Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
  Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
 
     
  This Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today, some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. The original objective of establishing the orphanage inclined more towards tourism, but it soon became a conservation and educational centre.
 
With the help of local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawela started a scientific captive-breeding programme for elephants. The nearby river played a dominant role in this regard and, in 1984, the first baby of Pinnawela was born.
 
The success story of Pinnawela has drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world. A considerable number of books and research articles on Pinnawela have been published in several languages. The members of the Pinnawela herd have been filmed, videoed and photographed thousands of times by professionals.
 
  Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
 
     
  On the banks of Sri Lanka’s longest river, the 57-hectare Royal Botanic Gardens, laid out in 1832, is among the finest in the world. Its treasures of tropical flora include fine collections of Orchids, aromatic spices, medicinal herbs, palms and rare, endangered plant species. These gardens were the naturally camouflaged operations headquarters of SEAC Supreme Allied Commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten, during the Second World War.
 
  Gem & Jewellery Museum
 
   
  Sri Lanka produces the finest quality of gems in the world. We mine semi-precious gems, the sapphires of Sri Lanka, which are very exclusive and comes in shades of blue, red, green, white etc
 
  Cultural Dance & Entertainment Show
 
   
  Another great place to visit while in Kandy is the Kandyan Arts and Cultural Centre. The centre puts on a show with graceful cultural dancers, drummers and even fire walking!

 
 
   
   
  Kandy is at its best in late July/ August for Esala Perahera, a 10 day festival reputed to be one of the most spectacular festivals in all Asia. You will see vibrant processions with dancers, fire throwers, and numerous elephants dressed in richly embroidered silks, and men dressed in royal clothes similar to those worn by Kandy's great Kings.
 
  DAMBULLA  -  Sigiriya
 
   
  Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and castle/palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. It is a popular tourist destination, also known for its ancient paintings (frescos), very similar to those in the Ajanta Caves of India.

It is a fascinating fortress, which was the stronghold of a fifth century King. Beautiful Murals painted in the 5th century still remain. The lion stairway, the mirror wall, and the water gardens are amongst the greatest highlights of Sigiriya.

 
  Elephant Back Safari
 
     
  Proceed on a 1 hour Elephant Ride in Habarana. Do not miss the chance of lifetime; ride through the jungle on an Elephant's back - a whole different experience from the traditional transportation methods - jeep or other vehicle.

 
  Hot Air Balloon Ride
 
  Explore the natural beauty of the Island in a hot air Balloon. View the elephants in their natural habitat without violating their privacy, fly over the placid lakes or get a bird's eye view of the Sigiriya Rock or a historical ruined city without tampering with the landscape. We call it "Soft Tourism". Witness our ancient lakes, gigantic ruins with a history of 2500 years or more, and forests with its wild life from soaring heights!

The prime concern of the Hot Air Balloon Operator is safety and the balloon rides are conducted by a team with a number of years of experience. Many ballooning flights originate mainly in the cultural triangle, taking-off close to Dambulla. Varied options are available such as group bookings for 14-16 people and luxury, wedding and chartered flights. The success of Hot Air Ballooning largely depends on weather conditions, therefore the ideal season is earmarked from October to April. The packages offered are attractive and reasonable offering the most spectacular aerial view of the cultural sites viz Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, and Dambulla. The wildlife parks Yala National Park, Udawalawe National Park, the south coast, the central hills and many more. Packages are available for a time span of 3-4 hrs, sufficient to admire the vista of the island without interruption.

 
  HILL COUNTRY – NUWARA ELIYA
 
Enjoy the scenery of tea plantations and waterfalls on either side of the road. (Approx. travel time – 2 hours)
   
  Nuwara Eliya is a hill country Resort town, which offers you a unique climate and an ambience that some say is typically English, with its Victorian styled houses and Cottages. The town itself is surrounded by beautiful tea plantations, mountain ranges and cascading waterfalls. You could engage in leisure walks around Lake Gregory and enjoy the stunning scenery and panoramic vistas.
  Visit To A Tea Factory
 
   
   
  If you ever tasted a cup of good High Grown Ceylon Tea, preferably in the unblended form, you have tasted the BEST TEA there is. Of course, in order to experience that pleasure, you must go to the central hill country of Sri Lanka. On the way to Nuwara Eliya, look out for tea factories that advertise tea tasting. You won't forget the unique experience.
  Horton Plains & Baker's Falls
 
Horton Plains (Maha-Eliya) - Heaven on Earth, 2100m Above Sea Level
Horton Plains is a unique natural attraction in Sri Lanka. It is located in the highest plateau of the country and its known for its beautiful landscapes and rare plant and animal life. The Horton plains is one of the most important catchments areas in Sri Lanka which acts as a giant sponge which stores rain water and then feed several major rivers of the country throughout the year. The vegetation mainly consists of wet grasslands and montane forest. The weather at Horton Plains is quite dynamic. Average temperature varies between 5 degrees Celsius to 27 degrees Celsius.
   
  Best months to visit are April and August. December through February, though dry, can be very cold.

The Horton Plains National Park is the only National Park situated in the Hill Country and falls within the Nuwara Eliya district and is 200 km away from Colombo. Panoramic scenic beauty of the Hill Country could be witnessed within the Park. The famous `Worlds End' is a major attraction within the Park. Endemic slender Loris and endemic purple monkey are among the important animal species that could be seen in addition to sandbur, a member of the cat family etc. There is some endemic avifauna also found within this Park.

