Our Tours
Hill Country Tour
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights
Transportation
Tour Bus
Location
Photo Friendly
Tour Plan
Day 1
On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met with our representative and drive to Dambulla.
Lunch at a local restaurant – open
Visit Yapahuwa en route
The archaeological site of Yapahuwa located in the Mahawa Divisional Secretariat takes a prominent place in history. The Bodhivamsa mentions that Yapahuwa was known as a Sundara Giri Pavuvva in third century B.C. during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. It was named as Subhavala and Subhagiripura when General Subha converted it in to a fortress for security reasons. In the Dalada Pujavaliya it is known as ‘Ayo Parvata’.
Yapahuwa abound a variety of features of archaeological importance. The fortification and the moat, which extend from west end of the Southern part of the rock are connected to the other side of the rock in the shape of a horse shoe. There are no building of any historical value in the outer city. Tiles, potsherds and bricks are strewn everywhere in the vicinity of the outer city.
The fortress is 4m in height and 22m in width. Bastions may have existed on the rampart as suggested by the square shaped structures on it. The well planned citadel consists of a rampart and a moat. The stone slabs are put in place on both sides of the rampart and had been filled with metal. In the citadel where the water is being collected, two sluices made of stone are built to take away the collected water to the nearby drain.
Arrival & check in to the hotel.
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel
Day 2
After breakfast visit Sigiriya Fortress.
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya Rock fortress which is a UNESCO world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495). The spectacular citadel of Sigiriya rises sheer and impregnable out of the plains of the dry zone. It is the country’s most memorable single attraction, a remarkable archeological site made unforgettable by its dramatic setting. The rock was the innermost stronghold of a 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway.
Our clients can enjoy a king coconut drink right after the visit of Sigiriya.
Lunch at a local restaurant –
Day 3
After breakfast check-out from the hotel and proceed to Kandy
Visit Aluvihare Cave temple en route
In the 1st Century BC, during the reign of King Walagamba, Sri Lanka underwent a famine known as ‘Baminithiyasaya’ for 12 years. There was also a South Indian invasion at the same time and the Buddhist monks of that era realized that these problems would be a danger to the existence of Buddha Sasana in the country. Under these conditions, memorizing and repeating the Dhamma (doctine) was difficult. Due to the famine Buddhist monks did not receive sufficient alms and faced many difficulties, and they had to eat yams, roots and leaves of trees for their survival. A group of about 60 of them went to Malaya Rata, which is said to be the hilly area of the country. They managed to live on the banks of Mahaweli river under harsh conditions and survived for 12 years till the famine came to an end. King Walagamba who was overthrown by a rebellion during the invasion from South India, regained the throne by defeating the invaders after fourteen years.
Lunch at a local restaurant
Continue to Kandy
Kandy is a UNESCO world heritage site. The historic city about 480m above sea level surrounded by mountains was known to Sri Lankan as Kanda Uda Rata, which means the hill country. Kandy was home to Sri Lanka’s last independent kingdom, which survived two centuries of colonial incursion before finally falling to the British at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Visit the Temple of the tooth, the Peradeniya University campus and catch a panoramic view of the picturesque town from Upper Lake Drive.
Arrival & check in to the hotel.
Visit Temple of the Tooth – in the evening
Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel
Day 4
After breakfast, we will visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden. Afterwards, you will enjoy a train ride to Nuwara Eliya to admire the beautiful landscape of the area named the Highlands.
The ‘Little England” of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the island, but it is really just like and English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All round Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.
On arrival, we will explore the surroundings of Nuwara Eliya during a touristic walk including the visit of a Tea factory. Arrival to dinner and stay.
Day 5
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Yala (180km/ 4:45 h approx.) on route, you will stop to discover Ravana Falls and Buduruwagala Temple.
In the afternoon you will enjoy a Jeep safari at Yala National Park (15:00-18:00 h). Arrival to for check-in, dinner and stay.
Yala:
The Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectares. Including the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938.
Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo and many other animals. More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors.
Day 6
Enjoy a jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park in the morning.
Udawalawe has developed into one of Sri Lanka’s most popular national parks mainly thanks to its large population of elephants. It’s the best place in the island to see pachyderms in the wild. The park is beautifully situated just south of the hill country. There are around five hundred elephants here, alongside hundreds of buffaloes and you might also see macaque and languor monkeys, spotted deer, crocodiles and a variety of birds of prey.
A visit to Elephant Transit home in Udawalawe
The Transit Home is a lively place. Feeding milk to the calves every three hours is a recurring job on all 365 days of the year. Elephant calves at ETH are fed once every three hours. ETH turns into frenzy if the feeding times are delayed; the pathetic cry and the charges of elephants for milk is agonizing to hear. Getting the orphaned elephant calves adapted to milk powder and a whole new environment requires utmost patience and care, as there is still no special milk formulae that has been introduced for elephants.
Day 7
After breakfast proceed to Balapitiya do a boat safari at Madu River in Balapitiya and If desired you can visit sea turtle farm at Kosgoda. Evening leisure.
Day 8
After breakfast proceed to Colombo do a city tour in the commercial capital of the country drive to the Airport. (03 hours prior to the departure flight)
