Ancient Wonders
2 Day tour of Sri Lanka
Ancient Wonders is a short, single night, 2-day tour into the heart of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle. Visit multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites beginning from the historical Dambulla Golden Cave Temple complex that once served as both an ancient kingdom as well as monastery for Buddhist monks and pilgrims. This site dates back to the 1st Century BC and has a mesmerizing story to tell. The ruined city of Polonnaruwa is the next site on the list and has a history dating back as far as the 10th Century AD. Finally, you will get to explore the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, which is considered one of the most sacred cities among Buddhists all over the world. Much like the previous two ancient cities, Anuradhapura also has a history dating back several centuries and is one of Sri Lanka’s prime examples of ancient culture and heritage
Highlights
- World Class – UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Cultural Triangle – Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura.
Itinerary
Dambulla - 1 Night
Day 01
Start your journey at 0700 hrs from your hotel in Colombo. You will be met by a designated chauffer guide from Lakpura. After the formalities at the hotel you will be escorted to your air conditioned vehicle and proceed to Dambulla and visit Cave Temple. (Travel Time: 4 to 4 ½ hrs)
Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.
Thereafter proceed to Polonnaruwa and check in to the hotel. (Travel Time: 50 to 60 mins) Later visit the Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
Visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka’s ancient history.
On completion return back to the hotel and relax.
Overnight Stay
Economy Option (3 Star) – Fresco Water Villa
Standard Option (4 Star) – Cinnamon Lodge
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Heritance Kandalama
Departure
Day 02
After breakfast at the hotel check out, proceed to Anuradhapura and visit the Sacred City of Anuradhapura. (Travel Time: 1 to 1 ½ hrs)
Walk through the ancient ruined city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital for over a millennium until the 10th century AD. View the pagodas, monastic buildings and ponds that are scatter all over the vast area. Visit important landmarks such as Jetavanarama, which was one of the tallest buildings of the ancient world, the Sri Maha Bodhi and the ruins of the huge Abhayagiri Monastery. Gain more knowledge about Sri Lanka’s history as you walk in the footsteps of Kings.
On completion start your journey back to your hotel in Colombo. (Travel Time: 4 to 4 ½ hrs)
~ End of Tour ~
Price Starting From:
USD 175 Per Person
When to go on this trip?
The best time of the year you can enjoy this trip is All-Year-Round. The climate in Sri Lanka at these locations are such that you can enjoy this tour anytime.
When to book
We recommend that you book this tour at least 6 months ahead.
What add-ons are available for this trip?
We can arrange for just about any add-on’s on this trip. Have a chat with one of our Tour Consultants to help you decide.
Our Experts are ready to help
For more information or to book this wonderful tour please email our travel experts.
Hotel Timing
Standard Check in time : 1400 hrs.
Standard Check out time : 1200 hrs.
The above may differ from hotel to hotel. Speak to your travel expert for more details.
We are able to arrange early check-in and late check-outs depending on the hotels you choose. However, you may be subject to additional charges.
Booking Process
After deciding on which trip you want to go, send us an inquiry with the requested details. If you want to further customize this trip, our travel experts would be glad to help perfect the tour itinerary for you. Once all planning is final, the next step is starting the booking process. We request for a 20% deposit to confirm the booking. On receipt of the deposit, our team will start booking your hotels and the vehicles that were agreed upon. The balance 80% payment can be made 30 to 45 days prior to the date of arrival. For cancellation and refund policies please take a look at the terms & conditions.
Price
The price quoted is valid till April 2018. Will be subject to seasonal supplements. Speak to your travel expert to learn more details.
Packing Essentials
When packing for Sri Lanka, you only need to remember that this is a tropical country. Sunny weather & warm water. Hence, packing thin cotton clothing is essential. However, if your stay includes places like Kandy, Nuwara Eliya & Ella, we recommend that you pack a few sweaters just in case. You must not forget the following:
- Effective mosquito repellent.
- A good sunscreen.
- (Ladies) Tampons – Nearly impossible to find outside Colombo.
- Universal power adapter.
Travel Insurance
We recommend that you purchase travel insurance before you travel.
VISA
Visa can be obtained online via www.eta.gov.lk. You can obtain Visa on arrival as well, however, this option is not available for some countries. Do read more on this topic here.
Travel Information
Sri Lanka is a developing nation. Yet, there are many things you must look out for during your travel. For example; when visiting religious sites, it is important that you dress to cover. All key information you need to know before traveling is right here.