Ancient Kingdoms and Best of East (14 Days)

Ancient Kingdoms and Best of East

Sri Lanka is blessed with many ancient cities that have colourful histories written about them and we at Lakpura Travels take the liberty of offering you some of the best tours for you to explore and experience this land like no other. From the Yapahuwa Rock Fortress to Sigiriya, the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Mihintale, Dambulla and Polonnaruwa, you will want to visit more religious sites. Enjoy a safari at the Minneriya National Park and we drive to the Far East and come to Arugam Bay which is home to some of the best surfs in the world during the season. We visit Ella and Udawalawe to experience a safari and then travel to Bentota to enjoy the sunny beach.

14 Day Tours

1 Day in Anuradhapura

Travelling from Negombo towards the first Ancient Kingdom in Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, you will come across landmarks including the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and the Rock Fortress in Yapahuwa which also served as the capital of the island for a short time period. Pinnawala is home to many displaced elephants while Yapahuwa boasts of its very own Temple of the Tooth

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is the home for young Elephants who have been displaced or lost from their natural habitat, located at Pinnawala village in Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka. Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is the best place for an up close and personal experience with the world’s largest land mammals! Today with 70 elephants herein, Pinnawela has become the home to the largest captive group of elephants in the world.

Yapahuwa Rock Fortress

Visit the rock fortress of Yapahuwa where the seat of government was based in the 13th century. It also had its own Temple of the Tooth Relic where the relic was housed at that time. View the majestic entrance arch and ornamental stairway. Walk through the ruins of the temple at the summit or along the terraces. Enjoy the detailed sculptures scattered throughout the entire fortress. Yapahuwa is an incredible place that defies description and is best seen with one’s own eyes.

2 Days in Dambulla

Travelling to another ancient kingdom, Dambulla, enroute you will step over the threshold of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura and explore the serene location. Visit the Mihintale Rock, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and enjoy a relaxing village tour too. A thrilling safari ride awaits you at the Minneriya National Park which is famed for its population of Sri Lankan elephants.

The Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Walk through the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD. View the pagodas, monastic buildings, and ponds that are scattered all over the vast area. Visit important landmarks such as Jetavanarama, which was one of the tallest buildings in the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the huge Abhayagiri Monastery. Gain more knowledge about Sri Lanka’s history as you walk in the footsteps of Kings.

Mihintale Rock

Visit the place where Buddhism began in Sri Lanka. See the spot where the meeting of King Devanampiyatissa and Monk Mahinda took place. View the monastic ruins at the foot of the mountain. Walk in the footsteps of Mahinda as you visit the cave where he resided. View historic stupas, Ambasthala Dagoba and the Maha Stupa. Enter the ruins of an age long past to understand its impact on the history of Sri Lanka.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

The 5th century AD rock fortress Sigiriya, once ruled by the Sri Lankan King Kashyapa, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka’s most historical landmarks. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ‘The Lion Rock’. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns, that is a mind-blowing example of ancient Sri Lankan hydraulic engineering. Walk through the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past.

Sigiriya Village Tour

Get a chance to go on an oxen cart ride, and experience the world from the view of a village farmer. Enjoy a relaxing catamaran safari across a calm lake. Walk through the golden fields ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your taste buds with a home-cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.

Minneriya National Park

This three-hour safari takes you on a ride through the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy the sight of over 150 elephants congregating in one place during the famous Great Elephant Gathering, which happens in the dry season between May to October. In addition to elephants, get a chance to also see many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the scrublands, forests and other areas.

2 Days in Pasikudha

Heading towards Pasikudah along the East coast of Sri Lanka which offers easy access to Batticaloa and Trincomalee, we will first stop over at the Dambulla Cave Temple and the ancient city of Polonnaruwa which are all ruins and remnants of kingdoms that once thrived as Sri Lankan capitals and political centers. Pasikudah is home to beautiful beaches.

Dambulla Cave Temple

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.

The Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka’s ancient history.

2 Days in Arugambay

Your stay at Arugam Bay can be spent by the beach. Enjoy the sun, sand and surf, Arugam Bay is a tourist magnet and home to a point break that most say is the best surf spot in the island. The waves are best from June to August while other seasons you have great weather, just less waves.

