Sri Lanka Unwrapped – From Sacred Peaks to Serene Shores

Day 01: AIRPORT – COLOMBO

Meet and assist on arrival at Airport by our airport representative.

Proceed to Colombo

Check in to the hotel – on or after 12:00 pm   

Enjoy a Colombo city tour & shopping experience in the heart of the city.

The throbbing metropolis, Colombo - located in the West - is not only the country's commercial capital, but also the turbine that impels above 50% of the national GDP flanking Colombo's fancy urban development effort. Drive along the clean streets edging the crystal white Race Course - horse racing hub in 1893 & World War II airstrip - furnished today with lavish clothing, food & tea boutiques. Meanwhile, ride to Pettah  - an offbeat shopping experience - or feel the buzz surrounding the upcoming inspiration, the Colombo Port City - an offshore city - featuring parks, commercial complexes! Head along Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards 'Arcade' facing a historic waypost, the Independence Square. Every designer boutique, top-notch cuisine outlet and even the 'walk-over fish tank', have revamped this colonial masterpiece into one of the trendiest shopping and hangout zones in Sri Lanka. Have a chilled beer at the Dutch Hospital while gazing through fancy windows showcasing best fashion, jewelry & handicraft brands. Smell the scent of incense while listening to the chiming bells of Gangarama temple. Or, jazz up to Colombo's night life spiced by night clubs & casinos that borderline its bustle. If you're lucky, head into an exhibition at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) before swaying your head to an opera or play at Nelum Pokuna that should just drive your day into perfection!

Head back to the Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Colombo

Day 02: COLOMBO - DAMBULLA

Breakfast at the Hotel

Proceed to Dambulla.

Enroute visit Dambulla cave temple. (Approx 350 steps)

In the city of Dambulla lies a hub which has been treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C. Today, an icon in the face of Sri Lanka, Dambulla Rock Temple houses some of the most unique drawings in magnificently constructed 5 cave temples flanking the golden temple of Dambulla. Observe how exquisitely cave paintings are done along walls that shelter 150 statues of Lord Buddha. As you enter the retreat, look straight up to the gigantic Buddha statue glittering in gold over a land, which today houses an important junction in the country's economic and cultural uplifting.

Continue your journey to Hotel and check in.

Overnight at Hotel in Dambulla. 

Day 03: DAMBULLA - SIGIRIYA – HIRIWADUNNA – POLONNARUWA - DAMBULLA

Breakfast at the Hotel

Visit the Sigiriya Lions Rock & enjoy a trek up the rock. (Approx. 1500 steps)

The 5th century rock citadel of King Kasyapa and World Heritage Site - Sigiriya - doesn't only boasts of ancient Sri Lankan engineering & urban planning supremacy but also acclaims to be one of the finest monuments of art & culture. Step through the gigantic 'Lion Paws' - overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below - to comprehend the absolute splendor that once dominated this rock fortress. Surrounded by ramparts & moats the Lion Rock - resembling the mythological 'City of Gods' - is coated by frescoes that relate to Gupta style paintings found in Ajanta caves of India. Walk in the shade of an eminent 'mirror wall' embracing the Western face of Sigiriya representing an artistic hundred meters laminated with graffiti. Wander into the well-fabricated museum downstairs for an epic journey of yesteryears to realize how the citadel floated above citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water right onto its summit with an ingenious hydraulic system describing a colossal masterpiece of the great king which remained a wonder in Asia for centuries.

Enjoy a Hiriwadduna village trek with a cooking demo & traditional lunch.

Hiriwaduna village tour - The trek starts with a fantastic walk along a Wewa or artificial reservoir. The reservoir itself, the surrounding bush jungle, the marshland and the village are a swarm of cheerful morning or evening activities. The amazing birdlife, butterflies and possible sightings of the crocodile only add to the charm and watch the villagers do their fishing or do laundry at the edge of the lake.

Catamaran safari - (double pair canoe combined with seating) on the picturesque lake & calf through a shallow stream and the feeling of adventure rises when you have to reach a Chena cultivation via a slightly wider tributary that has to be crossed on a catamaran!

