It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page
Day 01
Beruwala
Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, a Blue Lanka 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 –
Cinnamon Bey Beruwala. If time permits, an evening boat ride on the Madu Lake is
possible.
Day 02
Galle
On day 2, after breakfast, you will 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 03,04
Ratnapura
The next morning, you will 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. Lake Serenity Boutique Hotel is where you will be staying in Ratnapura.
On Day 4 of your Sri Lanka gems tour, we will take you to a precious stone mine in
Ratnapura, then to a gem market and also to visit the gemological museum.
Day 05
Udawalawe
The next day, you will 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 3.00pm 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!
Day 06
Buttala
The next morning you can 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. Then take a pleasant walk into the forest to
reach Tree Tops Jungle Lodge where you will be staying for the night. The lodge is
located alongside Menik River, which means ‘river of gems’ in Sinhalese.
Day 07,08
Ella
On day 7 you will 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.
On day 8, a tuk-tuk will be arranged for you in the neighboring town of Bandarawela.
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.
Day 09,10
Kandy (via train ride to Nanu Oya)
The next morning, 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 Blue Lanka 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.
On day 10, you can 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.
Day 11,12
Sigiriya
On the way to Sigiriya on day 11, 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.
Later that day, you can 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.
Water Garden Hotel in the neighboring town of Sigiriya is where you will check in for the
next few days of your Gem Trip in Sri Lanka.
Day 12 is an 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.
Day 13,14
Colombo
Early next morning on Day 13, 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.
After this activity, begin a five hour journey to the city of Colombo and check in to the
exclusive Shangri La Hotel for the night where you can relax and unwind after a long
and tiring day.
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.
One hour from Colombo is the Bandaranaike International 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.
For all enquiries related to travel, please contact our Team
+94 77 250 8595
Mail: info@akinlankatours.com
