Sigiriya - Kandy

This is one of the most outstanding excursion programs allowing you to see the most basic must-see attractions of Sri Lanka (Sigiriya Lion Rock, Buddha's Tooth Temple, Kandy, Tea Plantations) in just 2 days.

Organizer:

Luong  · online Travel consultant of Aurora Holidays 23 reviews

"It is my pleasure to help people around the world to get better understanding about Sri-Lanka and Vietnam" Contacts us: +84901401648

Highlights of the tour:

• Sigiriya - a fortress on a cliff, once belonged to the king of demons Ravana (from the epic of Ramayana)
• Buddha Tooth Temple - one of the most sacred places for Buddhists around the world
• The 700-year-old Royal Botanic Garden in Peradeniya, where you can see trees planted by the last Russian emperor, many kings and presidents 
• Tea Plantations where the best tea is grown in the world
• Elephant riding through the jungle, Eco-friendly elephant excrement paper factory, Elephant Museum

Other attractions on the way:

• Ayurvedic Garden
• Village tour, immersion in authentic village life and cooking class
• Golden and Cave Temples in Dambulla 
• Aluvihara Temple, where Tripitaka (Buddhist holy canon) was recorded in caves by monks and the ancient technique of writing on palm leaves is revealed.
• Tea Factory
• Ornithological Tour: Bird Watching 
• Tea Ceremony and Tea Tasting
• National Dance Show 
• Bahiravakande Monastery, Buddha Statue and Observation Deck

Detailed excursion program:

Day 1:

Sigiriya

Sigiriya (which means “lion rock”) is a rocky plateau rising 370 meters above sea level and about 170 meters above the surrounding plain in the very center of Sri Lanka. Since 1982, Sigiriya has been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

 
King Kashyap, in the last quarter of the 5th century AD, built an impregnable fortress on the rock and his palace, in which he lived with 400 concubines. The rock was surrounded by a moat with water, which was filled with crocodiles. 

The monumental Lion Gate led to the top of the plateau. And in the pool for the Kashyap concubines, at a height of 87 meters, water flowed through a complex system of powerful pumps. Before and after the reign of Kasapa, a cave Buddhist monastery existed on a rock.

Golden Temple in Dambulla

The  Golden Temple in Dambulla is a Buddhist cave temple of the 1st century BC, carved into the rock, with numerous statues of Buddha. The Sleeping Buddha Stone Temple is the largest cave temple in South Asia.

The temple complex consists of several caves located at an altitude of 350 meters, and numerous niches, the surface of which is painted with Buddhist wall paintings.

Jeep Safari

Have an oppotunity to spot hundreds of wild elephants in their natural habitat. 

Optional activities:

Elephant Riding

Next we will have the opportunity to ride elephants, go around the local village and cross the river on horseback of these amazing animals.

Village tour and traditional lunch

Also in Sigiriya you can go to the so-called  Village Tour, where you can get acquainted with the life of the Sri Lankan village.

Day 2:

Breakfast and departure from the hotel

On the way to Kandy we will pass traditional agricultural villages, such as Rambutan Village, Pineapple Village, Leather Village and Keshyu Village.

Buddha Tooth Temple

Around 540 BC, the deceased Buddha was cremated and four teeth were taken out of the fire, which were transported around the world. The tooth was brought to Ceylon in 371.
The city of Anuradhapura was chosen as the initial storage location, then the tooth was transferred to the city of Polonnaruwa, and already at the beginning of the 18th century it was transported to Kandy.

The shrine, after several centuries in India, was sent to Ceylon IV by the ruler of Kalinga, who suffered defeats in wars and feared for the fate of his state. The relic on the island was transported by the ruler’s daughter, hiding it in her hairdo. Magical power has long been attributed to this tooth: possessing it, he possessed all the fullness of power. Therefore, the tooth of the Buddha became the possession of the royal dynasty. Inside the Temple there is also a Buddha Tooth museum, which displays a variety of historical artefacts and offerings donated to the temple.

Bahirawakanda Buddha Statue and Observation Point

Next, we will visit the monumental statue of Buddha, located on top of a hill towering above the city.

Royal Botanic Garden

Royal Botanic Garden, whose history spans over 700 years.The shrubs and trees here are gigantic in size, reminiscent of Gulliver's Travels to Lilliput Kids. 

