Discovering Ceylon

Travel

11 Nights/ 12 Days

Accommodation

11 Nights in Hotel

Meals

11 Breakfast

Transport

Air Conditioned Vehicle

Group Size

02 Person

Team

Expert Trip Manager

Places You'll See

Dambual Caves

Polonaruwa

Spice Garden

Kandyan Dance

Scenic Train

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Arrival Date

Departure Date

Introduction

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Sri Lanka, where ancient kingdoms, sacred Buddhist traditions, misty tea-covered highlands, vibrant village life, and abundant wildlife come together in a captivating island experience. Begin in Colombo, exploring its colonial heritage, historic landmarks, colourful temples, bustling streets, and local life on an exciting Tuk-Tuk adventure. Continue to Dambulla, discovering the magnificent Cave Temples, before exploring the ancient wonders of Sigiriya’s iconic Lion Rock and the historic ruins of Polonnaruwa, offering a fascinating glimpse into Sri Lanka’s royal past. Experience authentic rural life in Hirawaduna with a traditional village visit, local cuisine, bullock-cart ride, scenic catamaran journey, and encounters with local traditions. Journey onward to Kandy, the cultural heart of Sri Lanka, visiting the revered Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and experiencing the city’s royal heritage, picturesque lake, traditional arts, music, and dance. Travel through the scenic central highlands by train to Nuwara Eliya, the charming “Little England” of Sri Lanka, surrounded by lush tea plantations, misty mountains, waterfalls, and colonial architecture. Discover the art of tea making before venturing into the spectacular landscapes of Horton Plains and World’s End. Continue to Yala National Park for an exciting jeep safari through a wilderness rich in elephants, leopards, sloth bears, deer, crocodiles, and colourful birdlife. Conclude in Galle, exploring its magnificent UNESCO-listed Dutch Fort, colonial architecture, ancient ramparts, and charming coastal surroundings. This curated journey promises a perfect blend of history, culture, spirituality, nature, wildlife, and scenic beauty, showcasing the diverse heritage and timeless charm of Sri Lanka.

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE COLOMBO

Arrive at Colombo International Airport, where a ZENITH WORLD TOUR Executive will page you by your name. Thereafter, you will be assisted with a transfer to the hotel in Colombo. Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka, known for its vibrant mix of modern urban life, colonial heritage, cultural attractions, shopping, restaurants, pubs and nightlife. The city also offers a variety of sightseeing experiences, including historical landmarks, religious sites and scenic coastal areas. Arrive and check in at the hotel. Overnight in Colombo

Day 2 COLOMBO CITY TOUR ON TUK TUK

Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka is one of the busiest cities and a great city to explore on Tuk-Tuks. No seat belts, no steep charges, no regrets. Hop on the eccentric three-wheeled taxis and get the rawest experience of the life, history, beauty and heritage of chaotic Colombo. Sit back as this mini-sized taxis maneuver through tangled Colombo streets to its biggest attractions, friendliest shops and the best kept secrets guided by our English speaking, friendly driver. Some locations visited in the Tuk-Tuk ride: • The creepy antiquity of the Old Town Hall Museum • Post-gothic beauty of Wolvendaal Church • Colorful Hindu faith of the Sri Kailasanthar Swami Devasth anam Temple • The Jail cell of the last king of Sri Lanka • The queer Coin Museum of Sri Lanka • Colombo Fort Clock Tower that tells the time- sometimes. • The Galle Face Lighthouse-home of the best Colombo selfies. After the adventurous Tuk-Tuk ride in Colombo, the chauffeur will drop you back to your hotel. Overnight in Colombo

Day 3 COLOMBO – DAMBULLA CAVES – DAMBULLA(APPROX 131 KMS/4 HRS DRIVE)

After breakfast, check out and proceed to Dambulla– the centre for the cultural & Historical sights of Sri Lanka. Enroute stop for the sightseeing of the famous cave temples of Dambulla. Dambulla cave temple is located on a vast isolated rock mass 500 feet high and a mile around the base. Here is found the famous Rock Temple dating to the First Century B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 47ft long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the walls and the ceiling are the oldest here but they are over painted in the Kandy period. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of the Buddha in various postures with few statues of Gods and Kings. The ceiling is also covered with frescoes, which depict great events in the life of the Buddha and landmarks in the history of the Sinhalese people. Overnight in Dambula

Day 4 DAMBULLA – SIGIRIYA – POLNNARUWA – DAMBULLA

After breakfast proceed for an excursion to Sigiriya for sightseeing. Sigiriya is a “UNESCO World Heritage Site” ,the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, Summerhouses, Boulder Gardens and the Caves within the enclosed area should not be missed. Spent some time at the top, admiring the beauty of this Island nation with breathtaking view of beautiful green carpet of trees surrounding you, interspersed only with the Shining water of its lakes around. Later in the afternoon visit Polonnaruwa. It is another “World Heritage Site”, which was the Capital of Sri Lanka from 11th - 13th Centuries and contains some splendid and spectacular statues. Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best example of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. Rankoth Vehera and Kirivehera are well preserved large stupas, and Gal Vihare - a rock shrine, has four Buddha statues, two seated, one standing and one reclining and Parakrama Bahu statue are examples of Sinhalese stone carver. The Vata-da-ge is a unique creation of the Sri Lankan artists. Overnight in Dambula

