Colombo / Galle / Mirissa

Bentota
Bentota Beach is the most popular beach holiday destination on the island. The unique location of Bentota Beach Resort is one important reason for its popularity as a beach holiday destination. Bentota Resort is located on an island, and the island is connected with the mainland at its southern border. Bentota is mainly comprised of a narrow strip of land that spreads along the north-south axis. Unlike most other islands, Bentota is surrounded by both sea and river. One side of the island is the Bentota River, while the western side of Bentota is flanked by the Indian Ocean. Large numbers of hotels are built in this narrow strip of land, enabling the travelers to have a peaceful atmosphere during the holiday. You can book a hotel in Bentota through Serendipity Tours at a very affordable rate online. 

Sea turtle conservation center
Projects have been launched to conserve the population of turtles that are reaching extinction, and such projects are found along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, where turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. The turtle digs a hole on the beach, lays her eggs and covers it with sand where it is supposed to, and incubates in the heat of the sun. What often happens is that the eggs are dug out by fishermen and sold to people who consume them.

Spice Garden
Visit a spice garden at Bentota where spices and herbs used for Sri Lankan cuisine and medication are grown. Spices of Sri Lanka attracted the early seafaring merchants who made the long voyages to purchase this precious merchandise.

Madu river safari
In the global context, the ecological importance of this site has garnered it the ‘Ramsar Wetland’ status in 2003, being the second largest wetland in Sri Lanka with a colossal 915 hectares and 23 islands inhabited by nearly 300 families. The River Sanctuary is now a Tourist Development Area and a Special Area Managed (SAM) by the Coast Conservation Department. Balapitiya is where the ‘Madu Ganga’ makes its home.

City of Galle
Galle is one of the ancient seaports of Sri Lanka and was an anchor point in the Silk Route. It was later discovered by the Portuguese, where they built a fortress, and the Dutch that succeeded them fortified it further. This fortress is today a World Heritage Site.

Galle fort
The fort has a colorful history and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The Sri Lankan government and many Dutch people who still own some of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by UNESCO, and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria iv for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble that illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

The Galle Fort, also known as the Dutch Fort or the "Ramparts of Galle,"  withstood the Boxing Day tsunami, which damaged part of the coastal area of Galle town. It has been since restored. The Galle Fort also houses the elite Amangalla resort hotel, located near the Dutch Reformed Church. It was originally built in 1684 to house the Dutch Governor and his staff. It was then converted into a hotel and named the New Oriental Hotel in 1865, which catered to the European passengers traveling between Europe and Galle Port in the 19th century.

Hikkaduwa beach
Hikkaduwa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in southern Sri Lanka. It is 98 km south of Colombo, and its beautiful beaches add a lot of glamour to this town. It is the place where you can have a glimpse of the fascinating underwater world and see the creatures that inhabit the unfathomable depths of the sea. The famed coral gardens are located here. Just get hold of a glass-bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and plunge into the ocean.

Accommodation
Galle / Mirissa
Included Activities
Bentota Beach, Hikkaduwa Beach, Spice/Herbal Garden, Madu River Safari, Sea Turtle Conservation Center, Galle Fort, Unawatuna Beach,

Galle / Mirissa / Yala

Breakfast at the hotel and leave for Yala; en route, visit one of another colonial heritages in the city of Matara.

Star fort
Star Fort and the Dutch Fort are the most prominent colonial constructions in Matara. Both are located near the city center and only ten minutes' walk away. Star Fort houses the archaeological museum with a collection of a large number of valuable artifacts. As the name suggests, Star Fort takes the shape of a star and is surrounded by a ditch and a huge wall.

Blow hole
The blowhole is just 30 minutes s drive away from Matara and can be accessed very easily on the Matara-Tangalle main road. It is one of the most awesome natural attractions in the country. This natural fountain is located on the beaches of Kudawella, and the waters rise up to 30 meters. The fountain came due to the pressure generated by the high tide of the sea. The blowhole is located on a rocky outcrop, where the water is pressed through a natural hole, making a huge fountain.

Another uncrowned beach resort near Matara that you never see so busy like Bentota or Kalutara. Still, the beaches in Mirissa are well worth making a visit. The beaches are very wide and clean, providing the best setup for beach holiday enthusiasts. Mirissa is not only suitable for beach hopping but also for diving, snorkeling and mainly for surfing.

Kataragama temple
Kataragama, the domain of God Skanda (Lord Murugan Katirkaman, Kadirkamam, Subrahmanya, Kandasamy, Kadiradeva, Katiradeva, Katiravel, Karttikeya, and Tarakajith), located in the Deep South of Sri Lanka, adjoining the popular Ruhuna Yala National Park and ancient Sithulpawwa Buddhist Monastery, is a multi-religious sacred city that contains a Buddhist temple, Hindu shrine and Islamic mosque. Kataragama, one of the solosmasthana (Sinhala: 16 principal sites of Buddhist pilgrimage), has been featured in history since the era of King Dutugamunu (161–137 BC), the Hero of the Nation. Mahawamsa, the great historical chronicle of Sri Lanka, reveals the participation of warriors of the Kshatriya clan from Kataragama on the occasion of the arrival of the Bo sapling of Bodhi Tree, under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya (Gaya district of the modern Bihar state of India), which was brought to the city of Anuradhapura 2,300 years ago.

