COUNTRY SNAPSHOT
Five days / four nights
The new ‘railway and drive’ tour combines traveling by luxury vehicles and trains. Riding across the hill country by
train is truly a delightful, fascinating and fun experience. The railway
network was introduced to the country by the
British colonial government in 1864. The main reason for building a railway system in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was to
transport tea and coffee from the hill country to the capital city of Colombo.
Still, today, a journey by train from Kandy to the highlands of Nuwara Eliya, Ella or Dickoya is one of the most
fabulous experiences Sri Lanka has to offer. The climb uphill up to 6,000 feet above sea level is one of the greatest
railway journeys in the world. The dramatic landscape of the highlands stirs the senses as you wind past lush tea
plantations, majestic peaks and rushing waterfalls.
Tour Includes
- Accommodation in a sharing double room in the above mentioned hotels.
- Breakfast throughout.
- Sightseeing in a private A/C car
- An English speaking chauffeur guide
- All government taxes and service charges
Not Included
- All applicable entrance fees to the monuments, national parks, temples etc.(approximately US$ 75.00
per person) - Lunches and dinners
- Jeep hires to Wilpattu National Park ( approximately US$ 30 – 35 per jeep per place )
- Tips, extras, porterage, camera and video permits
- Optional activities.
- All other expenditure of personal nature
Itinerary Details
On arrival at Colombo airport, you will be met by our chauffeur/guide who will be your driver and companion during your
stay in Sri Lanka. Our guides have received the statutory license from the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority and are
knowledgeable and will be selected so as to be able to converse with you in a language you are comfortable in, and are
trained to ensure that you have a pleasant and enjoyable stay. He will take you in a comfortable air conditioned vehicle to
Negombo.
Negombo – a famous fishing village north of Colombo, with a Dutch built canal. The canal itself is a hive of activity with all
the fishermen travelling up and down in their gaily pain ted boats. From November to April, diving facilities are available in
this quaint village. The streets on either side of the hotels are dotted with souvenir shops, restaurants etc.
Overnight stay at Negombo.
Drive to Kandy, en route visiting the Pinnawela elephant orphanage to watch them bathe in the river and feed (between
9.15 a.m. and 1.15 p.m.). This is not only a hope for orphaned or abandoned young elephants but is also a breeding centre.
Kandy – centred on an artificial lake built by her last king in the early 19th century, Kandy is a bustling mountain city.
The Temple of the Tooth houses the Tooth Relic of the Buddha in the palace compound.
The 18th century Royal Botanical Gardens has an unparalleled variety of tropical plants; crafts shops, the colourful fruit and
vegetable markets and the park – like Peradeniya University form other centres of interest. In the surrounding villages are
mediaeval temples such as Embekke, Lankatilake and Gadaladeniya – with paintings and wood carved pillars to marvel at.
For those with the itch, Kandy has a new championship golf course, rated as one of the most beautiful in Asia, the marvelous
double curvature Victoria dam (hydro electric) and a range of hotels to suit all purses. In the evening, watch a cultural
performance featuring the various dance types and drummers of Sri Lanka.
Overnight stay at Kandy.
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, known worldwide for its plant collection. The gardens are on the banks of the
Mahaweli Ganga and were first planted and laid out for King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha (1747-1780) and cover some 150 acres
of trees, lawns and flowering shrubs. The National Herbarium is also situated here, where samples go back over 100 – 125
years. Under British rule, the royal park became a botanical garden in 1821 and is the largest of Sri Lanka’s three main
botanical gardens. Here, exotic crops such as coffee, tea, nutmeg, rubber and cinchona (quinine) – all of which later became
important to Sri Lanka’s economy – were tested. Sights include a palm avenue planted by the British in 1905. At leisure,
stroll around the town.
Overnight stay at Kandy.
Drive to Kitulgala for white water rafting on the Kelani River. Kitulgala is for nature lovers and modest purses. On the edge of
the rainforest belt, the river offers white water rafting and bird watching in the forest beyond.
Proceed to Kalawana.
Overnight stay at Kalawana.
An excursion to Sinharaja rain forest, a World Heritage site – this tropical rain forest is the home of the majority of the
island’s endemic flora and fauna.
Sinharaja – this ancient royal sanctuary situated in the south western ‘wet zone’ is first -growth rain forest, now less than
25,000 acres in extent. The Sinharaja is plumbed by foot paths and motor-able roads, and offer visitors a rare chance to penetrate the depths of a genuine tropical jungle. Most of Sri Lanka’s indigenous plant, bird and insect species are found here
endemic and not found elsewhere. It is a ‘World Bio Diversity Hotspot’, boasting 30 meter tall shores, land crabs and orchids.
Return to Kalawana.
Overnight stay at Kalawana.
Leave for Colombo via Ratnapura, the gem city of yore, where you can see the panning for gems, and visit a gem museum.
Overnight stay at Colombo.
Transfer to airport for departure.
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