At the Chena cultivation stop to enjoy the modest hospitality of the farmer. Perhaps you will enjoy a drink with sweet King Coconut / Aromatic Ginger Tea or other seasonal fruits.

Bird watching on the catamaran like peacocks, green doves, comoranes, green bitters, kingfishers, eagles and many other birds as well as land monitors and water monitors.

Traditional village food in a local house

After the catamaran safari, the traditional lunch is served in a local house prepared by the village women.

This is served on a typical and traditional buffet (clay pots - buffet) served on a lotus leaf and a flat pipe holder. (Guests can take part in the preparation of the meals).

Afterwards visit the Polonnaruwa heritage site.

Rising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa - medieval capital & crown jewel of King Parakramabahu I - remains superior proof of ancient culture & heritage blended with religious beliefs. Walk across its scattered walls of the World Heritage Site - blessed by stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures - while observing the relic house - Watadage - which boasts of beautiful stone carvings. Take a close glance and you will realize a subtle Hindu influence on architecture and statues found in Polonnaruwa. Or sit by the side of Galviharaya and observe the absolute beauty gushing out of every bend of its huge Buddhist statues. Nissankamalla Council Chamber is however, a head-spinning beauty to just sit back and observe with its swaying pillars reminding the aesthetics of a powerful kingdom which rests beside Parakrama Samudraya - sea of Parakramabahu & masterpiece of irrigation!

Head to the Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Dambulla

Day 04: DAMBULLA  – MATALE –KANDY

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Enroute enjoy a Spice Garden visit in Matale.

An agricultural zone in the Central Province, Matale seldom drops off the maps due to its remarkable contribution through flagship crops of the island extending from tea, rubber & vegetables to spices. Spearheading the Rebellion back in 1848, Matale today takes immense pride in its story woven around spices. Stop by the side of a spice garden - into which you will be most welcome - and observe the therapeutic values of spices & processes over a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Or spend sometime idling on the hardened streets if you mean a real town adventure filled with voices and colors.

Enjoy a Kandy city tour & visit the Temple of Tooth relic.

Last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe - before it was brought under the British rule in 1815, Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings - crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe. Experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A stroll across this small lakeside town - cradled among the misty hills - will feature the Kandy City Centre - bundled with latest and world class brands, bazaar, an arts & crafts centre, as well as a gem museum & lapidary walk in colour as you glide through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market.

Towards the evening, enjoy a traditional cultural show in evening.

Fine tune your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music & drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka.

Check in to the Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Kandy

Day 05: KANDY – TEA PLANTATION – NUWARA ELIYA

Breakfast at the Hotel

Proceed to Nuwara Eliya.

Visit a Tea Factory & Tea Plantation.

Sri Lanka, Tea and Tourism are words which cannot be separated. Take a tour to the cold & misty hills that take pride of an ultimate tea tour, covering lush green blankets of tea plantations. Or just step into a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date. As you observe the hissing and swishing of machines, inhaling the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, make sure to end your day in style over a perfectly blended cup of pure Ceylon Tea.

Enjoy a Tea Plucking session at the Tea Plantations.

Enjoy a Nuwara Eliya city tour.

Misty steep roads, twisting through lush green blankets of tea bushes in a cool climate, remind visitors that they are within the range of the renowned British colonial retreat, Nuwara Eliya. Augmented by an English countryside atmosphere, the city of light - once governed by English & Scottish planters - is still studded with colonial bungalows, hedgerows & one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the world. A hike through the green grass and red-brick walls should present breathtaking views of a buzzing countryside hamlet. Drive through green valleys of the hill country pierced by endless waterfalls & dotted by tea pluckers draped in bright-colored saris. Or rent a bike for a gentle ride along the banks splashed by the waters of Lake Gregory.
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Check in to the Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Nuwara Eliya

Day 06: NUWARA ELIYA – ELLA 

Breakfast at the Hotel

Proceed to Ella

Ella City tour: Visit the Ravana Falls | Ravana Caves | Nine Arch Bridge

Surrounding countryside is a traveler's paradise, a place gifted with natural beauty, filled with historical sites and spiced with Legendary Ravana stories.

