SRI LANKA

Welcome to Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean! In keeping with Sri Lankan tradition, all of us here at Jetwing Travels will like to extend to you our heartiest “Ayubowan!” (Traditional Sri Lankan greeting wishing long life to the other) Arrival and you will be warmly welcome by Jetwing Representative and then introduced to a friendly Arabic / English speaking chauffer Guide. Proceed to your hotel in Colombo, check into your hotel immediately to rest, relax and unwind. Dinner & overnight stay: Colombo Basis: HB

Today after breakfast, you will proceed to Dambulla. En-route visit Pinnawala, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage – Approx. 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo - Kandy road is Pinnawala. Here an orphanage was started in 1975 to house abandoned and wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including baby elephants brought from various parts, as well more than 25 babies born as a result of the captive breeding programme. Dambulla Cave Temple – which is located in the North Central Province. This UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates to the 01st century BC, is an amazing complex of 05 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Check into your hotel & spend rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight stay: Dambulla Basis: HB

After breakfast, you will climb the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Transfer Time (Hotel to Sigiriya): Approximately 30 minutes.

• It is advised to carry a bottle of water in a backpack.
• You may wear a hat for sun protection.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress – is a “UNESCO World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. Rest of the day at leisure. Afternoon Jeep Safari at Minneriya, Minneriya National Park – The extent of the Minneriya National Park is approximately 8,889 hectares. Dry zone plant and animal species are common. The elephants are a highlight of the Park. Approximately 160 species of birds, 9 amphibians, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species and more than 78 butterfly species can also be found here. There are also rare bamboo trees in this park which is unique to Minneriya National Park. During the months of August to October the famous Elephant gathering takes place at the Minneriya National Park. Large herds (Around 300) of Elephants can be witnessed at a given time. Spend rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight stay: Dambulla Basis: HB

Breakfast at the hotel, Today you will visit and experience a tour of Hiriwadunna Village. Village Trek – You will be taken on a bullock cart ride through a banana plantation. You could taste and savour the ripe bananas there.  You will then be crossing a scenic reservoir in an “oruwa” (traditional boat) to visit a chena cultivation. Proceed to Kandy. En-route visit Spice Gardens in Matale. Check-in to your hotel and spend rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight stay: Kandy Basis: HB

Breakfast at the hotel, Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya – This majestic botanical garden is 147 acres in extent and was started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Gampola and Kandy. There are more than 5,000 species of trees, plants and creepers. Some which are rare and endemic, as well as flora from the tropical world are found in the gardens. The Spice Garden and Orchid House are popular with tourists. There are 5 Palm Avenues beautifying the gardens, the earliest and tallest, Royal Palm Avenue, was planted in 1905 and the Double Coconuts from the Seashells Island, with the largest seed of all plants in the world, is one such avenue. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which was once a resplendent royal palace. The palace now houses one of the most sacred tooth relics of the Buddha and is considered one of the most symbolic icons of the Buddhist heritage of Sri Lanka. After that proceed to a guided city tour in Kandy world heritage city including Upper lake drive, Queens’s hotel, Kandy batik and silk center, gem lapidary, etc. Afterward, you will be transferred to Beruwala. Check into your hotel & spend rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight stay: Beruwala Basis: Half Board

Breakfast at the Hotel. Today you will visit the Turtle Hatchery Kosgoda and then enjoy a boat ride in Balapitiya. Turtle Hatchery, Kosgoda – Operated by the Wild Life Protection Society of Sri Lanka this hatchery was established in 1981 to protect Sri Lanka's turtles from extinction. You can see five species of turtle here - Green Turtles, Hawksbill Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Leatherback Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle. The eggs collected by the villagers and fishermen are purchased by the Kosgoda Hatchery and kept in sandy pens until they are hatched. The newly hatched ones are kept in seawater tanks and released to the sea in the night. This Hatchery has released more than 1,750,000 turtles to the sea. Madu River Boat Ride – The 915 hectare Madu Ganga Estuary is connected by two narrow channels to the Randombe Lake, forming a complex wetland system encompassing 64 mangrove islets. In the year 2000, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) undertook a detailed biodiversity survey of the region & revealed the existence of no less than 10 major wetland vegetation types supporting over 300 plant species & 248 species of vertebrates. This remarkable diversity has led to its being classified under RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands in 2003. Spend rest of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight stay: Beruwala Basis: HB

Breakfast at the Hotel. Proceed to the Airport. As all good things must come to an end, your chauffeur guide will comfortably take you to the international airport in time for your return flight.