Sri Lanka Marco Polo Island Tour - 5 Days

waterfalls in the mountains

monuments colombo

See the biggest herd of tamed elephants in the world
See the acrobatic performance of Sri Lankan dancers
See the most sacred Buddhist temple in the island
Elephant back ride through village
See the most beautiful botanical garden in Sri Lanka
Visit Haggala botanical garden
See the cascading waterfalls in the mountains
Explore riverine vegetaion and avia fauna species at madu river
Visit cinnamon island and see the preparation of cinnamon
Visit best preserved colonial city in the region
Explore the marine sanctuary of Hikkaduwa
See the monuments of Colombo
Sightseeing tour Nuwara eliya
A trek in the horton plains national park

5 Days to explore the Magical islands of Sri Lanka covering Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo with the best of the Western and Southern coastal belt. From palm fringed sandy beaches and dramatic mountains to elegant theodor styled mansions in Nuwara Eliya, this is a tour that explores both the wild natural environment of the island, as well as its long and complex human history.

Itinerary

Day 1:: Meet & greet by "Seerendipity Tours" Representatives and proceed to hotel in Colombo, En-route Colombo sightseeing tour.

COLOMBO

Colombo city had been a well known city in the region among the Arabian, chinese, Indian, Persian, and roman traders as early as pre-Christian era. Sri Lanka is located in the East-West sea route and visited by traders in order to exchange their goods with the local traders. Even though Colombo was well known city among the ancient traders 2,000 years ago, capital city of the country had been Anuradhapura. There was an Arabian settlement in the city of Colombo at the mouth of Kelani River. Arab traders were exporting the goods from the port of Colombo. Goods such as Cinnamon, ivory, gems, elephants were exported by the king of Kotte with the help of Arabs. With the beginning of British colonial period, Colombo city received the prominent place as the capital of Ceylon. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978 until the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.

GALLE FACE

This had been a well known Race course during the British colonial period in the country. This race course which located bordering the Indian Ocean had to be abandoned later on due to the Sea crabs, which are making holes in the track. Afterward it was developed as a promenade for the city dwellers and named as Galle face green. Today Galle face green contains an open theatre, spacious open space for picnic, sports and walking.

BUDDHIST TEMPLE KELANIYA

It is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the country. Temple is one of the three places where Buddha visited in the 6th century B.C. well known Kelaniya dagoba is located within the border of the temple. Kalyani River, which flows next to the temple, adds more value for the scenic beauty of the temple. This temple holds reputation for its attractive wall, which considered being the best painting of the modern Era.

VIHARAMAHADEVI PARK

Viharamahadevi is located in the Colombo 7 or Cinnamon gardens. It is the largest and most popular park in the city. It is believed that there had been a twenty square kilometer cinnamon plantation in the area. Today most of the palaces of wealthy people can be seen in the area and Colombo 7 is the most picturesque part of the city.

WOLFENDAAL CHURCH

The Wolvendaal church is located In Fort and walking distance from the center of the city. It has a large collection of tombstones of important Dutch personalities. Fort is made in the highest point of the city and dates back to 1813. The church is built in the doricstyle of the period. In the form of Greek cross, with five feet thick walls and the gables raised over. The transepts are roofed with brick barrel arches and a centre dome.

AUKANA BUDDHA STATUE / INDEPENDENCE HALL / PETTAH AND BMICH

Facing the Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall stands a beautiful executed statue of the Buddha in the standing posture. The statue is 36 feet tall and is the largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo. It is a replica of the Avukana Statue on the banks of the Kalawewa Anurdhapura.

CITY & SHOPPING

The City Tour will also include places of Tourist interest such as

Old parliament
Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall
Buddhist Hindu Temple and Town Hall
Devatagaha mosque
Pettah area
Galle face green
Cinnamon garden
Colombo museum
Beira lake

Shopping at

Odel
House of fashion
Handicraft center
Gem museum

Overnight stay in Colombo - Galadari hotel

Day 2:: After the breakfast leave Kandy via Kegalle, in the evening visit to Temple of Tooth Relic in Kandy enjoy a typical Sri Lankan Cultural Show of Drumming, Dancing, music and fire walking

KANDY

A ruled in Kandy up to 1815 although the rest of the island was under the British regime. Finally it was ceded to them by the Chieftains of Kandy who were disappointed over the king’s cruel deeds. Today Kandy is one of the most important cities owing to the presence of the Temple of the Sacred tooth of the Buddha.

PINNAWALA ELEPHANT ORPHANAGE

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the foster – home of elephants of different age and size feeding, bathing, playing together and even mating. These have been found injured or left abandoned in the wilderness. There are even little baby calves born in captivity.

ELEPHANT SAFARI / RIDE

The Elephant Safari (At Village) has become a highlight event to tourist for its excitement and adventure or even for the "Chance of a Life Time" of riding an Elephant. The Elephant Safari is a ride on an Elephant with safely secured seat that takes around one hour. The ride takes you through the jungle, village and even crosses a part of the paddi field. This is fun never to be missed when in Sri Lanka.

TEMPLE OF THE TOOTH RELIC

Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sinhala) or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the Relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sinhalese kings and is a world heritage site partly due to the temple.

