Day Trips
01 - Ocean Safari - Whale Watching
Description
- Meeting at the hotel early in the morning (attention! Depending on the starting point of the tour, the meeting time may vary). Arrival in Mirissa by 06:15.
- Purchase of tickets, accommodation on the yacht, sailing at 07:00.
- Sea safari in the ocean lasts up to 4 hours, while swimming you can see several species of dolphins, flying fish, sea birds.
- Whale watching, return to the beach.
- If possible and if desired, on the way to the hotel you can visit the Galle Fort and the turtle farm.
02 - Sightseeing tour of Colombo
Description
The commercial capital of Sri Lanka – Colombo – is an amazing mixture of different cultures, religions, times and peoples. The history of Colombo begins in the fifth century AD, when Arab traders arrived on the island and chose this place for their settlements. Then the Portuguese arrived here in succession, followed by the Dutch, followed by the British, and all those who arrived left their indelible mark on the appearance of the city and its spirit.
You will be met at the airport, seaport, Colombo hotel or suburb by a Russian-speaking guide, and on an air-conditioned minibus you will be taken to the central part of Colombo – from here a sightseeing tour of the main city of Sri Lanka will begin.
During the tour, you will get acquainted with the architecture of the central part of Colombo, which is a mixture of European and Asian styles, visit the Fort area , where only a small fragment in the form of a stone block reminds of the fort built by the Portuguese, on which you can see the coat of arms of the Portuguese king. The old lighthouse is well preserved and is still in working condition. You will see huge business centers and great hotels located in this part of the city.
Then we will move to Petta – this is the trading capital of Sri Lanka, where a street market has grown for many blocks, where you can buy anything and even more. You will see the Jamul al Far Mosque on the Main Street of Petta – this is a red and white building built in 1909 and interesting in that it resembles St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow with its diversity and decorating techniques. Next, we will visit a large Hindu temple dedicated to God wars of Skanda, decorated with stucco and a thousand figurines depicting Hindu gods, and the Buddhist temple of Gangaramaya, the richest temple in Sri Lanka, inside which there is a museum.
Also during the sightseeing tour you will see the Independence Palace and Independence Avenue , which were built in 1950 by the first Prime Minister of the country in honor of Sri Lanka’s independence from Great Britain.
A large white building, similar to the US White House, is the Colombo Municipality, the so-called “White House”, which was built in the 30s of the last century. Around it is located the largest city park Viharamaadevi , named after the mother of the first king of the united island of Sri Lanka, who lived in the 1st century BC. Prior to this, the park was named Victoria, in honor of the Queen of England.
If you wish, you can visit one of the best zoos in Asia – Dehiwala Zoo. Significant in area, interesting in terms of landscape, with a huge number of animals, birds, fish and insects, Dehivela Zoo will also offer you an unforgettable show of dancing elephants (the program starts at 16-30).
Also optional – shopping in the shopping centers of Colombo.
03 - Rafting in Kitulgala
Description
For lovers of adventure and water sports, we offer rafting. Rafting is a group rafting on a turbulent (“white”) mountain river. On an inflatable raft, strictly following the instructions of the instructors, you have to maneuver between boulders, overcome river rapids, while enjoying the beauty of tropical nature.
At the hotel (airport, port) you will be met by an English-speaking guide, and we will head to Kitulgala in an air-conditioned minibus. On the way you will see beautiful tropical landscapes, plantations of rubber trees.
Upon arrival, you will be able to change clothes, and you will be taken to the starting point of the rafting by special transport. During the descent you will be accompanied by 2 instructors. Equipment (vests, helmets, oars) are issued on the spot.
At the end of the rafting, you can take a shower, change clothes and have lunch, after which the minibus will go back to your hotel.
04 - Pinnawala - Elephant Orphanage
Description
This tour will allow you to get to know the symbolic animals of Sri Lanka – elephants. In such numbers as here they can be seen only in the Minneriya National Park.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was set up by the Sri Lankan authorities in 1975 in an effort to conserve the island’s declining elephant population. The civil war, which lasted for more than one decade, completely put the elephants on the brink of extinction – it is in the central and northeastern regions of the island that wild elephants are beaten, becoming victims of mines and shells.
Today, about 60 individuals permanently live in the nursery, they are brought here if the elephant was injured or the little elephant was left without parents. In addition, several baby elephants were born already in the nursery itself. In the Elephant Orphanage they are provided with food and care.
An excursion to the elephant nursery will look like this. At the hotel (airport, port) you will be met by a Russian-speaking guide, and you will move towards Pinnawala in an air-conditioned minibus. In the reserve, you will have the opportunity to watch elephants bathe in the river, bottle-feed baby elephants, and even participate in the process.
A short drive from the Elephant Orphanage, you can ride these strong animals for about $25 per person. You will also get the opportunity to treat the elephant with a bunch of bananas with your own hands.
After that, you will be transferred to the hotel.
