Sri Lanka cultural triangle, hill country and aborigines
DAY 1: COLOMBO-KANDY Meet & greet our professional guide and head to Rambukkana, Experience Sri Lanka's renowed spices inside a manmade forest with a free 10-minute head massage. We give our visitors the opportunity to explore and gain knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, herbs and the benefits of Ayurveda. Gems and Jewelry We take you on a gem tour covering a gem museum where you will learn about the gem industry in Sri Lanka through an informative film, see a mock-up of a gem pit where you will get the hang of traditional gem mining. Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Once you arrive to Kandy, Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built in the 16th century as a place of veneration and protection for Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Kandy Lake Club: Cultural Dance Show Sit back and enjoy a cultural dance show in a stadium. The Kandy Cultural Show gives an opportunity to experience some of the traditions of Sri Lanka. Overnight stay in Kandy DAY 2: KANDY-DAMBULLA-SIGIRIYA-KANDY Dambulla Royal Cave Temple Head to Dambulla and enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals, hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities. Village tour Sigiriya Craft Village Experience the best of Sri Lanka inside the village with Kingfisher Tours and get a unique experience of village life. Walk through the golden fields, ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress Climb the 5th century AD rock fortress. Minneriya National Park Prepare to "get wild." This three-hour safari takes you on a ride through Minneriya National Park. Overnight saty in Kandy DAY 3: KANDY-GURULUPOTHA-DAMBANA-ELLA Head towards Gurluptha, with its beautiful backdrops and waterfalls. Later, visit the beautiful Rthan Ella. Stop at a tea estate and experience tea picking, then proceed to a tea factory to see how pure Ceylon tea is prepared. Dambana Sri Lanka’s Aborigines’, or the Veddha’s meaning “people of the forest” of Sri Lanka, have a history much older than 5th century BC. Archaeological evidence suggests that modern Veddha’s Neolithic ancestors inhabited this island as far back as 10,000 BC. Today, the remaining Veddha population is confined to Dambana. Overnight stay in Ella DAY 4: ELLA-NUWARA-ELIYA-COLOMBO After breakfast, take the hill country blue train from Ella to Nuwara Eliya and enjoy one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. Victoria Park of Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya, set in the heart of tea country, is a beautiful town where the British succeeded in creating a replica of the English countryside, with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne. Situated 6,200 feet above sea level, the air is cool and fresh—a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life.