10-Day Sri Lanka Cultural and Wildlife Tour with Adam's Peak

1

Day 01

Arrival and Transfer to the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

• From the airport in Colombo, a private driver and tour guide will take us to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
• En route, specifically in the town of Kurunegala, we can have lunch or dinner, depending on your arrival time at Colombo's international airport.
• As this is the first day of our trip and jet lag is common, we will simply go for an evening stroll in Polonnaruwa after checking into the hotel.

2

Day 02

Polonnaruwa Bike Tour and Minneriya Jeep Safari

• Today starts with a guided bike tour of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
• Afterwards, we will have lunch.
• Next, we are taken to Minneriya National Park.
• There, we go on a jeep safari.
• In the evening, we are taken to Sri Lanka's landmark hill, Sigiriya.
• This is where our hotel is located.
• Best known for pagodas and ruins, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Another draw is the town's population of toque macaques.
• These monkeys have been living in the ruins since human occupation.
• They continued to thrive long after the humans left.
• Minneriya National Park is best known as a dry-season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in the forests.

3

Day 03

Sigiriya, Pidurangala Rock, Dambulla, and Matale

• Today starts with a guided hiking tour of the ancient sites of Sigiriya.
• At the top of the rock, we will have a great view of the surroundings.
• We should return to the base around 9:30 am.
• We are then taken to Pidurangala Rock.
• There, we are also provided with a guided hiking tour.
• We will have lunch after hiking down Pidurangala Rock.
• After lunch in Sigiriya, we are taken to Dambulla Cave Temple.
• There, we are given a guided tour.
• Afterwards, we are taken to Sri Muthumariamman Temple in Matale.
• There, we are given a guided tour.
• Finally, we are taken to the city of Kandy.
• This is where our hotel is located.
• Of all today's attractions, Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temple are the most popular.
• Dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters (660 feet) high, Sigiriya is a site of historical and archaeological significance.
• Sigiriya contains (A) ruins of an upper palace located on the flat top of the rock, (B) a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and a mirror wall with frescoes, (C) lower palaces located behind lavish gardens, and (D) moats and ramparts.
• The Dambulla Cave Temple is composed of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms.
• There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings, and four statues of gods and goddesses.
• This cave temple and World Heritage Site is one of the country's favorite attractions for tourists.

4

Day 04

Temple of the Tooth, Botanical Gardens, and Tea Country Drive

• Today starts with a guided tour of Kandy's key attraction, the Temple of the Tooth.
• Since ancient times, this temple has played an important role in local politics.
• After exploring it, we are given a guided tour at Kandy's second most popular attraction, the Royal Botanical Gardens.
• Best known for its collection of orchids, these gardens attract around two million visitors annually.
• The Royal Botanical Gardens are home to more than 4,000 species of plants, including spices and palm trees.
• After walking around these gardens, we can purchase lunch.
• After our meal, we are provided with a guided walking tour around town.
• After discovering Kandy, we are taken to a tea factory.
• En route, we pass through arguably the greatest landscape in the country.
• The tea plantations in the countryside are absolutely gorgeous to look at.
• After our tea factory tour, we are taken to a mountain called Adam's Peak.
• Our hotel is located in this area.

5

Day 05

Adam's Peak Sunrise Hike and Scenic Train to Ella

• Today we hike up Adam's Peak.
• It is a 2,243-meter (7,359-foot) tall conical mountain located in the center of the country.
• Seeing the sunrise and the surroundings from the top is a hiker's fantasy.
• Note that views from the mountain may be obstructed by fog.
• There really is not much that can be done about it.
• Hopefully, it will be a clear morning.
• Hiking back to the base takes about 2.5 hours.
• After our hike, we are taken to our nearby hotel so we can have breakfast, shower, and check out.
• Next, we are taken to the town of Nuwara Eliya.
• There, we can purchase lunch.
• After our meal, we take a quite popular and scenic train ride to the town of Ella.
• This is where our hotel is located.

