ETC/10DT/009
PROGRAMME : Cultural tour in Sri lanka with limited biking of options- Tour A
DURATION :9 nights / 10 Days.
PERIOD : 1st November 2004 to 31st October 2005.
Travel time between locations has been kept to a maximum of 5 hours. We will stop along the way at places of interests. Light refreshments in the way of soda, fruit juices, water and light snacks are available in the vehicles. You will travel in a comfortable air-conditioned coach on road journeys and in open-sided 4WD vehicles in the jungles. The routes are chosen to reduce travelling times and doubling back on the same route as much as possible and yet allow you to experience the surprises of travelling in Sri Lanka where you can expect something different on almost every corner.
Day 1 - Arrival & Transfer to a hotel in Negambo (HB)
Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be taken to a Hotel at Negambo.

NEGAMBO
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 a good exploring.
The Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640, lost it again in the same year, then captured it again in 1644. The British then took it from them in 1796 without a struggle. Negambo was one of the most important sources of cinnamon during the Dutch era, and there are still reminders of the European days.

SCHEDULE
• Arrival & transfer to a hotel in Waikkala or Negambo.
• At leisure after a long flight.
• Dinner & night stay over at Negambo. Value – Hotel Sunset Beach or similar / Standard – Browns Beach or similar / Deluxe – “The Beach” Hotel or similar.

Day 2 - Waikkala / Negombo – Dambulla / Kandalama (FB)
Leaving to Kandalama via Dambulla.

DAMBULLA, an ancient city, is known for its beautiful Cave temples and a huge Buddha statue. The history of the 5 caves containing over 150 images of Buddha goes back to 1st century BC when king Valagambahu took refuge here. This place is worth visiting not only for the cave temple, but also for the beautiful view over the countryside you can get from the hill.

SCHEDULE
• Leaving to Kandalama via Dambulla.
• Finishing the visit at the Dambulla caves, lunch at ahotel or restaurant in Dambulla.
• Evening at leisure. Or you are free to do any optional nature trails / Bird watching in the surroundings areas in the hotel.
• Dinner & night stay over at Kandalama / Dambulla. Value – Gimanahala or similar / Standard – Culture Club or similar / Deluxe – Kandalama Hotel or similar.
 
Day 3 - Dambulla / Kandalama - Polonnaruwa (FB)
Guests will visit the Sigiriya Rock & then proceed to Polonnaruwa.

The ancient city of SIGIRIYA was designated a cultural World Heritage Site in 1982. It is also proposed that the site should be named the eighth wonder of the world, indicating it is in the same league as other international wonders such as the Grand Canyon and Ancient Pyramids. Translated as ‘Lion Rock’ into English, the name of the monument indicates the way in which visitors used to begin their final ascent to the top – through the open jaws and throat (‘giriya’) of a lion (‘sinha’). Unfortunately, the only remains of this lion figure are the gigantic paws, sculpted into the side of the rock. The topography of the area is flat except for the massive rock outcrop of the fortress itself (which rises an incredible 600 ft up from the green scrub jungle). The unusual rock is particularly interesting due to its flat top (nearly an acre in size), that was used in its entirety to build King Kasyapa’s fortress complex, still evident by the presence of the extensive ruins.

POLONNARUWA
At nearly 1000 years old, POLONNARUWA is one of Sri Lanka’s ancient capital cities (and part of the famous ‘Cultural Triangle’). Although King Vijayabahu 1 was the first to claim the city as his capital, it was King Parakramabahu who made it what it is today, with its massive buildings, ornate parks and the ‘pièce de resistance’ – a 2500 hectare tank called ‘Parakrama Samudra’ (‘Sea of Parakrama’). The city itself is divided into new and old town with the impressively preserved ruins split into five main areas, including ‘The Quadrangle’ (aka ‘Terrace of the Tooth Relic’), the Northern City group and the Rest House group (with the royal palace ruins of ‘Nissanka Malla’). Due to its reasonably compact layout, the ruins can be easily explored on foot, and with the surrounding area’s flat well maintained roads, you can leave the car behind and jump on a bicycle to get around!

SCHEDULE
• Leaving to Sigiriya finishing breakfast for the rock climb.
• Lunch at a hotel in Sigiriya.
• Then proceed to Polonnaruwa. Visiting the ruins will be done in cycles and this will be an interesting feature in your itinerary.
• Dinner & night stay over at Polonnaruwa. Value – Sudu Araliya or similar / Standard – The Royal Lotus Hotel or similar / Deluxe – Deer Park Hotel or similar.
 
