Temples and Nature
An island blessed with enchanting natural beauty and many ancient temples that were built during the prosperous era where kings ruled and religious grandeur was part and parcel of ruling the nation. This tour takes you from Negombo to Sigiriya where you can explore the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the rock fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple and then head to Kandy to visit the many sites there. We explore the hill country by visiting Nuwara Eliya, Ella and Haputale while a scenic train journey takes you from Nanu Oya to Ella. Enjoy safaris at Minneriya and Udawalawe National Parks and explore and hike the Sinharaja Rain Forest Reserve. In Bentota, you can enjoy a river safari and visit a turtle hatchery.
SKU:LK10MBV011
Temples and Nature (22 Days)
Temples and Nature (22 Days)
Sri Lanka though a renowned leisure destination for its mesmeric hill country, exquisite beaches, and fascinating cultural attraction of ancient cities and shrines is not a destination that readily comes to mind for a golfing holiday. If you look up the Sri Lanka Map you will learn to your delightful surprise that you can easily fit in three fabulous golf courses of all Asia located at three elevations.
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1 Day in Negombo
With a majority of our population being Buddhists, Sri Lanka has many temples that we can visit while the natural beauty is limitless in our tiny island. Upon Arriving in Sri Lanka, you will be spending your first day in Negombo which is known for its golden sandy beaches and water sports. Negombo is famous for its fishing industry.
Enjoy the sun on the sandy beaches of Negombo on the Western Coast of Sri Lanka. Watch the flourishing fish industry, which is a centuries-old tradition. Ride an adrenaline high with some fun water sports. Enjoy the corals and underwater life while diving. See the 50-year-old ship-wreck just off the coast, where many varieties of fish make their home.
1 Day in Anuradhapura
On the second day, we will be heading towards the ancient city of Anuradhapura and enroute we will drop in at the Munneswaram Temple which is in the locality of Chilaw. The town is a coastal area with coconut groves and beautiful long stretches of beaches. The Munneswaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is associated with the Ramayana.
Later on proceed to Chilaw to Munneswaram temple is an important regional Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples dedicated to Shiva in the region.
2 Days in Sigiriya
Prior to heading to Sigiriya, we explore the ancient Kingdom of Anuradhapura and its ruins which are home to many temples and monasteries. We visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and enjoy the climb up to its pinnacle if you are up for the challenge. There’s a rural village tour to learn about their lifestyle and a safari at Minneriya.
Ancient Ruin kingdom of Anuradhapura
Walk through the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD. View the pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds that are scatter all over the vast area. Visit important landmarks such as Jetavanarama, which was one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the huge Abhayagiri Monastery. Gain more knowledge about Sri Lanka’s history as you walk in the footsteps of Kings.
The 5th century AD rock fortress Sigiriya, once ruled by the Sri Lankan King Kashyapa, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka’s most historical landmarks. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ‘The Lion Rock’. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns, that are a mind blowing example of ancient Sri Lankan hydraulic engineering.
Get a chance to go on an oxen cart ride and experience the world from the view of a village farmer. Have a relaxing catamaran safari through a calm lake. Walk through the golden fields ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your taste buds with a home cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.
This safari takes you on a ride through the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy the sight of over 150 elephants congregating in one place during the famous Great Elephant Gathering, which happens in the dry season between May to October. In addition to elephants, get a chance to also see many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the scrublands, forests and other areas.
2 Days in Kandy
When heading to Kandy, we first stopover at the Dambulla Cave Temple and then a spice garden to dig deep into the herbs and spices that the locals use. You will be treated to a Kandyan Cultural Show and then visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic. You can leisurely enjoy a walk at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya.
Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.
The Matale Spice Tour gives you a hands on experience of a Spice & Herbal Garden within the Spice capital of Sri Lanka, Matale. Here you will learn about Sri Lanka’s famous spices such as coriander, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and their uses. The garden is enriched with herbs, spice groves and plants with fragrant greenery shading from the tropical trees that heighten the unique aroma of each spice and herb. Apart from gaining knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, this unique tour also lets you learn about Ayurvedic medicine. The tropical climate in which the plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality.
The Kandy Cultural Show gives an opportunity to experience some of the traditions of Sri Lanka. Enjoy this hour long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Get wowed by fire dancers and sword dancers. Watch the colorful Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming primal beat of the drums.
Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was built in the 16th century as the place of veneration and protection for Lord Buddha’s sacred tooth. Walk through the beautifully embellished passageways and elaborately painted halls, done in red, cream and black. Lounge against delicately carved pillars and get amazed by the beautiful golden statues. Get an unforgettable experience of history and art.
Visit the famous Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, which were formed in the early 19th century. Walk through the vast area containing over 4000 species of plants. Enjoy the learning more about the orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Wander down avenues shaded by large and rare trees, or bordered by flowering plants. Enjoy seeing the cannonball tree, walking over the wobbly suspension bridge and through the short hedge mazes or even climbing the twisty trees that make wonderful jungle gyms..
2 Days in Nuwara Eliya
Travelling towards the highlands of the central region of Sri Lanka, we first stopover at a tea factory to learn the process of manufacturing Ceylon Tea. Then we can enjoy a trek to the Horton Plains National Park which is a forest reserve with many endemic species of flora and fauna. Then we explore the picturesque city of Nuwara Eliya.
