Day 01 – Colombo

Day 02 – Colombo / Pinnawela / Dambulla        
After breakfast at hotel, leave for Dambulla. En route visit the Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawela ( 110 km, approx. 2 ½ hour drive). This orphanage was set up by the government to take care of baby elephants lost or abandoned in the wild. Witness the feeding of the elephants. The baby elephants being bottle fed with milk is a heartwarming sight. Thereafter observe them as they take their daily bath in the river nearby, which affords marvelous photo opportunities. Bath time is enjoyed by all elephants, young and old alike and it is a good time to closely observe their tightly knit family structure. The young elephants are protected and cared for, by the older ones in the group and the leader of the group is respected by all. (Open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.  Daily feeding times- 9.15 a.m., 1.15 p.m. 5.00 p.m. Bathing times – 10.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m., 4.00 p.m.). 
On completion leave for Dambulla (96 km, approx. 2 ½ hour drive) which has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery, a vast isolated rock mass with its five caverns is the largest best preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings (covering an area of 2,100 sq. meters) are of particular importance as are the 157 statues including a 47 foot long statue of the recumbent Buddha. The ceiling of one cavern is fully illustrated with paintings that follow the natural folds of the rock so closely that it appears to be made of cloth. The complex of caves is one of the most impressive Buddhist Temples in the world.
Overnight stay at a camping site in Dambulla

Day 03 – Dambulla
Early in the morning leave in search of birds in the dry mixed evergreen forest called Kandalama. Birds which can be seen in the forest are Sri Lanka Spur fowl, Sri Lanka Jungle fowl, Sri Lanka Grey Horn-bill, and Brown-capped Babbler. One can also see many waders and raptors including Crested Serpent Eagle, White –bellied Sea Eagle, Little and Intermediate Egrets, Eurasian Open bill and Grey Heron. Evening commence a boat safari in Kandalama.
Overnight stay at a camping site in Dambulla

Day 04 – Dambulla / Sigiriya / Polonnaruwa / Dambulla
After breakfast at hotel, leave for Sigiriya(25 km, approx. ½ hour drive) and climb the Rock Fortress(a UNESCO World Heritage site) built by King Kassapa in the 05thcentury A.D. which was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years.  The lion rock is a citadel of unusual beauty, rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The base of the rock is ringed by a moat and rampart and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens. The majestic Lion’s Paw picturesquely guards the stairway of the palace on the summit. See the famous frescoes of the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya in a sheltered pocket of the rock and the 10 foot high Mirror Wall.

Thereafter, leave for Polonnaruwa (67 km, approx. 1 ½ hour drive) the Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century and on arrival visit the well-planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls (around 5 km. which still remain),graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation. Of these the ‘Vatadage’ and the ‘Thuparama Image House’ are the most spectacular. The ‘Gal Vihara’ which consists of statues of the recumbent, standing and seated Buddha have been cut from a single granite wall and rank among the true masterpieces of Sri Lankan Art. On completion leave for Dambulla (67 km, approx. 1 ½ hour drive)and check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Dambulla.

Day 05 – Dambulla / Knuckles
Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast leave for Knuckles trekker’s camp, (125 km, approx. 3 hour drive)  located in the Riverston (northern part of the Knuckles range) at an altitude of 1400m above sea level. It is a magical place to revel in the sheer beauty of the sun rising behind the Manigalapeak, gradually illuminating the vast valley below. This is an ideal place to enjoy being close to nature. Evening make a refreshing visit of the peaceful surroundings.Overnight stay at the Trekker’s campsite.

Day 06 - Knuckles
Breakfast at the camp. After breakfast full day birding in the nature trail at Knuckle’s forest. There are more than 200 bird species found in here. Among them fifteen are endemic to Sri Lanka such as Jungle fowl, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Small Barbet, Sri Lanka White-eye, Black headed Bulbul, Yellow eared Bulbul, Dusk blue Flycatcher, Brown capped Babbler, Sri Lankan Grackle, Sri Lankan Lorikeet, Sri Lankan Warbler, White faced Starling, Spot Wing Thrush, Sri Lankan blue Magpie and Layard’s Parakeet.Overnight stay at the Trekker’s camp.

Day 07 – Knuckles / Kandy
Breakfast at camp. After breakfast leave for Kandy (45 km, approx. 1 ½  hour drive). On arrival commence a sightseeing tour in the city of Kandy. Sri Lanka’s hill capital Kandy was the last capital and stronghold of its independent kingdom which resisted European colonialism from the latter half of the 16th century. Kandy’s fascinating heritage sites include the moated, turreted and golden roofed Temple of the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Visit the famous Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya near the Mahaweli River, where a rare collection of tropical exotic and indigenous flora including the famous Orchid House could be viewed. Drive past the picturesque premises of the University of Peradeniya and visit the Market Place, and an Arts & Crafts Showroom. Then drive along the Upper Lake road to get a panoramic view of the Kandy Lake built in 1807 which is an attractive centerpiece to the town.  Evening, visit the pink painted famous Temple of the Tooth which houses the most sacred religious relic, the tooth of the Buddha. Thereafter, enjoy the Kandyan Cultural Show at the Kandyan Arts & Cultural Centre. The show features the graceful and rhythmic dancers and drummers culminating in an impressive fire walking show.Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Day 08 – Kandy / Nuwara Eliya
Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, proceed to Nuwara Eliya ( 77 km – approx. 3 hour drive). Set in the heart of Tea Country, situated 1890 meters above sea level, this beautiful town of Nuwara Eliya is where the British succeeded in creating an English countryside with homes in styles from Georgian to Queen Anne with well kept lawns with hedges. En route visit a tea plantation and a tea factory. At the tea factory witness the process of manufacture of tea from plucking of the green leaves to packeting of the processed tea. On arrival in Nuwara Eliya check in at hotel.

After refreshing yourself at the hotel, commence a sightseeing tour in the city. Visit the Nuwara Eliya Town, Market place, Golf Course, (one of the finest 18 holes Golf Course in Asia), the Hill Club, and drive around this Hill station viewing Lake Gregory. Visit Hakgala Botanical Gardens and Victoria Park. Evening stroll through the Galway Forest for birding.
Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Day 09 – Nuwara Eliya / Horton plains / Colombo
After an early breakfast leave for Horton Plains (40 km – approx.1½ hours drive), the highest plateau in the country which is one of the very important National parks in Sri Lanka especially for its topographical variations. It has unique vegetation and is famous for many rare and endemic highland birds. The most awesome physical feature of the Horton Plains is the escarpment that falls 880 meters to the lowlands of the southern region of the island. Aptly known as the ‘World’s End’ the view from the precipice of the countryside below towards the south coast is spectacular. Dawn or early morning is the best time for observing it. Horton’s plain National Park harbors 12 species of endemic birds. The following birds are recorded only at  Horton Plains. Sri Lankan Blue Magpie, Dusky Blue Fly Catcher and Sri Lanka Wood pigeon. On completion, leave for Colombo. Overnight stay at a hotel in Colombo.

Day 10 – Departure                                                                                                            

After breakfast leave for the Airport for your departure flight. (30 km, approx. 1 hour drive)