| PROGRAMME |
: Cycling Tour. |
| DURATION |
: 6 Nights / 7 Days. |
| PERIOD |
: Valid till 31-Oct-2006 |
| Day 1 - Arrival
& Transfer to a hotel in Negambo (HB) |
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| Arrival and transfer to hotel in “Negambo”.
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| 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 cannels make for a good exploring.
The Dutch captured the town from the Portuguese in 1640, lost it
again in the same year, and 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 Negambo.
• Evening at leisure or engage in a short cycling trail, to familiarization.
• Dinner & night stay over at Negambo. Value – Sunset Beach
or similar / Standard – Browns Beach or similar / Deluxe – “The
Beach” Hotel or similar.
| Day 2 - Negambo - Dambulla (FB) |
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| Cycling to an halfway point
to Dambulla. (Cycling will be done from Negambo to Narammala
on small gravel roads and minor tarred roads. Approximate
distance of cycling 40km.) |
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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
• After breakfast at the Hotel, cycling to a half waypoint
and transfer to Dambulla by vehicle.
• Visit Historical Dambulla Cave Temple.
• Lunch at a hotel or restaurant.
• Dinner & night stay over at Dambulla. Value – Gimanhala
Transit Hotel or similar / Standard – Culture club resort
or similar / Deluxe – Kandalama Hotel or similar.
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| Day 3 - Dambulla – Sigiriya
– Knuckles (FB) |
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| Sigiriya visit &
then to Knuckles mountain range. |
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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.
The KNUCKLES MOUNTAIN
RANGE (so-called because its appearance resembles
a set of knuckles in a closed fist) has been declared
a conservation area, and is 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 real paradise for those who love to
hike or mountain bike, offering numerous trails that
journey across clear rivers, through dense forests,
past flowing waterfalls and lush tea plantations, and
alongside terraced paddy fields and colorful Kandyan
home gardens. The chance to visit traditional small
mountain villages in the area gives an interesting insight
into the close-knit atmosphere that such a local community
fosters and provides a welcome departure from fast-paced
modern day life.
RIVERSTON
or the kirimatiyakanda peak is 1519m above sea level
and is covered by stunted tree vegetation known as the
pygmy forest. This area is exposed to very strong winds
making it very difficult to walk in this area during
the windy season.
SCHEDULE
• After breakfast visit the Sigiriya Rock fortress.
• Finishing it lunch at sigiriya.
• Then proceed to the Knuckles Mountain range by vehicle.
(Cycling Approx 30km with a steep climb of 8km.)
• Dinner & night stay over at Knuckles / Pallegama.
Value – Guest House or similar / Standard – luxury camping
/ Deluxe – super luxury camp.
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| Day 4 - Knuckles - Kandy (FB) |
| Leaving Pallegama after an
early breakfast to Kandy. |
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KANDY was
the last stronghold of the Buddhist political power
against colonial powers. It is also the home of the
Temple of the Tooth relic. Its architectural monuments
date mainly from the 19th century, when Vikrama Rajashinha
went on a building spree, the cost of which hastened
the downfall and eventual surrender to the British forces.
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 knuckles to Kandy after breakfast. Guests
may cycle approximately 40 km to Hasalaka from Pallegama.
• The guests who whish to travel by vehicles can be
driven from Pallegama to Kandy.
• Lunch in Kandy. Then a city tour.
• Guests will also visit the Dalada Maligawa & view
the culture show in the evening.
• Dinner & night stay over at Kandy. Value – Gem
Inn or similar / Standard – Suisse Hotel or similar
/ Deluxe – Earls Regency Hotel or similar.
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| Day 5 - Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
- Horton Plains – Belihuloya (FB) |
| Leaving to Belihuloya
via Nuwara Eliya & Horton Plains. |
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 characterized
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).
BELIHULOYA
This is a climatically transitional area, which
links the dry and wet zones at an altitude of
less than 1500m. As a result, the vegetation in
consists of moist semi-evergreen forests, tropical
savanna forests, dry patana grasslands and montane
temperate forests. The vegetation in this environment
has made this location an exciting one for the
serious as well as the casual nature lover. The
average temperature in the area is about 28.3
degrees Celsius and the mean annual rainfall is
between 1,875 and 2,500mm.
SCHEDULE
• Leaving with packed breakfast to Horton Plains
via Nuwaraeliya in a vehicle.
• Lunch at a suitable location.
• Cycle from Maha Eliya (Horton Plains) to Kalupahana
through SATAN’S STEPS (Steep Downhill and uphill
22km) This particular route has got it’s name
as “Satan’s Steps” due to the steep climb and
narrow sharp bends, - mainly hairpin bends. Kalupahana
to Belihuloya (by Vehicle or Cycling slight Downhill
14km).
• Dinner & night stay over at Belihuloya.
Value – camping / Standard – Cottages or similar
/ Deluxe – Eco Lodge or similar.
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| Day 6 -
At Belihuloya (FB) |
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SCHEDULE
• At leisure or select any activities from
the vast range available. [Trekking / Canoeing
/ Bird watching / village visits / etc]
• Dinner & night stay over at Belihuloya.
Value – camping / Standard – Cottages or similar
/ Deluxe – Eco Lodge or similar.
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SCHEDULE
• Leaving Belihuloya to your next destination. |
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| - End of Tour
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of Pax |
01
Pax |
02
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03
Pax |
04
Pax |
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Luxury |
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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. |
| Expectations ours and yours. |
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