Day 1 Airport – Kotugoda
Welcome to Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean! In keeping with Sri Lankan tradition, all of us here at Wander Ceylon will like to extend to you our heartiest “Ayubowan!” (Traditional Sri Lankan greeting wishing long life to the other)
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met by your Chauffeur guide & transferred to your hotel in Kotugoda.
Transfer Time (Airport to Kotugoda): Approximately 35 minutes.
Check in at the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities, in the evening our chauffer guide will take them to nearby temple to take the blessings.
Accommodation: Wallawwa
Room type : Garden Suite
Basis : Bed and Breakfast Basis
*Special welcome dinner at the garden*
Day 2 Kotugoda - Anuradhapura
Pick up time 09:00 am, this day after breakfast you will proceed to Anuradhapura.
Transfer Time (Kotugoda to Anuradhapura): Approximately 04 hours.
Check into the hotel and relax for few hours before heading to Anuradhapura Sacred City.
Transfer Time (Hotel to Anuradhapura): Approx. 40 minutes.
Pick up time 02:30 pm Anuradhapura was the first ancient kingdom and Capital of Sri Lanka. As you explore the ancient ruins of this UNSECO World Heritage listed site, be sure to visit the city’s greatest treasures. These include the magnificent 13-metre-high statue of Lord Buddha carved out of solid granite, the most renowned relic of the Bodhi Tree (grown from a branch transported from India) under which Buddha was believed to have attained enlightenment. In addition to above, there are many other important shrines and monuments that give Anuradhapura its significant status as the first kingdom.
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 3 Anuradhapura
Pick up time 06:30 am, this day early morning after cup of tea, you will be taken for Nachchaduwa Scenic Ride.
This unique drive takes you well off the beaten track, weaving along earthen tracks through rural countryside dominated by rice paddies. Birds and buffalo are often sighted alongside other wildlife, including elephants, particularly when you reach scenic Nachchaduwa Lake, a vast reservoir framed by dense pockets of forest and the distant hills. This setting makes a great spot for enjoying sundowners before heading back to the hotel.
Return back to the hotel and relax till evening before heading for Village Bike Ride.
Pick up time 04:00 pm, Discover your surroundings on an inspiring peddle around our local village, Athungama. The five-kilometer trail is guided, and as you weave around bird-rich tanks and lakes, past chena and rich fields and dismount to explore intricate Buddhist temples, the subtle nuances of our rural way of life will be revealed. Travelling slowly allows you to fully appreciate the finer details – the village bathing spots, the fisherman’s catch, the local festivities, the seasonality of rice cultivation and the places where the local community congregate such as temples, community centres and village shops. A strong sense of community unites our villagers, and our resort is entwined with our locality.
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 4 Anuradhapura – Sigiriya - Kandy
Pick up at 08:00 am this day after breakfast you will proceed to Kandy, on your way you will be taken to climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Transfer Time (Anuradhapura to Kandy via Sigiriya): Approx. 03 hours.
One of Sri Lanka’s major attractions, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress was built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD) for the purpose of protecting him from his rivals. An UNSECO World Heritage listed site, also known as the “Fortress in the Sky”. The climb up to the top of the fortress doesn’t only offer the reward of breathtaking views but there is so much to discover during your climb to the top.
Continue your journey to Kandy, check in to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities
Accommodation : Aarunya Nature Resort
Room type : Premium Villa with Private Outdoor Pool & Private Outdoor Jacuzzi
Basis : Bed and Breakfast Basis
Day 5 Kandy
Pick up time at 08:00am, this day after breakfast you will be for Bhikkuni Monastery Visit.
Visit a monastery that caters specifically to the Bhikkuni
(women monks). Your knowledgeable guide will walk you around giving you a brief history of Buddhism and some of its practices. You then get to visit one of the senior nuns and ask her any questions about Buddhism or her life.
Return back to the hotel and relax till evening before heading to Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic.
Transfer Time (Hotel to Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic): Approximately 01 hour.
Pick up time at 04:00pm The Temple of Tooth Relic (“Dalada Maligawa” as known to the locals) is located in Kandy. This sacred temple is also home to the palm-leaf transcripts and its history dates back to 1687. This stunning piece of architecture is instantly recognised by its octagonal shape and golden roof. Although you are not able to view the actual tooth itself, the casket within which it is held is displayed twice a day.
Thereafter you will witness a Cultural Dance Show.
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities
Accommodation : Aarunya Nature Resort
Room type : Premium Villa with Private Outdoor Pool & Private Outdoor Jacuzzi
Basis : Bed and Breakfast Basis
Day 6 Kandy – Hatton
Pick up time 07:30 am today after early breakfast you will get on board to the local train (01st class tickets or 02nd class tickets) which is how the British used to travel during the colonial times in the late 1800’s. You will have reserved seats for you and witness the beautiful ride along forests, villages, Waterfalls and tea estates.
Train journey from Kandy station to Hatton station
Train leaves Kandy by 08:25 am and reach Hatton by 10:35am.
Approx. 02 ½ hours’ journey
Notes
- It is important to note that there have been delays in the train timings quite often.
- Please note the purchase of train tickets cannot be guaranteed currently due to the process in place within the Sri Lanka Railways Department especially during peak periods. Tickets for travel are issued 30 days in advance of travel, are limited and extremely difficult to obtain. In the unlikely event a ticket/s cannot be obtained we will of course make the necessary refunds & the clients will travel by road. This is a destination issue and it is best expectations are managed accordingly.
