Day 01

Arrive at Colombo International Airport. Here, you will be met by a designated chauffer guide from Lakpura After the formalities at the airport you will be escorted to your air-conditioned vehicle and proceed to Negombo and check in to the hotel. (Travel Time: 15 to 20 mins) later in the evening do a city tour in Negombo

Negombo

Enjoy the sun on the sandy beaches of Negombo on the Western Coast of Sri Lanka. Watch the flourishing fish industry, which is a centuries-old tradition. Ride an adrenaline high with some fun water sports. Enjoy the corals and underwater life while diving. See the 50-year-old ship-wreck just off the coast, where many varieties of fish make their home.

On completion return to the hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Hotel J
Standard Option (4 Star) – Jetwing Beach
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Heritance Negombo

Day 02

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and proceed to Dambulla, en-route make a stop at Pinnawala and visit the Millennium Elephant Orphange . (Travel Time: 1 ½ to 2 hrs)

Millennium Elephant Foundation

The Millennium Elephant Foundation (MEF) is a family run non-government organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the welfare of domestic elephants throughout Sri Lanka. The Foundation provides and funds the care, medical treatments, food, mahout salaries, the running costs of the charity as well as having an on call Mobile Veterinary Unit which travels around the country treating sick elephants in need. The Elephant Walk Experience is another alternative to elephant riding for tourists, which is an ethical, up close and personal experience for tourists.

Thereafter proceed to Dambulla and visit the Cave Temple. (Travel Time: 2 to 2 ½ hrs)

Dambulla Cave Temple

Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex.

On completion, proceed to Sigiriya and check into the hotel. (Travel Time: 20 to 30 mins)

Day 03

After the breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Polonnaruwa and visit the Ancient Kingdom. (Travel Time: 50 to 60 mins)

The Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Which was the second major capital of Sri Lanka. Walk through the ruins of the city that flourished between the 10th to the 13th century AD. View important monuments such as Gal Vihara, Vatadage, the lotus bath, Lankathilaka Temple and the statue of King Parakramabahu whose reign was considered the golden age of Polonnaruwa. Get to know more about Sri Lanka’s ancient history.

Thereafter proceed to Minneriya and go on a lovely jeep safari in Minneriya National Park. (Travel Time: 20 to 30 mins)

Minneriya National Park

This safari takes you on a ride through the Minneriya National Park. Enjoy the sight of over 150 elephants congregating in one place during the famous Great Elephant Gathering, which happens in the dry season between May to October. In addition to elephants, get a chance to also see many mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in the scrublands, forests and other areas.

On completion return to the hotel.

Day 04

After breakfast at the hotel explore the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

The 5th century AD rock fortress Sigiriya, once ruled by the Sri Lankan King Kashyapa, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka’s most historical landmarks. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ‘The Lion Rock’. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns, that are a mind blowing example of ancient Sri Lankan hydraulic engineering. Walk through the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past.

After making your descent, proceed to a local village in Sigriya and get an authentic experience in Sri Lankan Village Life.

Sigiriya Village Tour

Get a chance to go on an oxen cart ride, and experience the world from the view of a village farmer. Enjoy a relaxing catamaran safari across a calm lake. Walk through the golden fields ripe with their harvest of paddy. Watch an enjoyable traditional cooking demonstration that teaches you the basics of Sri Lankan cuisine. Delight your taste buds with a home cooked lunch; made over a wood-fire and served on fragrant lotus leaves placed over woven trays. Enjoy the life of a Sri Lankan villager, just this day.

On completion return to the hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Fresco Water Villa
Standard Option (4 Star) – Cinnamon Lodge
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Heritance Kandalama

Day 05

After the breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to Kandy, en-route make a pause at Matale, visit a spice garden. (Travel Time: 1 to 1 ½ hrs) Do a guided tour of a spice and herbal garden, where you learn about spices, such as coriander, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg; and their uses.

Matale Spice Tour

The Matale Spice Tour gives you a hands on experience of a Spice & Herbal Garden within the Spice capital of Sri Lanka, Matale. Here you will learn about Sri Lanka’s famous spices such as coriander, chili, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and their uses. The garden is enriched with herbs, spice groves and plants with fragrant greenery shading from the tropical trees that heighten the unique aroma of each spice and herb. Apart from gaining knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, this unique tour also let’s you learn about Ayurvedic medicine. The tropical climate in which the plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality.

