Day 01 | Colombo Airport – Negombo  

Arrive in Sri Lanka, clear the Visa andimmigration documents and head to the arrival lounge.

Our representative and your guide will welcome you at the airport with a warm smileand welcoming gesture with palms pressed together, saying Ayubowan (means “May you live a long life”). After clearing your visa and immigration, you are free to activate a local sim card and change the currency to LKR (widely used in Sri Lanka) through the bank tellers. If you need help with this, your guide will take you through the process.

Check-into your hotel in Negombo and overnight stay.

Hotel: Jetwing Beach

Meals: No meals

Drive time: 1 hour

‍

Day 02 | Negombo - Dambulla

Breakfast at the hotel and explore the town of Negombo.

Negombo is known as “Little Rome” for its strong Catholic influence. The town transitioned through Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial rule, and remnants of those cultures remain today. The city’s intriguing past will reveal itself as you meander past colonial architecture and quiet canals to reach a lagoon abundant with marine life. Local fishermen have been harvesting lobsters, crabs, and prawns here for centuries. Take astroll on the beach, then a walk at the sea street before calling it a night.

Thereafter, travel to Dambulla.

It's known for its Cave Temple, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Featuring impressive mural paintings and 157 statues, including a massive Buddha monument, it's a sacred pilgrimage site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history of the place dates back to the first century BCE, when King Valagambahu took refuge here. Today, it's worth visiting not only for the cave temple but also for the beautiful view over the countryside.

Tip: Don’t forget to ask your guide to stop at a road-side fruit stall to try some tropical fruits. Depending on the season you travel, Sri Lanka offers many delicious and nutritious fruits.

Hotel: Amaara Forest Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 5 hours

‍

Day 03 | Polonnaruwa – Hiriwadunna

Breakfast at the hotel and thereafter explore the ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa, is one of Sri Lanka’s ancient capitals and part of the famous Cultural Triangle. See the impressive and intricately designed GalVihara Temple Complex, which features three colossal granite Buddha statues. Next, explore Parakrama Samudra, a 2,500-hectare reservoir constructed under King Parakramabahu’s reign in the 12th century. Overall, the city is divided into a new and old towns, both of which can be easily explored on foot. 

Thereafter, learn all about the rural living lifestyle of the villagers during the visit to Hiriwadunna. Experience the laid-back rhythms small village life in Sri Lanka during this private 3-hour day trip to the hamlet of Hiriwadunna. Observe wildlife like crocodiles, butterflies and birdsat the local reservoir as local villagers fish and wash their laundry. Then take a boat ride to the other side of the lake, enjoying a ‘bullock’ cart ride and an included Sri Lankan lunch.

Return to the resort and overnight stay.

Hotel: Amaara Forest Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 4 hours

Day 04 | Sigiriya

Leave for the Sigiriya Rock fortress exploration tour after breakfast.

The rocky monolith rises high out of the lush jungle and is home to the remains of an ancient fortress built in the late 5th century CE. The name translates to “Lion Rock,” a reference to the way visitors traditionally began their final ascent to the top of the monument, passing through the open jaws and throat of a lion. Today, the only remains of this lion figure today are the gigantic paws sculpted into the side of the rock.

In the evening, taste an amazing high-tea with a variety of different types of tea, cakes, scones, that will add a more tasteful evening experience.

Meals: Breakfast, High-tea, Dinner

Drive time: 3 hours

Day 05 | Dambulla – Kandy

After breakfast, leave for the interesting city of Kandy.

Kandy, strategically situated between three mountain ranges, and the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa),another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The impressive temple complex, dating back to the 16th century, is made up of numerous buildings decorated with painting sand carvings depicting Buddha. As the name suggests, it's home to an important relic, the tooth of the Buddha, which is carefully guarded by security night and day. 

After the visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, enjoy the cultural show.

Kandy is home to many historical locations. also it is home to the Kandyan dancing; a dancing style that is practiced for many centuries. Even the world-famous Kandy Esala Perahara highlights these beautiful dances and styles. At the cultural show, you will see some of the famous Kandyan dances, performed by talented and skillful dancers.

Enjoy some quality time at the hotel, enjoying the cold-misty weather of Kandy.

Hotel: Amaya Hills

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 3 hours

Day 06 | Kandy – Nuwara Eliya

A holiday experience in Sri Lanka is not complete without a train journey. And not just any train journey, the journey through the central hills.

One of the world's most gorgeous rail journeys may be found in the heart of Sri Lanka. The 4-hour train ride from Kandy to Nanu Oya passes through lush tea estates, and unending mountain views. Remarkably, it's also one of the best travel experiences in Sri Lanka. The colonial British built the railway in 1864 to transport tea from the hills to the capital city, but it has since become a very affordable way to explore the beautiful scenery. The train excursion is now a must-do on any trip to Sri Lanka.

