Deal

Arrive in Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo this evening, and transfer to your gorgeous hotel nestled by the beaches of Negombo.

Enjoy the day at leisure today to rest up and refresh from your flight before your sightseeing commences in the early evening.

Enjoy a visit of the fish markets during a morning tour of Negombo; don’t wear your best shoes and have a handkerchief on hand just in case of a strong aroma (it tends to smell rather fishy)! Next, make your way to the Dambulla Caves, home to the best-preserved cave temple complex of Sri Lanka. The cave temples were built in the 1st century and the gigantic granite outcrop towers more than 160 metres above its surrounds. Explore the caves covered by ancient frescoes and their interior where over a hundred statues of Buddha (157 to be exact) are housed, some carved from the rock itself. Make your way to Habarana and enjoy the remainder of our afternoon at leisure.

Spend the morning exploring Sri Lanka’s largest and oldest ancient city, seeing its famous white dagobas – large bell-like structures that reach some 60 metres in height which house Buddhist relics. Then, travel back to Habarana via the Ritigala Medicinal Forest. Set deep in the jungle around a large hill formed by huge sculptural granite monoliths, lies the ancient and now abandoned hermitage of Ritigala. Today the visible remains are those of a Buddhist monastic congregation that used to practice meditation in total austerity. Rarely visited by tourists, this mystical place is incredibly beautiful and unspoilt with shady forests filled with streams, pools and granite boulders leading to ruins with various meditation platforms.

This morning set your eyes on Polonnaruwa, which lies at the cultural triangle’s easternmost point and became Sri Lanka’s second capital in the 11th century after the destruction of Anuradhapura. Spend your morning discovering this ancient city that was built alongside a large artificial lake and is home to well-preserved ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas and exquisite rock sculptures of Buddha at the Gal Vihara. You’ll also get a chance to see the ‘Quadrangle’, a fascinating group of raised-ruins that are bounded by a wall—a total archaeologist’s dream! While in Polonnaruwa, you’ll be treated to a delicious, traditional lunch. Bursting with regional spices and flavours, you’ll eat with a friendly local family in their very own backyard. Your destination this afternoon is Minneriya National Park, where vast expanses of evergreen forest and scrub areas serve as the roaming grounds for elephants and sambar deer. Here, you’ll enjoy a game drive by jeep; make sure your camera is recharged.

Depart your hotel early this morning to visit Sigiriya. Braving the spiral staircase, you’ll see the 21 frescoes of female nature spirits, known as Apsaras, painted beneath an overhang about 90 metres up the rock. These frescoes are beautiful – still boasting vibrant colours even after 1,500 years. Just above them, a wall adorned with 1,000-year-old graffiti and poetry serves as a testament to visitors who recorded their impressions of the painted women. Reaching the summit after climbing 1,200 stairs, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views over the Sri Lankan jungle below and intriguing remnants of a once-thriving kingdom. Get acquainted with the traditions of a local family as you watch how they prepare their meals, learn some traditional cooking techniques and enjoy a delicious meal together. After lunch, you’ll enjoy the remainder of your afternoon at leisure.

This morning you’ll farewell Sigiriya with your sights set on Kandy! En route, discover the impressive Coconut House, which is a wonderful opportunity to see how a local family utilises every element of a coconut tree, from extracting coconut oil to creating rope. You’ll also stop in Matale and visit some of the best spice plantations on the island. A large variety of spices such as cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg and precious cardamom (a relative of ginger) are grown here. You’ll be shown how some of these spices are grown and processed and will be able to purchase favourites to take home. On arrival in Kandy, you’ll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Ever since it was founded in the 16th century, it has housed one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism—a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre, which is now protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth.

The stunning Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya are your destination this morning. Here exotic crops such as coffee, tea, nutmeg, rubber and cinchona (quinine)—all of which are important to the country’s economy—were first tested. The Botanical Gardens include a beautiful orchid house and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world. discover the city of Kandy on a guided tour, starting at the Queen’s Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in the country and the first to be officially established in Sri Lanka. You will also make your way to Kandy Lake, a scenic spot in the heart of the city, before making your way to the Kandy Market passing local streets en route. To finish off the day, you’ll be treated to a mesmerising cultural show and traditional dance performance. Witness the fascinating Kandyan dance, a vibrant art form unique to Sri Lanka that involves elements of fire dancing, drumming and acrobatics. The performance has deep cultural ties, traditionally being performed only during royal ceremonies, festivals and religious events.

Today you’ll visit a tea plantation and factory where you’ll discover how Sri Lankan tea is produced, from picking the leaves to selling the tea! And of course, no visit would be complete without enjoying a few samples of the delicious product.

