5 Days Highlights of Sri Lanka Tour Itinerary

Itinerary Code: IT0502

Destinations Overview

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01 : Colombo Airport – Pinnawala – Sigiriya

Pinnawala  Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, which has been looking after orphaned or injured elephants. You can watch the elephant’s bath in the river.

Spice Garden Pinnawala

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.

Sigiriya Village Tour with Lunch

This village tour gives you a memorable experience in a countryside rural village in Sigiriya. You will enjoy the sightseeing of paddy fields, bullock cart rides, traditional catamaran rides in a lake, visit Chena cultivation, traditional cooking demonstrations in a rural village house and authentic Sri Lankan lunch during this tour.

Elephant Back Riding

Riding on the back of the amazing giant in the wild would be an incredible experience in life. An elephant ride in Sri Lanka will be a great opportunity to be so close to the majestic beast while enjoying the views of nature, wildlife and traditional lifestyles of the people in rural villages in Sri Lanka. Moreover, an elephant ride in Sri Lanka would allow you to observe the surroundings in closer proximity. More than all the facts mentioned above, the most precious experience of this activity is getting to share a day in the life of an elephant. Usually, well-tamed elephants are used for these safaris and certainly, the elephant will be accompanied by the mahout. During an elephant ride in Sri Lanka, the passengers would be safely carried in a wooden saddle, which is a basket-like enclosure fixed upon a wooden platform and placed on the back of the elephant. The saddle would carry four passengers at a time, safely and comfortably.

Day 02 : Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Wild Life Safari

Polonnaruwa Ancient City

Kings ruled the central plains of Sri Lanka from Polonnaruwa 800 years ago, when it was a thriving commercial and religious centre. The glories of that age can be found in the archaeological treasures that still give a pretty good idea of how the city looked in its heyday. The archaeological park will be a delight to explore, with hundreds of ancient structures – tombs and temples, statues and stupas – in a compact core. The Quadrangle alone is worth the trip. Due to its archaeological prominence and the ancient technological superiority, UNESCO declared Polonnaruwa a World Heritage in 1982 under the name of Ancient City of Polonnaruwa.

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 03 : 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!

Dambulla Cave Temple

It was built by King Walagambahu in the 1st century B.C. and it is a World Heritage Site. It is the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. The complex of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings, is the largest area of paintings found in the world.

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.

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.

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 04 : Kandy – Bentota

Turtle Hatchery

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.

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.

Madu River Safari

The boat ride of the Maduganga River & boat takes you through mangroves and thick forest. The bio-diversity of the Madu River is of monumental significance when considering the wide ranges of aquatic and avian life as well as wetland dwelling amphibians, reptiles, and mammals that inhabit the environs of this natural treasure. A total of 11 species of agnatic mollusks and 14 land dwelling mollusks are found in this system. 70 species of fish, 31 types of reptiles, and 50 kinds of butterflies are just some of the colourful array of wildlife that inhabits this abundantly bustling eco-system. Bird watchers will be pleased to know that 111 species of bird have been identified in the mangrove formed environs of the river, and have been known to host several types of migratory birds.

Herbal Ayurvedic Spa at Bentota

Sink into the care of experienced Ayurvedic doctors with a range of carefully curated treatments, designed to give you a holistic wellness experience. Drawing from over multiple millennia of wisdom, the Ayurvedic therapies available in Srilankan hospitality include traditional curative and preventive treatments which focus on rejuvenating various elements of your mind, body, and soul. Treatments like Herbal Oil Massage, mind relaxing treatments, reflexology, Facial with Herbal Steam and body scrub are available and all are done with 100 % natural herbs.

Day 05 :  Bentota – Colombo City –  Colombo Airport

Water Sports

Bentota includes a boat cruise on the Bentota River besides other water sports activities like water skiing, windsurfing, banana ride, wakeboarding, jet-skiing, tube rides, sea diving, snorkelling and surfing. If you are new to the world of water sports, there are courses offered by various water sports centres to guide you through your stint with the waves.

Gangaramaya Temple, Seema Malakaya & Beira Lake

Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar-monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century. The Seema Malakaya, on the other hand, is a serene meditation site nestled on the Beira Lake

Independence Square

Independence Memorial Hall is a national monument in Sri Lanka built for commemoration of the independence of Sri Lanka from British rule with the restoration of full governing responsibility to a Ceylonese-elected legislature on 4 February 1948.

Galle Face Green

Galle Face Green is the most popular beachfront park in Colombo city, to have a relaxing evening and see the sunset. Not only that, there are many activities to do such as fly kites, taste Sri Lankan street food, do walking or jog and enjoy the fresh breeze coming from the Indian ocean

Pettah Market

The Pettah Market or Manning Market is an open market in the suburb of Pettah in the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Being one of Colombo’s busiest places, the area may seem a little chaotic at first glance but if you know what to get on which street then you are going to walk out with some cool stuff at surprisingly low prices. One can find a wide range of goods right from electronics to fashion accessories and market vendors selling anything from fresh vegetables, and fruits to meat and seafood.

Old Parliament Building

The Old Parliament Building is the building that houses the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. It is built in the neo-baroque style of architecture. This beautiful architecture and the history associated with the building are fascinating, to say the least. The building was opened on January 29, 1930, by Governor Sir Herbert Stanley. When the State Council of Ceylon was established a year later, the old building was used as the office space for the council.

Shopping at Colombo

Odel, House of Fashion, and One Galle Face are the best places for shopping in Colombo. You will be able to buy branded clothes and accessories.