Hotel: Araliya Green Hills

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 4 hours

Day 07 | Nuwara Eliya

Starting the day early morning at 05.00AM, leave for the Horton Plains National Park to explore the nature atits best. Horton Plains National Park, a reserve characterized by a beautifullandscape of rolling hills, forests, and grassland. It’s home to various mammalspecies, including elk, deer, giant squirrel, wild boar, wild hare, porcupine,and leopard (rarely). The park also has unique vegetation and offers a perfectground to observe many rare and endemic highland birds. One particularlyimpressive physical feature in Horton Plains is the escarpment that fallsdramatically to the lowlands. Aptly known as the “World’s End,” the precipiceoffers a fabulous view of the small-towns and villages below.

Later, in the afternoon, travel to a tea plantation to explore the world of Ceylon Tea. Head to one of the region’s preeminentharvesters of world-famous Ceylon tea. One of Sri Lanka’s main exports, tea,shapes the lives of hundreds of locals who work on plantations and infactories. By visiting a working plantation, you will gain an entirely newperspective on daily life in Sri Lanka and how much goes into every humble cupof tea. Watch as tea-pickers crisscross rolling hills,their colorful clothing highlighting the green swathes of tea plants. Observeas they collect leaves with incredible dexterity, deliver sacks to the factory,and finally process the leaves to package the final product. After this tour,you will have seen the entire tea-making journey from tea plant to tea cup!

Return to the hotel and evening atleisure.

 Hotel:  Araliya Green Hills

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 3 hours

Day 08 | Nuwara Eliya – Udawalawe

Travel to Udawalawe after breakfast.

Upon arriving at Udawalawe, check-in at the hotel and engage in the evening safari at the Udawalawe national park. Located on the boundary of Sri Lanka's wet and dry zones, Udawalawe National Park is one of the best places in the world to see wild elephants. It's not unusual to see big herds gathering to feed and bath by the waterholes — the resident population is around 400. In addition to this main attraction, Udawalawe is home to many water buffalo, lizards, sambar deer, monkeys, and a huge variety of birds. You'll have ample opportunities to enjoy native wildlife during a game drive in the park. 

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel : Cantauria Wild

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 4 hours

Day 09 | Udawalawe – Yala

Travel to Yala after breakfast and check-in at the resort.

In the evening, engage in the safari at the Yala National Park. Located in the southeast region of the country, Yala is the second-largest national park in Sri Lanka. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife that you’ll have the chance to see on a Jeep safari. Leopards are the stars here, but the park is also home to the large herds of elephants, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, wild buffaloes, sloth bear, jackal, and mongoose. The birds are also fantastic, and many species such as Rosy Starlings, Paradise Flycatchers, Crested Hawk Eagles, Blue-tailed Bee-Eaters, and Common Loras inhabit the area.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

 Hotel: Jetwing Yala

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 3 hours

Day 10 | Yala – Galle

After breakfast, leave for Galle – one of the oldest merchant towns in the world.

The ancient port of Galle was Sri Lanka's first international center of trade. Today, this town is a bustling administrative center and the provincial capital of the southern region. Despite the presence of modern architecture and civic amenities, Galle still hosts a stunning collection of sites dating back over hundreds of years. Surrounded on three sides by the ocean, the 36-hectarefort was built by the Portuguese in 1587 and has been named a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site.

Enjoy the evening with some quality sun, sea, and sand time.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Hotel: Hikka Tranz by Cinnamon

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 3 hours

Day 11 | Galle

Morning at leisure.

Sri Lanka’s traditional art and culture brims with uniqueness. Representing all authenticity for decades is the Ambalangoda Mask Factory & Museum. Enter this haven of ancient culture and you’ll find intriguing masks staring at you. Along with two entire collections belonging to the Sanni Yakuma ritual and Kolam Dance, primitive tools used to carve these marks are also displayed here. The museum has a small library and a mask workshop as well. The mask library is one of its kind in Sri Lanka. It has anthropological records of mask-making and the history of traditional performances that use masks. Head to the workshop and watch the artisans work their magic on a piece of wood. The carvings and the traditional colours breathe life into them. Take a few masks as souvenirs or an unpainted one for you to unmask your creativity.

Evening at leisure.

Hotel: Hikka Tranz By Cinnamon

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 2 hours

Day 12 | Galle – Colombo

Breakfast at the hotel and thereafter leave for Colombo.

Take your time exploring Colombo, to truly learn about the country’s past and its rich culture while interacting with friendly locals on a city tour of Colombo. The commercial and cultural capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo is famed for its eclectic culture, and an array of attractions can be found amid the hustle and bustle of the lively city. From Arab traders to the Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonists who occupied the city, Colombo is defined by its history as a melting pot of international influences. Some interesting places to visit are the Independence square, the National Museum, the Galle Face Green, and the widely popular shopping malls.

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel: Cinnamon Lakeside

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive time: 2 hours

Day 13 | Colombo – Colombo Airport

Breakfast at the hotel and leave for the Colombo Airport to connect with the departure flight from Sri Lanka.

Meals: Breakfast

Drive time: 45 minutes

‍

‍