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDEN

The Botanical Garden of Peradeniya was a pleasure garden of a Kandyan King of the 16th Century and later made in to a Botanical Garden during the British regime. This gardens; one of the best in Asia is a place of beauty and site for bird watchers.

CITY & SHOPPING

Kandy and Nuwara Eliya tour will also include places of Tourist interest such as

Kitulgala
White water rafting
Kataragama devala
Hindu temple
Gem museum
Kandyan cultural show

Shopping at

Odel
Batik Factory
Handicraft center
Gem museum

Overnight stay in Kandy - Mahaweli reach hotel

Day 3:: After the breakfast leave Nuwara Eliya

SRI BHAKTHI HANUMAK TEMPLE

According to the ancient stories, Ramboda is a area, where the forces of Rama's gather to fight against King Ravana. This temple was built by the Chinmaya mission of Sri Lanka and dedicated to Hanuman. This temple houses for 16 feel height statue of Hanuman.

SITA AMMAN KOVIL

Nuwara Eliya also known as little England for its cool climes, British architecture and natural beauty is also promoted as a sacred city because of its link to the “Rama Seetha” love story. Seetha amman kovil is dedicated to Seetha, wife of Rama who is believed to be one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu. There are many temples dedicated to Rama and Hanuman, especially in North India, but the Seetha Amman Kovil in Sri Lanka is unique in that it is the only one in the world dedicated to Seetha alone. According to legend King Ravana who ruled the country from Badulla kidnapped Queen Seetha. Queen Seetha was married to King Rama of India. Finally king ravana went to India and brought queen seethe to Badulla.

NUWARA ELIYA

As the largest city in the mountains, Nuwara Eliya plays an important role in the Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Undoubtedly Nuwara Eliya is the most popular health resort in the island and features a blend of colonial charm, modern development and slum areas, inherited from the colonial plantation culture. Nuwara Eliya was an important seat of British colonial administration. It was first developed as a holiday destination in Sri Lanka under the British administration, due to the cool, healing climate.

HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK

Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres (6,900–7,500 ft) is rich in biodiversity and many species found here are endemic to the region. This region was designated a national park in 1988. It is also a popular tourist destination and is situated 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Ohiya, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the world famous Ohiya Gap/Dondra Watch and 32 kilometres (20 mi) from Nuwara Eliya..

TEA FACTORY

Visit a Tea Plantation and a Tea Factory enroute. Sri Lanka being famous for its “Ceylon Tea” has added cheers to many the world over for more than a century.

Overnight stay in Kandy - Grand hotel

Day 4:: After the breakfast leave Bentota via Kitulgala, En-route white water rafting and in the afternoon Bentota sightseeing tour

KITULGALA

Kitulgala is a small town in the west of Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone rain forest, which gets two monsoons each year, and is one of the wettest places in the country. Nevertheless, it comes alive in the first three months of the year, especially in February, the driest month. The Academy Award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed on the Kelani River near Kitulgala, although nothing remains now except the concrete foundations for the bridge (and, supposedly, the submerged train cars that plunged into the river in the climactic scene). Kitulgala is also a base for white-water rafting, which starts a few kilometres upstream.

SEA TURTLE HATCHERY

Projects have been launched to conserve the population of turtles that are reaching extinction and such projects are found along the southern coast of Sri Lanka where turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The turtle digs a hole on the Beach, Lays hers eggs and covers it with sand where it is supposed to, incubate by the heat of the sun. What often happens is, the eggs are dug out by fisherman and sold to people who consume them.
But now the eggs are bought up by the conservation projects and are hatched the Natural way in enclosed areas where the Birds don’t have a chance of picking them up and the babies are let in to the sea after two days at night time which offers them a better chance of survival.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Experience White Water Rafting in the picturesque Kelani River, covering 5 major rapids and 4 minor rapids. This activity is for anyone above the age of 10 years with safety gear, modern rafts, and a comprehensive safety briefing will be given by our white water rafting instructors beforehand. The distance covered is around 5 KMs. The river and its surrounding will make you feel enchanted, with a memorable Experience during your White Water Rafting Tour in Kitulagala.

MADU GANGA BOAT TOUR

A cruise on a modern motor boat is the best way to exploring the natural wealth of Madu Ganga, the islands in the wetland are largely inaccessible by road. The inhabitants are also using the boats and more often paddle boats as the means of transport. Seerendipity tours offer a particularly appealing boat trips around Madu Ganga. This Ramsa Wetland is one of the most visited natural attractions of Sri Lanka’s west coast, with riverscapes to quiet thick grown islands and mangrove forests with sites of immense natural interest. There is plenty of opportunity to spot fascinating wild life based on aquatic environment, throughout the tour.

Overnight stay in Bentota -Eden resort and spa

Day 5:: After the breakfast leave for Colombo airport.

End of the Tour

Accommodation on double room on H/B basis (breakfast, Dinner included) in luxury hotelS
Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with driver guide
Pinnawala elephant orphanage
Temple of the tooth relic
Kandyan cultural show
Tea factory
Spice garden
Royal botanical garden
White waterrafting in Kitulgala
Galle fortress
Hikkaduwa marine sanctuary
Madu river boat tour
Sea turtle hatchery
Colobmo sightseeing tour
Unawatuna beach
Stilt fishermen
Horton plains national park
All taxes