Panoramic Sri Lanka

DETAILED PROGRAM

Day 01  Arrive Colombo – Negombo (Drive)

Upon arrival in Bandaranaike International Airport you are met and greeted by our driver and transferred to Negombo (approximate travel time from Airport to Negombo is 1 ½ Hrs.) You will then check in to your pre-booked Hotel in Negombo and be welcomed by your Local Tour Manager who will brief you on the line up for the next few days.

Negombo City Tour

Negombo’s beach is very wide in places and also the heartland of Christian Sri Lanka, as borne out by the enormous churches and florid wayside catholic shrines scattered about the town and its environs. The Dutch made the town an important commercial center, building a canal, on which spices, particularly cinnamon, which grew profusely in the surrounding areas-were transported from the interior to the coast prior to being shipped abroad.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Negombo

Day 02  Negombo – Kalpitiya (Drive)

Breakfast at Hotel and Check out

Transfer from Negombo to Kalpitiya. Upon arrival check in at Hotel in Kalpitiya and spend rest of the day at leisure on the beach

Kalpitiyais a peninsula set in between the deep lagoon of Puttalam to the east and the magnificent Indian Ocean to the west. It is an unrivalled marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats ranging from bar reefs, flat coastal plains, saltpans, mangrove swamps, salt marshes and vast sand dune beaches. he 14 islands of Battalangunduwa, Palliyawatta, Vellai I, Vellai II, Vellai III, Uchchamunai, Ippantivu, PeriyaArichchalai, SinnaArichchalai, Eramutivu, SinnaEramutivu, Eramutivu West, Kakativu and Mutwal (Dutch Bay) together make up 1673 hectares of land which belongs to Kalpitiya. The Kalpitiya peninsula is 48 km long and 6-8 km wide while it is studded with fine sandy beaches which make you yearn for a beach holiday.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kalpitiya

Day 03 Kalpitiya

Breakfast at the Hotel

Snorkeling at the largest coral reef in Sri Lanka

Bar Reef, the largest coral reef (307 square km) in Sri Lanka, which can be reached by an hour’s boat trip from Kalpitiya, serves as the ideal sea for keen scuba divers and snorkelers. The beautiful reef, exceedingly rich in bio-diversity, is home to an incredible variety of tropical fish as well as offering sightings of manta rays, reef sharks and the occasional sea turtle. Boat rides up to the lagoon and canoe trips down the river are a pleasant way of exploring the coastline, whilst 4WD jeep rides along the deserted sand dunes between the ocean and the lagoon offer a unique way of watching the colourful evening sunsets.

Experience Kite Surfing& Kayaking in the Lagoon

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, kite-surfing is one of the coolest ways to indulge yourself in Sri Lanka – and if you’re going to give it a try, Kalpitiya is where you do it. Kite-surfing is basically strapping yourself to a giant kite, and being dragged on a surfboard over the sea, by the wind. It sounds quite cool and not that complicated, but this is actually an extreme sport with a training period of three days. There are two kite-surfing stretches in Kalpitiya. One is called Wellai island, and the other is where we went: a thin long Sand Route on the west end of the Kalpitiya lagoon. On one side of the sand stretch is the lagoon, and on the other edge is the beach.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Kalpitiya

Day 04  Kalpitiya – Wilpattu (Drive)

Breakfast at hotel and Check out

Transfer from Kalpitiya to Wilpattu. Upon arrival check in to hotel and relax at leisure

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Wilpattu

Day 05 Wilpattu

Breakfast at the Hotel

Morning Safari at Wilpattu National Park

Wilpattu sanctuary was declared as a National Park in 1938, Wilpattu National Park is located on the west coast close to the historical city of Anuradhapura. The dry zone jungle is thickly grown. Wilpattu Natonal Park is home for many villus, or natural lakes which dot the landscape in the Wilpattu National Park. Except for two, These lakes contain rainwater, thus are important for resident and migratory water-birds.A unique complex of over 50 wetlands called “Villu” is the most prominent topographical feature of the national park. ‘Villu’ are shallow natural lakes filled with rainwater surrounded by open grassy plains amidst the dense scrub jungle. Wilpattu National Park’s varying natural habitats; coastal belt, natural lakes (villus), rocky outcrops, scrublands, open grasslands and dense forest provide for numerous species of animals. The biggest draws in Wilpattu are Leopards (Panthera pardus kotiya) and Sloth bears (Melursus ursinus). Apart from those two mammals are Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus), Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, jackals, sambhur, barking deer, mouse deer Wild Pig, Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Mugger Crocodiles.

