On arrival at the Bandaranayke International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality; a representative will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to Negombo.
Overnight stay at Sea Horse Hotel - Standard Room or Similar
Early morning visit Negombo fish market. Negombo has traditionally been a fishing town. Long before the city became a popular beach destination and scores of beach resorts lined its sandy coast, Negombo was home to Sri Lankan fishermen and women who indulged in traditional ways of fishing. Proceed to Sigiriya.
Overnight stay at Wewa Addara - Standard Room
After breakfast climb the 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress, which is a world heritage site, built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meters from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster.
Overnight stay at Wewa Addara - Standard Room
After breakfast, a visit to Girithale tank. Giritale tank is one of the finest landmarks in the Kingdom of Lakes! The tank is an initiative taken few centuries ago with the primary objective of cooling the environment while providing much needed water for agricultural lands which today administers itself as one of the finest spoken attractions in Polonnaruwa. This is where you get to hop on a bicycle and take a slow ride through scattered local villages. School children who run through the paddy fields will make this beautiful morning more colorful. Being captivated by the subtle beauty of the feathered - Egrets, Brahminy Kites and Bulbuls - while observing a Kingfisher making a nose-dive into sparkling water can never be a bad idea after all! Stop at a village marketplace and you can buy vegetables for your today’s lunch. You can bargain with the local vendors with the help of your tour guide and purchase vegetables on your own. Then transfer to a close by village house. You will have the opportunity to blend with the local family and prepare food jointly with the group. It will be an interactive cooking experience for the guests. Whilst sharing the Sri Lankan cookery secrets, the tour guide will introduce the village family to the group. After the joint preparation of the food clients can enjoy the typical Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch with the local family. For sure this will be another unforgettable experaince for all of the guests.
Optional: Visit Minneriya National Park in the evening
Minneriya National Park is the perfect choice for nature lovers especially if you want to witness a glorious elephant gathering. The park is also one of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Sri Lanka. Apart from the largest mammal on earth, the elephant, the park also inhabits two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka i.e. purple-faced langur and toque macaque, deer species, sloth, grey slender loris, leopard, bear, a lot of bird species and reptilians.
Overnight stay at Giritale Hotel - Standard Room
After breakfast transfer to Trincomalee. En route, visit the city of Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in this province and famous for its clean and beautiful environment, amazing ancient constructions and most importantly the huge lake Parakrama Samudra built in 1200 The city has many untouched ancient archeological relic sites and remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country. UNESCO has declared this ancient city as one of the World Heritage sites. Continue to Trincomalee. Any introduction to Trincomalee begins at its magnificent natural harbour, considered for millennia to be one of the finest in Asia. It was used as a trading port throughout the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, and was later the focus of battles during the colonial period when succeeding European nations vied for control of the island. When it was the turn of the British to colonise the island, then known as Ceylon, the Royal Navy established a naval base at Trincomalee which was later attacked by Japanese fighter pilots during World War II. At the Trincomalee War Cemetery, you can wander between rows of white gravestones belonging to soldiers of the British Empire killed during the war.
Overnight stay at Pigeon Island Beach Resort - Deluxe room
After breakfast join a tour to Pigeon Island National Park. Pigeon Island National Park consists of two small islands off the east coast north of Trincomalee. The island gets its name from Blue Rock Pigeon, a native endangered bird who lives within the rocks in these islands. The islands were declared a sanctuary in 1963 for the purpose of protecting these birds. In 2003 this area was upgraded to the status of a National Park and the boundaries were extended to include coral reef around them. The islands are situated about 1 km off the Nilaveli coast in Trincomalee District. This Pigeon Island National Park has one of the best remaining coral reefs with high live coral cover in the country and is an ideal location for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Overnight stay at Pigeon Island Beach Resort - Deluxe room
After breakfast spend the day at leisure. The next few days are yours to relax.
Overnight stay at Pigeon Island Beach Resort - Deluxe room
After breakfast transfer to Kandy via Mahiyanganaya and visit Moragahakanda dam. The Moragahakanda Dam, officially as Kulasinghe Reservoir, is a large gravity dam, and the main component of the larger and more complex Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga Project, across the Amban River at Elahera, in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. Construction began on 25 January 2007 and was completed in 2018. Afterwards, continue on to Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts Centre, a gem museum and a lapidary. Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy.
Overnight stay at The Mount batten hotel - Standard Room
After breakfast, explore Kandy city. This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815.
Overnight stay at The Mount batten hotel - Standard Room
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Nanu Oya train station. From there enjoy a train ride to Ella, the best place to relax and wind down and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. The Ella Gap offers a stunning view and on a clear night you can see the subtle glow of the Great Basses light house in the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The Ravana Ella Falls is another spectacular sight in Ella, the perfect place for a quick dip in the cool waters. Ella’s Rock offers a breathtaking view of the countryside, the walk up to the rock itself is beautiful, passing through rail tracks and tea plantations. On arrival check in to the hotel and relax.
Note: The train ride will be subjected to availability. If the train tickets are not available, you will be transferred to the destination by the vehicle used to do the tour.
Overnight stay at Oakray Ella Gap - Standard Room
After breakfast, you can explore activities in the area, or walk around Ella. Ella is a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres (3,415 ft) above sea level. The area has a rich bio-diversity, dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than surrounding lowlands, due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka. You have two days at leisure.
Optional:
Visit Ella Gap
No entrance fees, but there are Trekker charges (USD 23 net - not included).
The Ella Gap offers a stunning view and on a clear night you can see the subtle glow of the Great Basses light house in the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
9 Arch Bridge
Built during the British Colonial period, located almost 3100 feet above the sea level with 99.6ft high When one stands underneath it and looks up there is a beautiful sight of ‘nine skies’ through the nine arches. This massive bridge is built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel. The bridge was finally commissioned in 1921.
Little Adam’s Peak
The mountain range in the Badulla, Ella area which is considered for Small Sripada (Little Adam’s Peak) has become an attraction to local and foreign tourist. A large number of people visit the area to admire its scenic beauty. Small Sripada is located about 2 km from the Ella town. From this location Kataragama and the Hambantota beach which are hundreds of kilometers away can also be seen. The Namunukula, Poonagala and Narangala mountain ranges also located on near this place. The mount extent about 10 acres some of the Small Sripada is full of biodiversity.
Overnight stay at Oakray Ella Gap - Standard Room
After breakfast transfer to Bandarawela. Your accommodation for the night will be at a local Buddhist temple. The accommodation is basic with shared washrooms and common toilets, but comfortable and during your stay here you will be served vegetarian meals. You will have the chance to interact with the monks and learn about the principles of Buddhism.
Overnight stay at Buddhist Temple
After breakfast transfer to Udawalawe and visit the Elephant transit home in Udawalawe National Park. The elephant transit home is a rehabilitation centre for orphaned elephant calves, and you can be confident that you are supporting an ethical commitment towards enhancing their chances of survival in the wild. The Elephant Transit Home exists for the primary objective of rehabilitating orphaned elephant calves before releasing them.
Overnight stay at Athgira River camp - Tent
In the morning pack a breakfast, and then it's time for a safari in Udawalawe National Park by jeep. The area of this park is 30,821 hectares and is a dry zone park which was declared as a national park in 1972. This park falls within the Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and between Udawalawe reservoir and the Walawe River and is surrounded by the scenic beauty of the mountain range that keep on winding endlessly on the Balangoda, Kalthota and Haputale escarpments. It has an annual rainfall of 1,524 mm. and an average year-round temperature of 29.4 C. This park is world famous for its elephants seen in all their playfulness, whole herds of them, adults and babies bathing and playing in the water or feeding. In addition to the elephants, deer species such as spotted deer, sambhur, barking deer and langur, water buffalo and jackal are some of the prominent wild animals found in this park. On completion proceed to Ahangama.
Overnight stay at Insight Resort - Standard Room
After breakfast spend the day at leisure. On Day 21, you will enjoy a farewell dinner on the beach at Galle City (weather permitting).
Optional:
Excursion to Sinharaja Rain forest with packed breakfast
Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a forest reserve and a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Overnight stay at Insight Resort - Standard Room
After breakfast proceed to airport for the flight back home. This is the end of the tour.
Accommodation at specified hotels or similar standard hotels on BB basis, except at Mirissa, which is HB basis.
Services of an English-speaking driver/guide
Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance fees to
- Sigiriya
- Giritale village tour
- Polonnaruwa
- Tour to Pigeon Island
- Temple of tooth
- Train ticket
- Elephant transit home
- 1 safari at Udawalawe national park
- Farewell dinner on the beach
