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Tours
By Region |
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 SRI
LANKA - JEWEL OF THE INDIAN OCEAN
A cultural tour of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was known for many years, is an ancient land with a recorded history that began around 4th century BC when people settled in Anuradhapura. History, however, is just one small part of what this country has to offer. Breathtaking landscapes, a calm yet dynamic culture, and warm hospitality, influenced by Buddhism, is a large part of what one will experience on this island off the coast of India. Explore Buddhist and Hindu temples, lush green tea estates, sandy beaches and rich culture on this enchanting island.
|
Tour
Summary
|
Map
|
Day
|
Place
|
|
01
|
Colombo |
|
02
|
Colombo
/ Kandalama |
| 03 |
Kandalama
/ Sigiriya / Kandy |
|
04
|
Kandy
/ Nuwara Eliya |
|
05
|
Nuwara
Eliya / Mount Lavina |
|
06
|
Mount
Lavina / Colombo |
|
07
|
Colombo |
|
 |
Day 01: Arrive Colombo
Enna vishayam! (Welcome in Tamil) Upon arrival in one of the world's oldest countries we are welcomed in traditional Sri Lankan style and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Ceylon Continental, Colombo (1 night)
Day 02: Colombo / Kandalama (Drive 285 kms / 177miles)
After an early breakfast we head off for the Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawala for the (0900 hrs) feeding of the elephants and bathing in the river. After this unique experience we visit Dambulla, to explore the rock cave temple, which is comprised of a series of 5 caverns with ceilings of natural rock covered with intricate paintings. The natural folds of the rock have been skillfully used to given the illusion of a cloth. Forty eight statues of the Buddha and images of the various deities can be seen inside the cave. Thereafter we proceed to the 11th Century A.D capital city of Polonnaruwa where the South Indian influence on the architecture is still noticeable. The Gal Vihare is where four colossal statues of the Buddha carved out of the living rock stand testimony to the skill of master craftsmen. We also visit the Tivanka Pilgrimage with its priceless murals and the vast man made lake that is the Sea of Parakrama - a feat of ancient engineering. Evening we proceed to Kandalama
Overnight: Deer Park Hotel, Kandalama (1 night) (B, D)
 Day 03: Kandalama / Sigiriya / Kandy (Drive 155 kms / 96 miles)
The day starts with a visit to the World Heritage site at Sigiriya where we climb the 5th century A.D. Rock Fortress. The vision of a patricidal king named Kasyapa transformed an awesome monolith into a cloud swept city. The mirror wall that protects a series of exquisite murals (frescoes of celestial maidens using natural pigments) and the Lion's Paw entrance to the ruined palace on the summit are well worth the effort of the ascent. We proceed to Kandy visiting en route the Spice Gardens at Matale. Kandy was the seat of the Kandyan Kings from the 14th century A.D. and is a repository of Sinhala culture. Evening is an interesting cultural experience as we enjoy a Kandyan Cultural Dance complete with fire eating and fire walking.
The day culminates with a visit of the Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Tooth in time for the pooja (sacred offering).
Overnight: Hotel Suisse, Kandy (1 night) (B, D)
Day 04: Kandy / Nuwara Eliya (Drive 120 kms / 74 miles)
Our morning tour of Kandy takes us around the beautiful lake and the upper lake drive. We visit the Arts and Crafts center where we can buy Kandyan silver and brassware, metal work, lacquer work, wood and bone carvings, pottery and hand woven fabrics. Next we visit the Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, formerly the pleasure gardens of the Sinhala Queens. The gardens contain over 4000 species of plants. The avenue of the Royal Palms, the bamboo fringed Riverside drive, the Bat drive with a vast collection of flying foxes who spend the daylight hours hanging upside down, are some of the special features of this lovely garden. There is also an Orchid house, a Spice garden, a Herb garden and Glass house of Begonias, African Violets and other greenhouse plants. We then proceed to Nuwara Eliya in the heart of the tea country, which was established by the British as a replica of a little English village reminiscent of the Lake District. Even today Tudor and Victorian style houses with trim English gardens speak of a gentler age. An 18 holes golf course and the picturesque lake are a year round attraction. Tour this unusual little city and en route visit a tea factory where you can see the intricacies that go into the manufacture of the world's best loved brew.
Overnight: Hill Club Hotel, Nuwara Eliya (1 night) (B, D)
 Day 05: Nuwara Eliya / Mount Lavina (Drive 185 kms / 115 miles)
An interesting day ahead as we head off for Ratnapura, the City of Gems, famous for blue, yellow and star sapphires, cats eyes, rubies, alexandrite and a multitude of semi precious stones in every hue of the rainbow. Gems are found very close to the surface and a visit to a gem "pit" is on every visitor's itinerary. We then proceed to Mount Lavinia. Evening is at leisure or laze by the pool or walk along the beach
Overnight: Mount Lavinia Hotel, Mount Lavina (1 night) (B, D)
Day 06: Mount Lavina / Colombo (Drive 40 kms / 25 miles)
A scenic drive through the city brings us to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree lined residential Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Sea Street - the Goldsmith's quarter in Pettah, the bazaar area, a Hindu Temple, the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1794, the historical Davatagaha Mosque, the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara (Buddhist Temple) believed to be the site visited by Lord Buddha 2500 years ago.
Overnight: Hotel Ceylon Continental, Colombo (1 night) (B, D)
Day 07: Depart Colombo
VarOnga naan (goodbye in Tamil). After an interesting journey to the gem of the Indian Ocean, we are transferred to the airport for your departure flight. (B)
Departure
Dates |
| 2010
English Speaking Departures
Daily
|
Inclusions |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include |
- Accommodation
as mentioned or similar, including hotel
taxes
- Meals
as mentioned (B=Breakfast
D=Dinner)
- All
sightseeing and transfers
- Services
of a local English speaking driver/guide
- Entrance
fees to museums and sites included in
the itinerary
- Cultural
Dance Show ticket in Kandy
|
- Any
airfares
- Departure/airport
taxes
- Insurance/Visas
- Tips/Beverages
|
|
Tour
Price |
|
| We
accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA
$ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for
clients outside North America).
Bestway
Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection.
Once full payment has been received, and no modification
has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour
that rate.
For
complete payment procedures, please download  Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf
Note: to read this file you must have Adobe
Acrobat. |
| Departure |
Double
Occupancy |
Single
Room Supplement |
|
2010 |
US
$ 1335 |
US
$ 305 |
Peak
season surcharges for traveling during the
months of Feb., Jul. & Dec. will be
advised at time of booking. |
|
Estimated
International Airfare - International
airfare is NOT included in this tour |
| Canada
- West Coast |
N/A |
USA
- West Coast |
US
$ 1600 |
| Canada
- East Coast |
N/A |
USA
- East Coast |
US
$ 1400 |
|
Participants |
| This
tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.
|
Notes
|
Customised
Itinerary
If you would like to have a tour on dates other
than the above ones or with a customised itinerary,
please contact us and we will be happy to work out
an exclusive program for you.
Foreign Language Departures
Please contact us for information on French,
German,
Italian and Spanish
speaking departures.
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com
or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of
U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844. |
|
|
|
| © Copyright 1999-2010 Bestway
Tours & Safaris |
Site last updated May 27,
2010 |
| Photographs by Peter
Langer & Mahmood
Poonja |
Website © 1999-2010 Powered
by BTS |
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