Accommodation
Yala
Meals Included
Breakfast and Dinner
Included Activities
Kataragama temple, blowhole, star fort. 

Yala / Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast leave for the hotel in Nuwara Eliya, en route visit, 

Ravana waterfall
The Ravana Falls (popularly known as Ravana Ella in Sinhala) is a popular sightseeing attraction in Sri Lanka. It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in height and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an area flower with withering petals. But this is not the case in the dry season, when the flow of water reduces dramatically. The falls form part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary and are located 6 km (3.7 mi) away from the local railway station.

The falls have been named after the legendary Sinhala king Ravana, which is connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana. According to legend, it is said that Ravana (who was the king of Sri Lanka at the time) had kidnapped princess Sita and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded by thick forests in the midst of the wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall. They believed that Ravana has played the Ravanahatha over here.

Sita Amman Temple
Nuwara Eliya, also known as Little England for its cool climes, British architecture and natural beauty, is also promoted as a sacred city because of its link to the “Rama Seetha” love story. Seetha Amman temple is dedicated to Seetha, wife of Rama, who is believed to be one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu. There are many temples dedicated to Rama and Hanuman, especially in North India, but the Seetha Amman Kovil in Sri Lanka is unique in that it is the only one in the world dedicated to Seetha alone. 

Nuwara Eliya
As the largest city in the mountains, Nuwara Eliya plays an important role in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. Undoubtedly, Nuwara Eliya is the most popular health resort on the island and features a blend of colonial charm, modern development and slum areas, inherited from the colonial plantation culture. Nuwara Eliya was an important seat of the British colonial administration. It was first developed as a holiday destination in Sri Lanka under the British administration, due to the cool, healing climate.

Accommodation
Nuwara Eliya
Included Activities
Nuwara Eliya city tour, Sita temple, Ravan waterfall

Kandy / Colombo

After breakfast, leave for Kandy. En route, visit the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala and the spice garden.

Pinnawala elephant orpahnage
Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the foster home of elephants of different ages and sizes feeding, bathing, playing together and even mating. These have been found injured or left abandoned in the wilderness. There are even little baby calves born in captivity.

Spice Garden
Just 25 km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Mawanella spice gardens are among the best on the island. Gardens are open to visitors, a delightful place to stroll in fragrant greenery and learn about nutmeg, pepper vines, clove trees, curry, cinnamon and the precious cardamom. Visitors may buy spices, traditional remedies and cosmetics, taste a herbal brew and in some venues, enjoy the full flavors of Sri Lankan spices over lunch or an Ayurveda massage based on natural products from the garden.

Colombo
Colombo had been a well-known city in the region among the Arabian, Chinese, Indian, Persian, and Roman traders as early as the pre-Christian era. Sri Lanka is located on the East-West Sea route and is visited by traders in order to exchange their goods with the local traders. Even though Colombo was a well-known city among the ancient traders 2,000 years ago, the capital city of the country had been Anuradhapura. There was an Arabian settlement in the city of Colombo at the mouth of the Kelani River. Arab traders were exporting goods from the port of Colombo. Goods such as cinnamon, ivory, gems, and elephants were exported by the king of Kotte with the help of Arabs. With the beginning of the British colonial period, Colombo city received a prominent place as the capital of Ceylon. Colombo was the capital of the island from 1815 to 1978 until the administrative capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.

Galle face
This had been a well-known racecourse during the British colonial period in the country. This racecourse, which is located bordering the Indian Ocean, had to be abandoned later on due to the sea crabs, which are making holes in the track. Afterwards, it was developed as a promenade for the city dwellers and named Galle to face Green. Today Galle Face Green contains an open theater and spacious open space for a picnic, sports and walking.

Gangarama temple
It is considered to be one of the most sacred places in the country. Temple is one of the three places that Buddha visited in the 6th century B.C. The well-known Kelaniya Dagoba is located within the border of the temple. The Kalyani River, which flows next to the temple, adds more value to the scenic beauty of the temple. This temple holds a reputation for its attractive wall, which is considered the best painting of the modern era.

Viharamahadevi park
Viharamahadevi is located in Colombo 7, or Cinnamon Gardens. It is the largest and most popular park in the city. It is believed that there had been a twenty-square-kilometer cinnamon plantation in the area. Today most of the palaces of wealthy people can be seen in the area, and Colombo 7 is the most picturesque part of the city.

Wolvendaal church
The Wolvendaal Church is located in Fort and within walking distance from the center of the city. It has a large collection of tombstones of important Dutch personalities. Fort is made at the highest point of the city and dates back to 1813. The church is built in the doric style of the period. In the form of a Greek cross, with five-foot-thick walls and the gables raised over. The transepts are roofed with brick barrel arches and a central dome.

Sukana Buddha, BMICH, Independence Hall
Facing the Bandaranayke Memorial International Conference Hall stands a beautifully executed statue of the Buddha in a standing posture. The statue is 36 feet tall and is the largest Buddha statue in the city of Colombo. It is a replica of the Avukana statue on the banks of the Kalawewa Anuradhapura.

CITY & SHOPPING
The city tour will also include places of tourist interest such as the Old Parliament, Bandaranaike Memorial International, Conference Hall, Buddhist Hindu Temple and Town Hall.

SHOPPING AT, Odel, House of Fashion, Barefoot, etc.

Accommodation
Colombo
Included Activities
Pinnawala elephant orphanage, spice garden, Colobmo city tour.