 
Here we can see the magnificent orchid garden, as well as the Alley of Memorial Trees planted by famous historical figures, among whom are Nicholas II (Last Russian King), many British Kings and Queens, first spaceman Yuri Gagarin, etc.

Tea plantations and tea factory

We will visit a tea plantation and a factory where we can see how it is assembled and produced, and even we can taste the legendary, universally recognized Best Ceylon Tea in the World.

Ceylon tea became the front-runner of the industry and was much loved for its unmatched quality and variety. The alchemy of land, sun and rain in the Paradise Island of Ceylon, as it was known 40 years ago, presents the ideal climatic conditions for cultivation of tea.  

Elephant Dung Paper Factory

Elephant Dung Paper Factory is an eco-friendly factory that introduces and explains the unique steps involved in making our much talked about paper products from elephant poop fibers! 

Optional activities:

Bird Watching Tour

Here, in the national reserve, is an ideal place for bird watching (as well as butterflies, lizards and other animals and insects). Optionally, you can go on an hour-long excursion with a professional naturalist and ornithologist.

Hotels where we stay:

Wewa Addara (Sigiriya)

Excursion features Private tour For ready-made groups of 1-8 people Can start any day This tour is not tied to specific dates, you can start on any convenient day Variable program The program can be changed and customized for you Possible with children The tour is recommended for travelers with children Start from anywhere We pick up from any hotel Comfortable car Transport: air-conditioned car or minivan

Optional activities:

• Participate tea ceremony and do the degustation of more than 10 premium varieties of tea ($15)
• Ride the Elephant ($25)
• Visit batik factory where you can try traditional dresses including kandian sari (the only sari in the world which is different from indian sari)
• National Dance Show
• Gem Museum

Rates: 

Private car + accommodation BB
(entrance tickets not included)

All inclusive
(private car, accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, all entrance tickets)

What is included. Entrance tickets

Included:
Comfortable car (or minivan) with air conditioning
English-speaking driver
Gasoline, parking, toll roads
One night accommodation

Entrance tickets (for reference):

 Sigiriya - $ 30
 Jeep Safari - $ 70
 Cave Temple in Dambulla - $ 10
 Village Tour and cooking class - $ 35
 Temple of the Tooth Relic - $ 10
 Royal Botanic Garden in Peradeniya - $ 10
 Elephant Orphanage - $ 18
 Elephant Museum + Elephant ride + Factory Paper of elephant excrement - $ 25
 Tea ceremony and tea tasting - $ 15
 Bird Watching (photo tour) - $ 45

 * All prices in US dollars per person

Reviews about the organizer

John
15.03.2023

Michael
14.07.2022


I, as a professional wildlife photographer, traveled to Sri Lanka with some unusual requests. Igor helped not only to plan the route through the national parks and provided a very good driver, but also helped to find professional ornithologists in all the necessary locations.
We traveled to almost all national parks - Udawalawe, Minneriya, Yalu. We went to Sinharaja. There are many elephants and birds everywhere. Yala confirmed its reputation - here we managed to see leopards, however, unfortunately - very far away. I really liked Khabarana - the best place for shooting birds that you can find. We took a half-day ride to Wilpattu - a little-known park among tourists, which Igor recommended to me. The park itself is beautiful, comfortable, good paths, it is clear that they are taking care of it. You can definitely put it on a par with Yala. Unlucky to see leopards, but lucky to see Himalayan bears and giant squirrels. Of the minuses in Wilpattu - the complete absence of normal hotels near the park. I would not advise anyone to stay here overnight.
The rain spoiled the experience a bit. Complicated filming in Sinharaja. It is a pity that because of the rains it was not possible to shoot in the forests in the Kandy region. If you go to Sri Lanka for the sake of animals and national parks, you still need to take into account the season. But anyway, a huge thank you guys for organizing! With all the difficulties, it was thanks to them that we managed to squeeze the maximum out of this trip. Organization at the highest level - the guys will solve any problems, always in touch, find hotels in the right places at any time, organize transport, professional guides and ornithologists will prompt. Definitely 5+

 Mark
25.04.2019


Good afternoon, the tour went great. Very good guide, we will recommend you to all our friends. THANK YOU!