coast, where many varieties of fish make their home.

1 Day in Anuradhapura

We will start our journey towards the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka on the second day of the tour and make a stop at the well known Munneswaram Temple which is located in the sleepy fishing hamlet of Chilaw. Surrounded by coconut groves, this ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a popular stopover for many pilgrims.

Munneswaram Temple

Later on proceed to Chilaw to Munneswaram temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples dedicated to Shiva in the region.

2 Days in Sigiriya

Travelling towards Sigiriya, we first explore the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura and its ruins while this is a popular veneration site among many Buddhists. Then we travel towards the Sigiriya Rock Fortress where you can climb up to its pinnacle and marvel the ruins of the palace and its terraces. A rural village tour and a safari at Minneriya awaits.

Ancient Ruin kingdom of Anuradhapura

Walk through the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD. View the pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds that are scatter all over the vast area. Visit important landmarks such as Jetavanarama, which was one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the huge Abhayagiri Monastery. Gain more knowledge about Sri Lanka’s history as you walk in the footsteps of Kings.

Rock Fortress Sigiriya

The 5th century AD rock fortress Sigiriya, once ruled by the Sri Lankan King Kashyapa, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka’s most historical landmarks. 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, that are a mind blowing example of ancient Sri Lankan hydraulic engineering.

Sigiriya Village Tour

Get a chance to go on an oxen cart ride and experience the world from the view of a village farmer. Have a relaxing catamaran safari through a calm lake. Walk through the golden fields ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your taste buds with a home cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.

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

Continuing the journey towards Kandy, the hill capital of Sri Lanka, we first visit the Dambulla Cave Temple and a spice garden to familiar ourselves with the local herbs and spices. We will arrange the opportunity to enjoy a colourful cultural show as well. Visiting the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and the Royal Botanical Gardens is a must.

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.

Spice Garden

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 lets you learn about Ayurvedic medicine. The tropical climate in which the plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality.

Kandyan Cultural Show

The Kandy Cultural Show gives an opportunity to experience some of the traditions of Sri Lanka. Enjoy this hour long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Get wowed by fire dancers and sword dancers. Watch the colorful Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming primal beat of the drums.

Temple of the Tooth Relic

Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built in the 16th century as the place of veneration and protection for Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Walk through the beautifully embellished passageways and elaborately painted halls, done in red, cream and black. Lounge against delicately carved pillars and get amazed by the beautiful golden statues. Get an unforgettable experience of history and art.

Royal Botanical Gardens

Visit the famous Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, 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

Heading inland to Nuwara Eliya, the central highlands bring you so much of natural beauty that you will keep coming back for more. Enroute, you will visit a tea factory to learn the process of manufacturing tea. You can enjoy a trek to explore the Horton Plains and also the picture perfect city of Nuwara Eliya and its surrounding landscapes.

Tea Factory

Visit a Tea Factory and a plantation where you would see how the world’s famous “Ceylon Tea” is manufactured. In 1824 a tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya for non-commercial purposes. James Taylor was a British citizen who introduced commercial tea plantation in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). He arrived to Sri Lanka in 1852 and settled down in Loolecondera estate in Kandy. Today even people who have never heard of Sri Lanka are familiar with Ceylon tea, which is known for its quality.

Horton Plains

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 faunae that make their home in the plains. Get to know more about the archeological finds that were discovered in the area.

Nuwara Eliya

Visit 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.

5 Days in Ella

Ideal for the nature lover, the journey to Ella will make so much sense due to the natural beauty of the mountainous scenery that you will capture while here. You will first enjoy a scenic train journey from Nanu Oya to Ella and then once there you will explore Ella and Haputale which are havens for hiking enthusiasts.

Scenic Train Ride

Enjoy panoramic views as you take a train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella. Watch the scenic mountains, beautiful waterfalls and bright green fields of tea. See the little misty villages and towns filled with bright lively locals pass you by. Relax to views of dark forests or enjoy the thrill of heart- stopping drops right at your feet. A leisurely ride that reveals Sri Lanka’s beauty (Travel Time: 3 hrs)

Explore Ella City

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.

Explore Haputale

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 Udawalawe

Heading to another area where nature and wildlife amalgamate, we travel to Udawalawe which is home to a National Park that is quite famous. You can enjoy an exciting safari exploring the grasslands, marshes and rocky outcrops of the Udawalawe National Park and spot the many Sri Lankan elephants, migratory birds and even the many amphibians at the park.

Udawalawe National Park

Enjoy a three-hour safari which would give you a chance to explore the amazing Udawalawe National Park. Travel through the marshes, forests and grasslands of the park that was created as a sanctuary for wildlife in the 1970s. See the water birds and Sri Lankan elephants for which the park is famed. Catch glimpses of the other mammals and birds, as well as the reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

2 Days in Sinharaja

Continuing with the nature feature of the tour, we travel towards the Sinharaja Rain Forest, which is known to be a biologically unique lowland rain forest in Sri Lanka. A national park as well as a bio diversity hotspot, the reserve covers an area of about 11000 ha. It also is home to amazing varieties of flora and fauna.

Sinharaja Rain Forest

Go on a jungle safari to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Experience the virgin forest with its dense evergreen type vegetation. Feel the adventure as you listen to the screeches of monkeys and see the glimpses of colorful forest birds. Feel the spine-thrilling chill as you watch a green pit viper wind itself amongst the foliage. A wonderful opportunity for those who wish to see Mother Nature at her wildest.

6 Nights in Bentota

The final leg of the tour will be along the south western coast of Sri Lanka, in Bentota. While here, other than enjoy the beach and the water sports, you can also enjoy a boat safari along the Madu River which will be mesmeric. We will also take you to a Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery to learn more about the species.

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 waterbirds in their natural habitats.

Turtle Hathery

Visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. Learn more about the five endangered sea turtle species that come to the shores of Sri Lanka to nest. Learn how the Kosgoda Turtle Care Program helps protect the nests until they hatch and increases the chances of survival for the babies. Get a chance to see, touch and feed baby turtles; or even injured adult turtles that the Turtle Hatchery cares for.

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

Services of Lakpura LLC

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