Arrive in Sri Lanka

On arrive in Sri Lanka, you will be welcomed and assisted by a representative of Tree Trunk Travels and you will be then transferred to your hotel in Dambulla.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Approx 55 miles from Colombo, off the Colombo Kandy road is Pinnawela, where an orphanage was started in 1975 to house the abandoned and the wounded elephants. The number of elephants has increased to more than 65 now; including Baby Elephants brought from various parts, as well as the 23 baby elephants born as a result of the captive breeding program. The best time to visit is the feeding time from 0930-1000 hrs and 1330-1400 hrs and the bathing time from 1000-1030 hrs and 1400-1430 hrs when all the elephants are taken to the river close by

Evening visit Dambulla Cave Temple.

Dambulla Cave Temple (also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is a World Heritage Site (1991) inSri Lanka situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km east of Colombo and 72 km north of Kandy. It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented Caves in the surrounding area. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square meters. Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara and Buddha first sermon.

Dinner & Overnight at Hotel , Dambulla

Breakfast at the hotel.

Minneriya National Park This National Park with 8889 hectares in extent is famous for it large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake.

Entrance is at Ambagaswewa about 6 km from Habarana on the main Habarana Polonnaruwa road. Office is by the side of the main road.

Elephants, about 300 wild elephants, wild buffaloes, wild boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, Sambhur, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds, 26 varieties of fishes, 78 varieties of butterflies are recorded from the Minneriya National Park.

Evening visit Sigiriya

Sigiriyais 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. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed.

Dinner & Overnight at Hotel Dambulla

Nuwara Eliya

After Breakfast transfer Nuwara Eliya

The tea factories found on most tea estates play a vital role in the final value of the manufactured tea. Regardless of how carefully the leaf has been grown and plucked, if the processes at the factory are not carried out properly the end result will be of a poor quality. A tea factory is a multi-storied building, almost always sited on the tea estates to ensure that the time between plucking and processing tea is kept to a minimum. Once the tea leaves arrive at the factory they are spread across the upper floors of the building in troughs – a process known as withering. Withering removes all excess moisture in the leaf to make it pliable.

Proceed to visit Sita Amman temple

Evening commence of sightseeing of Nuwaraeliya,

Nuwara Eliya – The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. 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 in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel Nuwara Eliya

Day 04

After breakfast transfer to Yala

Rest of the day at leisure in the hotel

Check in at the hotel.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel ,Yala

Yala National Park

Yala East (Kumana) National Parkis 70 square miles (18,149 hectares) in extent and was declared in 1970. There are several marshes and lakes where large number of aquatic birds built their nests and visitors can see them at close range during the breeding season.

The approach is from the Pottuvil side and it is also possible to visit Kumana from Yala (Ruhuna) Park through Block II which is a Strict Natural Reserve for which entry is allowed only with a special written approval.

The common birds found here are Spot-billed Pelicans, Cormorants, Egrets, Spoonbills, Herons, Storks, Ibises, Bitterns, Indian Moor Hens, White-breasted Waterhen, Painted Storks and many other species.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel ,Yala

Bentota

After Breakfast proceed to Bentota

Optional: En route visit Turtle hatchery and 01 hour Bentota river boat safari

Bentota – is the first National Holiday Resort developed by the Ceylon Tourist Board as a planned resort. There are 6 tourist hotels in the beach span of 5 miles with all the facilities a resort would require.

Water sports facilities are available as in the Beruwela Resort Many interesting sightseeing tours are possible from here, such as the Turtle Hatchery, Mask factory, Boat trips on Bentota River etc.

Dinner & Overnight stay at  Hotel , Bentota

Colombo

After breakfast proceed to airport to connect the departure flight.

En route:

Colombo –Colombo was only a small seaport, which came into prominence in the 16^th Century with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505 and the development of it as a major Harbour during the British period and became the capital in 1815 after Kandy was ceded to the British.The remains of the buildings during the period and the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city.    None of the Portuguese & Dutch fortifications are found today but some of their

buildings and churches could be seen in the Fort & Pettah areas.Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area where there is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, the Kaymans Gate with the Belfry at the original gate to enter the Fort, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhaal dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, Davatagaha Mosque, Colombo Museum and the Natural History Museum are some of the sites to be visited. Also visit the BMICH (Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall), see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.