Rest in the coast of Arugambay and enjoy the sea breeze and its magnificent tides. Spend the day leisurely enjoying the coast and the facilities provided by the hotel.

1 Day in Ella

Heading inland from the beach, we will travel towards Ella, which is everyone’s favourite hill country village setting where you can rest well and enjoy stunning views of the region right up to the South Coast. Walk through tea plantations and mountains that have unforgettable viewpoints to waterfalls and landmarks with historical significance. Ella is a paradise for hiking.

Explore the city of Ella

Explore the city of Ella and its most interesting places. Pass through bright green tea fields, and tough stretches of rock, and get to see the magical views of Little Adam’s Peak. Walk over the history seeped Nine Arches Bridge and listen to the story of its construction. End your hike at the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop-over track design. This tour gives you the chance to see the best sights of Sri Lanka

1 Day in Udawalawe

You will visit the beautiful Rawana Falls with a hidden cave behind it which is believed to be associated with the epic tale of Ravana. From Ella, we then head towards Udawalawe, which is home to a wildlife sanctuary offering a natural habitat for wild elephants, water birds, amphibians, reptiles and many more with varied landforms like marches and grassland.

Rawana Falls

Rawana Ella: A beautiful natural wonder associated with legend is the Rawana Ella (Ravana Falls) located near the village of Udunuwara on the Ella-Wellawaya Road. A cave (“cave of gold”) hidden behind the falls is believed to be one of several places where Rawana hid his lovely Indian Princess Sita after abducting her.

Udawalawe National Park

This three-hour safari gives you the chance to visit Udawalawe National Park. Travel through the marshes, forests and grasslands of the park that was created as a sanctuary for wildlife in the 1970s. See the water birds and Sri Lankan elephants for which the park is famed. Catch glimpses of the other mammals and birds, as well as the reptiles, amphibians and butterflies.

1 Day in Hikkaduwa

Moving towards the Southern Coastal area, we stopover at Hikkaduwa which is a favourite among tourists for its many water sport activities. While here, you can visit the Blow Hole which is a large spraying fountain of sea water and then explore Galle, home to the magnificent Fort and the many hidden gems that you find within the ramparts.

Hummanaya Blow Hole

Explore the wonders of the Hummanaya, which could possibly be the second largest blowhole in the world. Watch the impressive spraying fountain of sea water near the village of Kudawella that is part of Sri Lanka’s natural geology. Listen to the deep humming noise that gives the Hummanaya its name.

Old Colonial City of Galle

Explore the secrets of Galle where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters. Visit the Galle Fort which is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. View the museums of Galle and the lighthouse. Walk through the cobblestoned streets with their Dutch names and listen to your guide tell their stories. Relax with a king coconut or a cup of tea caressed by a breeze of the tropics.

1 Day in Bentota

Heading north along the coastal belt, we come to Bentota which is also a well known watersport centre and resort area. You will enjoy a two hour boat safari along the calm waters of the Madu River which runs through mangroves and rich bio diversity filled with water monitors. You will then visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery as well.

Madu River

Go on a wonderful two-hour boat ride down the Madu River with its flourishing ecosystem. Pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves. See the basking crocodiles and water monitors. Visit one of the small islands with its cinnamon harvesting natives. Enjoy the restorative qualities of the famous fish massage. Observe the waterbirds in their natural habitats.

Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery

Visit the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery on the Southwestern coast of Sri Lanka. Learn more about the five endangered sea turtle species that come to the shores of Sri Lanka to nest. Learn how the Kosgoda Turtle Care Program helps protect the nests until they hatch and increases the chances of survival for the babies. Get a chance to see, touch and feed baby turtles; or even injured adult turtles that the Turtle Hatchery cares for.

1 Day in Colombo

Prior to your departure, you will be escorted around the city of Colombo where you will witness some of the most popular places among tourists and locals. You can explore the shopping malls which are filled with designer stores and boutiques, you will marvel the old lighthouse and the parliament. You can even eat out and party till you leave.

Departure

After the breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to airport En-route Commence a City Tour of Colombo.

Experience the colorful lights and bright life of Colombo, the capital City of Sri Lanka. Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple, the National Museum and more. Enjoy the malls of Independence Square or the Race Course. Visit boutique shops and designer stores. Enjoy the Daylife as you party till the morning.

Continue to Airport after spending a memorable time in this island