Thereafter continue to Kandy and check in to the hotel. (Travel Time: 50 to 60 mins)

Later, go on technical tours related to arts and crafts such as gem crafting, woodcarving, and batiks and watch the Kandyan Cultural Show with its colorful traditional dances and delightful music.

Kandy Cultural Show

Watch the Kandyan Cultural Show with its colorful traditional dances and delightful music. The Kandy Cultural Show gives you an opportunity to experience some of Sri Lanka’s traditions. Enjoy this hour long extravaganza as some of the most popular art forms of the island take to the stage. Get mesmerized by fire dances, sword dances, and watch the talented Kandyan dancers take to the air to the thrumming, primal beat of the drums.

Upon completion return to the hotel and relax.

Day 06

After the breakfast at the hotel, go on a temple run tour on this day.

Temple Trio

Get amazed by the wood crafting masterpiece that is the Embekke Temple. Wander through the historic and beautiful Gadaladeniya Temple and view its wonderful paintings and sculptures. Visit the Lankatilaka temple that was quite architecturally advanced for its time. See awe-striking sight of the Degaldoruwa Cave Temple, the inside walls of which are covered in painstakingly restored paintings. Visit the internationally famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic with its palatial cream and gold interiors.

Thereafter proceed to Peradeniya and visit Royal Botanical Garden.

Royal Botanical Garden

Which were formed in the early 19th century. Walk through the vast area containing over 4000 species of plants. Enjoy the learning more about the orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Wander down avenues shaded by large and rare trees, or bordered by flowering plants. Enjoy seeing the cannonball tree, walking over the wobbly suspension bridge and through the short hedge mazes or even climbing the twisty trees that make wonderful jungle gyms.

On completion back to the hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Oakray Regency
Standard Option (4 Star) – Cinnamon Citadel
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Earl’s Regency

Day 07

After an early breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to Kandy Railway Station to catch the train to Nanu Oya.

Scenic Train Ride

The Kandy to Nanu Oya train journey takes you on scenic ride through some of the most beautiful highland countryside areas in Sri Lanka. Watch the brilliant greens carpets of the tea plantations. See the picturesque villages with misty mountain backdrops pass by. Peer through drizzle and mist to look at the magical landscapes of Hill Country. Enjoy the amazing sights of intimidating mountains, deep and dark woodlands, and magnificent waterfalls as they go by your windows. (Travel Time: 3 to 31/2 hrs)

At Nanu Oya Rail Way station your chauffeur will pick you up and proceed to Nuwara Eliya. (Travel Time: 20 to 30 mins) On arrival to Nuwara Eliya visit a Tea Factory and get a guided tour through a Tea Estate and learn more about the varieties, processing methods and qualities of tea.

Tea Factory Visit

Tea Factory to learn how tea is manufactured in Sri Lanka. You can observe the tea pickers, locally known as ‘tea pluckers’ as they move between the lush green rows along the mountains with their large baskets.Thereafter you will be given a guided tour explaining fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and the grading of tea. Finish with a tea tasting process and learn of the history, and why Ceylon Tea is considered among the best in the world.

On completion proceed to the hotel and check in and relax.

Day 08

With breakfast at the hotel proceed to Horton Plains on a Jeep to the entrance and go on a lovely trek.

Horton Plains National Park

Visit the beautiful Horton Plains National Park in Ohiya, with its montane grasslands and cloud forests. Enjoy the majestic views from the precipice of World’s End and the cooling sprays from Baker’s Falls. Catch glimpses of the many endemic fauna that make their home in the plains. Get to know more about the archeological finds that were discovered in the area.

Later go on a scenic tour in Nuwara Eliya City.

Explore the Beautiful city

The highland city that was the premium holiday resort town of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Enjoy walking through the streets with their pretty little cottages, quaint villas, and beautiful mansions. Make a memory in the old red-bricked post office as you purchase an inexpensive and colorful postcard to take home or send to your friends. Relax at Queen Victoria Park or on the shores of Lake Gregory.

On completion return back to the hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Summer Hill Breeze
Standard Option (4 Star) – Jetwing St.Andrews
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Heritance Tea Factory

Day 09

After the breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to Yala. En-route make a stop at Ella and embrace the marvelous Ella.