Evening Safari at Wilpattu National Park

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Wilpattu

Day 06  Wilpattu – Mannar – Jaffna (Drive)

Breakfast at Hotel and Check out

Transfer from Wilpattu to Mannar. Upon arrival, Visit the Arippu Dutch Fort

Arippu Fortis a small two bastion fort built by the Portuguese just before the causeway at Arippu. This fort was handed over to the Dutch in 1658 after the fall of Mannar. This fort again changed hands to the British. Mannar Seas have always been an important area for all rulers of Sri Lanka since ancient times due to the abundance of high quality pearls. Fedrick North, the first British Governor then Ceylon, built his official residency at the Beach Front now known as the Doric, and converted this fort to a bungalow for the officers who managed the pearl fisheries in the area.

Visit Thiruketheeswaram Temple

Thiruketheeswaram is one of the five Sivan temples in the Island. The giant Sivalingam carved out of granite stone which was excavated by archaeologists in Thiruketheeswaram temple area in the fifties is believed to have been buried when the Portuguese destroyed the temple during their invasion of Mannar in the 16th century. The temple which was in ruins was gradually rebuilt to its pristine glory during the British period with Hindu elite from Jaffna playing a major role in the reconstruction.

Transfer from Mannar to Jaffna. Upon arrival, check into hotel and relax at leisure

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Jaffna

Day 07  Jaffna

Breakfast at Hotel

Visit Nallur Kandaswamy Temple

Nallur Kandaswamy Temple lies about 3km from the Jaffna town on the KKS (Kankasanthurai) Road. This is one of the most important temples in the Jaffna Peninsula and the most well-known. The history of the temple dates back to the time of King Parakramabahu VI (1411-1463) of Kotte Kingdom. King Parakramabahu VI had two adopted sons, SapumalKumaraya (prince) and AmbulugalaKumaraya (prince). The king sent prince Sapumal to the north where the South Indian Vijayanagar Empire was trying to attach Jaffna. The prince successfully drove away the invaders killing the king Arya Chakravarthi and brought his wife and children to Kotte. The King Parakramabahu VI appointed the Prince Sapumal as the regional ruler of Jaffna. It was this prince who built the Nallur Kovil for the Hindu people of Jaffna.

Visit Jaffna Fort

The Jaffna Fort, the second largest Dutch Fort in Sri Lanka, is located immediately south of the Jaffna town, with the southern side bounded by the shallow waters of Jaffna lagoon, the inlet of the Indian Ocean that carves out the Jaffna Peninsula. “A true and exact description of the Great Island of Ceylon” (1672) by Dutch pastor PhillipusBaldaeus, who lived in Jaffna for about nine years narrates: “The fort of Jaffnapatan is square surrounded with strong high walls as the print exhibits, it is larger than the fort of Batavia and is the capital of the entire kingdom. It remained under the Portugezen sway for upwards of 40 years, wrested from the Emperor by Philippod’Olivero when he defeated the Cingalezen forces near Achiavelli by the great pagode, where there are still to be seen the ruins and a wonderfully large wide well, deep and round and its center 24 fathoms deep, truly a wonderful work hewn out of a large rock”.

