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ITINERARY |
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Sri Lanka Balloon Festival 2008 |
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Friday, 21st March 2008 AIRPORT / MOUNT LAVINIA – MOUNT LAVINIA HOTEL Arrival in Bandaranaike International Airport. Welcome and assistance upon arrival at the airport and escort to the vehicle. You will be transferred to the nearest Rail Station to board the Viceroy Special.
Travel by train to Mount Lavinia. Arrive in Mount Lavinia and check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Saturday, 22nd March 2008 MOUNT LAVINIA – MOUNT LAVINIA HOTEL
Breakfast in the hotel. The morning is free to relax and enjoy the sea and the pool or go on a shopping spree.
Later in the afternoon, proceed to the Parliament Grounds to take part in the Night Glow show.
Dinner will be served at the venue. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Sunday, 23rd March 2008 MOUNT LAVINIA / NUWARA ELIYA – GALWAY FOREST LODGE
After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to the Rail Station to board the Viceroy Special. You will travel to Nuwara Eliya.
Enjoy lunch on board the train.
Arrive in Nuwara Eliya in the evening and check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Monday, 24th March 2007 NUWARA ELIYA / HORTON PLAINS AND WORLD’S END / NUWARA ELIYA – GALWAY FOREST LODGE
After an early breakfast, leave the hotel to visit Horton Plains. A short drive from Nuwara Eliya are the misty and windswept Horton Plains, now a national park and more reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands than of the tropics. Here at an altitude that varies from 1800 – 2160 metres are some of the islands most spectacular landscapes with huge stretches of grasslands and forests, giant fern trees and peat-rimmed lakes. The views, particularly from World’s End, are breathtaking but it is important to get there early before the mists descend.
Return to the hotel later in the morning. The rest of the day is free to rest, or take a tour of the city of Nuwara Eliya. Set in the cool and misty hilly interior at an altitude of 1800m is the colonial hill station of Nuwara Eliya. Built by the British in the 19th century as an escape from the sweltering heat of the lowlands it came complete with half-timbered mock-Tudor houses with inglenook fireplaces & billiard tables, a golf course, race track, gentlemen’s clubs and botanical gardens. Now a bustling town and the vegetable garden of Sri Lanka it nonetheless gives you a glimpse into life during the colonial heyday.
Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.
Tuesday, 25th March 2008 NUWARA ELIYA / HAMBANTHOTA—PEACOCK BEACH HOTEL
After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to Pelwatte. A drive of approx. three hours will bring you to the Sugar Plantation Bungalows.
You have the option of either camping it out in tents, or check in to a room in the bungalow complex.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Wednesday, 26th March 2008 HAMBANTHOTA / KATARAGAMA / YALA /HAMBANTHOTA—PEACOCK BEACH HOTEL Have a cup of tea and leave the hotel at 5.15 am and proceed to the take-off location. Enjoy flying in the Southern skies and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
The rest of the morning is free to rest.
Visit the famous Kataragama Devale (Temple) in the late afternoon.
Continue to Yala and visit Yala National Park in the late afternoon by jeeps, accompanied by a tracker.
Return to the bungalows / campsite. Take part in the Briefing for the next day’s ballooning agenda in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Thursday, 27th March 2008 HAMBANTHOTA—PEACOCK BEACH HOTEL Have a cup of tea and leave the hotel at 5.15 am and proceed to the take-off location. Enjoy flying in the Southern skies and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
The rest of the morning is free to rest.
Return to the bungalows / campsite. Take part in the Briefing for the next day’s ballooning agenda in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Friday, 28th March 2008 HAMBANTHOTA/ BUDURUWAGALA / HAMBANTHOTA—PEACOCK BEACH HOTEL Have a cup of tea and leave the hotel at 5.15 am and proceed to the take-off location. Enjoy flying in the Southern skies and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
The rest of the day is free to rest.
Visit the statues of Lord Buddha in Buduruwagala in the afternoon. This place is about 4 miles southeast of Wellawaya. The translation of the name of this place means the Rock of Buddhist Sculptures. Nothing is known about the history of Buduruvagala or why someone would choose to make such huge images in such a remote place. Perhaps it was a hermitage for meditating monks who were content to live in the forest doing their own practice without attracting the attention of the outside world.
Return to the bungalows / campsite in Pelwatta. Take part in the Briefing for the next day’s ballooning agenda. Dinner and overnight stay.
