4nights5days

Sigiriya Lion Rock

4 nights / 5 days

Negombo – Sigiriya – Minneriya – Kandy – Ella – Yala – Hikkaduwa

Description

Day 1
Starting from Negombo 8 am. The driver will take you to Sigiriya which takes about 4 hours depending on traffic. You will see wonderful scenery of coconut plantation and pineapple plantation. The driver guides you along the way and tells you all about the surroundings.

Dambulla temple
First visiting the Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple) it is from the 1st century BC. There is a 14 meter long Buddha that was sculpted directly from the mountain. The walls are covered with paintings showing different reincarnations.


In the afternoon you will go on Elephant Safari in Minneriya or Eko National Park depending on where the Elephants are. Staying one night in Sigiriya / Dambulla.

Day 2
Sigiriya Lion Rock
After breakfast you will visit Sigiriya and possibly climb the Lion Rock. It belongs to the cultural triangle, once the capital of northern Sri Lanka. Walk 1202 steps up to the 380 m high cliff where the then King Kashyapa made a palace on the top. On the way up you will meet the Lion Gate, paintings, moats and gardens.

Further on to Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second largest city, 500 meters above sea level. Takes about 3 hours depending on how long you stay at each attraction! On the way you visit spice gardens and get a guided tour. Visit Mathale hindu temple.

Kandy dance
At 5 pm you go to Kandy Dance, which is Sri Lanka’s traditional dance. They adorn themselves in masks and nice costume and walk on glowing charcoal.

After the dance, visit the famous tooth temple (Sri Dalada Maligawa), which is a world heritage site, and it is said that Buddha’s tooth is there.
Tooth temple Kandy

Day 3
Tea plantation
Further to Ella. You will drive up the mountains through beautiful scenery of tea plantation and stay at the tea factory and get a guided tour. You will drive through Nuwara Eliya which is an old English colony. Visit a bazaar where you can buy winter clothes for a good price. Visit Grand Hotel, which is an old colonial hotel, for a snack or lunch. Takes about 4 hours.

Ella train
We usually recommend taking the train the last 2-2.5 hours up to Ella. It’s a nice trip with mountains and views. The driver will take you to the station in Nanu Oya. He will meet you at the station in Ella. If you do not want to go by train, you will continue to go with the driver all the way up to Ella. Coming to Ella which is 1041 meters above sea level. Stay one night.

Day 4
Mini Adams Peak
After breakfast you can walk up to Mini Adams Peak which has a great view. It takes about 30-40 minutes to walk up to Mini Adams Peak.

Buduruwagala rock carvings
Further to Yala National Park. On the way you will stay at Rawana waterfall, then you will stop at Buduruwagala where there are ancient rock carvings in the mountains. Stay one night in Tissamaharama about 45 min from Yala National Park. Travel time about 3 hours.

Day 5
Yala Safari Leopard
At 5 am a Jeep will pick you up at the hotel to take you to the park that opens at 6 am. You get your own Jeep with comfortable seats, a roof and open on the sides. The hotel arrange breakfast packages. What can you see in Yala? Elephants, buffalo, monkeys, leopard, bear, birds, crocodiles, etc.

Then on to the south end destination / Hikkaduwa. You will take the beautiful coastal road and see different beaches and fishermen who sit on poles. Travel time about 4 hours.
Pole fishing