Ravana Falls is another must visit in Ella, Sri Lanka. Hill country of Sri Lanka is quite popular for beautiful waterfalls and Ravana Falls is right at the top.

Ravana Caves: History says that the cave is used by King Ravana to hide the Princess Sita. Located about 2 km from the Ella town. The cave lies on the foundation of a cliff, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka with a historical value.

The glorious Nine Arch Bridge between Ella and Demodara train stations is one of the engineering marvels in the early 20th century.(Tuk ride to Nine Arch Bridge & Back)

Check in to the Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Ella

Day 07: ELLA – GALLE - BENTOTA

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Optional Mini Adams Peak  or Ella Rock trek with an experienced trekker @ USD 25.00 per person

Proceed to Bentota.

Enroute visit Galle and enjoy a Dutch city tour

Galle, the epic Southern capital, is the intersection where classic Dutch architecture meets a tropical setting creating a vivid atmosphere in beauty. Walk the Dutch-haunted streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions today flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale. Its original ramparts and bastions preserved up to date showcase evidences of a heritage preserved for more than 3 1/2 centuries. Walk clockwise within the fort to observe the 'old gate' carrying the British coat of arms. Flanking the old gate is the Zwart bastion - the oldest of all - and the lighthouse standing 18 feet in its glory next to the Point Utretcht Bastion. This Dutch bliss is painted with streets that spread in a rectangular grid pattern pierced with houses carrying Dutch colonial style verandas. Hop into the Dutch Hospital Shopping Complex to be mesmerized by an array of souvenir selections. However, its hallmark stands a reality where the Dutch fort remains a working community with its usual buzz of administrative offices, court complex, commercial buildings, churches and Southern folks frequenting its streets bracing the air of the Elysium of architecture, Galle!

Continue your journey to the hotel and check in.

Here you will relax and be at leisure by the beach and hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Bentota.

Day 08: BENTOTA – KOSGODA – BALAPITIYA - BENTOTA

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Proceed to Kosgoda and visit a Turtle conservation.

Both locals and international volunteers battling it out for ''Sea Turtles' Sake'' is a common sight at Kosgoda. This vibrant tourist destination sitting calm along the Southern coast of Sri Lanka - apart from its traditional industries of fisheries and cinnamon cultivation - was later recognized by the Wildlife Protection Society who studded the region with a Sea Turtle Conservation Project which operates on a formidable scale today. Indirectly, this has become a watering hole of flipper & shell enthusiasts!

Thereafter, enjoy a boat ride in Balapitiya along the Madu river. (includes shared local boat ride | Mangrove river ride | Duration: 01 hour | Cinnamon Island visit | Foot Fish therapy session per person | 01 x cocobut drink per person)

Balapitiya is where one could just sit back and observe how ecology and culture combines under the sun! Cut through the clear water of Madu River - a lifeline of Balapitiya - and head towards Kotu Duwa, the small island housing a temple that dates back to ancient Sinhalese kings. Or, sail through tunnels of shady mangroves swaying alongside Madu River - hiding an ecological treasure - to witness the tranquility of this bio-diversity hot spot which boasts of reptiles, mollusks and over 70 species of fresh water fish. Today the region - which is strong in observing rural folk life in the island - does not only boast of cinnamon plantations in abundance, but also has a fine 'fish pedicure center' - one of the most

potent & latest rejuvenation techniques. Apart from these amenities Balapitiya has also become a household name in the minds of bird watchers ensuring a thrilling offshore experience.

Here are a few optional you can choose for this day.

Head back to the hotel.
Here you will relax and be at leisure by the beach and hotel.

Overnight at Hotel in Bentota.

Day 09: BENTOTA – AIRPORT

Breakfast at the Hotel.

Transfer to the Airport for Departure at least 03 hours prior to flight timings.

Bon Voyage!