8 Nights Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour

Tour Overview

Embark on a journey of serenity with 8 nights of Buddhist pilgrimage tour in Sri Lanka that covers the temples, stupas, monuments, monasteries, or the civilizational sites of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It emphasizes mostly supporting pieces of evidence dating back to centuries and Buddhism adoption. With this, almost 70% Sri Lankan population follows the Theravada roots of Buddhism as their religion. This tour will not only educate you about the Buddhist culture and its civilizational background, but it will also help you get engaged with the rituals and mantra chantings of Buddhism helping your mind and soul be cleansed.

Highlights

Mihinthale- Anuradhapura, the UNESCO World Heritage Site
Polonnaruwa Buddhist shrines
Minneriya National Parks, known for its wildlife safari adventure
Forest Monastery of Ritigala
Tooth Relic Temple
Cave Temple of Dambulla
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Buddhist Temple in Kelaniya
Kandy city tour & its temples
Matale Alu Vihariya Temple
Nuwara Eliya's famous tourist attractions and city sightseeing
Bellanvila Buddhist Temple
Elephant Pinnawala Orphanage
Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple

Stay Plan - Tour starts from Colombo airport- 3 N Habarana/Dambulla- 2 N Kandy- 2 N Nuwara Eliya- 1 N Colombo

Package Itinerary Expand All [+]

Day 1 - Arrival in Colombo - Transfer to Habarana/Dambulla (174 km, 4 hrs)
- Arrival at Colombo airport
- Drive towards Habarana
- The tour will start the next day. 1st day is to unwind from tiredness
- Check in to the hotel and take a rest
- Have an overnight stay post-dinner
Habarana is a UNESCO world heritage site that houses several tourist attractions nearby. The famous place is known as a Cultural triangle which makes Anuradhapura, Polonnarua, Dambulla, Minneriya, and Sigiriya accessible.
Day 2 - Transfer to Anuradhapura- Back to Habarana (56 km)
- After breakfast, drive to Anuradhapura
- Visit the ancient city of Anuradhapura 9UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Serene Buddhist monuments, Bodhi tree, the ruins of Anuradhapura
- On the way explore the Mihinthale Buddhist Monastery (one of the ancient monasteries), Kalu Diya Pokna in Mihnthalaya
- Return back to Habarana in the hotel
- Have dinner and an overnight stay
Day 3 - Drive to Polonnaruwa- Back to Habarana (67 km, 1 hr)
- Have breakfast in the morning and then drive off to Polonnaruwa (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit the city of Polonnaruwa and explore multiple Buddhist Pilgrimage sites, Hindu temples and monuments
- Sightsee the Vihariya Buddhist Temple
- Exploration of Parakama Samudraya lake
- Drive back to return to Habarana
- Enrouting Habarana, visit the National Park of Minneriya, also known as Kaudulla National Park
- Come back to the hotel and have an overnight stay post-dinner
Day 4 - Transfer to Kandy (99 km, 1.5 hrs)
- After breakfast check out the hotel in Habarana
- Transfer towards Kandy via Sigiriya, one of the ancient cities of Sri Lanka
- Sightsee the rock fortress of Sigiriya (660 ft tall) and later Dambulla cave temple (both of these sites are UNESCO’s World Heritage sites)
- Drive further to Kandy en route to Matale
- Seek blessings from the Alu Vihariya Buddhist Temple site
- Check in to the hotel in Kandy, post-dinner have an overnight stay
Day 5 - Explore Kandy- Leisure
- Seek blessings at Tooth Relic Temple in Kandy
- Visit Embakka Buddhist Temple & Gadaladeniya Buddhist Temple
- Explore other pilgrimage sites in Kandy and take a tour of Buddhist Monasteries in Kandy
- Return back to the hotel, dinner, and an overnight stay
Day 6 - Visit Kandy- Transfer to Nuwara Eliya (39 km, 1 hr)
- Have breakfast and check out from the hotel in Kandy
- Drive towards Nuwara Eliya and take a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens on the way
- On the way to Nuwara Eliya, explore tea plantations and tea estates
- Sightsee the town of Nuwara Eliya after reaching there
- Check in to a hotel in Nuwara Eliya and have an overnight stay
Day 7 - Explore tourist attractions in Nuwara Eliya
- In the morning visit Hortons Plains National Park (walk 7 km, safari/jeep travel is not possible)
- Explore the scenic landscapes of Ashok Vatika (Hakgala Botanical Gardens)
- Seek blessings at Swarnagiri Mahavihariya Buddhist Temple
- Come back to the hotel and have dinner and an overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya
Day 8 - Transfer to Colombo (173 km, 3.5 hrs)
- Check out from hotel and Off to Colombo
- On the way visit the Elephant Orphanage Pinnawala
- Enrooting Colombo explore the Kelaniya Buddhist Temple (Vibhishana Temple)
- Reach out to Colombo, check in to hotel and have an overnight stay
Day 9 - Explore city of Colombo- Departure
- Visit the tourist attractions in Colombo
- Take local market tour of Colombo and shop souvenirs
- Leave from the Colombo city and drive towards Colombo airport
- Departure from the airport of Colombo to your home

Tour Inclusions:

Welcome drinks on arrival (Non-alcoholic)
All days accommodation in twin/triple sharing bed in hotel
8 N stay in hotel
All the occasions include breakfast and dinner
Sightseeing by AC vehicle/traveller or vehicles on request or size of your group
Pick up and drop transfers from airport - hotel - airport
Sightseeing and all transfers according to the vehicals mentioned in the itinerary
Assistance at arrival and departure points
All taxes related to hotel and transport

Tour Exclusions:

All airfare & train fare.
Personal Expenses like Telephone, Fax, Internet, Laundry, maintenance fee.
Alcoholic/aerated beverages, bottled water, and starters and lunch
Camera and entry fees
Monument entrance fees.
Any kind of Medical and travel insurance
All personal expenses, optional tours, and extra meals
Additional sightseeing or usage of vehicles that are not mentioned in the itinerary
Anything not mentioned under 'Inclusions'
GST