Saturday, 29th March 2007 HAMBANTHOTA/ UDAWALAWE / HAMBANTHOTA—PEACOCK BEACH HOTEL Have a cup of tea and leave the hotel at 5.15 am and proceed to the take-off location. Enjoy flying in the Southern skies and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
The rest of the morning is free to rest.
Proceed to Udawalawe to visit the Udawalawe National Park, or travel to Bundala to visit Bundala National Park. Return to the Bungalows / campsite. Dinner and overnight stay.
Sunday, 30th March 2008 HAMBANTHOTA/ WEERAWILA / SIGIRIYA – HOTEL SIGIRIYA
After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to Weerawila. Upon arrival at Weerawila Air Base, board the aircraft to fly to Sigiriya.
Arrive in Sigiriya in the afternoon and check in to the hotel. Take part in the Briefing for the next day’s ballooning agenda in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Monday, 31st March 2008 SIGIRIYA – HOTEL SIGIRIYA
Have a cup of tea and leave the hotel at 5.15 am and proceed to the take-off location. Enjoy flying in the North Central skies and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
The rest of the morning is free to rest.
Visit the mighty rock fortress – Sigiriya in the late afternoon. The legendary sky citadel of Sigiriya, the “Lion Rock” famous for its frescoes of ‘Celestial Maidens’ is possibly the most impressive site in Sri Lanka. Built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century on the top of a vast 200m granite rock it took seven years to build and was abandoned after ten years of occupation when the King, defeated by his brother committed suicide. Although it is a steep climb, the views and frescoes are definitely worth the effort. Sigiriya is best visited first thing in the morning or just before sunset when it is cooler and less crowded.
Return to the hotel to take part in the Briefing for the next day’s ballooning agenda in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Tuesday, 01st April 2008 SIGIRIYA / POLONNARUWA / SIGIRIYA – HOTEL SIGIRIYA
Have a cup of tea and leave the hotel at 5.15 am and proceed to the take-off location. Enjoy flying in the North Central skies and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
The rest of the morning is free to rest.
Proceed to Polonnaruwa and proceed to take a tour of the ancient city. Polonnaruwa – the medieval capital between the 11th and 13th century was built along side a large ancient artificial lake. There are well-preserved ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas and exquisite rock sculptures of Buddha. Later visit the museum, which though small is excellent. What is generally regarded as some of the finest collections of Buddhist sculpture can be seen at Galvihara (Rock Monastery) in Polonnaruwa. This most celebrated site in Polonnaruwa is known for its large rock cut images, which have been preserved perfectly over the many centuries.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Wednesday, 02nd April 2008 SIGIRIYA / MAHO / NEGOMBO – CLUB DOLPHIN HOTEL
After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to Maho Rail Station to board the Viceroy Special, bound to Negombo.
Enjoy lunch on board the train. Arrive in Negombo in the evening and check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Thursday, 03rd April 2008 NEGOMBO – CLUB DOLPHIN HOTEL
Breakfast in the hotel. The day is free to rest, enjoy the sun, sea and the pool.
You could also take a tour of the city of Negombo. Located close to the international airport Negombo is the principle beach resort north of Colombo. It has a picturesque lagoon, numerous Catholic churches and an impressive network of canals built by the Dutch which are currently being restored. The true life of Negombo can be easily observed at its fish markets. These markets are always full of life and are at their peak with much action taking place in the early hours of the day when the fresh catch is brought in, as the vendors voice their prices at the top of their lungs and the buyers bargain for the best deals. Walking through a fish market is always an experience…!! Do make sure not to wear your best shoes, and to have a handkerchief, just in case…!
The afternoon is free to enjoy the pool and relax in the sun.
In the early evening, proceed to enjoy a boat ride in the Gin Oya. Be on the look out for various colourful birds and water monitors as your boat travels through the calm waters. The sand miners, villagers bathing in this river are very common sites, and add colour to the scenery. You will then reach the beach to enjoy a spectacular sunset…!
Return to the hotel to enjoy a Farewell dinner.
Overnight stay.
Friday, 04th April 2008 COLOMBO / AIRPORT
After breakfast checkout from the hotel and proceed to the airport for departure. You need to be at the airport three hours before the actual departure time.
~*~*~*~*~*~ Close of Balloon Festival ~*~*~*~*~*~
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* organizer reserves the right to change schedule for operational considerations
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* information on locations indicated in BOLD maybe available in travel booklets or refer Map |