Arrive to Hatton railway station, meet your chauffer guide there and he will drive you to the hotel in Hatton, check into the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 7 Hatton
Spend the days at leisure within the vast tea Plantation. Visit tea plantations and tea tour.
During this experience, you’ll learn all about the tea production process by visiting one of our local tea factories. The factories themselves are icons of the Hill Country; vast, atmospheric and filled with heavy machinery, some dating back over a century, these multi-windowed warehouses are where the magic process of tea production happens. The leaves are brought in from the tea gardens, dried, withered and rolled, before being fired to remove as much moisture as possible. Finally, they’re sorted into fragrant particle sizes ranging from the finest dust to the most prized variety, orange pekoe.
One of the factory managers will host you on this experience and take you on a guided tour, showing you the processes, introducing you to the machines and demonstrating how each of them works. At the end, you’ll have the opportunity to taste a few varieties of tea in an insightful tea tasting session. The factories have a few varieties of tea for sale so if you wish you can purchase some to take back home.
Thereafter you will be taken for Tea Planter’s Tiffin Lunch.
Pick up at 12:30 pm You could say it is a fancy excuse for a private picnic with wine! In the early days of the tea industry, before motorised travel came to its assistance, tea planters conducted field inspections across a vast area of tea fields and forests, either on foot or horseback. At mid-day, they would take a break under the shade of a tree or the shelter of a makeshift hut for lunch and a rest. The ‘Planters’ Tiffin Lunch” is a plusher version (to Relais and Chateaux standards no less!) served in tiffin boxes in an idyllic setting. The location is on the hillside above Dunkeld Bungalow flanked by tea and jungle on either side, with vistas of the rolling tea fields that begin from the glassy Castlereagh Lake and creep on to jagged mountaintops. The way up to the picnic spot is via a scenic trail that commences at Dunkeld Bungalow and we recommend guests take the walk either up to the picnic spot or from lunch back down to the Bungalow. We also offer a ‘hosted’ version of this experience in the company of our resident planter Bernard Holsinger, who is sure to provide a fascinating account of life as a planter in the ‘good old days and the experience a richer context.
Optional – Pick up at 15:30 pm An interactive and guided experience where guests will taste and learn to identify (and appreciate!) the unique flavour profiles that give different teas their distinction. Bernard Holsinger is the resident Tea Planter at Tea Trails and brings with him a wealth of experience, complemented with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek wit. Compared to the complimentary Tea Experience at the Dunkeld Tea factory – which is a general overview of the history of tea and its product – the Private Tea Tasting is a far more detailed, immersive and intimate experience.
USD$119 for 2 guests from one party
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 8 Hatton - Castlereagh Reservoir - Weerawila domestic airport - Yala
Pick up at 10:30 am ,after breakfast take Cinnamon air scheduled flight from Castlereagh Reservoir to Weerawila domestic airport.
(11:15am – 12:30 pm – 01 hour & 15 minutes flying time)
Arrive to Weerawila domestic airport, meet your chauffer guide there he will drive you to the hotel in Yala.
Check into the hotel and relax for few hours, before heading for Yala National Park jeep safari.
Pick up at 03:00 pm Embark on an adventure of a lifetime with a Wildlife Jeep Safari at the Yala National Park! Yala National Park is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 24km Northeast of Tissamaharama. Yala is the best location to sight and photograph the rare and remarkable leopards. Other highlights of Yala include the herd of wild elephants, bears, wild boars, buffalos, deer, crocodiles and many species of birds. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. There is also an abundance of water supply for animals and birds ranging from waterholes, streams, small lakes to lagoons.
*You will get a snack basket from the hotel; you can enjoy a scrumptious dinner on your return to the hotel*
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 9 Yala – Unawatuna - Galle
Pick up time 08:30 am, this day after breakfast, you will proceed to Galle, on your way you will visit Yatagala Temple.
Transfer Time (Yala to Galle via Unawatuna): Approx:03 hours.
Yatagala temple – Old Buddhist temple complex built into rock formations featuring many statues & a serene atmosphere. 2300-year-old Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya is a Buddhist place of worship that has been recipient of Royal Patronage from Three Kings of Sri Lanka. It was established during the reign of King Devanam Piyatissa of the Anuradhapura period, when one of the first saplings from the revered Sri Maha Bodhi Tree was planted here.
It is said that, King Parakrama Bahu the Second of the Dambadeniya period ordered his Minister Devapathiraja to build the 18 riyan reclining Buddha astute in the cave of the gigantic rock outcrop, which infect gave the name.
Continue your journey to Galle, check in to the hotel and relax till evening before heading for Galle Fort Walk with Amangalla Butler.
Pick up time 03:00 pm, Galle Fort walk with Amangalla Butler; the fort is best seen on foot. This can be a private walk with our Amangalla fort map, a historical tour with your butler, or ramparts stroll at sunset. Exploring the fort on bicycle is also a pleasant way to explore this UNESCO world heritage site.
The Fort was established by the Portuguese in 1505 when a small foreign trading post started operation. In 1640, the Dutch captured Galle, and by 1663 had constructed great ramparts and massive bastions to protect their interests. Within these ramparts, narrow streets are lined with houses displaying their Dutch and English heritage. Flanked by pillared verandas, these colonial homes and government offices remain in use today.
Return back to the hotel and relax for the rest of your day enjoying hotel facilities.
Day 10 Galle – Airport
Having reached at the end of your program, you will be transferred to the Bandaranaike International Airport from where you will continue onwards to your next destination.
Transfer Time (Galle to Airport): Approximately 02 ½ hours.
