8-Day Sri Lanka Highlights Tour with Esala Perahera and Negombo

• Arrive at Colombo International Airport and meet your local guide.
• Transfer to your hotel in Sigiriya.
• After a brief relaxing evening, climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya. Sigiriya (Lion's Rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477-495). Contemporary with the paintings of Ajanta and Ellora Caves in India, its highlights include the frescoes, Mirror Wall, and the Lion's Paw. It is also one of the Seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Sigiriya.

• Leave for Polonnaruwa via Habarana. In Habarana, enjoy an elephant ride.
• Go on a sightseeing tour of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, dating back to the 11th century AD. Visit the many archaeological and historical sites of the Sacred City, including the Great Statue, Quadrangle, Royal Palace, Gal Viharaya, Kumara and Lotus Ponds, Thiwanka Image House, and many more.
• See Parakrama Samudraya, one of the country's biggest water reservoirs.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Sigiriya.

• Leave for Kandy via Dambulla, Nalanda, and Matale.
• Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m above the surrounding plains, and there are more than 80 documented caves in the area. The major attractions are spread across 5 caves containing statues and paintings related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings, and 4 statues of gods and goddesses.
• Continue to Gedige at Nalanda, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. Then enjoy the spice garden at Matale and take part in a conducted tour to learn about the growth and use of spices in day-to-day life.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

• Go on an excursion to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. It is an orphanage and breeding ground for wild elephants.
• Watch the Esala Perahera in the evening.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

• Tour the city of Kandy, including the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha - by far the most important place of worship for Buddhists around the world.
• Drive along the Upper Lake, where you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city below.
• Visit the Botanical Garden at Peradeniya in the evening. It is the largest botanical garden on the island and is renowned for its orchid collection, with more than 300 varieties of orchids. It also features more than 5,000 spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees, and includes the National Herbarium.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

• Enjoy a full day relaxing on the beach.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Negombo.

• Enjoy a full day relaxing on the beach.

Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Negombo.

• Leave for Negombo.
• Enjoy a relaxing evening on the beach.
• Departure to the airport.