Romance and History combine in this 8 Day Honeymoon holiday In The Hills of Sri Lanka
Day 1
Arrive at the airport. Meet the chauffeur guide & transfer to Kandy, on arrival check-in to a Gallery Deluxe suite at the Kandy House
In the Afternoon, leave the bungalow for a visit of the city of Kandy.
The historic city about 480m above sea level surrounded by mountain was known to Sri Lankan as Kanda Uda Rata, which means the hill country.Kandy was home to Sri Lanka’s last independent Kingdom, which survived two centuries of colonial incursion before finally falling to the British at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Firstly, you will visit the Temple of the Tooth which is the home to the island’s most revered relic, Buddha’s tooth, which arrived here in the sixteenth century. The main shrine of the current temple was originally constructed in the seventeenth century. Pujas (offerings) are held at 10 am, 7 am & 6 pm.
The main attraction of the Pujas is the noisy drumming, which precedes and accompanies the ceremony. It is from here that the annual Perahera (Procession) taken place in July/August, when the tooth relic is taken atop a magnificent bushed elephant, who is accompanied by up to 70 beautifully illuminated and caparisoned elephants, who are in turn escorted by drummers, dancers and whip crackers etc. A truly stunning, sight!
Return to the bungalow for dinner & overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 2
Breakfast at the bungalow.
Leave the bungalow for visit of the famous elephant orphanage of Pinnawala.
The Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage is one of Sri Lanka’s most popular tourist attractions. The orphanage’s population has now mushroomed to around 65, making it the world’s largest collection of captive elephants. The elephants here range in age from newborns to elderly matriarchs, and include orphaned and abandoned elephants, as well as those injured in the wild, amongst them famous residents such as the three-legged elephant, Sama and a blind elephant Raja Return back to Kandy for visit of the Peradeniya Botanical Garden.
Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, set 6km southwest of Kandy, the largest and finest gardens in Sri Lanka, which covers almost 150 acres. This was the pleasure garden of the kings of Kandy.It was transformed into a botanical garden by the British in 1821. There are around ten thousand trees in the gardens: The area around the entrance is largely given over to small scale flora, including an orchid house, a spice garden and a tiny Japanese Garden. There are five palm avenues, a huge Fines tree (Fines Benjamin) covering an area of more than 2000 square meters, Great circle around which the state guests, such as Late Czar of Russia, Queen Mary, Harold McMillan and Queen Elizabeth II have planted trees during their visits it Sri Lanka.
The Orchidarium is a sight to behold! You will have a chance to stroll through the gardens for a short while. Close to the entrance of the Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya University, is one of the islands most illustrious places of higher education. The university was built by the British in 1946 and has faculties including Medicine and Engineering. About 6000 students study in this university and even residential faculties are provided for most of the students. We will drive you through the Campus.
Late in the evening you will visit a Kandyan Dancing performance and be treated a spectacular fine-walking as a final. Kandy
Day 3
Breakfast at the bungalow.
Transfer from Kandy to Sigiriya for a visit of the famous Lions rock.
Climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens’ of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Return back to Kandy.
Rest of the day at leisure at the bungalow. This evening a Private candle lit dinner will be arranged for your last dinner in Kandy.
Overnight stay in Kandy.
Day 4
Breakfast at the bungalow. Then take the picturesque route to Hatton, via tea plantations & the beautiful country side.
Arrive & check-in to a Luxury room at the Ceylon Tea Trails.
Lunch at the restaurant of the hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure to make use of the activities offered at the bungalow or just sit back and enjoy the breathtaking landscape.
Dinner & overnight stay in Hatton.
Day 5
Breakfast at the bungalow.
Leave the hotel for a visit of Sri Lankas biggest & most famous plateau.
Perched on the very edge of the hill country midway between Nuwara Eliya and Haputale,Horton Plains Natural Park covers a wild stretch of bleak, high altitude moorland bounded at its southern edge of the hill country, including the famous ‘World End”, where the escarpment falls sheer for the best part of a kilometer to the lowlands below. You will feel the cool, wet climate which has fostered the growth of a distinctive range of flora, including various rhododendrons, bamboos, tree ferns and many endemic species of plants, making the Plains an area of great biological value.
The Plains’ wildlife attraction are relatively modest. Leopards still visit the park, but one has to be incredibly luckily to see one. The parks most visible residents are its herds of deer and bear-faced monkeys. The plains are also one of the best places in the island for bird watching and an excellent places to see Montana endemics such as the dull-blue flycatcher; bush warbler, whistling thrush, yellow-eared bulbul, as well as orange minarets.
Return back to the hotel or proceed on an optional excursion of the second tallest water fall of Sri Lanka – Dunhinda (210 Feet)
The Dunhinda Falls are located 5 km north of Badulla on the Badulla – Taldena Road. From the main road, with its fine views of the Badulu Oya valley, there is a 1- 2 kilometre path to the waterfall. This path in fact follows the course of the Badulu Oya, which flows at the bottom of the valley through dense forest.
Dinner & overnight stay in Hatton.
Day 6
Breakfast at the bungalow.
Rest of the day at leisure making use of the many activities on offer at the tea trails.
Optional – A picnic lunch can be organized at a romantic & private location in the picturesque landscape surrounding the bungalow
This evening enjoy a Private candle lit dinner at a romantic location with a butler to cater all of your needs.
Overnight stay in Hatton.
Day 7
Early breakfast at the bungalow.
Transfer to Colombo. Arrive & check-in to a Piazza room at The Regency. Rest of the day at leisure enjoying the cool winds blowing in from the Indian ocean. Later, attend a private dinner at a romantic location overlooking the Indian Ocean at the Sea food restaurant of the Galle Face Hotel. Overnight stay in Colombo.
Day 8
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the departure. Arrive at the Colombo Airport & assistance at the departure.
Want a little more? Talk to Barefoot Traveller about options for extending your honeymoon stay including beach stays, The Maldives or more adventure and culture in the stunning surrounds of Sri Lanka.
