Gem Tour Sri Lanka

DAY 01

BERUWALA

Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, a Kingfisher representative will greet you and escort you to your private luxury vehicle. This representative will be your chauffeur cum guide for the rest of your Gem Tour in Sri Lanka.

Your first stop will be a hotel check in after a 3 hour drive to the southern coast. If time permits, an evening boat ride on the Madu Lake is possible.

DAY 02

GALLE

Begin your excursion to Galle – which is an hour’s drive from Beruwala.

Galle is rich in history with several colonial influences – the Portuguese being the most prominent. The remnant of the Dutch Fort (built in the 17th century) is a remarkable site to visit in Galle. The neighboring area is a peaceful and hospitable colony with a lot of restaurants, cafes, souvenir boutiques, ice cream shops and churches to explore.

Once you are done exploring the city of Galle, on your return to Beruwala, you could stop at Ambalangoda to have a look at the famous traditional masks in Sri Lanka or else include a visit to the Kosgoda turtle hatchery.

DAY 03

RATNAPURA

Visit the Fairgems School in Beruwala. Aurelie, the director of the school will welcome you and guide you around. You can interact with the students and learn about their lives. You will then be given a lesson on gemstones. This workshop will include a theoretical introduction to the industry along with an opportunity to practice the preforming on a rough stone.

After lunch, you will begin a 3 hour journey to Ratnapura – the heart of the gem industry. 

Overnight stay at Ratnapura

DAY 04

RATNAPURA

We will take you to a precious stone mine in Ratnapura, then to a gem market and also to visit the gemological museum.

Overnight stay at Ratnapura

DAY 05

UDAWALAWE

Drive two hours to the Centauria Wild for an exciting stay amidst the jungle. After checking in and relaxing in the hotel, a jeep will be waiting for you at approximately 3.00 pm for a safari ride through the Udawalawe National Park. Renowned for its elephant and bird population, you will also see crocodile, bear, sambar, and leopards – if you are lucky!

Overnight stay at Udawalawe

DAY 06

BUTTALA

Visit the Elehant Transit Home to interact with baby elephants. This is a center where the baby elephants are cared for before they are released into the Udawalawe National Park.

Two hours later, you will reach Buttala. Visit the Buduruwagala Temple and be amazed at the lovely Buddha carvings on the rock. 

Overnight stay at Buttala

DAY 07

ELLA

Visit the Okkampitiya gemstone mine. Here you can discover stone extraction methods such as sieving and separating the stone gravel from earthy sands.

After the mine visit, an hour’s drive away is the beautiful town of Ella in Sri Lanka’s hill country. Admire the lovely cascading Ravana Falls on the way. If you manage to reach Ella by early evening, it is a good idea to climb Little Adam’s Peak for a breathtaking view of the sunset from the summit. The hike takes about two hours up and down.

Overnight stay at Ella

DAY 08

ELLA

Here you will be taken through a ride amidst the gorgeous landscapes and luscious tea plantations. Stop at Lipton’s Seat for a snack with a stunning view. Sir Thomas Lipton is the genius of tea in Sri Lanka and this is where he liked to sit and sip on his tea.

Visit the Nine Arch Bridge Demodara,

The Nine Arch Bridge also called the Bridge in the Sky, is a viaduct bridge in Sri Lanka. It is one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country.

DAY 09

KANDY (Via Train Ride)

Head on to the Ella Railway Station for an absolutely breathtaking train ride amidst beautiful mountains, valleys, tea plantations and villages – to the small town of Nanu Oya. Your Kingfisher representative will meet you at the Nanu Oya Station and drive you to Kandy. On the way, you can stop at the scenic view of the Kotmale reservoir and also to see the Ramboda Waterfall.

You will reach Kandy by evening so you have time for a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic before you check in to Kandy House for the night.

Overnight stay at Kandy

DAY 10

KANDY

Tour the Royal Botanical Garden in Peradeniya. Located alongside the Mahaweli River, this massive garden includes flora such as orchids, cannonball trees, royal palms and lovely colorful flower beds. Spare about 2 hours to explore this garden and then visit the stone museum in Kandy.

Later that day, you can drive to the neighboring Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage for another interactive evening with the elephants.

A Kandyan cultural dance show takes place every evening at 5.00pm. If time permits, you can enjoy this show before you return to your hotel for the night.

Overnight stay at Kandy

DAY 11

SIGIRIYA

Head towards Sigiriya enroute stop at Matale to explore a batik factory and learn the art of traditional batik printing. Or another option is to experience the amazing Ayurvedic Herbal Gardens and discover traditional plants, fruits and the renowned spices of Sri Lanka. Here you can also learn about cultivation methods, harvesting, drying and how these plants/spices are used in traditional cooking and body care.

Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple Complex which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Five Buddhist caves are perched on rocky hills and inside these caves are exclusive wall paintings, Buddha Statues and Stupas.

Overnight stay at Sigiriya

DAY 12

SIGIRIYA

Excursion to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Touring on a bicycle is recommended for a different experience but if you wish, our chauffeur can take you there. During the ancient era, Polonnaruwa was the capital city of Sri Lanka for centuries. You will find ruins of Temples, Palaces, Buddhist Stupas and Statues. The Parakrama Samudra Lake is a nice place to cool off before you head back to your hotel in Sigiriya.

 

Overnight stay at Sigiriya

 

 

 

DAY 13

COLOMBO

 

Head towards the Lion’s Rock in Sigiriya. Our guide will help you with the climb and take you to the right places where you can discover beautiful paintings and frescoes engraved into the rock. At the top of the rock are remnants of a Fortress built by King Kashyapa during the 10th century. Explore these at the summit and enjoy a tremendous view of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lion’s Rock is one of the most popular tour attractions in Sri Lanka.

Begin a five hour journey to the city of Colombo and check in to the Hotel

Overnight stay at Colombo

DAY 14

AIRPORT

On the last day of your Gem Tour Sri Lanka, you could choose to take a Tuk-Tuk City Tour accompanied with a guide to explore the trading hub, popular markets, important temples and some colonial buildings. Another option is to explore the city on your own and spend your time shopping for souvenirs and so on before it is time for you to head to the airport.

This is where your Gem Tour in Sri Lanka comes to an end. Sincerely hoping that you found this itinerary attractive; we are waiting to hear from you. Please note that we are very flexible with changes to the itinerary so if you have any special requirements, kindly get in touch with us.