Dubai – Sri Lanka Holiday Package

DAY 1
AMS/BRU/FRA – Dubai

Leave for Dubai from from Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Brussels (all available departure airports are listed below). On arrival transfer to your 4* Hotel.
Overnight Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

DAY 2
Modern Dubai with Burj Khalifa-Tower

After breakfast start your guided tour of Dubai. First, a photo stop at the Internationally renowned luxury hotel Burj Al Arab, followed by a drive over the Palm Island and a visit to the Hotel Atlantis. Continue to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa Tower. At the foot of the tower, you can watch the unique water features – colorfully illuminated and accompanied by music. After a stroll through the Madinat Jumeirah Souk (local Market), transfer back to your hotel.
Optional: The ascent to the platform on the 124th floor at 404 meters of the Burj Khalifa Tower can be booked. From the top, enjoy a bird’s-eye view over Dubai. (approx. €60 per person).
Overnight Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

DAY 3
Explore Dubai with optional Desert Safari

Today you can explore Dubai on your own and/or book one of the following excursions:

Desert Safari: Hotel pickup in the afternoon. A sunset drive into the desert in an off-road vehicle. Belly dancers create an authentic atmosphere at a delicious BBQ in the Bedouin camp. Return to the hotel in the late evening. Price per person €70 .

Evening Dhow Cruise: Enjoy sailing on the canal along the impressive skyline. Arabic buffet and soft drinks included. Price per person €68.
Overnight Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

DAY 4
Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the capital and seat of the government of the United Arab Emirates. The highlight of the visit is the magnificent white Sheikh Zayed Mosque! Modern skyscrapers crowd on the small island. Along the beach promenade, fountains and flower-covered parks catch the eye. At the Heritage Village, a museum, crafts show, desert panorama and a restored Bastakia house provide a glimpse of life 100 years before the oil was discovered. Drive past the F1 track (photo stop) on your way back to Dubai.
Overnight Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

DAY 5
Dubai – Sri Lanka

Abuwoyan-Welcome to Sri Lanka! Arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Negombo. Negombo is famous for its beach, the Dutch Heritage Sites, and, of course, fresh seafood.
Acclimatize & relax at a beach bar or swimming pool.
Overnight Negombo.

DAY 6
Negombo – Private City Tour – Canal and Lagoon Boat Trip

NEGOMBO SIGHTSEEING TOUR
In the middle of NEGOMBO stands the stately pink landmark of St Mary’s Church, one of the many large Roman Catholic churches that dot Negombo and the coast north from Colombo. Portuguese missionaries were particularly active in the area, converting many of the local Karava fishermen. Their devotion to Roman Catholicism can still be seen, not only in the churches but also in the dozens of beautiful little wayside shrines along the main roads around town.
A detour towards the sea runs past the harbor and the main fish market. Negombo Lagoon is the source of some of the island’s most highly prized seafood, especially its large and juicy prawns. Daily fish auctions are held early in the morning (around 7 am) where crowds of locals can be seen haggling animatedly over huge piles of tuna, seer, mullet, crabs, and other forms of marine bounty. Negombo Beach itself is a working beach, the preserve of fishermen mending their nets, making reed baskets, or working on their vessels in preparation for the night’s fishing.

MUTHURAJAWELA WETLANDS – Canal and Lagoon Boat Trip
The saltwater wetlands and lagoons are home to abundant birdlife as well as to toque macaque monkeys, water monitors, and the occasional crocodile. The boat putters down the Hamilton Canal before reaching the southern end of the Negombo Lagoon, a breezy expanse of water running around patches of tangled mangrove swamp with egrets, herons, and kingfishers perched in the branches. About 7000 years old; Muthurajawela was declared a sanctuary in 1996 in recognition of its immense bio-diversity. This trip is pure romance around sunset time.
Overnight Negombo.

