Students Group Tours

On arrival at the Colombo International Airport you will be met by a Globe Travel Centre representative and transferred to your hotel in Colombo. Check in and spend your morning at leisure. After lunch, visit the ‘Ape Gama’ (which translates to ‘our Village’)where a rural Sri Lankan village has been recreated giving you the opportunity to imagine what life in rural Sri Lanka was like centuries ago. In the evening, you will be able to enjoy a local martial arts performance (Angampora).Angampora - Angampora is not just a martial art but a truly indigenous way of life and a diverse sustainable culture. Emperor Ravan (from the Indian epic Ramayana) was believed to be a master of this art form which was later said to be passed on to his sons.The tradition was kept alive through generations and is said to have been used by King Rajasingha of Seethawaka to defeat the Portuguese army in the famous battle of 1562. Sadly, during the period of British colonial rule this artform was discouraged and training schools that engaged in it were set ablaze and warriors shot and killed. Today the locals and the government are working towards revising and sustaining Angampora and showcasing it to travellers.Overnight stay in Colombo

After breakfast,you will be transferred to Dambulla, famous for the five cave temples built on a rock. The first three caves are older and larger than the other two. Some caves date back to the 1st century BC. All the five cave walls and ceilings are covered with Buddhist murals and there are more than 130 Buddha statues making this a very enchanting excursion.After lunch proceed on a special village tour, which will include Bullock cart / boat / tuk tuk rides through villages. Relax and unwind at your hotel in the evening.Overnight stay in Dambulla

After Breakfast, you will be driven to theMinneriya National park. The Minneriya National Park shelters some of the greatest wildlife treasures of this paradise isle. The park, nourished by an ancient man-made tank, provides shelter for troupes of toque monkeys, sambar deer as well as leopards, elephants and birds including little cormorants and painted storks to name a few. It is also renowned for the ‘Sixth Greatest Wildlife Spectacle of the World’ – the amazing phenomenon of the ‘Minneriya Elephant gathering’ that occurs annually during August – September. After enjoying a local lunch take a trek up the Sigiriya Rock Fortress or the ‘Lion Rock’. Explore this 5th century Rock Fortress which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of a 70-hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. See the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. After the visit to the rock fortress, return to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Dambulla

After breakfast, we will drive you to the cultural town of Kandy.Enroute visita localspice garden.Since time immemorial, Sri Lanka has remained popular for its exotic spices, world over. To those who bear an interest in these rich elements that stirred the interests of many nations, the spice gardens located in Kandy, Matale and Mawanella offer wonderful opportunities to study spices.The gardens are not only delightful spots for a stroll amidst the fragrant greenery but also offer interesting perspectives into the local spices, as the visitors are educated on the diverse variety of spices available in the country as well as on how they are grown and processed.Enjoy lunch at the spice Garden where you will also be given a cooking demonstration.After lunch, we will drive you onwards to Kandy. Referred to as the hill capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy offers a diverse variety of experiences to its visitors ranging from history, culture and simple scenic beauty coupled with a touch of urban life. The city was the last Sinhalese Kingdom that fell under British rule in 1815. The city’s colonial architecture has been preserved well even in the backdrop of rapid urbanization. Apart from the ancient monuments of the Kandyan era, the delightful jumble of antique shops and the bustling market in the city also make for interesting visits.Visit the“Sri Dalada Maligawa” or the “Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic” which is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, and is best known for preserving the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple. This evening you will have the opportunity to enjoy a cultural dance show. Overnight in Kandy.

After Breakfast, you will visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation. The Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) is a family run non-government organization (NGO) which is dedicated to improving the welfare of domestic elephants throughout Sri LankaThey provide and fund the care, medical treatments and food for the elephants and also support the ‘mahouts’ (elephant keepers). MEF also has an on-call Mobile Veterinary Unit which travels around the country treating sick elephants in need. The organisation takes a new ethical approach to elephant tourism by walking with the elephants rather than riding them. Later today you will have the opportunity to visit a tea plantation. Tea was introduced to the island by the British in 1842 and the perfect alchemy of the land, sun and rain in this emerald isle offered the exact climatic conditions for tea cultivation. Today Ceylon Tea has is renowned for its quality and distinctive taste. After lunch proceed to Kosgoda to visit a Turtle hatchery where you can get up and close with these gentle animals. Established in 1981, the Kosgoda turtle hatchery in the Southern province was one of the earliest attempts to safeguard local turtles from extinction. Managed by the Sri Lanka Wildlife Protection Society, the Kosgoda hatchery offers a wildlife experience of a different sort.Visitors are offered the opportunity to watch new-born turtles as well as some rare species of adult turtles including the Olive Ridley, the Hawksbill, the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead and the Leatherback. Overnight in Ahangama

After breakfast, drive to Galle and visit the Galle fort. The Galle Fort in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. The fort has a colourful history, and today has a multi-ethnic and multi-religious population. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by the UNESCO and the site has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Enjoy lunchin Galle. Later today you will have the opportunity to visit a school where you will be able to interact with the students and engage in a game of football. This is a great opportunity for the children to form a bond and have a meaningful travel experience. Return to your hotel to have an early dinner and some rest as you have an early start to the airport for your flight next morning. Overnight Stay in Ahangama

After dinner and some rest, you will startaround mid-nightfor the Colombo International Airport for your return flight to the UK.