03 days sightseeing tour of Sri Lanka - Sigiriya, Minneriya, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Dambulla, Peradeniya

Sigiriya, Safari, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella

7:00 Breakfast, departure from the hotel

11:00 Arrival and ascent to Sigiriya

Sigiriya (meaning “lion rock”) is a rocky plateau rising 370 meters above sea level and about 170 meters above the surrounding plain in the very center of the island of Sri Lanka. Since 1982, Sigiriya has been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. In the last quarter of the 5th century AD. e. King Kashyapa built an impregnable fortress and his palace on the rock, in which he lived with 400 concubines. The rock was surrounded by a moat of water, which was filled with crocodiles. Around the rock there were endless gardens, in which perhaps the first fountains in the world flowed. The monumental Lion Gate led to the top of the plateau. And water flowed into the pool for Kashyapa’s concubines to a height of 87 meters through a complex system of powerful pumps. 

14:00 Lunch

15:00 Jeep safari in Minneriya National Park

We will go on a cross-country jeep safari to one of the national reserves, where we will have the opportunity to see many wild elephants. You will also be able to see huge flocks of birds such as pelicans, storks and peacocks. If you're lucky, you can also see giant squirrels, deer, wild boars and even leopards. If for any reason there is not enough time for the Safari on the first day (latest start time is 16:00), the Jeep Safari may be rescheduled to the next morning.

19:00 - 20:00 Dinner and overnight in Sigiriya

Cave and Golden Temple in Dambulla, Aluvihara Cave Temple, Kandy

8:00 Breakfast and departure from the hotel. In the morning, it is also possible to see some attractions that you didn’t have time for on the first day, such as a Village Tour with a cooking class, go on a Jeep Safari or ride an elephant and take a couple of photos with Sigiriya in the background.

10:00 Cave and Golden Temple in Dambulla

On the way we will be able to see the Dambulla Temple. cave Buddhist temple of the 1st century BC. e., carved into the rock, with numerous statues of Buddha. The Stone Temple of the Sleeping Buddha is the largest cave temple in South Asia. The temple has been a sacred place of pilgrimage for 22 centuries. Many successive rulers of the island took part in the creation of the cave temple complex. The temple complex consists of several caves located at an altitude of 350 meters and numerous niches, the surface of which is painted with Buddhist wall paintings.

13:00 Aluvihara Cave Temple

Halfway from Sigiriya to Kandy we will visit the Aluvihara Cave Temple. It was here that the Buddhist Bible, the Pali Canon, was written down more than 2000 years ago. Here you will have a unique opportunity to write down your names or the names of your loved ones on palm leaves using ancient technology invented by Buddhist monks.

17:00 Arrival in Kandy

18:00: Temple of the Tooth Relic

Around 540 BC, the deceased Buddha was cremated and four teeth were taken from the fire and taken around the world. The tooth was brought to Ceylon in 371. After several centuries of being in India, the shrine was sent to Ceylon IV by the ruler of Kalinga, who suffered defeats in wars and feared for the fate of his state. The ruler's daughter transported the relic to the island, hiding it in her hair. Magical powers have long been attributed to this tooth: the one who owns it has full power. Therefore, the Buddha's tooth became the possession of the royal dynasty. The city of Anuradhapura was chosen as the initial place for its storage, then the tooth was transferred to the city of Polonnaruwa, and already at the beginning of the 18th century it was transported to Kandy. Here in the temple we can see a magnificent museum, which displays various offerings donated to the temple. Then the Dalada Maligawa Temple was built specifically to store this shrine. 

19:00 Dinner and overnight in Kandy

Temple of the Tooth Relic, Bahirawakande Buddha statue, Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya, Ambuluwawa

7:30 Breakfast and departure from the hotel

9:00 Royal Botanical Garden Peradeniya

The Royal Botanic Garden, whose history goes back more than 700 years. Here we can see a magnificent orchid garden, as well as the Alley of Memorial Trees planted by famous historical figures, including Nicholas II and Yuri Gagarin. The Royal Botanical Garden of Sri Lanka contains tens of thousands of plants that amaze the imagination of tourists in the middle zone, accustomed to a temperate climate, short trees and spring-summer flowering. The bushes and trees here are of gigantic size, reminiscent of Gulliver's Travels to Lilliputian children. The usual indoor ficus has grown to a whole grove, with branches intertwining overhead. There is a special “field” with planted “strips” of a wide variety of herbs.

11:00 Ambuluwawa

Ambuluwawa or the Temple of the Four Religions is a new architectural landmark of Sri Lanka, built on the top of a mountain between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya in the form of a conical spiral tower. It is one of the most popular places for unusual and memorable photographs in Sri Lanka.

11:00 Tea Plantations

14:00 Tea Factory

16:00 Nuwara Eliya

Known for its cool climate, mountainous scenery and tea, Nuwara Eliya is the highest mountainous region in Sri Lanka.

Dinner and overnight in Ella (or Nuwara Eliya).

Ella, Little Adam's Peak, Ella Rock, Ravana Water Fall

7:30 Breakfast and departure from hotel

Train ride The train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella passes through the very heart of the mountainous part of Sri Lanka, through tea plantations, through clouds, and tangled mountain tunnels. This is a trip not to be missed!

12:00 Nine Arch Bridge at Ella

The Nine Arch Bridge is Ella's signature bridge and the best place to take great photos. Around the bridge you can see picturesque forest and tea plantations.

13:00 little Adam's peak in Ella

Small Adam's Peak and Ella Rock

Little Adam's Peak is an ideal place for trekking. Panoramic views opening in the early morning and late evening, when you can see the surrounding landscapes and look down at the clouds.

15:00 Ravana Waterfall

Ravana Falls is one of the largest and most impressive waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Transfer to the hotel and end of the tour.