Day 4 - Polonnaruwa - Mahiyanganaya - Dambana (FB)
After breakfast in Polonnaruwa leaving to Dambana to familiarize your self of the livelihood of “Adivasi” (Vaddha’s)

DAMBANA is a remote jungle village of indigenous people, situated about 300km from Colombo. The population of these indigenous ‘Veddha’ people now consists of only about 350 families, a number significantly reduced from a once thriving community. The ‘Veddha’ are so influenced by the imposing dominant culture that they risk losing their traditions and what has been their livelihood for centuries. However, they remain determined that their way of life will continue into future generations. The Chief himself told us on a recent visit to the village that his main worry is that he may not be able prevent the ‘Veddha’ traditions from dying out during his own lifetime. Visitors to this fascinating village have the opportunity to meet and chat with the people who live there, learn about their traditions, and gain a unique insight into their way of life. Your visit will also be of a direct financial benefit to the community because, as well as paying them a rent for the campsite and a fee for their involvement in the programme, Eco Team also uses local produce and labour whenever possible.

DAMBANA CAMPING
Our CAMPSITE is located next to the ‘Delikadeliwewa’ tank in very close proximity to the Dambana village itself. During your stay, the ‘Veddha’ people will visit the camp in their traditional costume in order to perform some traditional dances. The camp is also close to one of their former hunting grounds so guests can have the chance to participate in a mock hunt. 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 and cold beer 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.

SCHEDULE
• Leaving Belihuloya to Dambana.
• The guests can be met at the Dambana junction and escorted to the camp for a typical and delightful Sri Lankan lunch.
• After lunch and a little leisure time, the visit to the Veddah village and a meeting with the Chief – Wanniyaleththo is arranged followed by the famous “Kiri Koraha” dance, which they perform to invoke blessings from the gods.
• Back to Camp / guest house.
• Night dinner & stay in Dambana. Value – Mahiyangana rest house or similar / Standard – luxury camping / Deluxe – super luxury camping.
 
Day 5 - Dambana – knuckles - Kandy (FB)
Proceed to Kandy via Haslaka / Hettipola / Pallegma. [Through the Knuckles range]

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 that explore this fabulous area.

KANDY - Capital of the hill country has a lot to offer- -History / culture / Forested hills and a touch of an urban buzz. Kandy was the last capital of the Singhalese Kingdom which fell in to the British in 1815 after safeguarding from Portuguese and Dutch for 300 years.

DALADA MALIGAWA
The Temple of the Tooth or Dalada Malgawa dates from the 16th century, though most of the present buildings were built in the 19th century. Entering the shrine over a moonstone step, you pass a stone depicting the Indian goddess Lakshmi and a wall with frescoes illustrating the Buddhist conception of hell. The upper stories house the relic of the tooth, caged behind the gilded iron bars. Behind the tooth relic sanctuary is a hall with a number of golden Buddha statues and modern paintings, showing Buddha’s life and the arrival of Buddhism in the land. We end our tour just before the evening drumming begins, which precedes the ceremonious opening of the window for the public viewing of the casket with the tooth.

SCHEDULE
• Leaving Dambana to Kandy finishing breakfast.
• Leaveing for a cycling journey to Kandy via Haslaka / Hettipola / Pallegma. [Through the Knuckles range] There will back up vehicles for any one to get in if they find this trail too hard.
• Packed lunch on the way
• Evening vivit to Dalada Maligawa
• Night dinner & stay in Kandy. Value – Gem Inn or similar / Standard – Suisse Hotel or similar / Deluxe – Earls Regency or similar.
Day 6 - Kandy (FB)
After breakfast visit gem museums, batik making demonstration, and Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens.
PERADENIYA BOTANICAL GARDENS
This is 147 acres in extent started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the kings of Kandy. There are more than 500 species of trees and plants. Some are rare & endemic as well as flora from the tropical world. Spice Garden on Orchid House are more popular with tourist.

SCHEDULE
• After breakfast, visit the gem museums, batik making demonstration, and Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens.
• Lunch at a hotel or restaurant in the town
• Evening culture show.
• Night dinner & stay in Kandy. Value – Gem Inn or similar / Standard – Suisse Hotel or similar / Deluxe – Earls Regency or similar.
Day 7 - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya – Horton Plains – Nuwara Ekiya (FB)
Leaving to Horton Plains via Nuwara Eliya & back to Nuwara Eliya.
NUWARA ELIYA has a cool sparkling climate with the temperature changing around 13degC this is an exquisite and healthy city famous for its wide range in flowers. With buildings of English architecture everywhere in the city, it is affectionately called little England. The Victoria Park in the center of Nuwara Eliya, the highest town in Sri Lanka. Yellow-eared Bulbul, Blackbird, in winter Pied Thrush and Kashmir Flycatcher are very common.

HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK is undoubtedly one of the world’s best nature reserves. It is characterised by a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, covered in upper montane forest and wet patana grassland. In general, the forests are seen on the hilltops or upper slopes, and the grasslands in the valleys and lower slopes, eventually giving way to wetland habitats. Spanning approximately 10,000 hectares the park is also home to a wide variety of flora (57 species, 29 endemic to Sri Lanka) and 24 species of mammals such as elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine and leopard. For bird enthusiasts, there are 87 species (14 of which are endemic), including many migratory birds. The Plains also feature many interesting attractions such as ‘Baker’s Falls’, ‘Chimmini Pool’ and the famous ‘World’s End’ (a 3700 ft sheer drop that offers fabulous views of the tea estates below and all the way out to the distant southern coastline).

SCHEDULE
• After breakfast, proceed to Horton Plains via Nuwara Eliya.
• You will check in to a hotel, have lunch and then leave to Horton Plains.
• Trek inside the park (6km)
• Finishing the trek, back to Nuwara Eliya.
• Dinner & night stay at Nuwara Eliya. Value – The Rock or similar / Standard – Gallway Forest Lodge or similar / Deluxe – Tea Factory Hotel or similar.
 
Day 8 - Nuwara Eliya - Yala [FB]
Proceed to Yala from Nuwara Eliya.
YALA NATIONAL PARK lies 24km northeast of Tissamaharama and 290km from Colombo on the southeast coast of Sri Lanka, spanning a vast 97,878 hectares over the Southern and Uva Provinces. The vegetation in the park comprises predominantly of semi-arid thorny scrub, interspersed with pockets of fairly dense secondary forest. Small patches of mangrove vegetation also occur along the coastal lagoons. The park is renowned for the variety of its wildlife (most notably its many elephants) and its fine coastline (associated with beautiful coral reefs). It also boasts a large number of important cultural ruins, bearing testimony to earlier civilizations and indicating that much of the area used to be populated and well developed.

SCHEDULE
• After an early breakfast we will pack and leave from Nuwara Eliya to Yala.
• We will check in to the hotel for a late lunch and leave for an Evening safari around 3.00pm.
• Finishing the evening safari back to the hotel
• Dinner & night stay at Yala / Tissamaharama. Value – Chandrika or similar / Standard – Tissamaharama Resort or similar / Deluxe – Yala Village Hotel or similar.
 
Day 9 - Yala – Galle (FB)
Departure to Galle.
GALLE, the largest town in the region, is full of history, and Sri Lanka's small size means that a stay in one of the beach resorts of the southwest can easily be combined with sightseeing in the hill country or the ancient cities of the Cultural Triangle. The biggest concentration of resort hotels is in the area closest to Colombo and its international airport, between Beruwela and Bentota, where several fishing villages have merged into a string of attractive low-rise resorts surrounded by boutiques, beach bars and restaurants

GALLE FORT
The port town of Galle is Sri Lanka's fourth biggest town with 80,000 people. The history of Galle dates back to 1505 when a Portuguese fleet bound for Maldives was blown off course and took shelter in the Galle Harbour. This arrival drastically changed the course of Sri Lankan history. In 1598, the Portuguese built a small fort which was later extended. However, when the Dutch took over in 1640, they destroyed all traces of the Portuguese presence. In 1663, the Dutch built the 36-hectare Fort, which is now a World Heritage Site.

SCHEDULE
• After an breakfast leaving to Galle.
• A city tour in Galle.
• Lunch at the hotel or restaurant.
• At leisure.
• Dinner & night stay in Galle. Value – Ahangama easy beach or similar / Standard – Closenberg Hotel or similar / Deluxe – Light House Hotel or similar.
 
Day 10 - Departure
SCHEDULE
• We can arrange the departure to your next destination.
- End of Tour -
Our Rates
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03 Pax
04 Pax
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Naturally our ready made programmes will come cheaper than the tailor make programmes. How ever we are flexible enough to do minor changes to the ready made itineraries, with out any charge. ? Please write to us.

Do you own programme – Visit the location and activity pages on our site and you will come across mini tours in all of those pages. By combining them you can design your own tour. We will complete it by adding on the hotels and other cultural locations you may require.

Your tour will be handled by an experienced travel consultant who will provide a personalized service.

Our programmes are offered in the following 3 standards. Accommodation options have been selected after careful evaluation.

Standard -Value: Basic but clean. With a typical Sri Lankan touch , relaxed atmosphere and personalized service at Small family / enterprise run operations.

Standard - 3 Star equal: Better comforts and facilities with extra comforts. Mostly large establishments with Standardized service.

Standard - Deluxe: High standards of quality, décor, service and much more, with many extra comforts and activities to indulge yourself. We have offered locations with a unique Sri Lankan individuality, measuring up to international standards.

Please inquire for our special group rates for more than 4 pax.
Tour operators/agents & tourism related web portals may contact with all information for special rates.

Please read Expectations ours and yours before confirming a tour.