• Dambulla Temple visit & Sangamuwa Inscription site visit ( location for world's 1 st Written ceasefire agreement in the 11 th Century )
• Visits to Historical cities of Sigiriya & Polonnaruwa – World Heritage sites
• Visit & stay over at “ Veddha “ Native people camp in Dambana & interaction with the Natives
• Knuckles Mountain Range visit
• Hill capital of Kandy & the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic of the Buddha
• Horton Plains Nature Reserve
• Singharaja Tropical Rain Forest – Another world Heritage site
• Udawalawe National Park and Elephant Transit home

• Day 1 – Arrival
• Day 2 – Cycling to Kurunegala
• Day 3 – Cycling to Dambulla
• Day 4 – Day trip to Anuradhapura & Back – Cycling or Coach Ride
• Day 5 – Day trip to Polonnaruwa -Cycling
• Day 6 – Cycling to Mahiyangana /Dambana
• Day 7 – Cycling to Kandy via Knuckles Range ( Coach ride available as a option )
• Day 8 – At Leisure in Kandy
• Day 9 – Cycling to NuwaraEliya
• Day 10 – To Horton Plains by coach ( Optional Cycling available ) & then cycling to Belihuloya
• Day 11 – Cycling to Singharaja Rain Forest
• Day 12 – Cycling to Udawalawe
• Day 13 – Coach ride to Galle ( Optional Cycling available )
• Day 14 – Departure – End of Programme

Arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to a Hotel in Negombo – Sunset Baech or similar

At leisure at the hotel after a long flight.

Negombo
Bustling Negambo town is a historically interesting place strongly influenced by the Catholic Church. The narrow strip of land between the lagoon & the sea and the many cannals make for good exploring.

The Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640, lost it again in the same year, then captured it back again in 1644. The British then took over from them in 1796 without a struggle. Negombo was one of the most important sources of cinnamon during the Dutch era

Dinner & overnight stay at Sunset Beach Hotel or similar

Leaving to Kurunegala after breakfast. [ Cycling ]

Kurunegala
Kurunegala is an important crossroad town on the routes between Colombo & Anuradhapura, and Kandy & Puttalam. The region around Kurunegala is rich in archaeological sites and temples.

The large, smooth rocky outcrops that loom over the low-rise buildings are a striking feature of the city. The rocky back drops in the city are named after animals they appear to resemble (tortoise rock, lion rock etc), & are not surprisingly endowed with mythological status. Its said that they were formed when animals that were endangering the free supply of water to the town were turned into stone.

Dinner & overnight stay at “Kandyan Reach Hotel” Kurunegala or similar.

After breakfast ,proceed to Anuradhapura for a day trip. Anuradhapura is considered as a UNESCO certified site. [Cycling or Coach ride ]

Anuradhapura

This sacred city is famous for its historical monuments as well as the "tree of enlightenment",said to be a part of the sacred tree where the Buddha' attained enlightenment & which was brought to the city in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. Anuradhapura , a Ceylonese political and religious capital has flourished for 1,300 years. Hidden away in a thick jungle for a long time, the splendid site, with its ancient palaces, monasteries and monuments, is once again accessible.

Lunch at “Miridiya Hotel”. Dinner & overnight stay at Gimanhala rest or similar.

After breakfast proceed to Polonnaruwa , the medieval capital of the Country & also a UNESCO certified site [Cycling]

Polonnaruwa
The 2nd capital city of Sri Lanka, built in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and a world heritage site. Here you can see the ruins of the Royal Palace, the Gal Viharaya -where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in 'Upright', 'Sedentary' and 'Recumbent' postures carved out of rock, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, king Parakramabahu's statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake built by King Parakramabahu . There are also monuments of famous places of worship such as the Shiva Temple , the Lankathilake, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vehera and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Lunch at Polonnaruwa Rest house

Evening cycling tour at Polonnaruwa.

Dinner & overnight stay at Polonnaruwa Rest house or similar.

Polonnaruwa to Mahiyanganaya - cycling

 After breakfast leave for Dambana where we link up with one of the pioneering eco-tourism partnerships with Sri Lanka's aboriginal people, the “Veddha's ‘The archaeological history of the Veddhas, date all the way back to the pre and proto history of Sri Lanka. After lunch at the campsite we will join the Veddha community on a mock hunt and then go down to the Veddha village to see a demonstration of their long-held traditional dances and rituals by a campfire in the night. Overnight stay at the Eco Team Dambana Veddha Campsite.

Forget any ideas about cramped tents and sitting on the ground for mealtimes – this is camping in style! The site is set up prior to your arrival, with everything from the kitchen sink, chairs and tables, toilets, showers being transported in.

In the evening you can enjoy a hearty barbecue meal in a magical setting – the whole area is lit up with traditional flame torches and a roaring campfire. So sit back, relax and let our experienced staff cater to your every need.

After breakfast cycling journey to Kandy via Haslaka / Hettipola / Pallegama. [Through the Knuckles range] - Coach Ride available as a option

The Knuckles Mountain range (so-called because its appearance resembles a set of knuckles in a closed fist) has been declared a protected conservation area, now known as the ‘Knuckles National Heritage and Wilderness area'. The region stretches an impressive 155 sq km that contains five major forest formations, a wide variety of rare and endemic flora and fauna and some breathtaking mountain scenery. It is a paradise for those who love to hike or mountain bike, offering a wide variety of trails to explore this fabulous area.