DAY 7
Negombo – Anuradhapura – Sacred Bo Tree – Sigiriya

ANURADHAPURA SIGHTSEEING
Sri Lanka’s first capital, ANURADHAPURA was founded by King Pandukhabaya in 380 BC and remained far and away the biggest and most important city on the island for nearly 1,400 years until the capital moved finally eastwards to Polonnaruwa. Anuradhapura’s 113 kings (and four queens) oversaw a great flowering of the arts, producing magnificent palaces, intricate sculptures, ornate pleasure gardens, and a sequence of vast stupas built to protect the most sacred relics of Buddhism. Perhaps the most impressive achievement was in irrigation, with reservoirs constructed to preserve the monsoon rains, and a system of sluices put in place to keep the rice paddies productive.
The Sanctuary at Tissawewa, set in what was formerly part of the Royal Pleasure Gardens, is a good place to start the exploration of the ruins on foot or rentals bicycles.
A short drive to the north, you can see the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Sacred Bo Tree the oldest historically documented tree in the world. The tree grew from a sapling of the original bo tree of Bodhgaya in India, under which the Buddha gained enlightenment. It was brought to Sri Lanka by Sangamitta, the daughter of Emperor Ashoka, in the 3rd century BC. Encircled by a gold-plated railing, it stands amid younger trees. Most of the island’s bo trees have been nurtured from the Sri Maha Bodhi’s seeds. Buddhists consider watering the bo tree an act of devotion, so you might see pilgrims, pots of water in hand, helping to nourish the plant.
Within walking distance of the bo tree is the Brazen Palace (Loha Pasada), which once had a bronze roof, nine floors, and housed 1,000 monks. Only about 1,600 stone pillars now remain of its former splendors.
Overnight Sigiriya.

DAY 8
Sigiriya – Lion Rock Fortress – Minneriya National Park

SIGIRIYA ROCK
Rise early to beat the crowds at the breathtaking Sigiriya Rock – a UNESCO Heritage Site. Although the colossal rock, with its frescoes, Mirror Wall and Lion Platform, is the main attraction, there are also lovely grounds in which to wander.
Inscriptions found in the caves that honeycomb the base of the rock indicate that SIGRIRIYA served as a place of religious retreat as far back as the third century BC, when Buddhist monks established refuges here. It wasn’t until the fifth century AD, however, that Sigiriya rose briefly to pre-eminence in Sri Lankan affairs, following the power struggle which succeeded the reign of Dhatusena (455–473) of Anuradhapura. Save plenty of time for the Sigiriya Museum, which has archaeological finds and other artifacts on display.

After lunch, enjoy an afternoon jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park, where you can see wild Asian elephants. They are particularly numerous in August and September when they migrate along a corridor from neighboring parks to feed on the fresh grass on the lake bed – an annual event known as “The Gathering“.
Overnight Sigiriya.

DAY 9
Sigiriya – Dambulla Rock and Cave Temples – Udawattakele Nature Sanctuary – Kandy

DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLES
En-Route to Kandy, visit DAMBULLA. From the entrance to Dambulla Rock and Cave Temples, steps are leading to the cave temples themselves, passing an enormous gilded Buddha on the way. The temples were created by King Valagambahu, who hid here in the 1st century BC after Indian invaders had seized his capital, Anuradhapura. After regaining Anuradhapura, Valagambahu later built the temples to give thanks for the shelter the caves had afforded him. The most impressive of Sri Lanka’s many cave temples, the five shrines sit side-by-side beneath a huge rocky overhang, filled with a treasure-trove of Buddhist art, including innumerable statues of the Buddha and other deities, plus the finest selection of murals on the island.

UDAWATTAKELE NATURE SANCTUARY
An enchanting forest reserve, Udawattakele Sanctuary is steeped in rich history with tales of long ago whispered through the rustling leaves. Nestled near the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, it is a rich storehouse of endemic flora and numerous bird species. Once a forbidden forest strictly reserved for royalty, this sanctuary is one of the main Kandy tourist attractions for nature lovers offering much to discover; explore ancient pathways lit by sunlight, visit sheltered Buddhist monasteries & in the stillness, enjoy the soft calling of birds.
Overnight Kandy.

