Day 1 Flight USA – Singapore
Day 2 In transit
Day 3 Singapore – Colombo (evening flight)
Day 4 Colombo
Travelers will arrive in Singapore in the morning and will have the choice to catch up on sleep at a day hotel near the airport, or you can take a shuttle bus into the city to explore. With a million inhabitants, the city Colombo, by far the largest in Sri Lanka, has a modern and old section worth exploring. The neighborhood, Fort, still contains some remains of the city wall but is now the business center of the capital and has a variety of modern buildings. The neighborhood, Pettah, bordering Fort, is a cozy and eclectic area. Here you find little markets and the old buildings of the city. You will also find the Dutch museum that was formerly City Hall. Our comfortable hotel is located near the Boulevard of Colombo. Around sunset, many inhabitants of the city drift with the wind. Throughout the entire city you find temples, churches and Buddhist statues.
Day 5 Colombo - Anuradhapura
Day 6 Anuradhapura – Mihintale
Driving through the beautiful inlands among the coconuts and palm trees we arrive in Anuradhapura with 30,000 inhabitants. From the 5th Century B.C., most of the island was governed from this city for over one thousand years. The best way to explore the old city is by bike. At the center of the old city is the holy Bo Tree. This tree was grown from a cutting from the original Bo Tree in Bodhaya in India. It is said that Buddha attained enlightenment while sitting under this tree. The recognizable landmarks are the dagobas, the Buddhist solid temples with impressive names such as, Ruwanweliseya and Abhayagiri. You can enjoy beautiful impressions in the tropical gardens of our beautiful colonial hotel that is located on the blessed grounds among the ruins of the ancient city. The next day we make a day trip to Mihintale, a holy place where Mahinda, the son of the legendary Indian emperor, Ashoka, preached Buddhism to the king of Anuradhapura.
Day 7 Anuradhapura – Polonnaruwa
Day 8 Polonnaruwa
From Anuradhapura we drive via the reservoir, Kalawewa Lake, near Aukana where we find the largest standing Buddha statue of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa assumed the status of capital from Anuradhapura in the 10th Century. This city is located on one of the largest man-made lakes in Sri Lanka. These shallow-water reservoirs date back to the 12th Century. They were originally created to collect the monsoon rains for irrigation purposes. On the most famous spot of Polonnaruwa, Gal Vihara, you will find four enormous Buddha statues, one reclining, two sitting and one standing. As in Anuradhapura, a bicycle is a great way to get around.
Day 9 Polonnaruwa – Sigirya – Dambulla - Kandy
Day 10 Kandy – Pinnawela
Day 11 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
On the way to Kandy we first make a stop in Sigirya where an enormous rock rises straight out of the landscape. This was the place of the hidden kingdom of King Kassapa where you will find a few ruins, the world famous frescoes, and the mirror wall. Next we make a stop to the rock temple of Dambulla. It is not allowed to take photographs here ever since a tourist had someone take a picture of him in his shorts sitting in the lap of one of the Buddhist statues. During a visit to the spice gardens you will get an idea of the process of planting and harvesting a large variety of spices. Kandy, the second largest city of Sri Lanka, is located by a large lake at an altitude of 1,500 feet. This is one of the reasons why, even in the summer, the temperature is always pleasant. In Kandy you can go on many beautiful walks. At sunset, a ceremony takes place at the Temple of the Tooth, where the tooth of Buddha is the focal point. At nighttime, you can witness spectacular dance performances.
The bus trip to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage is included in the cost of the trip. Here, baby elephants who were deprived of a normal youth, are raised with love and care. The large botanical garden of Kandy contains some very rare plants and flower species. Here you find a tree where the crown of the tree spans over 120 feet. During your stay in Kandy, you can also pay a visit to a little village of the Weda culture, descendents of the first inhabitants of the island. Here you enjoy their traditional, simple way of life. By train and bus, we travel to Nuwara Eliya
Day 11 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
Day 12 Nuwara Eliya – World’s End
Day 13 Nuwara Eliya - Thanamalwila
A large part of the route from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is covered by train. Slowly the train ascends through the enormous tea fields of Nanuoya, a station a few miles before Nuwara Eliya. Upon arrival, it is clear why Nuwara Eliya is called “Little England”; the building creates a typical English atmosphere. The red-painted post office is the best example. It is located over 6,000 feet, which is noticeable. On summer nights it is cool. Also we will make a visit to a tea plantation. During some seasons it is possible to climb Adam’s Peak. High up in the mountain, with some imagination you will recognize a footprint that, according to who is telling the story, is said to belong to Buddha, St. Thomas or Shiva. A good alternative is a walk over Horton Plains near World’s End. First you will walk for a while through a variety of holly, then through a forest, continuing to a ravine with a vertical drop of 2,100 ft. From here you have an amazing view over the lowlands of Sri Lanka. We drive through the central mountain range down to the Thanamalwila jungle camp.
