Full island visit in SriLanka

After your touchdown in Sri Lanka, an ECO TRAVELS representative will welcome you at the airport. Here is to an experiential tour ahead, and your first destination is Negombo – a key fishing town on the Western Coast of Sri Lanka. After a 30 mins drive, you will arrive at your hotel to check-in and then proceed for a Tropical seafood dinner by the iconic Negombo beach. Here, you will witness the novel cooking techniques whilst sipping a glass of Ceylon arrack and soaking in the ambience. After the delectable dinner, enjoy a relaxing stay at a cozy hotel in Negombo.

Your day starts at 5:30 am, with a warm cup of Ceylon tea and cookies before leaving for an exciting boat ride through the Negombo lagoon weaving through the mangroves. You can delight in the glorious sunrise, spectacular view of colourful fishing boats, and head out to the Lelama to observe the fishermen’s way of life. Watch how they spread out their nets with care hoping for that ‘big catch’. Then simply take few steps towards the busy fishermen pulling fishing nets ashore. After all, a little help would not mind, would it? , hop into a tuk-tuk and ride back to the hotel to enjoy a scrumptious breakfast before heading to Sigiriya. Preserve the fresh fish catch in cold boxes to take them across for your afternoon BBQ where you enjoy your lunch. En-route to Sigiriya you will see the urban and sub-urban living styles, sprawling grasslands, varied vegetation, roadside boutiques, and rustic country life. You will then visit the Raswehera Buddha statue an ancient shrine left behind the Jungle before heading to a local restaurant and line up to your own BBQ with the fresh fish you brought from the fishing village the very day, then learn the art of marinating and make your own BBQ meal. It will be a nice experience to make your own BBQ. After lunch, visit the Awkana statue replica of Raswehera buddha statue – a masterpiece of a massive standing Buddha statue, where you will learn the history behind its creation. Several legends are linked with the origins of Aukana and Raswehera, where a story says that the two statues were created as the result of a competition between a master sculptor and his pupil. Finally, you will conclude your day by checking into your hotel for dinner and to unwind for the day. Western type in-house dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Sigiriya / Habarana

Kick starts your day with breakfast and head to the Pidurangala rock – the rock has an ancient Buddhist Monastery on the top and is a fantastic viewpoint of the Sigiriya rock fortress. (Optional visit Sigiriya to replace Pidurangala) This rock is a rarely visited sight and is a perfect viewpoint to see Sigiriya and the surrounding plains. After absorbing the majestic view, on your way back to the Hotel stop at a roadside King Coconut Vendor to quench your thirst, the seller will slice the nut open for you with a machete and hand you a straw so you can drink the juice. Refresh your self and check out from the Hotel to transfer to Giritale en route embark on a village culinary tour and engage in the local cooking experience. You will engage in preparing your village lunch together with village folks, whilst interacting with them. You will learn how fresh ingredients are sourced from the surroundings and see how lunch is cooked using firewood. Reward your efforts with a freshly cooked lunch of rice and curry served on a lotus leaf! After the hearty village lunch, transfer to the hotel for dinner and your overnight stay. Overnight stay at a hotel in Giritale

After breakfast transfer to Polonnaruwa to engage in Polonnaruwa Medieval City Tour, exploring the historic city and the second capital of Sri Lanka dating back to the 11th & 12th centuries AD. (city tour on cycles is an option) At this World Heritage Site, you will witness the ruins of the Royal Palace, statues of King Parakramabahu and the Parakrama Samudraya. Return to the Hotel for Lunch, there on proceed to Minneriya National Park for an adventurous afternoon jeep safari. The Minneriya national park situated 182 km away from Colombo in the North Central Plains of Sri Lanka, is home to a variety of fauna and flora. At the massive Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir, (the highlight of the park) you will witness the most awaited elephant gathering. This is a thrilling sight and experience, plus a memory to cherish for the rest of your life. After an exhilarating safari, head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Giritale.