Kandy

Capital of the hill country has a lot to offer- -History / culture / Forested hills and a touch of urban buzz. Kandy was the last capital of the Singhalese Kingdom which fell to the British in 1815 after several aborted attempts at capture by the Portuguese and Dutch .  Evening visit to Dalada Maligawa ( Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha , The founder of Buddhism ), a world heritage site

 Dinner and over night stay at Hotel Suisse or similar

Full day at leisure

Dinner and over night stay at Hotel Suisse or simillar

Leaving to Nuwaraeliya after early breakfast. [cycling]

Nuwaraeliya
Nuwara Eliya has a cool sparkling climate with temperatures dipping to around 13degC . This is an exquisite and healthy city famous for its wide range of flowers. With buildings of English architecture , it is affectionately called little England .

On the way visit a working tea factory and tea plantation and observe the blending process of the world's best tea

Lunch at Grand Hotel & then leave for a city Tour in the Evening

Dinner & night stay over at Grand Hotel or similar at Nuwara Eliya.

After an early breakfast proceed to Horton Plains by coach for a trekking trail. Finishing the trail, cycle from Horton Plains to Belihuloya. – through “Satan's ‘steps- passing Sri Lankan's highest waterfall, Bambarakanda .

Horton Plains is one of the countries outstanding nature reserves. It covers the renowned World's End, a sheer drop of 3700ft which offers an awesome view. Other attractions include Bakers Falls and Chiminini Pool.

Horton Plains Nature Reserve is approximately 10,000 hectares in extent. A remote, high plateau, 2000m, supports grassland fringed and interspersed with patches of dense montane cloud forest. This locality is famous among bird watchers for the Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush ,the endemic Yellow-eared Bulbul, the fantailed warbler, the Ashy headed babbler and the Sri Lankan Blue Magpie.

 Picnic lunch at Horton Plains.

 Belihuloya is a very picturesque and romantic hamlet situated about 160km from Colombo in the historical “Sabaragamuwa” province. This zone is a climatically transitional area linking the wet & dry zones and the hill country & the low country. This very important location has made it one of the places in the country with the highest bio-diversity. River Garden Resort is built in this little hamlet.

 Dinner & night stay over at a fully serviced movable luxury camp in Belihuloya.

After breakfast at the camp in Belihuloya, the clients will proceed to Singharaja Rainforest.[Cycling]

Sinharaja Rain Forest,which is a world heritage site, may be described either as a Tropical Lowland Rainforest or Tropical wet evergreen forest. Birding in this ecosystem is a must as 95% of the endemic birds of Sri Lanka have been recorded in Sinharaja.

You will observe Bird species such as The Sri Lanka Spur fowl, Sri Lanka Jungle fowl, Green-billed Coucal, Red-faced Malkoha, Blue Magpie and Spot-winged Thrush, Endemic White-faced Starling, Sri Lanka Myna amongst others. Also keep an eye out for the endemic purple-faced leaf monkeys moving through the canopy, and the impressive grizzled Indian squirrel.

Forest exploration after lunch at “Martins Lodge ‘.

Dinner & night stay over at “Martins Lodge” Singharaja.

After breakfast at Martins lodge, departure to Udawalawe National Park . [cycling]

Udawalawe National Park

This 30821 hectares dry zone game park was declared as a protected national park in 1972. It has an annual rainfall of 1524 mm and an average temperature of 29.4 0 C. This park is world famous for it's elephants. You will see whole herds of them, adults and young, bathing and playing in the water or feeding.

The safari will also be an unforgettable bird watching experience as Udawalawe has a wide variety of birds. The endemic species, the Red-faced Malkoha, has its favourite habitat in this parkland. Serpent Eagles, Hawk Eagles, White-bellied Sea Eagles, Black Eagles, Black Capped Bulbuls, Racket-tailed Drongos, Malabar Pied Horn Bills, White-necked Storks, Open Bills, Ibis, Shama (the Forest Nightingale), Strol-billed Kingfishers and peacocks are found in fair numbers.

From the gate entrance the clients will be driven to the camp site in a open top 4 wheel drive vehicle where you will be briefed on the camp rules before a hearty Sri Lankan lunch .

 Embark on the evening safari

Dinner & overnight stay over at a fully serviced movable luxury camp inside the National park.

After breakfast leave for Galle , the Southern Beach side town famous for its 16 th Century Dutch Fort amongst other attractions ( By coach )

Also visit the Udawalawe elephant transit home on the way.

Elephant Transit Home
This transit home, gives shelter to approximately 20 orphan baby elephants who were abandoned / displaced mainly due to the human Elephant conflict in the area . These baby Elephants will be looked after by the Wild life Department until they can survive on their own.

Lunch on the way at a suitable location.

Galle, the largest town in the region, is full of history . The biggest concentration of resort hotels is , between Beruwela and Bentota, a few mile away , where several fishing villages have merged into a string of attractive low-rise resorts surrounded by boutiques, beach bars and restaurants.

Evening at leisure at the Closenberg Hotel or similar at Galle .