Depart From: Overnight flight to Sri Lanka

Arrive To: Arrive and transfer to hotel for check-in (usually arrive in late-night).

Lodging: Hotel Galle Face

Note: Today there is some walking and standing involved also climbing steps at the museum.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Begin the day with orientation. Then listen to a presentation by a local scholar on Sri Lanka to deepen your understanding of this country.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in town.

Afternoon: This afternoon, discover Colombo with visits to the following places: historic Fort and bustling Pettah, Cinnamon Gardens and Galle Face Green, the Hindu Temple at Sea Street – a street lined with goldsmith's shops – the Dutch Church at Wolfendaal, dating back to 1749, the historic Davatagaha Mosque, Independence Hall, B.M.I.C.H, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square and the National Museum.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Galle Face

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Coach to Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage/ Sigiriya Rock Fortress / coach to Habarana

Note: The roads in Sri Lanka are single carriage ways in good condition generally passing through villages and towns which appear almost linked with each other. There is a lot of traffic and the journey is slow paced.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, depart your hotel to make your way to Pinnawala. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage provides visitors with the best chance of seeing a large number of elephants at close quarters. The orphanage was established in 1975 and commenced with seven orphaned elephants. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location. Assisted by local and foreign elephant experts, Pinnawala commenced a successful captive breeding program and the first baby elephant was born in 1984. It is most interesting to visit at feeding time to see the baby elephants being bottle fed and the entire herd taken for a bath thereafter to the river near by.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant en-route.

Afternoon: This afternoon, visit Sigiriya or Lion Rock is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the 5th Century ? Fortress in the Sky? which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the fortress. Within it triple-moat defense the huge rock rises almost to a sheer height of 500ft. On its summit are the foundations of what was once a great and sumptuous palace and gardens complete with swimming pool. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of frescoes of life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original color. Note: There are approximately 1000 steps to climb to the top of the rock, there is no rush and many people climb to the top from where the views are amazing which make the climb very rewarding. The steps are part carved in stone, part made of iron much like ladder with iron hand rail and thousands of visitors of all ages climb the rock. One can choose not to climb and can wait at the lunch venue. Trainers are recommended and a bottle of water, and a hat for protection from the sun. The rest rooms are not up to western standards however there is an attendant keeping the same as clean as possible in exchange for small change in local currency.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Chaaya Village Habarana

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: There are approximately 500 steps to climb to the caves. One can choose not to climb and can wait at the coffee shop by the entrance. A bottle of water and some sort of head cover for protection from the sun is recommended.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning, feel the power and majesty of the Asian elephant as you take an Elephant back Safari through the beautiful wilderness of Sri Lanka. This safari provides you with an opportunity to share a day in the life of the elephant. Continue with a visit to a local village and meet the people in the community. Simultaneously, visit the local school and gain a better understanding of how children are educated in this country.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in town.

Afternoon: Visit Dambulla Cave Temple, known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a World Heritage Site (1991), situated in the central part of the country, 30 km east of Habarana and 72 km north of Kandy. It is the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented Caves in the surrounding area. These paintings and statues are related to Lord Buddha and his life, covering an area of 2,100 square meters. The caves’ history dates back to the 1st Century BC, when King Walagamba, defeated at Anuradhapura, took refuge in one of the caves. Many of the paintings in the temple date back to the 19th Century CE, of which the largest is the colossal figure carved out of granite rock and spanning 14 meters.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Chaaya Village Habarana

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: The visit today takes approximately 3 hours with standing and some steps to climb up or down. There is approximately one mile circular walking from the bus through the archaeological site back to the bus. An umbrella is recommended to provide shelter from the sun also a bottle of water

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Spend the morning at Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century. Polonnaruwa's extensive and well-preserved ruins offer a fascinating snapshot of ancient Sri Lanka, including some of the finest monuments. Ruins of royal castles and Buddhist temples: Royal Palace Group, The Quadrangle, the Polonnaruwa Vatadage, (circular relic house), Shiva Devale (Hindu temple), The Alahana Pirivena, Rankot Vihara, Lankatilake, Kiri Vihara, Gal Vihara, Potugal Vihara encompasses this ancient city.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and then participate in a presentation by your study leader.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Chaaya Village Habarana

