Sri Lanka: Culture, Wildlife and Beach Holiday

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Negombo

  As soon as you arrive, your private chauffeur guide will meet you and take you on a 20 minutes' drive to the hotel in Negombo. You can spend the rest of the day recovering from jetlag.

  • Negombo

• Day 2: Negombo - Sigiriya

  Today, you will set out for a trip to the Negombo fish market, which is a perfect place to see fish coming and how they are processed, showing the beauty and bounty of the sea.

  After lunch, head for the iconic Sri Lanka image of Sigiriya (approximately 5 hours' drive), which contains lots of rock cave temples and arts of paintings and statues.

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  • Sigiriya

• Day 3: Sigiriya

  After breakfast, visit the ancient rock fortress of Lion Rock, where you can get a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding on the top of the majestic rock by certain efforts to ascend the stairs.

  And later in the afternoon, experience some local life in the village of Hiriwadunna, where you can view the spectacular scenery of Sri Lankan's countryside on a jeep or a tuk tuk. When the sun goes down, you'll board on a boat to see the fascinating sunset view, getting the sight of the harmony between human and nature.

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  • Sigiriya

• Day 4: Sigiriya - Kandy

  Today, your trip goes to the emblematic Dambulla Cave Temple, where you can see paintings and statues related to Lord Buddha and his life.

  After that, you are to arrive in Kandy (about 3.5 hours' drive). On the way, stop at a spice garden and a 15-minute complimentary Ayurveda Massage is optional. Upon arrival, after watching a traditional Kandyan Dance, you will visit the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha, and has stunning Kandyan architecture exterior and lovely traditional decorations, paintings and carvings of interior.

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  • Kandy

• Day 5: Kandy

  After breakfast, visit the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya, which is renowned for its collection of orchids, and it's a lovely place to take a stroll, with the many varieties of flowers and plants thriving in this majestic botanical garden. You are free to spend the rest of the day on your own. It is recommended have an easy amble around the serene Kandy Lake.

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  • Kandy

• Day 6: Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

  Today, head for Nuwara Eliya by train (subjected to availability upon request), along the way you can get scenic views of some spectacular mountains, stunning waterfalls and marvelous plantations. After about 4 hours, you will arrive at Nanu Oya Railway Station and meet your chauffeur guide, and then you'll be transferred to the hotel for a rest.

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  • Nuwara Eliya

• Day 7: Nuwara Eliya

  Today, get up early and set out for Horton Plains National Park, a stunning highland plateau popular. You will have an easy trek (about 3-4 hours) among the incredible scenery to see sambar deers, waterfall, different kinds of unique flowers and plants, etc. The fabled viewpoint of World's End is another spot to blow your mind.

  After lunch, visit a tea plantation and a tea factory, learning about how world's best Ceylon tea is plucked and processed. Get a hands-on experience on tea picking, and of course you will also have a sip of the pure Ceylon tea.

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  • Nuwara Eliya

• Day 8: Nuwara Eliya - Yala

  In the morning, head for Yala (about 3 hours' drive), along the way you can absorb views of the picturesque Ella. When arriving at Yala, you will be escorted to the hotel for check-in and have some rest before hopping on a jeep trip at Yala National Park in the afternoon. You can have the chance to see wild elephants, crocodiles, water buffalos, even leopards if lucky, for which the park is famous, and many other wildlife.

  Note: Yala National Park will not open to the public in September, and alternatives would be used depending on the situation (for example, Bundala National Park).

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  • Yala

• Day 9: Yala

  Today, travel into Yala National Park again on a jeep safari to see if you can spot some more wild beauty. The rest of the day is free for you to have some rest.

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  • Yala

• Day 10: Yala - Galle - Hikkaduwa

  Today, leave for Galle by road (about 4 hours), along the way you may capture the scene of the emblematic stilt fishermen making their living in the sea. After arriving at Galle, visit the Galle Dutch Fort. Walking through the fort and admiring the iconic buildings, you'll find yourself immersed in the colonial history atmosphere.

  After that, drive to Hikkaduwa beach (about 40 minutes) for your enjoyable beach hotel stay for the next 2 days.

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  • Hikkaduwa

• Day 11: Hikkaduwa

  The beach in Hikkaduwa is a major tourist attraction in Sri Lanka, with nice clean beach and white sand. It's a perfect place for swimming, diving, and surfing. Enjoy the free day on your own.

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  • Hikkaduwa

• Day 12: Hikkaduwa

  Today, you can have an amble on the beach, maybe seeing some turtles if you're lucky, or try the ayurvedic spa, which is good for your body and helps rejuvenating your inner youth.

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  • Hikkaduwa

• Day 13: Hikkaduwa - Colombo, Departure

  After breakfast, leave for Colombo (about 2.5 hours' drive). Upon arrival, visit a cluster of the city's legacies from colonial time, including the Independence Square Gangarama Temple of Colombo, mile-long promenade of Galle Face Green and Colombo's National Museum, etc. You'll have time to shoot pictures of the former British Administrative Center, etc. Later, your chauffeur guide will drive you to the airport for your flight to the next destination.

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