Itinerary

1. Day 1: Airport - Dambadeniya - Anuradhapura

   • Get picked up from the airport and travel to Dambadeniya with your Sri Lanka driver. Dambadeniya is the third kingdom of Sri Lanka that became significant due to the sacred tooth relic that was placed here during the rule of King Vijayabahu III in the 13th Century. It was initially used as a fortification, built on a rock, which was protected by a moat, marsh, ramparts and royal gardens. 

   • After lunch, travel again Dambadeniya to Anuradhapura. 

   • On the way, visit some historical places (Yapahuwa and Panduwasnuwara). Yapahuwa; its most remarkable masterwork remains an ornamental stairway that conducted the royal palace. 

   • Surrounding vistas of breathtaking beauty, enrich the climb to the top; rambling jungle, rolling hills and sunbathed rocks combine to create a picture-perfect.

   Overnight in Anuradhapura.

2. Day 2: Anuradhapura - Ritigala - Polonnaruwa

   • After breakfast, visit Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura was the ancient capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th century to early 11th century AD, also known as the sacred city to the Buddhists with ruins of Buddhist temples, monasteries & Shrines. A very important Buddhist landmark in Anuradhapura is the Jaya Shri Maha Bodhi or the Sacred Bo tree, a sapling of the very tree under which the Lord Buddha became enlightened, planted in 288 BC. It is believed to be the oldest documented tree in the world. 

   • After lunch, travel from Anuradhapura to Ritigala. It is part of the Cultural Triangle. Ritigala is one of the less-visited but the most legendary ancient sites of Sri Lanka. Ritigala is also a paradise for bird lovers, being home to several endangered bird species.

   Overnight in Polonnaruwa.

3. Day 3: Polonnaruwa - Medirigiriya - Sigiriya

   • In the morning, visit the Polonnaruwa cultural area. Polonnaruwa was a great city in Sri Lanka which came into prominence during its' brief period of 2 Centuries of Sri Lankan history. 

   • Visit the showcase of the great ancient Sri Lankan architecture dating back to 12th Century AD, which was interwoven with many Buddhist monasteries and monuments which were built by the King Parakramabahu I. Later King Nissankamalla (1187 to 1196 AD) from Kalinga dynasty also had contributed to the development of many buildings and monuments at Polonnaruwa.

   • After lunch, visit Medirigiriya. Medirigiriya is a famous Watadageya. The roof of the Vatadage was reared on three concentric circles of pillars. Between the circles of pillars were brick and stone wall, similar to the Buddhist railing at Sanchi.

   Overnight in Sigiriya.

4. Day 4: Sigiriya - Dambulla - Minneriya

   • After breakfast visit Sigiriya. In the 5th Century, King Kasyapa built his royal palace by transforming a natural rock into his fortress. The Sigiriya Lion rock fortress, considered to be a wonder of the world, is one of Sri Lanka’s most convoluted and invaluable sites. It is landscaped into water gardens, island pavilions, courtyards and buildings by the king himself. The natural fortress is a symbol of pride for its people. 

   • After lunch, travel to Dambulla. The imposing 160-metre Dambulla Rock temple the most impressive and venerated Buddhist cave temples in Sri Lanka, festooned with a marvellous array of sculptures and murals. 

   • In the evening, can do a wild safari in Minneriya National Park. 

   Overnight in Sigiriya.

5. Day 5: Sigiriya - Matale - Kandy

   • After breakfast, start the travel Sigiriya to Kandy. 

   • On the way, visit Nalanda Gedige & Spice Garden. Nalanda Gedige stands out as a fascinating site due in large part to its interesting mix of Buddhist and Hindu architecture. The shrine’s ground plan leans towards the traditional Buddhist designs,but‘Mandapam’ or Waiting Hall shows a distinctly Hindu style as do the door jambs, and then the crocodile balustrade, moonstone and dwarf figures are once again influenced by Buddhism along with the Tantric Buddhist carvings which exhibit an erotic form of art, made famous by the carvings at Khajuraho in India.

   • Visit a spice garden in Matale to see many different types of spices in Sri Lanka. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed.

   Overnight in Kandy.                              

6. Day 6: Kandy City

   • After breakfast, start your cultural journey in Kandy. Kandy is a major tourist destination and is also known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka. It was the stronghold of the Sinhalese kings, who promoted and protected the local culture until the city fell to the British in 1815. Today a bustling commercial city, Kandy is famous for the Kandy Perahera, a huge cultural pageant that takes place in the month of July or August. It is one of the most colourful processions in the world. Thousands of drummers and dancers accompanying a parade of ornamented elephants perform in the streets of Kandy. The leading tusker carries the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha.

   • Visit the Temple of Tooth, Peradeniya Garden, Lankathilaka Viharaya, Embekke Temple & Gadaladeniya Temple.

   Overnight in Kandy.

7. Day 7: Kandy - Pinnawala - Airport

   • After breakfast travel Kandy to Pinnawala elephant orphanage. Pinnawala is the most popular and accessible place to see large numbers of these lovable animals in a natural habitat. It is the most popular elephant ‘attraction’ with tourists because nowhere else, except at the splendid ‘rehras’ will you see so many elephants at such close quarters. The government opened it in 1975 since many more baby elephants than usual had become separated from their herds that year. The persistent drought had dried up many village wells into which the young elephants had fallen while attempting to get a drink. Even today elephants fall into a quarry or gem-mining pits, and poachers or angry farmers who shoot the adults for destroying their crops, orphan some youngsters.

   • Evening travel from Pinnawala to the airport.