6

Day 06

Little Adam's Peak, Ella Sights, and Transfer to Tissamaharama

• The early morning starts with a hike to Little Adam's Peak.
• We watch the sunrise once we reach the top of the mountain.
• The guided tour from the bottom to the top and back down takes a little under 2 hours.
• Afterwards, we are taken to Dhowa Rock Temple.
• There, we are provided with a guided tour.
• Next, we are taken to the Nine Arch Bridge.
• This is where an antiquated train passes by.
• It serves as a popular tourist attraction.
• After lunch, we take a short drive to Ravana Falls.
• These falls measure approximately 25 meters (82 feet) in height, featuring water falling from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop.
• Its cave lies 1,370 meters (4,490 feet) above sea level on the foundation of a cliff.
• Excavations undertaken in the cave uncovered evidence of human habitation dating back 25,000 years.
• There, we are provided with a guided tour.
• Afterwards, we are taken to Ravana Cave Temple.
• There, we are provided with another guided tour.
• The day ends in Tissamaharama, a town near Yala National Park.
• Our hotel for the evening is located in Tissamaharama.

7

Day 07

Yala Safari, Weligama Stilt Fishing, Galle, and Hikkaduwa

• Today starts with an early-morning jeep safari at Yala National Park.
• Yala is the most visited and second-largest national park in Sri Lanka.
• It is best known for its variety of wild animals, such as elephants, leopards, and aquatic birds.
• After the tour, we are taken to Tangalle.
• There, we can have lunch.
• Next, we are taken to the town of Weligama, which is home to the tradition of stilt fishing.
• Afterwards, we are taken to the somewhat colonial city of Galle.
• Galle has a handful of worth-seeing monuments built during European colonization, such as its fort.
• Our guided tour in Galle takes about 1 hour.
• Lastly for today, we drive to Hikkaduwa.
• This is where our hotel is located.
• Hikkaduwa was once a hotspot for hippies but is now better known for its relatively nice resorts.
• Hikkaduwa is especially popular with Russians.
• Note that Hikkaduwa's high season is November through March.

8

Day 08

Mirissa Whale Watching or Hikkaduwa Snorkeling

• Today we go snorkeling near Hikkaduwa or whale watching near Mirissa.
• It depends on what month you are traveling.
• November through April is whale-watching season.
• If you are joining our tour between November and April, then we are taken to a village called Mirissa.
• Early in the morning, we go whale watching on a relatively large boat.
• Dolphins are also often seen in the area.
• The boat should return to Mirissa around 12:00 pm.
• We are then taken for lunch nearby.
• Afterwards, we are taken back to our hotel.
• If you are joining our tour between May and October, then we have the morning and early afternoon to recover after all of these adventurous activities.
• Midday, we are picked up at the hotel and taken to a dock where we board a boat leaving for Coral Garden.
• Near this area, specifically at the coral sanctuary, we can go snorkeling.
• It features approximately seventy varieties of multi-colored corals.
• In the late afternoon, we are picked up at the dock and taken back to our hotel.

9

Day 09

Madu Ganga, Kosgoda, Kelaniya, and Colombo

• Today starts with a drive to Madu Ganga.
• For whatever odd reason, not a lot of natives know about this place.
• Nevertheless, this wetland boat cruise is definitely a highlight when visiting the country.
• Madu Ganga might be one of the last remaining tracts of untouched mangrove forests in Sri Lanka.
• What's more, the inhabitants of its islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil.
• There, we are provided with a guided boat tour.
• Next, we are taken to a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda.
• There, we are provided with a guided tour.
• Afterwards, we have lunch in the coastal town of Bentota.
• After our meal, we are taken to the Raja Maha Vihara Temple in Kelaniya.
• This is arguably Sri Lanka's most beautiful religious monument.
• There, we are provided with a guided tour.
• We are then taken to Colombo, specifically to see its National Museum.
• It features the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs, as well as many other exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka.
• There, we are provided with a guided tour.
• Still in Colombo, we are then taken to our hotel.

10

Day 10

Departure Transfer to Colombo Airport

• Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Colombo.