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| Fly to Colombo for a two-night stay. On arrival you will be met by your expert tour guide and transferred to your hotel. |
| Embark on a city tour of Colombo this morning. Explore the Fort district, the historic centre of the city. Wander through Pettah Market. Visit the Dutch Church of Wolvendaal, dating back to 1749, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, a major pilgrimage site for Buddhist devotees, and Colombo's finest museums. |
| Travel to Wilpattu National Park where the abundance of wildlife have made their home around the many lakes. Enjoy an afternoon jeep safari with the chance to spot elephants, sambar deer and even leopards. Continue to Anuradhapura for an overnight stay. |
| Rise early and drive to Ritigala Jungle Monastery, where you will explore the ancient ruins. Continue to Sigiriya. This afternoon is at your leisure to relax or explore. |
| Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress, the heat of the kingdom between 477 and 495AD. Climb to the top of the fortress for spectacular views. Visit the Heavenly Maiden's frescoes before driving to the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa, also a UNESCO site. Tour the ruins of the Royal Palace and Gal Vihara, a 12th century rock temple. This afternoon, there will be an optional excursion to the local Hiriwadunna village for an insight into rural life. |
| Travel to Dambulla and tour the Dambulla Rock Temple. Dating back to the 1st century BC, the temple is made up of five cave sanctuaries, containing around 150 Buddha statues and colourful frescoes. Continue to Kandy, a sacred Buddhist city, visiting a spice garden in Matale for lunch and a cooking class en route. This evening you will be treated to a cultural dance performance. |
| Explore the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, which were created as leisure gardens for a Sinhala King and the Royal Palace. Later visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world. This afternoon will be free for you to explore independently. |
| Say goodbye to Kandy as you drive to the beautiful hill station town of Nuwara Eliya, stopping to visit a tea plantation and tea factory on route. In the late afternoon you will enjoy a delicious high tea at the luxurious Grand Hotel, a wonderfully palatial building which was the residence of the former Governor of Sri Lanka. |
| Today enjoy a morning at leisure or rise early for an optional sunrise walk at Horton Plains at your own expense. Set on a high-altitude plateau, Horton Plains encompasses an ecosystem so unique and fascinating this it is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that covers the whole of Sri Lanka's Central Highlands. Later drive to the spectacularly set hill village of Ella. |
| Today you will have a chance to explore more of the wonderful town of Ella with a whole day at your leisure. Perhaps take a walk through the trails, tea plantations, paddy fields and dense forest. For those feeling more adventurous join an optional hike to Little Adams peak for breathtaking views over the lush highlands. |
| Today head to Yala National Park and enjoy an afternoon jeep safari. It is home to elephants deer and the elusive leopards, of which one the world's largest populations can be found. The next day, spot more wildlife on another jeep safari in the morning, with the optional for an additional drive in the afternoon. |
| (See Day 11) |
| Drive to the Hummanaya Blow Hole, the second largest of its kind in the world. After lunch, continue to Dikwella Wewurukannala Temple dominated by an image of a seated Buddha that is over 48m high. Continue the drive along the coastline to the beautiful beachside town of Mirissa. |
| Soak up the sun today with some beach time at the charming Mirissa town. Between September to April, you may want to join an optional Whale watching trip to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures. |
| Travel south the city of Galle, Sri Lanka's greates colonial treasure, and once the greatest port in Ceylon. See the lighthouse and Old Town and the UNESCO World Heritage listed Dutch Fort, before exploring narrow streets dotted with Dutch colonial villas, museums and antique shops on a walking or cycling tour. Finish the day in Bentota, Sri Lanka's favourite beach destination, and visit Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. |
| Enjoy a safari on the river to Madu to journey through winding waters lined with Mangrove trees ending in the Madu Lagoon on its way to the Indian Ocean. This wetland area is well known for its biodiversity and you can spot many of the 300 species of wildlife discovered in the region so far. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and transfer to the airport for your flight home. |
| (See Day 16) |
14 daysLion Rock Fortress - Udawale Elephant Orphanage - Ancient Polonnaruwa
7 daysClimb Lion Rock - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
9 daysColombo Fort District - Pettah Market - Rock Fortress (Lion Rock) - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
7 daysAncient Rock Fortress - Dambulla Rock Temple - Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic
4 daysDambakola Pakola - Holy bathing pools - Casurina Beach - Nallura Kandaswamy Kovil Temple