Day 5 DAMBULLA – HIRAWADUNA VILLAGE –MATALE – KANDY (APPROX 80 KMS/2HRS DRIVE)

After breakfast Check out of the hotel and drive to Kandy. Your first stop during the travel will be at Hirawaduna village for one of the unique experiences. Hirawaduna is a small village near Habarana, where the inhabitants still survive on agriculture. The experience will give you a chance of having first hand experience of the life of countrymen of Sri Lanka. Start the experience with the visit to house of a farmer for lunch, you will be treated to delicious local cuisine served on lotus leaves by a village family. Later you will be taken to the entrance of the village, where a bullock cart awaits you to take you through the village of Hiriwadunna, to a plantation, where you will get to visit the house of local villager and introduced to their way of living. A hot cup of herbal drink with jaggery served in coconut shells welcomes you to the house made of mud and thatched leaves. You can climb up the tree house , used for sleeping in the night and survey the surroundings of the village. Later enjoy the catamaran ride through the scenic reservoir sprinkled with beautiful lotus flowers. Continue your journey to Kandy , Enroute visit a Spice Garden in Matale. You can see many spice gardens at Matale and in Mawanella on the Colombo-Kandy road where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them food preparations. Upon arrival in Kandy check in at hotel. Overnight in Kandy

Day 6 KANDY

KANDY After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, proceed to the exploration of culturally one of the most important cities for the Sinhala Buddhists. To the Buddhist of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Close by are the remains of the Royal Palace (Maha Wasala), Palle Wasala- where the Queens stayed-now used for the National Museum, Meda Wasala where other close relatives lived, Audience Hall, Natha Devala and Vishnu Devala are situated. The Bathing Pavilion (Ulpenge) is by the Lake and in the Center of the lake is the Island called “Kiri samudraya” (Milk white ocean) used by the kings as the summerhouse. Today it is the center of Buddhism, Arts, Crafts, Dancing, Music and Culture. Visitors can see these Dance & Music at the daily Cultural Performances held at several places in the city. Visit Temple of the Tooth Relic – which proudly possess one of the tooth relics of Buddha brought by Buddhist monks from India, after Lord Buddha’s death. Enjoy a drive by Upper Lake. Optional: Cultural Dance Performance at Local Theatre Kandy is the city of culture, with numerous theatres organizing daily performance of cultural dance. Kandyan Dance is a dance that originated from Kandy Region and spread to rest of the area. Kandyan dance is traditionally performed to percussion only. The dances elaborately dress themselves, with the most important being the headdress. Only the male dancers are allowed to wear the headgear, that too after a elaborate special ceremony. The star attraction to most of the cultural dance performance is the fire show or fire dance. Overnight in Kandy

Day 7 KANDY – TEA PLANTATON – NUWARA ELIYA ( TRAIN + DRIVE)

After breakfast transfer to Kandy Railway station for scenic train journey ride till Nanu Oya. Arrive Nanu Oya, met by the chauffeur and travel to Nuwara Eliya enroute visit the Tea Factory and tea Plantation. Learn the process of making tea from plucking of tender leaves to its processing , grading and final packaging. Get a chance to taste one of the freshly brewed tea’s. Arrive Nuwara Eliya - The ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions.The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for Birding as you get some rare birds in this Park. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (march to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity. Check in at the hotel. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya

Day 8 NUWARA ELIYA - HORTON PLAINS – NUWARA ELIYA

Early morning proceed for the excursion to Horton Plains, located on the southern plateau of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The peaks of Kirigalpotta (2,389 metres (7,838 ft)) and Thotapolakanda (2,357 metres (7,733 ft)), the second and the third highest of Sri Lanka, are situated to the west and north respectively. The park's elevation ranges from 2,100–2,300 metres (6,900–7,500 ft). The ro cks found in the park belong to the Archaean age and belong to the high series of the Precambrian era and are made up of Khodolites, charnokites, and granitic gneisses, The soiltype is of the red-yellow podsolic group and the surface layer is covered with decayed organic matter. Enjoy the trek to the world’s end and witness nature at its best. Overnight in Nuwara Eliya

Day 9 NUWARA ELIYA – YALA (APPROX. 186 KMS / APPROX. 4.5HRS DRIVE)

