03 Nights Cultural Trip from Colombo

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet & Greet at Colombo Hotel & Transfer to Habarana, Afternoon Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Stop At: Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Today, the climb of one of the most valuable historical sites in Sri Lanka. Declared by locals as the eighth wonder of the world, Sigiriya Rock is both a magnificent fortress and a true bastion of fifth-century reality. During the second half of the fifth century, King Kasyapa made the rock plateau his royal residence. Remains of the fortress’s extensive network still exist. The palace is surrounded by vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys and fountains. Take some time to explore these two; it’s definitely worth the extra walk. Marvel at its western wall, which is almost entirely covered in painted frescoes depicting beautiful women. It is believed that the images were a celebration of the female form.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight Stay in an Eco Lodge at Habarana

Day 2: Transfer to Polonnaruwa, Visit Polonnaruwa Ancient City, Afternoon Safari at Minneriya NP

Stop At: Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Over 800 years ago, Polonnaruwa was a thriving religious and commercial centre, a vibrant hub from where kings ruled the central plains. Following the destruction of Anuradhapura towards the end of the 10th century, the city became Sri Lanka’s royal capital, of both the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms, and continued its glorious reign until the 13th century.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
With its low-canopy forests, secondary forests, scrubland, grasslands, and swamps, Minneriya National Park boasts an unusually wide range of habitat types. It is considered an important dry season feeding ground for elephant populations in the vicinity of Matale, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee. The park is famed for its “Elephant Gathering”, a spectacular phenomenon during the long dry seasons when hundreds of elephants can be seen feeding on the grasslands bordering the tank, with others cooling off in its refreshing water. This annual event- considered to be the largest wild elephant gathering in South Asia- is a unique wildlife spectacle attracting hundreds of wildlife fanatics every year.

In addition, 24 species of mammals, such as endemic monkeys, sloths and the less frequently seen Sri Lankan leopard can be spotted. The Minneriya Reservoir is a welcome refuge for large water birds such as the Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork and Spot-Billed Pelican in addition to resident and migratory bird species.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in an Eco Lodge at Habarana

Day 3: Transfer to Kandy via Dambulla, Visit Dambulla Cave Temple, Evening Visit to Temple of Tooth Relic

Stop At: Dambulla Cave Temple, Jaffna Hwy, Habarana 50150 Sri Lanka
A pilgrimage site for the last 22 centuries, this extensive cave monastery is the largest, best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. Dambulla Rock Cave Temple is a renowned UNESCO world heritage site located at an elevation of 1118 feet above sea level, the caves are cut out of a massive granite outcrop that rises above the surrounding countryside and provides striking views across the plains of the dry zone in the distance.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000 Sri Lanka
Visit Lord Buddha's Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy. Kandy is the most venerated religious place for the Sinhala Buddhist community. The tooth, reputed to be one of the Buddha's, is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy. It is also politically significant, as it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.

Kandy was consequently the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. Rituals on the tooth are performed three times daily, and on Wednesdays, there is a symbolic bathing of the relic with a herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers. This visit offers some eye-opening insight into the culture and history of the area and Sri Lanka.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in a Country Home Stay at Kandy

Day 4: Authentic rural village walk in the foothills of Knuckles, Transfer from Kandy to Colombo, Drop to your Hotel in Colombo

Stop At: Knuckles Conservation Forest, Sri Lanka
Take a mountain walk to one of the most beautiful and remote villages in Kandy at the foothills of Knuckles Mountains with an experienced guide and a villager. This walk will bring you real authentic sights of a village untouched by mass tourism growth or development.

The walk goes through Pine forests, Tea estates, gushing streams, jungle patches, waterfalls, terraced rice fields and domestic spice fields. So you will be able to see working spice, paddy and tea fields, interact with real locals, taste home cooked food, and see how animals are used for farming work.

You would be able to visit a real home in the mountains where one could witness or join cooking with the locals. The home cooked meal will be served as your lunch complimented with fresh home grown fruits such as Mangoes and Bananas.

A very traditional village, it is unique in that it identifies itself with practicing even to this day some of the local customs in daily life.

Visitors are encouraged to work and become part of the village life by engaging in plucking fruits and vegetables for a meal to be prepared according to the local taste. They would also get an opportunity to watch some of the other aspects of this village being the Heeloya waterfall, local species and herbs.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.