Day 1
Arrival at Colombo Airport and transfer to hotel in Negombo.
Evening visit Muthurajawela wet land by boat.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Negombo
Muthurajawela wet land - covers an area of 3,068 ha. It is located between 10-30 km north of Colombo, in Gampaha District. Together with Negombo Lagoon (3,164 ha), Muthurajawela forms an integrated coastal wetland system of high biodiversity and ecological significance. There are many varieties of flora and fauna which are interdependent in this coastal ecosystem.
In 1996 an area of some 1,777 ha in the northern section of Muthurajawela was declared a Wetland Sanctuary.
Day 2
After breakfast leave for Sigharaja via Southern Highway, en-route visit a brief city tour in Colombo.
Evening at leisure
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Sigharaja.
Day 3
After breakfast, proceed to Singharaja Rain Forest on a full day guided tour.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Singharaja.
Singharaja Rain Forest - Located in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is the country"s last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka"s endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.
Day 4
After breakfast leave for Haputale.
Evening at leisure
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Haputale / Bandarawela
Haputale is in the Uva Province situated at an elevation of 1431 m (4695 ft) above the sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Haputale is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than its surroundings, due to its elevation. The Haputale-Pass allows views across the Southern plains of Sri Lanka. The South-West boundary of Uva basin is marked by Haputale mountain ridges, which continue on to Horton Plains and Adam"s Peak to the west. CNN named Haputale as one of Asia"s most overlooked destinations
Day 5
After breakfast, visit Lipton"s seat in Haputale.
Thereafter leave to Ella to visit Ella Gap. Return to your hotel in Haputale.
Overnight stay in Haputale / Bandarawela
The Lipton"s Seat - Located at Dambetenna in the Haputale Mountain region was a favourite look-outpoint for Sir Thomas Lipton who created the Lipton Tea brand. The point has a fabulous view over Uva, Southern, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern provinces. Sir Thomas Lipton visited Sri Lanka in the 1890s and made business deals with James Taylor the man who introduced tea plantations to Sri Lanka. Sir Lipton"s company purchased tea from Sri Lanka and distributed it through Europe and the USA.
Ella Gap is one of the most spectacular scenic sights in Sri Lanka - the landscape falls away in a dizzy drop of 3000ft to the eastern plains. The Ella rock is famous for the cave of Ravana a legendary king of Sri Lanka ruled during the pre-historic times. The 1080-foot high waterfall few miles from the Ella Rest House is one of the most beautiful falls in the country.
Day 6
After breakfast, leave for Nuwara Eliya
Afternoon on your arrival in Nuwara Eliya proceed on a city tour.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations and is 6,200 feet above sea level. In 1826 some British Officers out on hunting, discovered Nuwara Eliya plains, and Sir Edward Barnes developed it. In 1828 a road was constructed over the ridge at Ramboda Pass and a station for convalescent soldiers was established. It was Sir Samuel Baker who fell under the spell of Nuwara Eliya, brought hounds, horses, cattle, sheep etc. and started a typical English farm here. Flowers and vegetable were brought from England and planted. It is supposed to be one of the coldest places on the Island, but is really just like an England spring day although the temperature does drop at night. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom during spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September).
Tea Plantations - Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867, a Scottish planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings in 8 hectares of forestland in the Loolkondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23 lbs. being shipped to London. Today more than 200,000 hectares in highlands and other areas are under tea and around 300 million kilograms (25% of world tea exports) are exported by Sri Lanka as the world’s largest tea exporter. Tea grows only on rolling terrain and is classified by elevation into Low Grown, Medium Grown & High Grown.
Day 7
Early morning, excursion to Horton Plains.
Breakfast, Picnic breakfast
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Horton Plains – With a Picnic breakfast leave for Horton Plains the highest plateau in the country which is one of the very important National parks in Sri Lanka especially for its topographical variations. It has unique vegetation and is famous for many rare and endemic birds. The most awesome physical feature of the Horton Plains is the escarpment that falls 880 meters to the lowlands of the southern region of the island. Aptly known as the “Worlds End” the view from the precipice of the countryside below towards the south coast is spectacular. Dawn or early morning is the best time to observing it.
Horton Plains National Park harbors 12 species of endemic birds. The following birds are recorded only at Horton Plans, the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, Dusky Blue Fly Catcher and Sri Lankan Wood Pigeon.
Day 8
After breakfast, visit Kandy, en-route Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya.
Witness a cultural dance performance and also visit Temple of the Tooth Relic in the evening.
Dinner at the hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Kandy
Kandy - The hill capital; venue of the annual Esala Perahera (Local festival at Kandy); the last stronghold of the Sinhala kings, was finally ceded to the British in 1815. Surrounded by hills, the Mahaweli River and the virgin forest, it is the center of Buddhism, arts, crafts and culture in Sri Lanka. Kandy is an example of Buddhism’s influence in Sri Lanka today. Temples, shrines and monasteries keep Buddhist traditions alive. To Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the world, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the ‘Dalada Maligawa’ - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. One would always return a second time to this beautiful city.
Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya – Started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the kings of Kandy, 147 acres in extent, it has more than 4,000 species of rare and endemic trees and plants as well as flora from the tropical world. This is a haven not only for scientists but to every nature lover too. The Spice Garden and Orchid House within the Gardens are popular with tourists.
Day 9
Early morning, excursion to Knuckles Forest Reserve.
Breakfast, Picnic breakfast
On completion return to hotel
Overnight stay in Kandy.
Knuckles Forest Reserve - The Knuckles mountain range exists as a unique ecosystem separate from the rest of the central hills. Covering a distance of about 12 miles Knuckles extends roughly from the northwest to the southwest of Sri Lanka.
Day 10
After breakfast, visit Udawatta Kele Sanctuary.
Evening at your leisure
Overnight stay in Kandy.
Udawatta Kele Sanctuary is a historic forest reserve on a hill-ridge in the city of Kandy. During the days of the Kandyan kingdom, Udawatta Kele was known as "Uda Wasala Watta" in Sinhalese meaning "the garden situated above the royal palace". The sanctuary is famous for its extensive avifauna (birds). The reserve also contains a great variety of plant species, especially lianas, shrubs and small trees. There are several giant lianas. Many of small and medium size mammals that inhabit Sri Lanka can be seen here. Several kinds of snakes and other reptiles might also be seen. Udawatta Kele was designated as a forest reserve in 1856, and it became a sanctuary in 1938. The Sri Lanka Forest Department has two offices in the reserve, one of which (i.e. the one located at the South-Eastern entrance) has a nature education centre with a display of pictures, posters, stuffed animals, etc. Being easily accessible and containing a great variety of flora and fauna the forest has a great educational and recreational value. Groups of school children and students regularly visit the forest and the education centre. The forest is also popular with foreign tourists, especially bird watchers. The forest is also of religious importance as there are three Buddhist meditation hermitages and three rock shelter dwellings for Buddhist monk hermits.
Day 11
After breakfast, leave for your Beach Stay extension or Airport for your onward journey