11 Days Wonders of Sri Lanka Tour Itinerary

Day 01 : Colombo Airport – Negombo – Kalpitiya

Negombo Fish Market

Watch local fishermen reel in their catch of the day and display fresh seafood across endless platforms. Visit the fish market, also locally known as the ‘Lellama’; in the early hours of the morning if you’re looking to buy your favourite seafood like crabs or prawns and interact with the friendly fisherfolk of Negombo.

The Hamilton Canal

The Hamilton Canal (also known as the Dutch Canal) is a canal connecting Puttalam to Colombo, two of the main cities in Sri Lanka. It was used as a supply route in the times of the Dutch administration. During Dutch rule, the canal was named after Gavin Hamilton, the Government Agent of Revenue and Commerce. The canal is still being used. It runs across towns offering a view of houses, old churches and fishing villages.
Visitors can take a tour of the canal through a boat or have a bicycle ride along with it.

Kudawa Beach

Kudawa Beach is one of the best beaches in the kalpitiya area, with calm waters all year round that makes it a perfect location for a quick dip. The beach serves as a hub for numerous water sports from kite surfing to boat rides along the lagoon or the sea. Set sail to the depths of the Indian Ocean on a whale and dolphin-watching excursion; a popular past-time in Kalpitiya. The surroundings are home to a diverse ecosystem from bar reefs and mangrove swamps to salt marshes and thriving waters.

Day 02 :  Kalpitiya – Anuradhapura

Dolphin Watching Boat Trip

The best dolphin and whale watching season in Kalpitiya − Sri Lanka is from Mid October until the end of March! During these months large schools of the playful spinner dolphins are dwelling just three nautical miles out, in front of Kappalady beach. Another 2 miles further out the continental shelf is breaking steeply into the deep ocean. Because of the converging deep currents and the rich sea life, this is the preferred habitat for the blue whale, sperm whale and grey whale – the largest mammals which have ever inhabited our planet.

Dutch Fort Of Kalpitiya

Kalpitiya Fort was built by the Dutch between 1667 and 1676. Kalpitiya was important as it commands the entrance to the adjacent bay, Puttalam Lagoon. The surrounding Puttalam area was one of the major cinnamon cultivation areas in Sri Lanka. The Dutch even constructed a canal from Puttalam via Negombo to Colombo to transport cinnamon from the area.
The fort is nearly square in shape, with walls about 4 m (13 ft) high, constructed out of coral and limestone from the surrounding area. It has a single entrance, which fronts the lagoon, which has a pediment, with a belfry above and looks like the entrance to a church.
The yellow bricks that comprise the entrance arch were reportedly brought specially from Holland. The story is that the King of Kandy had granted permission only to build a church here and that the Dutch had built the arch to mislead the King into believing that this was simply a fortified church.

Snorkelling & Scuba Diving

Kalpitiya is heaven for Snorkelling and Scuba diving where you will be mesmerized by the underwater beauty. The well-protected and untouched Bar Reef marine sanctuary, the largest coral reef in Sri Lanka located 3 Km from the shore provides the best opportunity to explore the beautiful rainforest of the sea and colourful marine life unique to tropical ocean waters.

Day 03 :   Anuradhapura – Habarana

Anuradhapura Ancient City

As an ancient capital of Sri Lanka for over a millennium, Anuradhapura remains one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Here, the crossroads of island history and mystery combine to serve you eight cultural marvels built upon our regal Sri Lankan heritage.
Anuradhapura’s ageless skyline is made up of magnificent dagabas, including the brilliantly white Ruwanwelisaya, the skyscraping Jetavanarama, the verdurous Abhayagiri, the noteworthy Mirisvetiya and Lankaramaya, and finally, Thuparamaya – the oldest dagaba in Sri Lanka, said to shelter the right collarbone of the Lord Buddha. Surrounding these grand symbols of Buddhist veneration are also the well-preserved ruins that earn Anuradhapura the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including sites of hospitals, monasteries, advanced irrigation systems and palaces such as the Lovamahapaya (Brazen Palace). Perhaps most significant to the Anuradhapura however, is the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi at the heart of the ancient kingdom. This sacred Bo Tree was brought to Sri Lanka in 236 BC as a sapling of the tree under which the Lord Buddha gained enlightenment, making it one of the oldest surviving trees in the world.

Minneriya National Park /Kaudulla National Park / Hurulu Eco-Park Safari

Minneriya national park, Kaudulla national park and hurulu eco-park are interconnected national parks. Mostly you will be able to see Elephants. they move around these parks depending on the weather and their needs. The safari jeep driver will take you to the best national park with suggestions from the previous safari jeep drivers who have seen more elephants.

Day 05 :    Sigiriya – Dambulla – Kandy

Hot Air Ballooning

Just imagine a quiet ride through the sky enjoying breathtaking views. You can feel the wind in the sky and see beautiful landscapes and villages below. Treat yourself to an experience of a lifetime by embarking on an unforgettable hot air balloon ride. It will be a stunning experience to float over the Kandalama Lake and the ancient cities of Sigiriya and Dambulla experiencing the beauty of the sunrise over the mountains. This experience is seasonal and mostly available from October to March.