Day 13 Nuwara Eliya - Thanamalwila
Thanamalwiila jungle camp is a unique spot in the midst of the forest where we will spend the night in tents. Beds are set up already with sheets and blankets. Also every tent has its own shower and toilet, totally adapted to the surroundings. The shower water streams out of a tree branch. The surrounding forest is inhabited by all sorts of exotic birds and groups of monkeys curiously watch the camp to see what is happening. During an optional excursion to the nearby wildlife parks, you will also see wild game. Nearby the camp you find a park where large herds of wild elephants live. And in the bundala national park, you can go on a jeep safari where you also have a chance to see leopards, buffalos, antelopes, crocodiles and a many other animals. We travel by bus to Ahangama beach.
Day 14 Thanamalwila – Ahangama
Day 15 Ahangama
Day 16 Ahangama – Colombo
On the southern coast we stay in the little village, Ahangama. The beach of the nearby little town Unawatuna, fulfills all of the trademarks of a tropical palm beach and is biking distance from the hotel. You have a choice to relax on the beach or you can go for an optional excursion to Galle. This enormous fort, built in 1663, has nearly maintained its original condition, at the entry of the bay of Galle. Within the thick walls, the atmosphere seems to have remained unchanged in 300 years. This enormous structure, almost like a village, is a clear indication of the might of the East Indies Company. Dutch street names are prevalent. This bastion reminds us of the time there was a lively trade of spices between Ceylon and the Netherlands. Along the beautiful palm coast we drive back to Colombo where you can do some final exploring.
Day 17 Colombo – Singapore – USA (West Coast participants arrive in US)
Day 18 Arrival USA (East Coast participants arrive in US)
The entire group will depart together. Those bound for the west will have a layover of a few hours, departing Singapore late in the morning. Those headed for the East Coast can take this opportunity to go into Singapore as their flight leaves late in the evening.
Day 2 In transit
Day 3 Singapore – Colombo (evening flight)
Day 4 Colombo
Travelers will arrive in Singapore in the morning and will have the choice to catch up on sleep at a day hotel near the airport, or you can take a shuttle bus into the city to explore. With a million inhabitants, the city Colombo, by far the largest in Sri Lanka, has a modern and old section worth exploring. The neighborhood, Fort, still contains some remains of the city wall but is now the business center of the capital and has a variety of modern buildings. The neighborhood, Pettah, bordering Fort, is a cozy and eclectic area. Here you find little markets and the old buildings of the city. You will also find the Dutch museum that was formerly City Hall. Our comfortable hotel is located near the Boulevard of Colombo. Around sunset, many inhabitants of the city drift with the wind. Throughout the entire city you find temples, churches and Buddhist statues.
Day 5 Colombo - Anuradhapura
Day 6 Anuradhapura – Mihintale
Driving through the beautiful inlands among the coconuts and palm trees we arrive in Anuradhapura with 30,000 inhabitants. From the 5th Century B.C., most of the island was governed from this city for over one thousand years. The best way to explore the old city is by bike. At the center of the old city is the holy Bo Tree. This tree was grown from a cutting from the original Bo Tree in Bodhaya in India. It is said that Buddha attained enlightenment while sitting under this tree. The recognizable landmarks are the dagobas, the Buddhist solid temples with impressive names such as, Ruwanweliseya and Abhayagiri. You can enjoy beautiful impressions in the tropical gardens of our beautiful colonial hotel that is located on the blessed grounds among the ruins of the ancient city. The next day we make a day trip to Mihintale, a holy place where Mahinda, the son of the legendary Indian emperor, Ashoka, preached Buddhism to the king of Anuradhapura.
Day 7 Anuradhapura – Polonnaruwa
Day 8 Polonnaruwa
From Anuradhapura we drive via the reservoir, Kalawewa Lake, near Aukana where we find the largest standing Buddha statue of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa assumed the status of capital from Anuradhapura in the 10th Century. This city is located on one of the largest man-made lakes in Sri Lanka. These shallow-water reservoirs date back to the 12th Century. They were originally created to collect the monsoon rains for irrigation purposes. On the most famous spot of Polonnaruwa, Gal Vihara, you will find four enormous Buddha statues, one reclining, two sitting and one standing. As in Anuradhapura, a bicycle is a great way to get around.