After breakfast, you will head to the hill capital of Sri Lanka – Kandy On the way first visit the Moragahakanda Dam, the Moragahakanda Dam is a high gravity dam with a height of 65 meters and is created with an active storage capacity of 521 million cubic meters and is four times bigger than the gigantic Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa. The dam is also used for irrigation, water supply, inland fishing and power generation. Most of it all the irrigation channel designed to take water in a tunnel right upto the northern part of Sri Lankan is the highlight. Thereon transfer to visit a traditional village in Wasgamuwa and actively support a cause against human- elephant conflict, First visit the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) to be greeted by a traditional greenish orange drink presented by villagers. After a brief presentation of approx. 15mins hop into the jeeps and head into the heart of the Village where you will witness the hardships faced by poor villagers daily owing mainly to the human-elephant conflict. At the point the villagers welcome the visitors, where they could walk around and enjoy the surroundings of the village and then do the distribution of orange plants to the relevant household at the village temple or school. Then you will actively engage in an orange tree-planting session around the village – a tree that is believed to keep away wild elephants from entering the village and destroying crops of farmers. Each person will plant one orange plant. Planting holes or planting pits will be all dugged and prepared. (During the extreme dry season which is from July to September planting trees cannot be done. During this period, the activities would be helping with irrigation, fertilizing, plants and tree inspection) Then walk into a traditional house for a fascinating Sri Lankan meal carefully and deliciously prepared by local hands. After lunch, you will continue the roads along the towering mountains passing lush grasslands bursting into bloom and Lankan damsels selling king coconuts by the sideway. Take an occasional peek out of the window and you will see mist-covered landscapes studded with pools of cool waters, strolling wildlife, windy brown streets and an abundance of lush greenery. Consider yourself lucky if you happen to see a passing elephant or any other wildlife across the road during your travel and do not forget to capture the breath-taking view of the Knuckles range. Take a slight de tour to visit The Mahiyanganaya Temple – the first stupa built in Sri Lanka during the era of Lord Buddha. It is believed to be the site of Gautama Buddha’s first visit to the country, and is one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred religious locations in Sri Lanka You will be travelling and zigzagging through the famous ‘18-hair-pin-bends’ road which will be a thrilling journey for you to reach the Hill Capital Kandy. Check – in at the Hotel and Relax Dinner and Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Today you will embark on a city tour in Kandy (after breakfast) to visit The Sacred Tooth Relic temple – Kandy‘s key attraction and symbol of sovereignty enshrined in great splendour. The Esala Perahera held in August each year is a must-see, and this spectacular pageant honours the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Next, you will visit the Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, a magnificent 57-hectare garden that treasures the best of tropical flora, aromatic spices and rare medicinal herbs. Delight in a lunch under the shady orchards while engrossing sprawling lawns with beautiful landscape alongside avenues with tall tress add a lot of feeling to the picturesque garden in the beauty of nature before returning to the hotel, Refresh and transfer in the evening you will witness a colourful cultural show with an exciting agenda of traditional Sri Lankan dances and pageantry. You will be captivated by the vibrant event filled with colourful costumes, graceful dances and oriental music, making it an unforgettable experience. You will be then taken to experience street food of which the famous Kottu Dinner with option s of Chicken, Fish, EGG and vegetarian Kottu, thereon you can unwind into the night at a local pub, where you will get the perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals and see and experience the local pub. You will party your way into the night to the lively reggae played at the pub. Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

After breakfast you will proceed to Nuwara Eliya stopping by the maginificent Ramboda falls en-route. Next, you will visit a tea-factory and walk-through to experience tea plucking and tea tasting. Ceylon Tea is a world-class brand that serves millions of cups each day across the globe. You will learn the detailed factory process whilst sipping a hot cup of Ceylon tea. Check -in to the Hotel for Lunch, Then take an evening stroll amidst the soaring trees of the Galway Grove. After enjoying the breezy walk via the Nuwara Eliya City and around the famous Gregory lake, relish in a local arrack cocktail prepared by you together with your chauffeur guide whilst being surrounded by lovely landscape of colonial buildings with blooming gardens. Note down the recipe and preparation of your own cocktail. Nuwara Eliya consists of a big Tamil community and hence, the day will be completed with a traditional Jaffna styled dinner, enhancing the company for the evening, a catholic father from a chapel would join you talking to you of the ancient British influence in Tea Plantation. Overnight stay at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

You will head to Horton plains for an exciting morning trek. Prior to this picturesque trek you will enjoy your packeted picnic breakfast. Horton plains is one of the windiest locations in Sri Lanka and has a mixed ecosystem of mountain evergreen forests, grasslands and marshy lands. Transfer to board on an epic train ride from Pattipola railway station to Ella railway station, don’t forget to take your own cakes, fruits or snacks with a drink to refresh after the hike on board. Pattipola railway station is a Legendary landmark due to its remarkable location. It is the highest railway station in Sri Lanka with an elevation of 1,897.5 m (6,225 ft) high above average sea level. The train journey weaving through the scenic hill country is one of the most beautiful explorations in Sri Lanka. From the edge of soaring mountains, you will oversee the branching valleys from the mist capped mountains, sloping lush green tea plantations, villages dotted with houses, thick forests and whooshing waterfalls. Check in to the Hotel and Relax. Dinner and Overnight stay at a hotel in Ella.