Explore the Beauty

Explore three of Ella’s most interesting places. Pass through bright green tea fields, and tough stretches of rock, and get to see the magical views of Little Adam’s Peak. Walk over the history seeped Nine Arches Bridge and listen to the story of its construction. End your hike at the Demodara Railway station with its unique loop-over track design. This tour gives you the chance to see the best sights of Sri Lanka

Thereafter proceed to Yala, check into the hotel and relax.

Day 10

With a packed breakfast go on a full day safari in the Yala National Park. (Travel Time: 50 to 60 mins)

Yala National Park

This amazing Safari offers the opportunity to visit Yala National Park, the second largest in the island based off the Southeastern coast of Sri Lanka. Get a chance to see the famous Sri Lankan leopards, indigenous wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan Sloth Bear and large herds of Sri Lankan Elephants. The park is also home to many other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

On completion return to the hotel and relax.

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Chaarya Resort & Spa
Standard Option (4 Star) – Kithala Resort
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Jetwing Yala

Day 11

After breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to Galle and visit the Old Colonial City of Galle. (Travel Time:  3 to 3 ½ hrs)

Old Colonial City of Galle

Explore the secrets of Galle where the Portuguese and Dutch made their headquarters. Visit the Galle Fort which is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. View the museums of Galle and the lighthouse. Walk through the cobblestoned streets with their Dutch names and listen to your guide tell their stories. Relax with a king coconut or a cup of tea caressed by a breeze of the tropics.

On completion proceed to Unawatuna and check into the hotel.

Day 12 & 13

Spend the days leisurely enjoying the beach and the hotel facilities. One of these days go on a Whale Watching tour, visit Handungoda Tea Factory and Stilt Fisherman in Ahangama.

Whale Watching Tour

This tour gives you an opportunity to see the biggest mammals on earth, the whales, in their natural habitat. Get a chance to see blue whales, sperm whales and fin whales as they swim in the waters to the south of Sri Lanka. Gain more knowledge about the whales as a species from a qualified naturalist and learn to identify them. This tour gives you a responsible whale watching experience with a minimal imprint on nature.

Handunugoda Tea Factory

Visit Handunugoda Tea Factory which is also known as the Virgin White Tea Factory. Learn the history of the tea that this factory produces. Get to know how the famous Virgin White Tea is plucked and processed completely untouched by human hands. Engage in a tasting session with a delicious cup of tea and scrumptious chocolate cake. Get a chance to purchase some tea leaves as a souvenir.

Stilt Fisherman in Koggala

Watch the captivating sight of fishermen perched on stilts in the waters along the coast of Koggala. Hear the stories of how stilt fishing came to Sri Lanka, from the mouths of the fishermen who have practiced the craft for generations. Learn how the stilt fishing is done in detail and marvel at the level of skill that goes into it. Get some amazing photographs of the fishermen silhouetted against the shoreline at sunset.

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Sevonra Garden
Standard Option (4 Star) – Cantaloupe Levels
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Jetwing Lighthouse

Day 14

After breakfast at the hotel check out and proceed to Colombo, en route make a pause at Balapitiya and go on a boat safari in the Madu River. (Travel Time: 50 to 60 mins)

Madu River

Go on a wonderful boat ride down the Madu River with its flourishing ecosystem. Pass through the secretive passages created by the mangroves. See the basking crocodiles and water monitors. Visit one of the small islands with its cinnamon harvesting natives. Enjoy the restorative qualities of the famous fish massage. Observe the water birds in their natural habitats.

Thereafter continue to Colombo and check into the hotel and relax. (Travel Time: 2 to 2 ½ hrs) Later go on a city and a shopping tour in Colombo City.

Colombo City Tour

Experience the colorful lights and bright life of Colombo, the capital City of Sri Lanka. Visit historic monuments such as the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green, Gangarama Temple, the National Museum and more. Enjoy the malls of Independence Square or the Race Course. Visit boutique shops and designer stores. Enjoy the nightlife as you party till the morn.

On completion return to the hotel and relax

Overnight Stay

Economy Option (3 Star) – Hotel Sapphire
Standard Option (4 Star) – Zmax Fairway
Luxury Option (5 Star & Boutique) – Cinnamon Grand

Day 15

After breakfast at the hotel on your final day, proceed to the Colombo International Airport (CMB) and get ready for your departure after spending a memorable time on the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.