After breakfast check out hotel and drive to Yala National Park . Yala or Ruhunu National Park covers 126,786 hectaresIncluding the Strict Natural Reserve (Block II). The most familiar is Block I (14,101 hectares) and this block was established in 1938.Yala is famous for its big herds and large number of Elephants, Leopards, Spotted Deer, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Mongoose, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, and many other animals.More than 130 bird species are recorded which includes the resident and winter visitors.There are 7 Bungalows inside the Park with few Camp Sites. Arrive Yala and check in at the hotel. Stay overnight at the hotel in Yala. Overnight in Yala

Day 10 YALA – GALLE (APPROX. 182 KMS / APPROX. 4.5 HRS DRIVE)

Early morning, take your packed breakfast and proceed for the Jeep Safari of the Yala National park, one of the best places to see elusive Leopard and sloth bear in Sri Lanka. As your jeep wades through the dense foliage of trees and shrubs, often interspersed with small lakes and water bodies, you will come across the plethora of beautiful birds and animals cros sing your path including peacocks, Jungle fowl ( the national bird of Sri Lanka), Serpent crested eagles, Green bee eater, wild buffaloes, spotted deers, Jackals and elephants. A sighting of the leopard will make your day while you need to be lucky to catch the glimpse of ever elusive Sloth bear. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later in the morning drive to Galle. Galle Fortress - The South Coast’s major city is Galle, whose oldest landmark is the massive Portuguese and Dutch Fort which is a “World Heritage Site” in which the central city is contained. But the city may be much older. Some scholars believe it to be the “Tarshish” of the Old Testament, to which King Solomon sent his merchant vessels, and to which Jonah fled from the Lord. Today, the 90-acre Galle Fort shows no evidence of the Portuguese founders. The Dutch incorporated the Portuguese northern wall in a great rampart in 1663. A second, taller wall was built inside of it. Between the two walls, a covered passage connected the central bastion with the Fort’s two half bastion’s overlooking the sea. The Dutch also installed a sophisticated drainage system, complete with brick-lined underground sewers that were flushed twice a day by the high and low tides. The original gate to the fort was by the harbour. It is still there, marked by the British Coat-of-arms on the front and the Dutch V.O.C. (Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie) with the Coat-of-arms with a rooster crest, is on the inner side of the Fort. Arrive Galle and check in at the hotel. Overnight in Galle

Day 11 GALLE ( NO TRANSPORT/ NO GUIDE)

The day is to relax and explore the historic Galle Fort and surroundings

Day 12 GALLE – COLOMBO AIRPORT (APPROX 150 KMS/ APPROX 4 HRS DRIVE)

After breakfast, day at leisure. Later in the evening, check out at 1800 hrs and transfer in time to the Colombo airport for onwards flight. We thank you for travelling with Caper Travel and letting us be part of your journey. See you again soon!

What's Included & Excluded

✔ Included

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Accommodation with private facilities (Standard Check-in/out time 1200 hrs at Deluxe Hotels )
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Travel by private Air-conditioned Car with driver as per the Program
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Meals as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner).
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Entrance fees to the following sights in Srilanka ( One visit per person only)
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Visit to Hirawavaduna Village
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Visit Spice garden in Matale
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Kandy Temple of the Tooth Relic,
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Scenic Train Ride to Nanu Oya
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Tea Plantation visit
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Galle city tour
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01 Jeep hire charges at Yala National Park
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Colombo city tour by TUK TUK
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Services of English speaking chauffeur cum guide throughout the tour as per the itinerary.
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All excursions and sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary.
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All assistance and transfers.
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All current taxes.

✖ Excluded

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Meals as per the programs
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Any domestic international or domestic airfare.
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Expenses of Personal nature like phone calls, laundry etc.
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Tips and Gratuity for guide and driver
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Anything which is not included in the tour cost.

Cost & Validity

TOUR COST:

Cost Validity: For travel between 01^st’Oct’26 – 31^st Mar’27

(Except Travel between 22^nd Dec’26 – 05^th Jan’2027)

PER PERSON COST IN US($)	*05 HOTELS**	*04 HOTELS**	*03 HOTELS**
01 PAX Traveling SOLO	US$000 Per Person	US$000 Per Person	US$000 Per Person
02 PAX Traveling Together	US$000 Per Person	US$000 Per Person	US$000 Per Person

HOTELS PROPOSED OR SIMILAR

CITY	*05 HOTELS**	*04 HOTELS**	*03 HOTELS**
Colombo	Cinnamon Grand Colombo	Radisson Hotel Colombo	The Ocean Front
Dambulla	Heritance Kandalama	Amaya Lake	Pelwehera Village Resort
Kandy	Grand Kandyan	Radisson Hotel Kandy	Earls Regent Kandy
Nuwara Eliya	Araliya Green City	Araliya Green Hills	Oak Ray Summer Hills
Yala	Jetwing Yala	Chaarya Resort & Spa	Tissa Wild Heaven
Galle	Radisson Blu Resort Galle	The Heritage Hotel Galle	Fort Dew Guest House

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