East Coast Tour -TAT/WEB/005
(Travelling Period from May to October)
11 Nights / 12 Days
For thirty long years of civil unrest, the long white beaches in Trincomalee, Passikudah, Arugambay, and great surf and mangrove lagoons in the East Coast such as Batticaloa Lagoon have been waiting for you to bask its beauty and tranquility. The people of the East with the warmest, most hospitable smile and open arms are waiting to welcome you for surfing, scuba diving, fishing and whale watching.
DAY 01 Airport – Negombo
Arrive in Sri Lanka. Clients will be met and welcomed by the representative of Tropical Asia Tours on arrival and transferred to the hotel in Negombo.
(Travel time from Airport to Negombo approx.: 30 min)
After check-in at the hotel, there will be ample time to relax and freshen up prior to the evening Lagoon safari which is a Unique cruising experience on the smooth waters of one of Sri Lanka’s largest coastal lagoons. Escape the hustle and bustle of Negombo town as clients will be taken on a tropical adventure drifting along wilderness of coconut palms, mangrove forests, all sorts of birds and marine life.
Overnight stay in Negombo.
DAY 02 Negombo – Anuradhapura
After breakfast proceed to Anuradhapura.
(Travel time from Negombo to Anuradhapura takes approx.: 4 hrs.)
Check-in at the Hotel.
Evening conduct a brief City Tour in Anuradhapura and visit main Highlights.
Overnight stay in Anuradhapura.
DAY 03 Anuradhapura – Trincomalee
After breakfast proceed to Trincomalee.
(Travel time from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee approx. 2 ½ hrs.)
Check-in at the hotel.
Thereafter Conduct a city tour in Trincomalee including visits to the Fort Fredrick, Lover’s Leap, 7 Hot Springs, Koneshwaram Hindu Temple.
Overnight stay in Trincomalee.
DAY 04 Trincomalee
After an early breakfast commence a Boat excursion to the Pigeon Island National park for a breath-taking snorkeling experience.
On Completion return to the hotel and enjoy the beach with hotel amenities.
Overnight stay in Trincomalee.
DAY 05 Trincomalee – Passikuda
After breakfast proceed to Passikuda which also has an amazed beach stretch in the East Coast.
(Travel time from Trincomalee to Passikudah approx. 2&½ hrs.)
Check-in at the hotel.
Enjoy the beach with hotel amenities.
Overnight stay in Passikuda.
DAY 06 Passikuda – Polonnaruwa – Passikudah
After breakfast proceed to Polonnaruwa to visit the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka.
(Travel time from Passikudah to Polonnaruwa approx. 1 ½ hrs.)
Arrive in Polonnaruwa. Commence a sightseeing.
Thereafter return to the hotel in Passikudah and rest of the evening at leisure.
Overnight stay in Passikudah.
DAY 07 Passikudah – Arugam Bay
After breakfast proceed to the Batticaloa Dutch Fort. (Travel time approx. 1 hr.)
On Completion proceed to Arugam Bay which is one of the world’s top surfing destinations.
It’s a small town with just one main street of shops, restaurants, and surfboard rentals, but that is what makes the city more charming.
(Travel time from Batticaloa to Arugam Bay is approx. 3 hrs.)
Check-in at the hotel.
Thereafter enjoy the beach leisurely and experience the Surfing which will be a memorable experience for a life time.
Overnight stay in Arugam Bay.
DAY 08 Arugam Bay
After breakfast proceed to Kudumbigala Monastery. (Travel time approx. 45 minutes)
On completion, return to the hotel.
Thereafter Enjoy the beach with hotel amenities.
Overnight stay in Arugam Bay.
DAY 09 Arugam Bay
After breakfast visit the Lahugala National Park.
(Travel time approx. 30 minutes)
This happens to be one of the smallest National parks in Sri Lanka. Although the park is small in size, it’s an important conservation area for elephants as well as birdlife. Also, other animals such as jackal, wild cat, sloth bear, wild boar, leopard, and deer could be witnessed. Most of the park consists of dry evergreen forest and acts as a feeding ground for the herd of elephants. On completion, return to the hotel. Clients can enjoy leisurely or visit the Muhudu Maha Vihara, which is a Buddhist Temple that was built almost 2000 years ago. It’s situated right near the beach and currently features the remains of ancient stupas and statues. These ruins are a great place to explore and learn about the history of Buddhism.
Overnight stay in Arugam Bay.
DAY 10 Arugam Bay – Colombo
After breakfast leave for Colombo.
(Travel time from Arugambay to Colombo approx. 7 hrs.)
Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay in Colombo.
DAY 11 Colombo
Breakfast at the Hotel.
Thereafter, commence a City Tour in Colombo including Shopping.
Overnight stay in Colombo.
DAY 12 Colombo – Airport
After breakfast proceed to Airport for departure.
(Travel time from Colombo to Airport approx.: 1 hr.)
TOUR ROUTE
KEY DESTINATIONS
FORT FREDRICK
This is a fort built by Portuguese colonials at Trincomalee, completed in 1624 AD, built on Swami Rock-Konamamalai from the debris of the world famous ancient Hindu Koneswaram temple (Temple of a Thousand Pillars). The temple was destroyed by the Portuguese colonial Constantino de Sá de Noronha under Phillip III, occupier of the Jaffna kingdom and Malabar country of the island. On the Konamalai cape, a new village of Portuguese and Tamil people was built and the Fort housed 50 Portuguese soldiers. A church named after “Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe” was also built by the Portuguese inside the Fort. The Fort of “Trincomalee†was dismantled and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1665 and renamed Fort Fredrick.
LOVER’S LEAP
This is located on top of Swami Rock, next to the Koneswaram temple. This vantage point commemorates the tragic end of a love affair. This point is situated at an abrupt end of a rocky cliff that is 350 feet above sea level. The daughter of an Old Dutch general named Francina Van Rhede who attempted to commit suicide when her lover abandoned her and sailed back to Europe, is the legend behind this famous site. However, she survived the fall and according to government archive records she subsequently got married after eight years. However, up to this day there is a shelter and a memorial built to commemorate Francine Van Rhede. If the conflicted history of this site is not of interest to visitors, this site should be visited for the magnificent sight it has to offer.
HOT SPRINGS
About a mile on a side road branching from the main route Anuradhapura – Trincomalee road, the springs are worth a visit. A high wall assembles all the seven springs in a rectangular enclosure. Each enclosed in a dwarf wall forms a well of its own. The water is mildly hot; the temperature varies slightly in each. In effect, a public bathing resort. The use of the springs is controlled by the neighbouring Mari Amman Kovil who holds the lease of the wells.
PIGEON ISLAND
This Island is a unique natural phenomenon and has two Islands called the Large and Small Pigeon Islands. It was designated as a Marine Sanctuary in 1963 and was selected as a National Park in 2003. Visitors can observe hundreds of Blue Rock Pigeons, an endangered species nesting and breeding amongst the rocks. This coral rich habitat surrounded by a maze of smaller islets and rocky outcrops in the vicinity of the Small Pigeon Island has made it a favorable feeding and breeding ground for over 300 species of coral reef fish creating a colorful underwater atmosphere. This underwater creation is a piece of heaven for those interested in scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing.