After breakfast you will take a walk to visit the Mini Adam’s peak hike to view the iconic ‘Ella Gap’. ‘Ella’ is a small up-country town with waterfalls, caves and geographically magnificent spots. You will be amazed at the fauna and flora on your way up to the peak, and it’s an incredible experience in the morning when the clouds roll in. As one of the top destinations in the country, you will soak in 360 degrees of unbelievable views! Thereon visit the famous Ravana falls It currently ranks as one of the widest falls in the country. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in high and cascade from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. Transfer to Yala, En Route stop for Near Weerawila Afternoon awaits you with an adrenaline-packed jeep safari in the Yala National Park- a sprawling forest with watering holes, and home to an abundance of wildlife including leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds and much more. Yala is home to one of the best leopard spotting places on the planet, with the highest population density of leopards in the world. If you want to see a leopard, there is no better place! So, do appreciate what you see and capture the sightings as much as you can! After a delicious BBQ dinner and bonfire, an exciting bush stroll awaits you in the night where you will witness birds, reptiles and other wildlife creatures resting on trees and in their respective habitats after an active day. This will be an unforgettable experience for you amidst the stillness of the night. You will then return to camp for an overnight stay. Enjoy your BBQ dinner at the safari camp. Overnight stay at a safari camp in Yala.

You will begin the day with an early morning visit to the Kataragama temple to witness the morning ‘Pooja’. The pooja is a colourful and enigmatic prayer done among chanting worshippers. The legendary worship place has mysterious legends about the Kataragama god and is an example of Sri Lanka’s racial unity and has mysterious legends about the god residing in Kataragama. After breakfast, you will visit the Udawalawe elephant transit home. Since inception in 1995, the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home has helped care for injured, sick and orphaned baby elephants from all over Sri Lanka. You will be able to observe a lively group of 20-30 young and teenage elephants who are fed four times a day. The resident animals are looked after until they are considered fit enough to be released back into the wild. After this visit, you will head for lunch at a restaurant. We are proud to announce the elephant population in Sri Lanka has gone up Froom 3000 Elephants in 2006 to 7500 Elephants in 2019. Next, you will check-in at the beach resort and refresh yourself for the rest of the day. The resort is blessed with a beautiful beach frontage offering you the perfect island getaway from the busy city life. It is the ideal place to unwind, relax, refresh and experience the heritage, culture, nature and the way of life in southern Sri Lanka. You can indulge in a spa treatment or take a dip in the azure pool if you wish. You will then enjoy a delicious spread of English dinner followed by an overnight stay in Ahangama. Overnight stay at Hotel in Ahangama.

Early morning 05.30 A.M transfer to engage in Whale Watching. Depending on the season (If November – April you will be transferred to Mirissa for whale watching at 5.30 AM with packeted picnic Breakfast). Mirissa is on the south coast of Sri Lanka and is a key whale and dolphin watching spot in the country with the most stunning sunrises and sunsets to be enjoyed. Sperm whales, Bryde’s whales, Blue Whale are some of the most common whales that you will encounter, and if you are really lucky, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the killer whales (also known as orcas). Among the species of dolphins, you may see the Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and Striped dolphins. These playful creatures would swim alongside your boat and jumping out of the water much to your delight! From the adventure in the sea you will get back to the shore at around 09.30A.M thereon you will be trasnfered to galle where you can take part in a city tour by bicycle to witness the charming colonial town on the Southern coast. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a 300-year-old fort, a maritime museum and a historic lighthouse that you can visit to learn more of Sri Lankan history. On your way back to the Hotel stop at Talpe Walawaa where you could refresh yourself in a well bath and enjoy a garden lunch sipping a tasty young coconut freshly picked from the own garden of Talpe walawwa. You will conclude the day with a “Rotti Night” dinner with a seafood BBQ by the beach, followed by an overnight stay by the beach. Overnight stay at Hotel in Ahangama.

Today is your last day on the paradise isle. Indulge in a lavish spread of Sri Lankan breakfast You will then transfer to Colombo to take part in a city tour from Fort and Pettah covering the commercial and residential areas of the city whilst sighting the key landmarks – Galle Face Green, old parliament, the lighthouse clock tower, Colombo harbour, Gangarama Temple, Independence Square and the Viharamahadevi Park. After lunch and a quick shopping tour to your heart’s content, you will proceed to the airport for departure. In Case the departure flight happens to be late in the night an appropriate Sri Lankan Dinner arrangement will be made with a Local Family. This brings you to the end of an exciting, fun-filled and memorable adventure in Sri Lanka! Thereafter proceed to the airport to the departure.