Day 1
Arrive in Sri Lanka and be welcomed by a Signature Breaks representative. Proceed towards cultural triangle.
Dinner and overnight stay in Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle.
Day 2
Enjoy a lovely breakfast at the hotel.
Next drive to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a 90-minute drive. Visit the well preserved remains of the city which has been the capital in Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th Century. Marvel at the excavations: Temples, Dagobas, the royal palace, the royal library.
Drive back towards the cultural triangle and stop at the Dambulla cave complex. Dambulla’s famed Royal Rock Temple is an iconic Sri Lankan image – you’ll be familiar with its spectacular Buddha-filled interior long before you arrive in town. Despite its slightly commercial air this remains an important holy place and should not be missed.
In the evening visit Sigiriya which is one of the most valuable historical monuments of Sri Lanka. This ancient palace and fortress complex has significant archaeological importance and attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is probably the most visited tourist destination of Sri Lanka.
Dinner and overnight stay in Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle.
Day 3
In the morning enjoy a lovely breakfast and drive towards Kandy (2.5 hours).
Kandy is a city built in a small wooded valley deep in the hills around an artificial lake. In the afternoon visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha.
Before dinner, take in the famous Kandy dance in the evening.
Dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 4
After a nice breakfast, check out of the hotel and visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, where you can view the feeding of elephants, which takes place daily. The highlight of this event is to observe feeding of baby elephants using Milk bottles. After feeding of the elephants they will be taken by foot to nearby river for their daily bath.
Drive towards Nuwara Eliya for your next stop. Begin your journey to the central highlands with its tea-covered hills, gushing waterfalls, and uplifting scenery to Nuwara Eliya. En-route you will visit tea plantations, tea factories, Ramboda waterfall and Sri Bhakta hanuman temple.
Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple In the hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sita, the Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka built the Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple which is visited by thousands of devotees every year.
The Sita Amman Temple can be seen en route to the Hakgala Botanical Gardens. The prominent temple architecture will not fail to attract your attention. Ancient statues of Rama and Sita can be seen on one side of the temple. The temple today is a modern building with its paintings, statues and pillars decorated with sculptures; all depicting the tale of Rama and Sita.
Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.
After a lovely breakfast, check out and board your train to Ella. Enjoy the scenic train journey that takes you through tea-estates and beautiful locales.
Ella is a small mountain village near Bandarawela and boasts three locations linked to the Ramayana where local legend claims Ravana was hiding Sita. First there is the Ravana Ella Cave, located at the massive Ella Falls; a breathtaking 1080 feet high waterfall that cascades into several falls. The rocky undergoes of the waterfall is Khondalite, a kind of limestone which undergoes faster decay as hard gneiss or granite. This has resulted in many caves being formed near the falls. King Ravana is said to have lived in one of the caves above the waterfall. A nearby pool bored out of the rock by the gushing waters is where Sita is said to have bathed Ravana.
Your drive will receive you at Ella. If you have time visit Ravana Ella Cave and Ravana Ella Waterfalls.
Drive back towards the airport.
Fly back with wonderful memories of your trip with Signature Breaks to Sri Lanka.
Day 5
Sri Lanka boasts a fascinatingly idiosyncratic culinary heritage, the result of a unique fusion of local produce with recipes and spices brought to the island over the centuries by Indians, Arabs, Malays, Portuguese, Dutch and English.
The staple dish is rice and curry, at its finest a miniature banquet whose contrasting flavours – coconut milk, chillies, curry leaves, cinnamon, garlic and “Maldive fish” (an intensely flavoured pinch of sun-dried tuna) – bear witness to Sri Lanka’s status as one of the original spice islands. There are plenty of other unique specialities to explore and enjoy – hoppers, string hoppers, kottu rotty, lamprais and pittu – as well as plentiful seafood.
Since you are visiting Sri Lanka in March, please pack for sun. Long-sleeve shirts / blouses might be advisable after dusk because of mosquitoes. Daytime coastal temperatures generally range from 27-32C, and will be slightly cooler in the hill country, especially Kandy, where a light sweater is frequently required at night. Topless sunbathing is officially illegal. The use of bikinis is acceptable while on the beach and the pool. When swimming inland, in rivers or lakes, ask for local advice regarding swimwear, as covering with a sarong sometimes may be necessary. Away from the beach, be aware that dress standards are comparatively conservative and it is respectful to wear loose, long and lightweight clothing. Shorts can preferably be knee-length. Be especially careful about modest dress when visiting religious sites.
If you plan to play a round of golf or of you plan to go trekking in the national parks please pack appropriate clothing and footwear. Exploring the cultural triangle and plantations will entail a bit of walking, hence please choose comfortable walking shoes and appropriate footwear.