Day 9 Polonnaruwa – Sigirya – Dambulla - Kandy
Day 10 Kandy – Pinnawela
Day 11 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
On the way to Kandy we first make a stop in Sigirya where an enormous rock rises straight out of the landscape. This was the place of the hidden kingdom of King Kassapa where you will find a few ruins, the world famous frescoes, and the mirror wall. Next we make a stop to the rock temple of Dambulla. It is not allowed to take photographs here ever since a tourist had someone take a picture of him in his shorts sitting in the lap of one of the Buddhist statues. During a visit to the spice gardens you will get an idea of the process of planting and harvesting a large variety of spices. Kandy, the second largest city of Sri Lanka, is located by a large lake at an altitude of 1,500 feet. This is one of the reasons why, even in the summer, the temperature is always pleasant. In Kandy you can go on many beautiful walks. At sunset, a ceremony takes place at the Temple of the Tooth, where the tooth of Buddha is the focal point. At nighttime, you can witness spectacular dance performances.
The bus trip to the Pinnawela elephant orphanage is included in the cost of the trip. Here, baby elephants who were deprived of a normal youth, are raised with love and care. The large botanical garden of Kandy contains some very rare plants and flower species. Here you find a tree where the crown of the tree spans over 120 feet. During your stay in Kandy, you can also pay a visit to a little village of the Weda culture, descendents of the first inhabitants of the island. Here you enjoy their traditional, simple way of life. By train and bus, we travel to Nuwara Eliya
Day 11 Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
Day 12 Nuwara Eliya – World’s End
Day 13 Nuwara Eliya - Thanamalwila
A large part of the route from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya is covered by train. Slowly the train ascends through the enormous tea fields of Nanuoya, a station a few miles before Nuwara Eliya. Upon arrival, it is clear why Nuwara Eliya is called “Little England”; the building creates a typical English atmosphere. The red-painted post office is the best example. It is located over 6,000 feet, which is noticeable. On summer nights it is cool. Also we will make a visit to a tea plantation. During some seasons it is possible to climb Adam’s Peak. High up in the mountain, with some imagination you will recognize a footprint that, according to who is telling the story, is said to belong to Buddha, St. Thomas or Shiva. A good alternative is a walk over Horton Plains near World’s End. First you will walk for a while through a variety of holly, then through a forest, continuing to a ravine with a vertical drop of 2,100 ft. From here you have an amazing view over the lowlands of Sri Lanka. We drive through the central mountain range down to the Thanamalwila jungle camp.
Day 13 Nuwara Eliya - Thanamalwila
Thanamalwiila jungle camp is a unique spot in the midst of the forest where we will spend the night in tents. Beds are set up already with sheets and blankets. Also every tent has its own shower and toilet, totally adapted to the surroundings. The shower water streams out of a tree branch. The surrounding forest is inhabited by all sorts of exotic birds and groups of monkeys curiously watch the camp to see what is happening. During an optional excursion to the nearby wildlife parks, you will also see wild game. Nearby the camp you find a park where large herds of wild elephants live. And in the bundala national park, you can go on a jeep safari where you also have a chance to see leopards, buffalos, antelopes, crocodiles and a many other animals. We travel by bus to Ahangama beach.
Day 14 Thanamalwila – Ahangama
Day 15 Ahangama
Day 16 Ahangama – Colombo
On the southern coast we stay in the little village, Ahangama. The beach of the nearby little town Unawatuna, fulfills all of the trademarks of a tropical palm beach and is biking distance from the hotel. You have a choice to relax on the beach or you can go for an optional excursion to Galle. This enormous fort, built in 1663, has nearly maintained its original condition, at the entry of the bay of Galle. Within the thick walls, the atmosphere seems to have remained unchanged in 300 years. This enormous structure, almost like a village, is a clear indication of the might of the East Indies Company. Dutch street names are prevalent. This bastion reminds us of the time there was a lively trade of spices between Ceylon and the Netherlands. Along the beautiful palm coast we drive back to Colombo where you can do some final exploring.
Day 17 Colombo – Singapore – USA (West Coast participants arrive in US)
Day 18 Arrival USA (East Coast participants arrive in US)
The entire group will depart together. Those bound for the west will have a layover of a few hours, departing Singapore late in the morning. Those headed for the East Coast can take this opportunity to go into Singapore as their flight leaves late in the evening.