Visit the Jaffna Point Pedro (northernmost point of Sri Lanka)

The light house at the coastal village of Point Pedro marks the northernmost point of Sri Lanka. West of Point Pedro is the infamous coastal village of Velvettiturai, which for long decades, had been a stronghold of the petty local smugglers and the landing point of illegal immigrants from South India. Until about three decades ago the illegal immigrants called “Kallathoni” from the state of Tamilnadu of India, found Velvettiturai, a convenient shore. 5km south of the lighthouse, at the northern end of the Manalkadu Desert is the village of Vallipuram, which unearthed the famous ancient Vallipuram gold foil of inscriptions. Vallipuram, once a principal city of Jaffna peninsula is home to the second largest Hindu Kovil in the country. The shrine is one of the very few in Sri Lanka dedicated to God Vishnu.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Jaffna

Day 08  Jaffna – Trincomalee (Drive)

Breakfast at Hotel and Check out

Proceed to Trincomalee. Upon arrival, check into hotel.

Visit Koneswaram Temple

Thirukoneswaram, or the Holy Koneswaram Temple, is a Hindu temple in Thirukonamalai (Trincomalee) on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The temple lies on a high rocky promontory surrounded on three sides by the sea. It bears a history of over three millennia with its records indicating its roots in 1580 BC. This, still beautiful, historical monument is what remains of what once was a sprawling temple city equal to the ancient city of Madurai, India

Relax at leisure on the Beach

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Trincomalee

Day 09  Trincomalee

Breakfast at Hotel

Optional: Experience a day on a Yacht by sailing through the Trincomalee seas

The East coast of the island emerging as an up and coming beach tourist destination, offers endless pristine beaches, beautiful coves surrounded by lush vegetation and fascinating marine life, including whales and dolphins and an array of tropical fish and colorfulreefs. The East Coast Cruise departs from Trincomaleeand returns to Trincomalee. The morning trip takes off from Trincomalee. The sail offers an unforgettable adventure off the seas of Trinco where you can sail, snorkel, swim, stand-up paddle, and soak up the sun and sea. The morning session is a relaxed one, offering a chance to take the helm and learn how to sail. Stop-over in a nice cove for a swim, far from the crowded beaches or have a go at the stand-up paddle board. The afternoon session offers a more thrilling experience with no pollution, engine sounds and zero traffic to endure and only the sound of the sails and the rush of the water as you speed across the sea.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Trincomalee

Day 10  Trincomalee

Breakfast at Hotel

Relax at leisure enjoying the coastal warmth and sandy beaches

Optional Activity: Snorkeling in Pigeon Island

Pigeon Island National Park is one of the two marine national parks of Sri Lanka. The national park is situated 1 km off the coast of Nilaveli, a coastal town in Eastern Province, encompassing a total area of 471.429 hectares. The island's name derives from the rock pigeon which has colonized it. The national park contains some of the best remaining coral reefs of Sri Lanka. Pigeon Island was designated as a sanctuary in 1963. In 2003 it was redesignated as a national park. This national park is the 17th in Sri Lanka. The island was used as a shooting range during the colonial era. Pigeon Island is one of the several protected areas affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Trincomalee

Day 11  Trincomalee – Sigiriya (Drive)

Breakfast at Hotel

Transfer to Sigiriya. Upon arrival check in to Hotel in Sigiriya

Fly above the central lands on a hot air balloon

Plunge into the journey of a lifetime. Experience a hot air balloon ride through breathtaking Sri Lankan countryside. When the climb continues unnoticed, you will find yourself between infinite horizons of rough mountains and lush greenery with only the burners to interrupt the calm. Witness the balloon lowered steadily until it's just inches from the evergreen trees. When scooping up leaves or reaching the tops of the branches, observe a bird or an animal awakening at daybreak. With utmost serenity and calm, let yourself enjoy the surrounding. The climate in Dambulla – Kandalama is exceptional for flying balloons, due to its extremely calm and predictable nature. The height at which you fly will vary from tree top level – where you enjoy contour flying at low level to several thousand feet up: the perfect vantage points to observe the majesty of Dambulla – Kandalama area.

Dinner and Overnight stay at the Hotel in Sigiriya

Day 12  Sigiriya – Colombo (Drive)

Breakfast at Hotel

Proceed to the Airport with an abundance of memories from your unforgettable experience here at Sri Lanka – The Paradise Island.

*** END OF TOUR ***