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: The visit today takes approximately 2 hours with standing and some steps to climb up or down at the temple.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning, depart for Kandy. En route take a field trip to the spice garden in Matale to learn about the different types of spices Sri Lanka is famous for. Just 25 km from the hill capital of Kandy, the Matale spice gardens are among the best on the island. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. A processing and training unit has been set up in the area and farmers are grouped in a cooperative to ensure fair prices.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant or at the hotel.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon exploring the city of Kandy with visits to Upper Lake Driver, Market Square and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Ever since 4th Century AD, when the Buddha?s Tooth was brought to Sri Lanka hidden from sacrilegious hands in an Orissan princess? hair, the Relic has grown in repute and holiness in Sri Lanka and throughout the Buddhist world. It is considered Sri Lanka?s most prized possession.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Chaaya Citadel Kandy

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: The visit today takes approximately 2 hours with standing and walking on predominantly flat terrain. There is approximately one mile circular walking from the bus through the gardens back to the bus. We recommend you carry an umbrella to provide shelter from the sun also a bottle of water.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning we visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden. This beautiful garden is located 4 milesto the west from the city of Kandy. It was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British It covers approximately 147 acres and is a walkers paradise with extensive well kept lawns, pavilions, an octagon conservatory, fernery, a giant Javan fig tree and numerous flower beds The best attraction is the orchid house.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in town.

Afternoon: In the late afternoon, join your group for a presentation by a local expert on topic relevant to Sri Lanka.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Chaaya Citadel Kandy

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer from Peredaniya and Nuwara Eliya. It’s a really leisurely journey where you will have plenty of opportunity to admire (and take photos of) the fabulous scenery from the tea plantations to the distant views of the southern part of the Island.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in town or the hotel.

Afternoon: This afternoon, explore Nuwara Eliya, "the city of dawn”, established by the British in the nineteenth century, and known as "Little England" because of its cool climate and quaint colonial feel. Located in the 'heart' of the tea country, Nuwara Eliya is a mountain station at 1,900 meters above sea level situated in splendid landscape with beautiful backdrops of mountains, valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. The town is still very much an English town with many English style bungalows and buildings. It is one of the coolest places on the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, with cooler temperature at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September).

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: En route to Yala National Park, visit a tea plantation and witness tea tasting. Originally introduced to the island around 1850 by the British, Ceylon Tea is world famous for its high quality and has remained a major contributor to the island’s economy for generations. Currently, Sri Lanka is one of largest exporter of tea worldwide. The high altitudes produce the best flavours, so Sri Lanka’s hill-country is the ideal environment to grow the most flavoursome tea. Taking a guided tour around a Tea Factory is an enlightening experience, which explains the whole process of tea production before it reaches your cup.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in town or at the hotel.

Afternoon: Check into your hotel and relax.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: The Safari Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Start your day with an early morning safari to Yala National Park famous for its abundant bird life. Over 140 species have been recorded so far within the area. Changeable Hawk Eagle, Crested serpent Eagle, Malabar pied Hornbill, Jungle fowl, painted Stork, White Ibis and Black necked Stork are commonly seen. (Please note there is no guarantee that you will see wildlife, but the chances are great).

Lunch: Lunch provided.

Afternoon: In the early evening, discover Yala National Park Early on another jeep safari. Yala National park is Sri Lanka?s most visited wildlife reserve. Yala covers an area of 1260 square kilometers. The park?s dry-zone landscape is strikingly beautiful and the park?s wildlife has its own distinctive charm, with huddles of colorful Painted Storks perched on the incongruously conjoined sight of Elephants marching sedately through the bush. Leopards, Sloth Bears and Elephants are the "big 3" here. The sighting of wildlife is not guaranteed

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: The Safari Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: Discover the Dutch Fort in Galle, originally built by the Portuguese in 1589 to house spices. You can walk around the fort within an hour and a half visiting the New Oriental Hotel, National Museum, the Dutch church, the clock tower, the lighthouse and some old colonial buildings. The ramparts and the bastions still bring the old world to life.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in town.

Afternoon: Make a stop at Kosgoda Turtle Hachery. Here, learn about Sri Lanka's pioneering sea turtle conservation project and why Sri Lanka (and the village of Kosgoda in particular) is a prime turtle nesting site, why the conservation project is needed and how the project is operated by local people with the help of international volunteers.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Tangerine Beach Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast