Study Trip to Sri Lanka

Pick up from the Bandaranaike International Airport and leave to Habarana – Check in at Habarana Village by Cinnamon 4* (Superior Room) – Rest of the day at leisure to relax and wind down after the long flight. Enjoy the very nice pool and surrounding gardens of the hotel. - Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at Hotel – 10:00am proceed on a on a sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa through bicycles.

This medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rose to fame as the capital (10th - 12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour. The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Some of the best examples of the Hindu influence the Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Buddhist temples, the Lankathilake and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus bath, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights.

Lunch at a local restaurant

On completion return to hotel – Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast take a “bird” walk through the hotel gardens to watch the myriad of birds, of which a list of over 150 species including a few endemics have been documented. Also visit the butterfly gardens and Biogas plant of the hotel.
Buffet Lunch at the Hotel

Evening excursion to visit the Sigiriya Rock

This UNESCO World Heritage Site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya glory. Built by King Kashyapa (477- 495 A.D), the “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site.

On completion return to hotel – Dinner and Overnight stay at the hotel.

Breakfast at Hotel – 0900Hrs leave to Kandy – En-route stop at Matale Spice Garden.

You arrive at 10am and do a one hour tour of the spice garden to see spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and many more growing in their natural habitat. Then watch how these spices are used in Sri Lankan cuisine in a cooking demonstration followed by a local lunch at the garden.

Thereafter leave to Kandy - Check-in at Cinnamon Citadel 4* (Superior Room)
Late Afternoon proceed on a City tour of Kandy.

A lovely exotic city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which still retains an aura of grandeur. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its centre, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha. A cultural sanctuary where many legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive, Kandy and its satellite villages are the centre of the islands handicraft industry (items of wood, brass & silver) exquisite silver or gold jewellery and precious gems of many varieties including the world’s best blue and star sapphires.

In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and thereafter witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dancing.

Return to hotel for Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at Hotel – 0800 am leave to Nuwara Eliya – En-route around 0945Hrs visit a Blue Field Tea plantation and a Tea factory, where the best tea in the world is produced. You will be told all about the process of manufacturing tea. You can also see how tea is graded. Taste a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.

Continue to Nuwara Eliya – You can take a city tour in Nuwara Eliya which is also known as little England as well as beauty of the hill country.

Lunch at Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya.

After lunch proceed to the railway station to proceed on a train journey with the locals. This will allow the students to experience a local ride where even tickets should be bought direct from the station with the assistance of the Guide. As tickets should be bought direct the availability is subjected to change.

Meet all the members at the Bandarawela station and proceed to Hotel – Check-in at Orient Hotel 3* (Standard Room). – Train journey will be totally on train availability and ticket availability. If not this run will be by the tour vehicle only.

Enjoy a Bonfire and Barbeque Dinner at the Hotel.

Breakfast at the Hotel – 03 Hrs a gentle climb to Ella Rock.

Ella is blessed with some of the most beautiful views, you could find in Sri Lanka. Sights in Ella include the Ravana Ella Falls, Little Adam's Peak and Bambaragala Peak among other stunning scenery. The Ravana Ella was named after the demon ruler of Sri Lanka Ravana who is the main antagonist in the renowned epic Ramayana. It is believed that he hid Sita whom he kidnapped in India, in the caves situated behind the falls.

On completion return to hotel for Lunch

At 01pm visit local schools in 02 groups where girls will be visiting a girl’s school and the boys will be visiting a boy’s school. These visits will be arranged separately.

Evening proceed to visit a Buddhist temple where you can the students will get a blessing followed by a preaching of Buddhist chants. The students will also get a blessing string which will be tied to the hand.

Return to Hotel - Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.

After Breakfast leave to Udawalawe visit Elephant Transit Home

The Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home is a facility bordering Udawalawe National Park that was established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation with the assistance of the Born Free foundation. Its primary objective is to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for ultimate release back into the wild. The feeding times are 0900hrs, 1200hrs and 1500hrs and at these times they can be watched from the viewing platform for about twenty minutes while they are fed. The rest of the time they spend, out of view of people, in preparation for their return to the wild when they are about four years old.

Afterwards Check-in at Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort 4* (Deluxe Room) Lunch at the Hotel

Afternoon proceed on a Jeep Safari of Uda-Walawe National Park. Best time for the safari is usually from 1500 – 1800Hrs
This national park was established in 1972 to protect the catchment area of the Uda Walawe reservoir, crucial to the livelihoods of the farmers in the south east dry zone. With the land only recently reverting back from cultivation, the park has some fascinating characteristics that make it well worth a visit. Not least of these is the large elephant population. Uda Walawe is the most reliable place to see elephants in their wild habitat year round. Some 400-500 elephants live in the park and herds of up to 50 are commonly seen. The open plains are covered in thick manna grass up to the borders of the large reservoir in the centre and the Walawe River. The park is also covered by some abandoned teak plantation and dense scrub jungle. This variety in habitat makes for a rich variety of wildlife and game. As well as elephants, leopards live in the park (though you will be very lucky to spot one), toque monkeys, grey langur, spotted deer, wild pig and sambar. There are numerous bird species of course and Uda Walawe is particularly rich in raptor species, among them the White Bellied Sea Eagle and the Crested Serpent Eagle.

Return to Hotel - Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.

Breakfast at Hotel – Leave to Colombo - Check-in at Zmax Fairway (Standard Room)
Lunch at a local restaurant
Late afternoon proceed on a City tour of Colombo
The trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Sri Lanka’s largest city, it is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of colour. The original traders and settlers - the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and the British have left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankan. Today, Colombo is a fascinating city - a happy blend of east & west, past & present, with a charm of its own. A less known but amazingly true fact is that Colombo has a superb range of high quality restaurants serving food from all over the world and some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia. The main seaport of Sri Lanka is in Colombo & adjoining it, is Pettah, a local bazaar & trading area. Other places of interest are the beautiful Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, mosques, the historic Wolfendhal church, (1749) residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo Museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, the New Parliament in Sri Jayewardenepura, the Folk Art Centre, Art Galleries, Parks, Independence Square, the Ceramic Corporation famous for its well known brand “Noritake” and ODEL the renowned shopping centre.

Return to Hotel Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.

Breakfast at Hotel – Leave for the airport to connect with the departure flight.