After breakfast leave for Dambulla.
En route visit Pinnawela elephant orphanage
In the afternoon visit Polonnaruwa
Dinner & Overnight Stay a Hotel in , Dambulla

Pinnawela elephant orphanage – Pinnawela orphanage is situated northwest of the town Kegalla, half ways between the present capital Colombo and the ancient royal residence Kandy in the hills of central Sri Lanka. Pinnawela elephant orphanage is a breeding pace for elephants, twenty elephants were born since 1984, and it has the greatest herd of elephants in captivity in the world. In the evening the animals are taken to their stalls and tethered for the night. They are then given their evening feed which is milk again for the babies and leaves for the older ones. Plenty of food and water is available.

Polonnaruwa – this medieval city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rose to fame as the capital (10th - 12th century AD) after the decline of Anuradhapura. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by huge man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is the Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, larger in size than the Colombo harbour. The monuments are relatively well preserved and give clear evidence of the glory of Sri Lanka's past. Highlights are the Royal Palace complex including the Kings Palace and Audience Hall, the Quadrangle with its concentration of ancient heritage and the spectacular Gal Vihara complex of four massive images of the Buddha, cut from a single slab of granite - a highlight of ancient Sri Lankan rock carving. Some of the best examples of the Hindu influence – the Temples of Shiva, intricate statues of Hindu Gods, fascinating Buddhist temples, the Lankatileka and Watadage, the Galpotha, the Lotus bath, the Kiri Vihara Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth are other impressive sights

After breakfast leave for Kandy
En route climb the rock fortress of Sigiriya
Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy

Sigiriya – This UNESCO world heritage site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka's major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya glory. Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the "Lion Rock" is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens, The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for medication, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site.

After breakfast visit a tea factory closer to Kandy
In the afternoon visit the Temple of the tooth.
Dinner & Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy

Kandy – a lovely exotic city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which retains an aura of grandeur, time has not affected. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its centre, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens – home to one of the world's best collections of Orchids. A cultural sanctuary where many legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive, Kandy and its satellite villages are the centre of the islands handicraft industry (items of wood, brass & silver) exquisite silver or gold jewellery and precious gems of many varieties including the world's best blue and star sapphires. The highlight of the city's calendar is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the casket enclosing the Tooth is taken in procession for ten glittering nights in July/August by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and approximately 100 Elephants.

The tooth relic:

Legend has it that after the creamation of the Buddha at Kushinagar, the remains, including one of his teeth, were kept in India. During the time Buddhism in India was undergoing much hardship, the tooth was smuggled to Sri Lanka, hidden in the hair of an Orissan princess. First it was taken to the Kingdom of Anuradhapura and later brought to several other kingdoms in Sri Lanka, until it reached its final resting place at the Kandyan kingdom in 1592.

After breakfast leave for the Airport for departure