Spend the first night in Colombo or Negombo

After breakfast leave Colombo/Negombo and proceed to the Cultural Triangle Sites.
P.M. Excursion to Dambulla Cave Temple – Built under an overhanging rock and consisting of a series of ancient temples built in the 1st century BC. 150 sculptures of Lord Buddha including a 15 meter long reclining Buddha can also be seen.
Overnight Dambulla, Sigiriya or Habarana.

After breakfast leave for the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa – When early in the 11th century AD, Anuradhapura suffered one of the worst of its many Indian invasions Polonnaruwa became the next seat of rule. Today’s ruins, however, belong almost exclusively to the reign of two kings. The city in its halcyon days was fortified with three concentric walls, with beautiful parks and gardens and sanctified by many a shrine and sacred place. The city itself, as well as the surrounding plain was watered by a unique irrigational complex known as the Sea of Parakrama (Parakrama Samudraya) – so vast was its scale.
P.M. Tour of the Minneriya National Park – The central feature of this 8890 hectares is the ancient Minneriya tank. During the dry season June – Sept, it is an incredible place to see hundreds of elephants (see Elephant Migration details in Events Calendar) that come to bathe and graze on the grasses as well as the huge flock of birds that come to fish in the shallow waters. You will also see spotted Deer and Sambar. Return for overnight to Dambulla, Sigiriya or Habarana.

After breakfast visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. At the height of its glory though brief it was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years, from 477 – 495 A.D. and one of the loveliest that have graced this land. In a sheltered pocket on the western face of the Sigiriya rock, approached by a spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes. Epigraphical evidence refers to the existence of 500 such portraits, but only 19 remain today. On the western and northern sides of the steep rock face runs a gallery or pathway which provides access to the seemingly inaccessible summit. Shielding this pathway is a 9 ½ ft plaster wall, so highly polished, that even today, one can see one’s reflection in it, hence the name “Mirror Wall”.

The afternoon free for spa/Ayurveda treatments.

Overnight Dambulla, Sigiriya or Habarana.

After breakfast drive to the hill capital, Kandy. Nestling amongst green hills with the Kandy Lake as its centerpiece, it is perhaps the prettiest of all the cities. This was the seat of the last king of Sri Lanka until he was captured by the British in 1815.

Afternoon free for sightseeing of Kandy. Overnight Kandy.

After breakfast visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, once the pleasure gardens of the queen. Its 150 acres are filled with tropical plants & trees of every description. The orchid house has some rare species, whilst the plant house contains leafy house varieties. Some of the other attractions include the giant banyan trees and an aromatic spice garden where all trees have been carefully labeled.

Evening visit the Sacred Temple of The Tooth. The Tooth Relic of the Buddha that is enshrined in the octagonal Temple, was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century from India, hidden in the hair of a princess. The Tooth Relic is one of Sri Lanka’s most venerated objects. It has become not only the island’s most prized possession, but its the very seal of sovereignty. A replica of the Tooth Relic is ceremonially paraded through the streets every year in July/August during the Kandy Perahera (see Events Calendar – Esala Perahera).

Enjoy a Cultural Dance Performance : This fascinating display of traditional dancing and drumming is worth making an effort to see. Overnight Kandy.

After breakfast leave for a visit to the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. It is a better to visit the orphanage during feeding or bathing times. The very young are fed from bottles, much like human babies. Feeding times are at 9.15 am, 1.15 pm and 5 pm. Bathing times from 10 am – noon and from 2 – 4 p.m. The bathing takes place at the end of the road opposite the entrance to the orphanage compound. Overnight Colombo/Negombo.