Today you have a full day dedicated to discovering Nuwara Eliya and its beautiful surrounds. This morning, board the local train for a scenic ride to Thalawakale station, passing magnificent landscapes with every twist and turn. You’ll stop in the main town of Nuwara Eliya and enjoy a guided tour to acquaint yourself with this historically rich city. Here you’ll discover the idyllic Gregory Lake and the busy Central Market and Bazaar, full of vendors and locals going about their day. Known as Little England, Nuwara Eliya features beautiful colonial-era architecture which you’ll have the opportunity to see on the tour – this includes the renowned Nuwara Eliya Post Office! Your journey takes you out of town, venturing further to see the spectacular St. Clair and Devon Falls that cascade down the lush green mountains of the region. Known as Little Niagara of Sri Lanka, St. Clair Falls is one of the widest falls in the country. The nearby Devon Falls was named after an English coffee planter by the name of Devon, whose plantation is situated close by. Back at your stunning accommodation, you’ll unwind at a lovely high tea, delighting in a range of locally sourced teas and delicious finger food. The evening at leisure for you to enjoy.

You’ll make your way to Yala this morning, stopping to witness the gushing water of the incredible waterfalls at Ella before continuing to Udawalawe en route. Established in 1995, the Elephant Transit Home rehabilitates orphaned elephant calves until they’re strong enough for release back into the wild. This special place is situated on the western border of Udawalawe National Park, where the elephants get the opportunity to roam free. Best job ever? Very well could be! Although you can’t get up close and personal with the elephants, you’ll be able to see plenty of adorable calves being fed during feeding time. Waving goodbye to your new elephant friends, you’ll journey to one of Sri Lanka’s most premier eco-tourism destinations, Yala National Park—the gateway to some of the island’s incredible wildlife. Established in 1938, Yala National Park boasts a diverse range of habitats, including scrub jungle, brackish lagoons, lakes, and rivers, that leopards, elephants, wild buffalo and more call home.

This morning you’ll enjoy time at leisure to relax and enjoy your hotel’s facilities. Grab your cameras, you’re heading out on an incredible safari this afternoon through Yala National Park! Among the oldest and best known of Sri Lanka’s national parks, your safari will take you through the park’s stunning scenery and past a number of important cultural ruins. Think vast grassland terrain mixed with beautiful, open lagoons and water holes that are popular among the diverse species found here. Keep your eyes peeled and get your lens ready to capture the numerous different species that call this park home. From the unique Sri Lankan sloth bear and wild water buffalo to the majestic Sri Lankan elephants that roam the area, there is magic to be found with every twist and turn. Here, you’ll also get the opportunity to spot the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. Affectionately known as the Lords of the Jungle, Yala National Park has a leopard density that’s higher than anywhere else on the planet. Fingers crossed you can spot one!

Farewelling the lush greenery of Yala this morning, you’ll make your way to the coastal walled city of Galle, the capital of the South Province. Built by the Portuguese in the late 16th century, this old trading port was further fortified by the Dutch and British colonialists. The narrow streets of shuttered mansions and churches protected by the stone walls, bastions and ramparts, are a delight to stroll through. On arrival in Galle, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the city on foot, learning about the town’s history and enjoying its stunning colonial architecture. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Galle Fort, a fantastically preserved colonial sea fortress and Galle’s best-known site. Early this afternoon, make your way to the seaside village of Habaraduwa to visit a special turtle hatchery. Set up to conserve Sri Lanka’s turtle population, you’ll get the chance to see baby turtles before they’re released into the wild. You’ll then make your way to the stunning town of Weligama, where you’ll witness the unique stilt fishermen of Weligama go about their trade—bring your camera, this makes for a cool photo opportunity!

This morning, enjoy a scenic cruise along the Madu River, meandering through islets forested with mangroves. Look out for the 46 different species of birds that reside in the area, including 14 aquatic varieties, as well as huge water lilies and colourful butterflies. You’ll then visit the Moonstone Mine in Meetiyagoda. This mine is one of the few places where the semi-precious stone is found in high concentrations, hence the villagers believe this area is blessed by the moon. At Meetiyagoda you can see, or even go down into the deep, narrow shafts where the stones are mined. On your way back to the hotel, you’ll make a stop at the moving Tsunami Photograph Museum which remembers the devastating 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami that inflicted widespread damage to the coast of Sri Lanka. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Upon arrival in Colombo, you’ll enjoy a guided city tour, including a visit to the Gangarama Temple and the famous Cricket Club Café, a prominent establishment in town owned by two Australians. This evening, you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at the Veranda Restaurant located within the historic and stunning Galle Face Hotel.