Visit a Tea Factory and a plantation where you would see how the world’s famous “Ceylon Tea” is manufactured. In 1824 a tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya for non-commercial purposes. James Taylor was a British citizen who introduced commercial tea plantation in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). He arrived to Sri Lanka in 1852 and settled down in Loolecondera estate in Kandy. Today even people who have never heard of Sri Lanka are familiar with Ceylon tea, which is known for its quality.
Visit the beautiful Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, with its montane grasslands and cloud forests. Enjoy the majestic views from the precipice of World’s End and the cooling sprays from Baker’s Falls. Catch glimpses of the many endemic faunae that make their home in the plains. Get to know more about the archeological finds that were discovered in the area.
Visit the highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old red-bricked post office as you purchase an inexpensive and colorful postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park or on the shores of Lake Gregory.
5 Days in Ella
We enjoy a scenic train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella which boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in the central region of Sri Lanka. From forests to valleys, waterfalls and tea estates, there are many views that you will not want to miss. During your stay you can explore the city of Ella and Haputale with many hotspots.
Enjoy panoramic views as you take a train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella. Watch the scenic mountains, beautiful waterfalls and bright green fields of tea. See the little misty villages and towns filled with bright lively locals pass you by. Relax to views of dark forests or enjoy the thrill of heart- stopping drops right at your feet. A leisurely ride that reveals Sri Lanka’s beauty (Travel Time: 3 hrs)
Explore Ella’s most interesting places. Pass through bright green tea fields, and tough stretches of rock, and get to see the magical views of Little Adam’s Peak. Walk over the history seeped Nine Arches Bridge and listen to the story of its construction. End your hike at the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop-over track design. This tour gives you the chance to see the best sights of Sri Lana.
Explore the most famous landmarks of Haputale. Visit Lipton’s seat, one of the most famed observation points in Sri Lanka, which gives views of the Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Eastern Provinces. Roam over the grounds of Adisham Bungalow, a beautiful Tudor mansion built in the early 1900s. View the neo-gothic architecture of St Andrews church, walk through its graveyard which is the resting place of many British tea planters, and much more. This is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy the calming beauty of Haputale and its sights.
1 Day in Udawalawe
Keeping up with the nature theme, after Ella, we head towards Udawalawe which has a mountainous backdrop but it more famous for the Udawalawe National Park. We take you on a three hour safari where you will spot many Sri Lankan elephants as well as water birds that are endemic to Sri Lanka as well as migratory ones.
Enjoy a three-hour safari which would give you a chance to explore the amazing Udawalawe National Park. Travel through the marshes, forests and grasslands of the park that was created as a sanctuary for wildlife in the 1970s. See the water birds and Sri Lankan elephants for which the park is famed. Catch glimpses of the other mammals and birds, as well as the reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.
2 Days in Sinharaja
Another beautiful locality awaits you after Udawalawe and that is Sinharaja. The Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve is a biodiversity hotspot and a tropical rainforest which has many endemic trees, rare flora, as well as endemic animals, mainly butterflies, birds, snakes, amphibians and also species of fish in the water bodies that flow through it. Sinharaja is a mountainous virgin rainforest.
Go on a jungle safari to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve. Experience the virgin forest with its dense evergreen type vegetation. Feel the adventure as you listen to the screeches of monkeys and see the glimpses of colorful forest birds. Feel the spine-thrilling chill as you watch a green pit viper wind itself amongst the foliage. A wonderful opportunity for those who wish to see Mother Nature at her wildest.
5 Days in Bentota
Ending your holiday in Sri Lanka on a high, we come to Bentota which is a beach side resort town that offers many opportunities to relax by the beach and enjoy the sun and sand. While in Bentota you can also enjoy a boat safari along the waters of the Madu River and then visit a Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda.
Go on a wonderful boat ride down the Madu River with its flourishing ecosystem. Pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves. See the basking crocodiles and water monitors. Visit one of the small islands with its cinnamon harvesting natives. Enjoy the restorative qualities of the famous fish massage. Observe the waterbirds in their natural habitats.
Visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. Learn more about the five endangered sea turtle species that come to the shores of Sri Lanka to nest. Learn how the Kosgoda Turtle Care Program helps protect the nests until they hatch and increases the chances of survival for the babies. Get a chance to see, touch and feed baby turtles; or even injured adult turtles that the Turtle Hatchery cares for.
Departure
After the breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to airport after spending a memorable time in this island.
Includes:
- Transport in a Private Vehicle, Fuel, Parking & Highway tolls.
- Service of English-Speaking Chauffeur Guide.
- All prevailing taxes and service charges.
- 2 x 500ml Water Bottles per Person per Day.
Excludes:
- Hotel Accommodation and Meals.
- Entrance fees to the respective sites.
- Chauffeur Guide's Accommodation.
- Expenses of personal nature.
- Visa and Related Expenses.
- Tips & Portages.
Complimentary:
- 1 x 1 Litre water bottle per person per day.
- 1 x Local SIM card per room.