HOME TOURS FULL ISLAND
Explore Sri Lanka by railway
- 15NIGHTS
- 16DAYS
- $1950.00PER PERSON
- Inquire Now
In the 19th Century, during the British occupation of Sri Lanka, the British constructed the railway lines and started the Railway service in Sri Lanka to transport Tea from the Hill country estates to the Colombo Port and also imported goods to the interior of the Island. Sri Lanka’s hill country Railway line goes through Tea Estates, making the train journey a scenic ride. This itinerary is specially designed for Rail fans who would like to explore the Sri Lankan railway
Itinerary
Day 01
Our representatives will meet and greet you at the airport from where you will be transferred to Colombo.Check-in and relax for the rest of the day, before starting the long rail tour.
Day 02
Today you will do a brief city tour of the Capital city Colombo, covering interesting places like the railway museum. You can do some shopping leisurely.Return to your hotel and relax.
Day 03
Today you will be proceeding to the Historical City of Anuradhapura. Take packed breakfast from the hotel and proceed to Colombo fort Railway station for your departing train to Anuradhapura. Upon arrival at the Railway station you will be picked up by your chauffeur and proceed to visit the ruins of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdoms, established in 437 BC is the largest of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities of the cultural triangle. En route you will be able to witness the Aukana Buddha statue which was carved out of living rock in the 5th century BC. Followed by a visit to the Kalawewa Tank built in 400 AD. Here you will witness ruins of temples, dagobas and Buddha statutes. You will also visit “The Sri Maha Bodi” a giant Bo tree a which was a sapling from the Bo tree underneath which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. It is the most frequented Buddhist site of Anuradhapura. The fame of Anuradhapura spread as far as the ancient Hellenistic world and established diplomatic links with China. It was the royal seat to 25 Buddhist and Hindu kings and the preeminent city of the island for 1400 years. If there is sufficient time you will also visit Mihintale which is known to be the cradle of Buddhism. Then you will spend the rest of the night at your hotel.
Day 04
Today you will proceed to experience the local train ride from anuradhapura to maho. collect your packed breakfast from the hotel and proceed to the anuradhapura railway station for your early morning train. Upon arrival at maho station you will be picked up by your chauffeur to proceed to Polonnaruwa yet another ancient city of the cultural triangle. It was made capital after the fall of Anuradhapura in 993 BC. Here you will witness the famed monumental ruins of the famous garden city created by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century and also the Brahmanic monuments build during the Chola invasion. The most significant being the Library Monastery, The Citadel and the palace complex and the Vatadage. Concluding your visit leave for habarana for your overnight stay. Check-in to your hotel and relax.
Day 05
After breakfast at the hotel you will be taken to dambulla to see the Golden Cave Temple complex of Dambulla which is known to be one of the largest cave temples of south Asia. Here you will witness ancient rock paintings of Lord Buddha. Upon Conclusion of your visit your visit return to your hotel to relax. In the evening proceed the UNESCO site the Sigiriya Rock Fortress a massive rock fortress which rises 600 feet from the green scrub jungle to accentuate the lucid blue of the sky. Built in the 5th century BC, it is one of the best architectural feats of the ancient world. Its key features being the frescos and its landscaped garden which is known to be Asia’s oldest surviving landscaped garden to experience the panoramic view and beautiful sunset at the peak.
Day 06
Today you will journey to the misty hill country of Kandy. You will be able to indulge in some shopping of items ranging from arts and crafts, gems or clothing. Visit the Temple of Tooth relic.It was built within the royal palace complex which houses the one of the two surviving relic of the tooth of Buddha, an object of veneration for Buddhists.In the evening you will be taken to witness a beautiful cultural show.You will then be transferred to your hotel for the overnight stay.
Day 07
Today you will be taken to the most beautiful botanical garden in the island, the Peradenaiya botanical gardens. It is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. The garden consists of more than 4000 species of plants, including of orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. You will be able to indulge in some shopping of items ranging from arts and crafts, gems or clothing. Spend rest of the day at leisure. Return back to your hotel.
Day 08
Today you will leave for Nuwara-Eliya, which is considered to be the most important location for tea production in the island. After breakfast at the hotel to the peradeniya station for your departing train to Nanuoya(the Nuwara Eliya Station). Upon arrival you will be picked up by your driver and transferred to your overnight hotel.
Day 09
Today you will be taken to visit the famous Gregory lake and if requested you can do a hike at the hortain plains. Return to your hotel and relax.
Day 10
Today you will be transferred to Ella. After leisure breakfast at hotel, enjoy the amenities at the property and check out, and proceed to the railway station for your departing train to Ella. Pick up by the driver at the Ella station and proceed to check in at your overnight hotel.
