TROPICAL HIKES TOUR-Trekking & Activity Tours | Tour Package | Airwing Tours - Sri Lanka Tours , Tour Pakages, Tour Facilities

TROPICAL HIKES TOUR

TR2

16 Days

Overview

Trek and hike through the paddy fields, tea plantations, spice gardens, waterfalls, streams, dense forests, hills and mountains of Sri Lanka. It will bring about a unique experience that cannot be obtained in any other way.

Highlights

Walk and explore the capital city Colombo.
Explore the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura.
Hike through jungles, farmlands and villages.
Hike through tea plantations.
Visit an elephant orphanage house.

Whats included on this tour?

â–ª Accommodation according to program sharing double/twin room, if you require a single room the single room supplement applies

â–ª All activities according to program

â–ª All transport according to program in a private car or van / for groups in a coach

â–ª Comfortable hotel nights - two categories of hotels to choose from (Economy or Deluxe)

â–ª Local English-speaking guidance

â–ª All sightseeing as described in program

Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL - TRANSFER TO COLOMBO

We arrive in Sri Lanka's capital and are met by our guide at the airport. In the evening we explore Colombo and stroll along the Galle Face Green, a beach promenade popular with locals. We can get appetite at many kiosks along the promenade before enjoying our dinner in a small local restaurant.

DAY 2: COLOMBO - ANURADHAPURA

After breakfast, we drive through coastal villages, along coconut plantations, rice fields and finally through small forests inland to Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka's first capital and the perfect place to start exploring. In the evening we visit the sacred mountain Mihintale. Most days we are accompanied by many pilgrims who carry bowls of lotus as offerings to the temple in white clothing. We start the ascent at the foot of the mountain and a series of stone stairs lead us to the highest point of the sacred mountain. The view over the plains of Anuradhapura with deep lakes and the white domes of the innumerable temples that glow golden in the evening light is rewarding for the ascent.

DAY 3: ANURADHAPURA

After breakfast, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Anuradhapura. We explore the extensive area of enormous dagobas (brick stupas), ancient pools and crumbling temples, built during Anuradhapuraâ€™s thousand years of rule over Sri Lanka. Overnight at a hotel in Anuradhapura.

DAY 4: ANURADHAPURA - JAFFNA

After breakfast, we take the train en route to Jaffna, which has been repaired for decades and get to know a wide variety of landscapes. Many thorny hardwood trees and bushes grow on the plains. To the north and east, they give way to the coconut and palmyra palm trees that are almost everywhere. Finally, we reach our destination Jaffna via the elephant pass. In the afternoon we explore the old core of the second-largest city in the country: we take a look at the Jaffna Fort, then a stroll through the bazaar beckons. A highlight for us is a visit to the Hindu temple Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, which is one of the most beautiful Hindu shrines on the island. In the evening we visit a local family in your home in Jaffna and have the opportunity to learn more about the everyday life of the locals.

DAY 5: JAFFNA

In the morning we drive to Sri Lanka's northernmost coast. In Keerimalai we visit the famous Hindu temple and can dive with pilgrims into the sacred pool fed by a spring. Then we drive a little further west to the village of Dambakola Patuna, where a branch of the sacred Bodhi tree, which still stands today as the Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, arrived from southern India. On the way back from the Jaffna peninsula, which is only about 50 km from India's southern tip, we pay a visit to the Kadurugoda temple in the village of Kantarodai. It is considered a special and magical place with over 20 small stupas, the remains of which were only rediscovered and excavated in 1913.

DAY 6: JAFFNA - TRINCOMALEE

Today we leave the north of the island and drive mostly along the coast to the east to Trincomalee. On the way, we pass a number of small villages, where we can interrupt the trip and maybe have the opportunity to watch the local fishermen at work or even to help, as every helping hand can be used to get the large fishing nets. At lunchtime, we take a break and look for a nice place for a picnic. Then we stop in Thiriyaya and discover the ruins of the Buddhist temple of the same name from the 8th century. We interrupt the trip again to keep an eye out for wild elephants, which with a bit of luck can be seen from a short distance outside of a national park.

DAY 7: TRINCOMALEE

In the morning we can relax, bathe and enjoy the amenities in our hotel in Trincomalee. If you want, you can also take a boat trip to Pigeon Island, which is great for snorkeling (payment on-site). In the afternoon we drive to Trincomalee to visit Fort Frederick and the Shiva temple Koneswaram Kovil.