DAY 10 
Kandy

KANDY CITY TOUR
The last Sinhalese kingdom, Kandy is central to the history of Sri Lanka and is home to many of the island’s cultural gems. Meaning ‘hill’, Kandy once stood as an impenetrable fortress against invading colonial powers, withstanding all attempts of invasion until the British finally deposed the king in 1815. Kandy houses the world-famous Temple of the Tooth, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world, which was built to protect the sacred tooth relic thought to belong to Lord Buddha, which has been enshrined in Sri Lanka for hundreds of years. As well as a host of other temples and visit the Kadungannawa Tea Factory. Kandy is one of the best places to explore the art history of Sri Lanka and travelers should take the time to see a Kandyan cultural show.
Kandy Market is the central retail and wholesale market for the city and surrounding areas. One of the most interesting aspects is the contrast of people, religions, and ethnicities you encounter in Kandy, all living in perfect chaotic harmony. A church sits in the vicinity of the Temple of the Tooth, side by side with a Kovil and the great Red Mosque. The market itself is full of weird and wonderful vegetables, fruits and spices, and is – as you would expect – noisy and smelly!

TEMPLE OF THE SACRED TOOTH RELIC
If an elephant carries a tooth in a gold casket through the streets, it must be a very special tooth. The tooth is said to be from the Lord Buddha and is now worshiped in the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The tooth is revered for the spiritual power of Buddha stored in it and that it also acts as a rainmaker. The latter characteristic, in particular, led to many conflicts between kings, because possession of the tooth underpinned the respective king’s claim to power since his country was safe from drought.
In this temple district, there are Buddhist and Hindu shrines, in the immediate vicinity a church and a mosque, so that 4 world religions are represented in a small area.

ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
Just outside the Kandy city limits lies this little paradise with thousands of tropical and subtropical plants. Created by the British in the 19th century, the Peradeniya Botanical Garden is still considered one of the most beautiful in Asia.
you can find over 4000 flowers, shrubs, medicinal plants, and trees from all tropical regions of the world. The 60 hectares of gardens, forests, and houses can be explored in countless ways on foot or in oxen-drawn carriages.
In the orchid house, a sea of ​​flowers of over 200 different species will delight every nature lover. In addition, many birds, butterflies, and numerous other animals, such as flying foxes, can be observed.
Overnight Kandy.

DAY 11
Kandy – Tea Plantations – Nuwara Eliya

No visit to the hill country is complete without a visit to a tea estate, where you can view the vibrant green fields of tea which for so many people epitomize the image of Sri Lanka. Surrounded by the breathtaking, idyllic landscape, you will also get a chance to taste and purchase some of the world’s finest tea. Nuwara Eliya is situated at around 2000m above sea level and surrounded by lush tea plantations.
Once a pleasure retreat of the European planters the town is still very much an English town with many English-style bungalows and buildings. Nicknamed “Little England” it is one of the coldest cities in the country. All around Nuwara Eliya you will see evidence of the British influence including red telephone boxes and well-tendered hedgerows. The town’s high altitude affords visitors breath-taking vistas over the valleys, grasslands, and mountains. Some of the finest teas in the world are produced here, and a visit to a tea factory and a tea plantation is a must. The process is unchanged since Victorian times, and you can follow it through from picking, drying, and crushing to fermenting, packing, and finally tasting.
Overnight Nuwara Eliya.

DAY 12
Nuwara Eliya – Ella Wildlife Sanctuary – Udawalawe National Park

After breakfast leave for Udawalawe National Park. On the way visit the Ravana Waterfall. This waterfall measures approximately 25 m (82 ft) in height and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with withering petals. But this is not the case in the dry season when the flow of water reduces dramatically. The falls form part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary and is located 6 km from Ella.
Proceed to Udawalawe.
Jeep Safari at the Udawalawe National Park. This Park comprises grasslands and thorn scrubs and many valuable species of trees, especially teak.
It is largely inhabited by elephants, spotted deer, sambhur, water buffaloes, mongoose, bandicoots, foxes, water monitor lizards, crocodiles, wild boars, Toque Monkeys, Grey Langur, leopards and 30 varieties of snakes.
Bird life of Uda Walawe (Udawalawe) National Park includes Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Wooly-necked Stork, Black-headed Ibis, Black-shouldered Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Shikrs, Sirkeer Malkoha, and Blue-faced Malkoha.
Overnight Udawalawe.