Sigiriya Lion Rock

Lion Rock is built in the 5th century and named after the giant Lion that is carved from stone and greets visitors at the entrance, the Sigiriya rock Fortress contains a lot of history. Also known as the ancient city of Sigiriya, the remains of the palace of King Kasyapa can be found on top of this 200 meters high rock. Besides that, a Buddhist Monastery, landscaped gardens, frescoes and water gardens can be seen when visiting the Lion rock. The ancient rock fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982 and has been declared by UNESCO as the eighth wonder of the world!

Spice Garden Matale

where smells of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and mace overwhelm the senses and the visitors are provided with an insight into an age-old industry of spice production, which attracted many European and Asian merchants to the ports of ancient Sri Lanka.

Art & Craft Center Kandy

This is the largest and most exclusive handicrafts showroom in Sri Lanka. We sell antiques, wood carvings, masks, stoneware, Batiks, curios, silverware, brassware, paintings and other traditional Sri Lankan collectables”

Gem Museum

It is an excellent gemmology museum, educating one on the geological history of Sri Lanka. It also houses a shop from where you can buy the gems..they have a selection of Ceylon Sapphires, Diamonds, Pearls and other gemstones and jewellery in Sri Lanka.

Batik Factory & Shop

Batik work is the art of using wax on fabric when dyeing in order to avoid dyeing a certain section of the fabric. This method is also known as wax-resist dyeing.
The material usually used is cotton as it captures the dyes without fading much with use. The wax is dripped in a pattern or design using a spouted tool called a canting or printed in a preset design using a copper stamp called a cap. You can visit a batik factory and batik shops to buy batiks.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic or Sri Dalada Maligawa, commonly known as the Glorious Tooth Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Kandy. Also, visit Kandy Lake which is nearby.

Cultural Dancing Show

In the Evening watch the Kandy Cultural Dance Show. That is a stimulating Sri Lankan Arts, Dance and Cultural Heritage
Starting Time of the Show – 5.30 PM

Day 11 :   Mirissa – Galle – Hikkaduwa – Ambalangoda – Colombo Airport

Whale & Dolphin Watching at Mirissa

Whale and dolphin watching in Mirissa is one of the most exciting water activities you can do in Sri Lanka. Often spotted blue whales are the biggest animals in the world and Mirissa is the best place for whale and dolphin watching tours in Sri Lanka. The whale watching season in Mirissa is from November to April. Although blue whales are the main attraction if you’re lucky you’ll have the chance to see a mix of amazing marine life. You should be at Mirissa harbour 6.00-6.30 am. You will be served breakfast, fruits & water during the tour. If you are using a private boat you can Start the tour anytime in the morning hrs. but the best to start the tour is before 8.00 am.

Galle Fort

The Galle Dutch Fort happens to be one of the treasured historical monuments of Srilanka located on the southern coast of the country. The fort was constructed by the Portuguese in the course of their reign in Srilanka and was later renovated by the Dutch. The fort is one of the most important UNESCO world heritage sites out of many in Srilanka. This is because of its wonderful illustration of European Architecture and South Asian Traditions of the 16th and 19th centuries.

The fort displays an amazing amalgamation of age-old architecture and antiquity in the middle of astounding natural beauty. You will come across several lively shops, cafes, exhibition halls, lifestyle stores, and villas, which add to the beauty of the place. It would be just amazing to move by the walls witnessing the intricate artworks and sheer craftsmanship. At present, the fort is still home to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population, as some properties inside the fort are still owned by many Dutch people and local Srilankan people as well.

Fifty Lighthouse Street is set within the fort and offers the perfect base for you to explore the charms of Galle. Preserved in its original glory, stroll along the ramparts and admire the imposing structures like the Galle Lighthouse, Galle Clocktower and the Groote Kerk.

Turtle Hatchery in Galle

This is a place where Rehabilitation of injured sea turtles, provides a safe nesting ground. The sea turtle hatchery in Sri Lanka aims at protecting and saving the sea turtles that visit the golden shores of the island.

Glass Bottom Boat Ride

Hikkaduwa Coral sanctuary is one of the main attractions on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka. You can go on a glass bottom boast to witness the beauty of the marine life in and around the corals. The Coral sanctuary has approximately seventy varieties of multi-coloured corals. You will be amazed by the sightings of wonderful & colourful corals and tropical fish of various colours and sizes, a few inches below the surface.

Moonstone Mine Meethiyagoda

Meetiyagoda is a renowned name in the world of moonstone mining and Sri Lanka’s biggest moonstone mine. To reach the moonstone deposits, the miners at Meetiyagoda dig through layers of Earth as deep as 10 to 20 meters. Once they reach the pegmatite layer, shafts and tunnels are dug horizontally to unearth the precious moonstone and bring them to the surface. The deepest tunnels could go as deep as 65 meters and four to six miners work hard at each mineshaft to unearth the precious stones. Sri Lankan moonstones are extremely rare, displaying a milky-white colour tinged with a shade of blue. You can check the process and how it’s done and you have the opportunity to purchase if you are interested

Mask Factory Ambalangoda

Ambalangoda is the centre for making unique Sri Lankan masks. At the mask museum, you can walk through a vibrant collection of these fine pieces of art, each carrying a folklore story of Sri Lankan history and culture. The masks are handcrafted by villagers for whom the skill has been carried down through generations. To the present day, these masks are an important part of Sri Lanka tradition. They are vital in large pageants, processions and ceremonies. They are also featured in dances, drama, and puppet shows.