Day 11
Today you will enjoy a hiking at the little adams peak. “Punchi Sri Pada” is another name for this peak. It is 1141 m in height. Little Adam’s Peak attracts many travelers who come to Sri Lanka. Gradually with an easy hike up to the mountain of Little Adams Peak you can consummation a worth panoramic view. Concluding this you will head to the Famous Ravana Falls, is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Sri Lanka. This popular falls has its roots connected to the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana.Return to your hotel.
Day 12
Today you will proceed to Yala, where you will visit the national park, sri Lanka’s best known national park is popular for Elephants, Leopards, Bears, Crocodiles and Wild Boar. Check in at your hotel and relax.
Day 13
Today you depart for the magical coastal city of Galle. The area still retains much of its old world charm of the colonial period. The coast is lines with lovely boutique hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes. The Galle fort is the absolute treat of Galle. Check into your hotel and relax.
Day 14
Today you spend the day at leisure by the beach or pool at the hotel.
Day 15
Today you leave for the capital city of Colombo by the local train. Upon arrival at the busy Colombo station you will be guided by your driver to your hotel for the rest of they. The evening will be spent at leisure at the hotel.
Day 16
You will be transferred to the Colombo airport for your departure flight
Inclusions
- The above rates are based on twin sharing bases for 02 people on Budget Hotels.
Garlanded Welcome & assistance on arrival at the Airport.
Transport by AC Car.
Meal plan – BB,
Services of an English speaking driver throughout the tour.
Visits according to the program.
Exclusions
- Video Camera permits.
Tickets & Entrance fees for the sites above mentioned.
Early check ins / late check outs.
Expenses of personal nature or any other services not specified above.
Porter rage & Tips.
Any optional activity mentioned in the package.
Compulsory & Peak Period.
Supplements at the hotels.
Lunches and Dinner
Your Tips
Colombo
Colombo, Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and sea-port is blend of old and new. This is a city, which has many reminders of its European colonial past. Bustling bazaars, Buddhist and Hindu Temples and Muslim Mosques contrast with, smart modern Shopping Malls and multi-national chain hotels. Sightseeing highlights include the old parliament houses, Buddhist Temple, Town Hall and the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.
Avukana
The Avukana statue is a standing statue of the Buddha near Kekirawa in North Central Sri Lanka. The statue, which has a height of more than 40 feet (12 m), has been carved out of a large granite rock face during the 5th century. It depicts a variation of the Abhaya mudra, and the closely worn robe is elaborately carved. Constructed during the reign of Dhatusena, it may have been made as a result of a competition between a master and a pupil.
Anuradhapura
The largest and oldest of Sri Lanka’s ancient cities, Anuradhapura is a fitting climax to any tour of the Cultural Triangle. Arguably, it takes a bit more effort to imagine it as it was 2000 years ago, with palaces and huge dagobas standing up to nine floors high, a main processional avenue 24km (16 miles) long and the richly decorated, ostentatious mansions of Sinhalese nobles and wealthy foreign merchants.
Polonnaruwa
Located in the North Central province, was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century A.D. Along with Anuradhapura and Kandy, this ancient city forms one of the points of the “cultural triangle” of Sri Lanka, and contains a wealth of remarkable sites and monuments. Once the favorite country retreat of the royalty of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa was a key settlement even before the medieval period, largely due to its strategic location near the river crossings of the Mahaweli river.
Dambulla
This World Heritage Site is one of the foremost centers of Buddhist pilgrimage as well as one of the largest cave temple complexes in South Asia. It is a major attraction for tourists and locals, who flock to see the dazzling and numerous rocks and wall paintings of Lord Buddha. The monastery was discovered in the 3rd century B.C. Of the numerous chambers found in the shelter, only five are in use today, the best known of which is the Maharaja Vihara.
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The city is located on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours.Trincomalee is an anglicized version of the Tamil word Tirukonamalai (which means “lord of the sacred hill”); it is a hill situated in the end of a natural land formation that resembles an arc. It is one of the main where Tamil is spoken at large scale.
Pinnawela
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, established in 1975, commenced with seven orphans. Today some of these orphans enjoy the fortune of seeing their grandchildren born in the same location
Kandy
The last capital of the Sri Lankan kings is a World Heritage Site. The name “Kandy” conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive.
Peradeniya
This Botanical Garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya is a cool green mountain valley, the heart of Sri Lankan hill country boasts rolling hills interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. It is also acclaimed for its golf courses and amazing tea plantations.
Yala
Sri Lanka’s best known national park is popular for Elephants, Leopards, Bears, Crocodiles and Wild Boar. Three times larger than Udawalawe at 97,800 hectares, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s national parks. Its open, undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but the park is also now famed for its Leopard population due to publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project.
Galle
Galle the capital of southern Sri Lanka in 1587, the Portuguese annexed Galle from its Singhalese kings and built its first fortress naming it “Santacrusz”. Its old world charm appeals as a tourist destination. To this day it looks back to 500 years of nurture under Singhalese, Portuguese, Dutch and British stewardship. The influence of the Dutch on the people of the city architecture and especially the dress code is evident today.