DAY 8: TRINCOMALEE - POLONNARUWA

We leave our hotel and drive back inland to Polonnaruwa. We explore the ruins of the historic city of Kings by bike (approx. 5 km) before we reach our accommodation in Sigiriya today.

DAY 9: SIGIRIYA

After breakfast we start our varied hike through jungles, farmland and forests, we cross some streams and master a few rocky sections. Then we visit a doctor for traditional medicine. The Ayurveda specialist uses age-old treatment techniques that have been passed on from generation to generation. In the afternoon we climb the famous rock of Sigiriya, which rises almost 200 meters from the green of the surrounding forests and meadows. Many steps, some carved into the stone, lead us up. Via a spiral staircase, we reach the rock gallery of the Apsaras, "cloud girl" - portraits of women painted on the rock. Halfway up we walk through the gigantic paws of a lion sculpture and reach the summit plateau with the remains of the palace of King Kasyapa we the ruins and enjoy the fantastic view, which extends on clear days over the highlands to the mountains of Kandy.

DAY 10: SIGIRIYA - KANDY

Today we drive to Kandy in the central region and visit the Dambulla cave temples on the way. We climb over rocks and steps to the five caves, which are located in a granite rock. Paintings adorn the walls and ceilings and numerous Buddha sculptures were partly carved out of the rock. We continue to Kandy, the former capital is considered the spiritual and cultural center of the country. We visit the Botanical Garden of Peradeniya and get to know the extremely rich variety of tropical plants on the island while walking through the huge area. We catch the eye of exotic flowers and cacti, spices and medicinal herbs, but also rare types of trees and palm trees as well as orchids.

DAY 11: KANDY

Immediately after breakfast, we set off for a hike through tea plantations and spice growing areas. We hike through small villages in the middle of huge fields and enjoy the fantastic views of the Hantana Mountains. In the afternoon we visit Kandy and discover the old citadel, stroll through the market halls and busy streets of the city and visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth during the evening Puja (prayer ceremony).

DAY 12: KANDY - BANDARAWELA

Today we drive up to the central and cooler highlands, which is also the main tea growing region. On the way, we stop in Ramboda to hike through tea fields, rice terraces and small villages. Then it continues to Nuwara Eliya, located at 1,890 meters. For our stay at altitude, we should dress warmly and have a jacket ready. We visit a tea plantation with a factory and learn what processes are necessary from the harvesting of the leaves to the sale product of the Pure Ceylon Tea. We continue to Bandarawela, where we join the chef of our hotel in the evening and learn how to prepare a traditional Sri Lankan Rice & Curry.

DAY 13: BANDARAWELA - OHIYA - BANDARAWELA

Immediately after breakfast, we take the train to Ohiya. The morning train ride with locals through the mountain forests will be a special experience. In Ohiya we start our hike to Bambarakanda Falls, Sri Lanka's highest waterfall. The path leads us through pine forests and tea plantations with a wonderful view of the valley and the eastern plains. The evening is free to relax in the hotel, enjoy an Ayurvedic massage in the wellness area or discover Bandarawela on an evening stroll.

DAY 14: BANDARAWELA - UDAWALAWE

Before we head south today, we make a worthwhile stop in Ella, a small, very popular town in the mountains. Here we take a short hike up to Adam's Peak's little brother, Little Adam's Peak. The hike takes us along paths and paths at around 1,100 meters and rewards us with fabulous views. Afterward, we drive to Udawalawe and move into the rooms in our, right by a lake, accommodation for today. In the afternoon we explore the lake with kayaks and during a break, we meet a farmer who gives us insights into the life of the locals.

DAY 15: UDAWALAWE - INDURUWA

After breakfast, we visit the "Elephant Transit Home" in the Udawalawe National Park. Here injured and orphaned elephant babies are nursed up until they can be released back into the national park. Then it goes on to Galle. In this charming coastal town, whose Dutch colonial buildings shape the cityscape, we take a look at the Galle Fort, which gives us an insight into the colonial past of Sri Lanka. The small streets with shops and restaurants are real witnesses to life during the Dutch colonization. After an extensive tour, continue to our beach hotel in Induruwa.

DAY 16: INDURUWA - DEPARTURE TO THE AIRPORT

After breakfast, you may relax by the pool or beach before transferring to the airport.