CULTURE OF KANDY
Depart for Kandy and en-route visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, the only one of its kind in the world. There are about 40 animals residing here presently ranging from the ages of a few months to several adults who act as foster parents to the young ones.
Sightseeing en-route includes:
* Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
* Elephant Park - elephant ride
Kandy, the last stronghold of the Singhala Kings of Sri Lanka, lies in the central hills, approximately 120 kilometres from Colombo. The route to Kandy takes you through the broad acres of growing rice, fields (paddy), coconut palms and a picturesque landscape.
After lunch, sightseeing in Kandy includes:
* A tea factory
* The Kandy market square
* The arts & crafts centre
* The Kandy lake and Upper Lake Drive
ROCKY TOPS AND CAVED BOTTOMS
Early morning depart from hotel to Sigiriya via Dambulla Caved Temple.
Sightseeing en-route includes:
* Dambulla Temple
* Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Dambulla: The famous rock caves temples and has much to offer. A 14-metre recumbent Buddha figure, hundred of frescoes & one temple alone have no less than 150 life-size statues and a stunning vista from the 152-meter summit.
On completion leave for Sigiriya Rock fortress.
Climb the Sigiriya Rock fortress - a place for great charisma, like its founder, the parricide King Kassyapa. Apart from the breathtaking view from the summit, Sigiriya offers the ruins of Kassyapa's fortress, gardens cisterns, ponds, promenades, pavilions, moat and encircling wall and of course the legendary Sigiriya Frescoes and graffiti on the `Mirror Wall" - all dating from 477 to 497 AD. Halfway up the rock is the Lion's Platform. Most of its east side is gone, but the vast forepaws remain to indicate its colossal proportions. Access to the summit is through the Lion's mouth
ROLLING DOWN THE RIVER
A FULLY EQUIPPED RAFTING TOUR AT KITHULGALA
Sightseeing en-route includes:
Kitulgala
The clients will be transferred to Rafters Retreat is a colonial house situated in Kitulgala and thereafter taken to "Kalugala" by Double Cab, 4 km away from the Retreat. The total mileage done in rafts will be 6 km and it takes 2 hours to come to the finishing point near the Rafters Retreat.
Two instructors will be available in each raft. Minimum number of pax required is 04
The total stretch includes of 5 strong current areas called rapids. Each rapid is given a name.
* Virgins Breast - 10 feet deep
* Butter crunch - 10 feet deep
* Killer Fall - 12 feet deep
* White quarter - 5-10 feet deep
* Head cutter - 8 feet deep
A stretch of calm water called "Ladies Stretch" is 15-18 feet deep.
SOUTHERN SCENERY
Sightseeing en-route includes:
* Galle
* Hikkaduwa
* Unawatuna
* Weligama
Our first destination will be to Ambalangoda to witness the carving of the masks which are still widely used today in "demon exorcising' ceremonies across the island. Some of these masks are quite ferocious and wild, however they are very well made and fairly inexpensive to purchase should you want to take presents back for those " not quite so well loved" friends. The mask museum actually shows you how the masks are used to rid evil spirits.
You will also visit the Moonstone mines closer to Hikkaduwa.
There is an optional glass bottomed boat ride in Hikkaduwa, viewing corals and colourful fish.
Galle has many places of Dutch interest, particularly the 90-acre fort that was built in 1663, the houses built by the Dutch during their period of occupation from 1656 to 1796 AD, and remains to this day.
Galle is also famous for its ebony elephant carvings, gems and exquisite hand-made lace, which is a flourishing cottage industry.
From Galle we will proceed down to the beautiful Bay of Unawatuna and then on to Weligama, home to the Stilt Fisherman. Please understand that the fisherman complete their catches first thing in the morning and can not remain on stilts all day, therefore upon your arrival they are enacting their skills.
On our return home, we make a visit to a turtle hatchery, where they buy the eggs from the local fisherman. However due to the tsunami and the close proximity of the hatchery to the sea edge, most of this was washed away. New projects are underway but these may take some time to get established and we apologise if a hatchery is not included on this day.