05 - Kandy – Must see
Description
- Early in the morning (approximately at 6 a.m.) you will be met by a Russian-speaking guide, and on an air-conditioned minibus we will go deep into the island.
- On the way (optional) we can visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was set up by the Sri Lankan authorities in 1975 in an effort to conserve the island’s declining elephant population. Today, about 60 individuals permanently live in the nursery, they are brought here if the elephant was injured or the little elephant was left without parents. In the reserve, you will have the opportunity to watch elephants bathe in the river, bottle-feed baby elephants, and even participate in the process.
- A short drive from the Elephant Orphanage, you can ride these strong animals for about $25 per person. You will also get the opportunity to treat the elephant with a bunch of bananas with your own hands. The total time in the kennel is no more than one and a half hours. You can also have breakfast here if you wish.
- Then we move towards Kandy, on the way we visit a small tea plantation and a tea factory. Here you can watch how tea is collected, sorted, fermented, and even drink a cup or two of fragrant fresh drink.
- Then we move to Peradeniya. The world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens are located here. Huge in area, the botanical garden has the largest collection of amazing plants in Asia. You will see the Orchid House, an alley of royal palms and a double coconut, an umbrella tree. In the depths of the park, you can watch a large colony of flying foxes living in the crowns of tall trees. The alley of famous people will please with a tree planted by Yuri Gagarin in 1963.
- After visiting the garden, we will head to Kandy itself, where we will have a sightseeing tour of the city, where you can also have lunch. We will visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a place of pilgrimage for thousands of Buddhists from all over the world.
- On the way back, if you wish, you can visit the spice garden, where they grow spices and medicinal plants used in Ayurvedic medicine. Here they prepare a variety of creams, tinctures and more. Another tea factory and not a big tea plantation.
06 - Safari in Yala National Park
Description
- Meeting at the hotel in the morning, arrival and visit to the Galle fort (depending on the place, the start time of the meeting may vary). Then drive to Yala. after lunch (14:00) jeep safari in Yala park. Return to the hotel. (The time of arrival at the hotel may vary depending on the location of the hotel.
07 - Udawalawe National Park
Description
- Meeting at the hotel in the southern or southwestern part of the island, transfer to UDAWALAWE.
After lunch visit to the national park UDAVALAVE on off-road jeeps.
The safari will take 3-4 hours.
At 18:30 return to the hotel.
- Meeting at the hotel in the southern or southwestern part of the island, transfer to UDAWALAWE.
08 - Sinharaja - rainforest
Description
The Singharaja Rain Forest is included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. This is one of the few places on the planet where you can see the virgin rainforest – Sinharaja is protected by the government of Sri Lanka, special personnel carefully ensure that the forest remains untouched.
A huge variety of birds, animals and insects attracts not only tourists, but also scientists to Sinharaja. You can meet here groups of schoolchildren and students – this is a real textbook for untouched tropical nature!
Your tour will begin with a meeting with a Russian-speaking guide in the lobby of your hotel. On an air-conditioned minibus you will move to the southwestern part of the island.
In Sinharaja, unlike the rest of the National Parks of Sri Lanka, all movements are carried out on foot. Hiking trails range from three to 12 kilometers. You will have to enjoy the tropical nature with the singing of birds and cicadas for 4-5 hours, so take a bottle of water with you and put on comfortable shoes.
Pick up at the hotel, transfer to the Singharaja rainforest. Walking walk through the forest for about 4-5 hours. Transfer back to the hotel.
09 - Sigiriya, Dambulla – Must see
Description
Early in the morning the guide will meet you at the hotel reception or at the airport (at the port). On a comfortable minibus, we will go to the center of the island, to the most famous sights of Sri Lanka – Lion Rock. The path is not short, so we will not stop anywhere – it is important to have time to climb to the top before noon.
Sigiriya is not a resort or a city in the traditional sense. In fact, this is a rock that occupies a central position on which and around which the ancient city of Sigiriya (Ancient City of Sigiriya) was formed. It is about this attraction that they are talking about when they talk about Sigiriya. In 1982, this place was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
After the descent, you will have lunch in one of the nearby restaurants (buffet), if you wish, you can ride an elephant. Then we will visit a no less famous place, the sacred center of the island – the Cave Temple in Dambulla.
This is a cave Buddhist temple of the 1st century BC. e., carved into the rock, with numerous statues of the Buddha. The Stone Temple of the Sleeping Buddha is the largest cave temple in South Asia. The temple has been a sacred place of pilgrimage for over 22 centuries. Many successive rulers of the island took part in the creation of the cave temple complex. It consists of several caves, located at an altitude of 350 meters, and numerous niches, the surface of which is painted with Buddhist wall paintings.
After visiting the cave temple, we leave for the hotel (airport, port). On the way, if desired, you can visit the famous spice gardens of Matale. Return to the hotel late at night.
It is possible to ride an elephant on the way to Sigiriya or on the way back.