7Days 5Nights Private Tour

DAY 01 SINGAPORE / NEGOMBO (Lunch / Dinner) MI 428 Singapore / 0850 / 1020 Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Negombo.

An exciting excursion in Negombo awaits you in the afternoon.

Negombo is the famous fishing village North of Colombo, with a Dutch built Canal. The canal itself is a hive of activity with fishermen traveling up and down in their daily-painted boats. On the shores of the canal you will find many homes and many species of birds including spectacular Kingfishers.

Return to your hotel and have some time to relax by the beach.

Overnight : 4* Goldi Sands, Negombo or Similar - Deluxe Room

DAY 02 NEGOMBO / (5.5 hours) (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Leave for Nuwara Eliya today.

Arrive in Nuwara Eliya in the afternoon. Nuwara Eliya - The „Little England‟ of Sri Lanka, is set against beautiful backdrops of Mountains, Valleys, Waterfalls and Tea Plantations. It is supposed to be one of the coolest places in the Island, but it is really just like an English spring day, although the temperature does drop at night. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence, houses like country cottages or Queen Ann style mansions. The Victoria Park, in the middle of the town, is a lovely place for a stroll or a picnic and is also good for birding as you get some rare birds in this Park. Seasons may be absent elsewhere in Sri Lanka, but here you can read them by the flowers, which bloom in the spring (March to May) and the fall (August and September). These are the “seasons” when low-country folk flock to Nuwara Eliya to escape the sea level heat and humidity.

Overnight : Jetwing St Andrews or Similar - Superior Room

DAY 03 NUWARA ELIYA / HORTON PLAINS / NUWARA ELIYA (Breakfast/ Lunch / Dinner) Set off as early as 0530 hours for Horton Plains National Park with packed breakfast.

Known to Sri Lankans as Mahaeliya, it became Horton Plains after Sir Robert Horton, British Governor from 1831- 1837. Horton Plains became a Nature Reserve in 1969 and upgraded as a National Park in 1988 due to its unique watershed and bio- diversity values of the “Cloud Forest Reserve”. Its flora has high level of endemism. The hills are covered with diverse wet low evergreen forest with even large trees grown flattened to the ground on the higher windswept slopes. Horton Plains harbours 52 species of resident birds and 11 species of migrant birds. More than 2,000 to 3,000 Sambhur, Bear Monkey, Leopard, Barking Deer, Giant Squirrel, Fishing Cat, Wild Boar and Hares roam in the forests and grasslands but only seldom they could be seen other than the Sambhur in the evening and morning. Two escarpments - “World‟s End” and “Little World‟s End” falling from the Horton Plains 1000 feet and 3000 feet respectively, to the land below and the Baker‟s Falls are places you should visit. This is the only National Park where visitors could walk on their own on the designated tracks.

After lunch, visit Pedro Tea Factory. Tea Factory and Tea Plantation - Tea was first planted in Sri Lanka in 1824 at the Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, when a few plants were brought from China. More were introduced from Assam in 1839. In 1867 a Scottish Planter named James Taylor planted tea seedlings on an 8 hectares of forest land, in the Loolcondura Estate. In 1873, the tea export industry of Sri Lanka began with a modest 23lbs being shipped to London. Tea will grow well only on rolling terrain and is classified be elevation into low grown, medium grown, high grown, into 3 main groups. In 1996 Sri Lanka has produced 258 million kg of tea and has earned Rs. 34,068 million by exporting 244 million kg of tea.

Overnight : Jetwing St Andrews or Similar - Superior Room

DAY 04 NUWARA ELIYA / UDAWALAWE (4 hours) (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) After breakfast check out and proceed to Udawalawe.

In the evening proceed on a Jeep Safari in the Udawalawe National Park. Framed by soaring highlands on its northern boundary, the Uda Walawe National Park is one of the world's best places to see wild elephants. Largely comprised of grasslands and bush forest, it's also one of the best national parks in Sri Lanka for game spotting. The park is located

approximately 200 km south-east of Colombo city and is a major eco tourism destination in Sri Lanka. The 30,821 hectares dry zone game park has an annual rainfall of 1524 mm and an average temperature of 29.4°C. It is most famous for the many elephants that live there (about 400 in total). During a visit, it is not unusual to see whole herds of adults and young elephants - feeding or bathing and playing in the water! In addition to this main attraction, the park is home to many water buffalo, water monitor lizards, sambar deer, monkeys and the occasional leopard, as well as being an exciting location for bird enthusiasts.

Overnight : Grand Udawalawe, Udawalawe or Similar - Superior Room

DAY 05 UDAWALAWE / (4.5 hours) (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) This morning check out and proceed to Galle. En route witness Stilt Fisherman - local fisherman going about their daily routines. In chest-deep water just few meters off-shore, you will find the stilt fisherman, perched on a cross bar off a single pole planted into the sea-bed. This is a common method of fishing amongst the locals in the southern part of Sri Lanka.

Continue the drive to Galle.

Sri Lanka‟s most historically interesting town is Galle. It was a major port until about 100 years, but today still handles shipping and sailing boats in the natural harbour. Stroll around the lighthouse and harbour or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and wood carvers and purchase some the finest souvenirs. *The Dutch Fort - The South Coast‟s major city is Galle, whose oldest landmark is the massive Portuguese and Dutch Fort which is a “World Heritage Site” in which the central city is contained. But the city may be much older. Some scholars believe it to be the “Tarshish” of the Old Testament, to which King Solomon sent his merchant vessels, and to which Jonah fled from the Lord.

Overnight : Bey Marriot Resort, Weligama or Similar - Superior Room

DAY 06 GALLE / COLOMBO (2.5 hours) (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Check out of your hotel for your Colombo city tour with a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative centre and military garrison, Sea Street - the Goldsmith‟s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, where is also a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. Also visit the BMICH, see the replica of Avukana Buddha and the Independence Square.

It‟s shopping time. Shop at ODEL Unlimited which provides ample opportunity indulge, not only in shopping for designer wear apparel for the whole family, but also take taste buds on a voyage of discovery. Discover yourself at Barefoot - Toys Bags, Clothes, Handloom Fabric, Sarongs Sarees - Household Linen Art Photography Books Furniture Gallery Café.

Transfer to the airport for your dinner bidding farewell to Sri Lanka for your flight home.

DAY 07 COLOMBO / SINGAPORE SQ469 Colombo / Singapore 0110 / 0740

Arrive in Singapore.

PROPOSED FLIGHT SCHEDULE

Date Flight No Sector ETD / ETA

Nov 18 MI 428 Singapore / Colombo 0850 / 1020

Nov 24 SQ 469 Colombo / Singapore 0110 / 0740