DAY 13 – 16
Udawalawe – South Coast – Tangalle

SOUTH COAST BEACHES
Among Sri Lanka’s South Coast Beaches, all with white sandy shorelines and turquoise waters, TANGALLE is still like a dream on another level. Since the beach is basically located at the end of the (coastal) road, it serves as the perfect retreat for relaxing away from the hustle and stress of daily life. The white sands, palm groves, and the lovely waters, set in a tropical environment are the perfect beach getaway.
The beautiful white sand beach will give you the true vibes of a tropical paradise and goes on for kilometers at a stretch with bays and beaches on both the north and south sides.
The beach offers some of the most spectacular views of the sunset. Though the water is deep blue and pretty, swimming at Tangalle Beach is not suitable as the tides can be quite rough and it can be quite dangerous. The small bay with a sheltering reef, is one of the places that you should definitely visit. The reef catches the bigger waves and it acts like a natural Jacuzzi. The soft sands of the beach also make it an ideal spot for a nice morning run.

YALA
Sri Lanka is one of the best places in Asia for seeing wildlife. The island’s isolation from the mainland, the heavy rainfall of the two diagonally blowing monsoons, and the country’s wide range of altitudes have given Sri Lanka a variation in climate and biodiversity normally found only across an entire continent.
The top draw is the Sri Lankan leopard, a sub-species endemic to the country; in certain areas of the park, the average leopard density is as high as one cat to every square kilometer. During the fruiting of the palu trees in June and July, sloth bears are often observed.
Other animals you might spot include sambar (a large deer), spotted deer, buffalo, wild pig, stripe-necked and ruddy mongooses, langur monkey, toque monkey, golden jackal and Indian palm civet.
The combination of freshwater, marine, scrub and woodland areas ensures a high diversity of birds. Indeed, the park hosts 220 different types, and serious twitchers have recorded 100 species in a single day.

REKAWA TURTLE WATCH
The southern golden beaches of Rekawa are known to attract several endangered species of sea turtles; which include loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley, green and leatherback turtles. These five species make their way to the stretch of untouched beach in Rekawa to lay their eggs before heading back to the ocean.
The Rekawa Turtle Watch is a conservation project which aims at protecting the nesting sites, thereby ensuring the eggs hatch safely and the baby turtles can return home. Travellers can embark on a turtle watching excursion in the evenings to catch a glimpse of turtles laying their eggs.

VISIT KATARAGAMA
A sacred pilgrimage town Kataragama is a temple complex dedicated to Buddhist guardian deity “Kataragama deviyo” and Hindu War God Kathirkamam. It is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda people. As such, the KATARAGAMA festival (middle of each year) is visited by the rich, poor, and all religions alike.
Overnight Tangalle Beach.

DAY 17
Tangalle – Airport – or Extention

End of the Sri Lanka Tour. Depending on your travel plans, you can extend your stay with our Special Maldives Package or be driven back to the airport for your return flight.

Book Dubai – Sri Lanka Holiday Package 17 Days

from
4 PAX EURO 1.455 pp (sharing 2 double rooms)
2 PAX EURO 1.555 pp (sharing a double room)

Special Group & Family Rates on Request

This tour is fully customizable, or our Sri Lanka Experts can help you to create a unique Sri Lanka Experience from scratch.

4 Days / 3 nights MALDIVES EXTENTION from EURO 750 pp
Meeru Island Resort l Garden Villa l FB l Return transfer by speed boat

Mobile/WhatsApp : 0094 773 866 315
b2b@sri-holidays.com

*we can arrange flights from all major European Airports at the best available rates!