Horton Plains is most certainly one of the world's best nature reserves, which consist of the famous "World's End", "Bakers Falls", "Chimini Pool" etc. Elk, Deer, Giant Squirrel, Wild Boar, Wild Hair, Porcupine, and a variety of Migratory birds haunt Horton Plains Nature Reserve, which is approx. 10,000 Hectares in extent, which is unique to this region.
 According to a recent count there are 16 Leopards in Horton Plains. If you are lucky you may get a glimpse of a Leopard during your sojourn in the Horton Plains. A sheer drop of 3700ft, World's End offers a spectacular view. Down below, one has a beautiful view of the sprawling tea estate laced with gravel roads and line rooms and if one looks beyond, a breathtaking panoramic view of the southern part of the island down to the coast.
 
  Paragliding
 
 
  Paragliding is the latest aero sport to take the world by storm. The origin of the sport dates back to the 1940s. Since then, this sport has been rapidly expanding. Thousands of people all over the world have found this sport convenient, sheer fun and a safe medium of soaring in the air. Sri Lanka's physical features and climatic conditions are conducive to flying operations throughout the year. Paragliding holds a special attraction for the foreign tourist. Flight time for any average pilot with an intermediate level glide will take 25 minutes.
 
The exhilarating sport of paragliding is offered at the Ella Adventure Park, which is a hotel situated in the wilds of Ella city (202km from Colombo, in the central hilly region, south of Nuwara Eliya, in close proximity to Bandarawela). This hotel is the solo provider of Paragliding in the Island at present. Paragliding is conducted over the Makaldeniya ridge, which lays claim to a breathtaking vista which the paraglider can admire and appreciate. One can fly in Sri Lanka throughout the year for the country’s physical features and climatic conditions are conductive to it.
 
  Hiking & Trekking
 
 
  There’s no better way to explore the natural scenic beauty of this island which is blessed with diverse climatic zones. Trekking is an excellent way to explore a country, people, their traditions and beliefs. Paths and campsites have been selected to give nature lovers the experience of a lifetime. All measures are taken to ensure local community benefit and nature conservation in keeping with all international camping guidelines.

The many paths within the cultural triangle such the old path from Minneriya to Sigiriya (27km probability 9 hrs) give a glimpse of the irrigation system and the uninhabited jungle life of the dry zone. Trekking in the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary in close proximity to Adam's Peak offers a diversified experience as it is home to a plethora of rare birds, leopard, deer and jackal.

The possibilities of hiking and trekking cannot be summed up in one page as Sri Lanka presents bountiful opportunities for the adventurous persona.

There are a few words of advise which is to ascertain the ideal time for hiking or trekking in the varied location; it is wise to avoid the monsoon rains due to muddy terrain and leeches.
 
  Adam’s Peak – (Photo Stop)
 
   
     
  The most famous physical feature of Ceylon is Adam's Peak, which is situated in the Ratnapura district. It is on the edge of the central massif but its surrounding group of mountains called the Wilderness of the Peak, is so extensive in comparison to the bulk of the other mountain groups that it appears to form a nucleus of its own, separate from the others. It is about 7500 ft high and, though it is the second highest peak in the land, its position in relation to the topography is so dominant that it stands out above all others.
  SOUTERN BEACH RESORT
  (Approx. travel time – 6 hours)
 
   
  Spend the days at Leisure or engage in water sports.
 
   
  Sri Lanka has 1,340 km of sea shore, and most of it is spectacular and full of contrasts. A serene, white sandy cove, next to a craggy promontory with thundering waves beating against the granite boulders. Few miles up or down the beach, perhaps a quaint fishing village, with rugged sea going "oru," a craft akin to an oversized canoe with a history going back to Inca times, is drying on the beach.
  Tour of the Galle Fort
 
  Galle fort was built first by the Portuguese, and then modified by the Dutch during the 17th century. During the Dutch period in Ceylon, the Dutch brought labourers from Indonesia and Mozambique to build this massive fort. Even today, after 400 years of existence, it looks new and polished. Today many Dutch people who still own most of the properties inside the fort are looking at making this one of the modern wonders of the world.

The Dutch fort also known as Ramparts of Galle withstood the mighty Boxing Day tsunami which destroyed the Galle town. There are many Moor families who live inside this fort along with Dutch, English, Portuguese and Germans. More details regarding the history of the fort can be found at the visitors centre and at the Dutch period museum inside the Fort.
 
  Visit to the Turtle Hatchery
 
   
   
  Celebrating and preserving Sri Lanka's biodiversity. The turtle hatchery helps in re-establishing sea turtle populations and allows guests an up-close look at these amazing creatures.
 
Sri Lanka is visited by five endangered species of sea turtles.  Mr. Abbrew and his family (the owners of the sanctuary) incubate some 75,000 turtle eggs per year and care for adult turtles that have been hurt or are handicapped. Their model is simple, to pay local people for turtle eggs as an option to eating them. Payments for turtle eggs support about 60 families in the neighborhood. Funding comes from admission fees and donations from tourists. No government financial support is available but necessary regulatory approvals have been received.
 
  COLOMBO
  One could spend the days at leisure, sightseeing and shopping.
 
   
     
  From Arab settlers in the 8th century to the Portuguese, Dutch and the British up until the 20th century have all fought over Sri Lanka’s treasures including precious gems, scented woods, spices, and tea. The island remains a popular shopping destination within Asia.

Highlights include clothing with many well-known European and American brands available at discounted prices, antiques and furniture, home wear and jewellery. There are also some good craft shops dotted around the island and some bazaars that are fun wandering around to get a feel for the real Sri Lanka.