Arriving at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport you are greeted by our staff and after a short briefing, you will be transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free to relax or explore on your own.

Colombo is Sri Lanka’s political capital and its largest city.  It is rapidly modernizing, has the country’s biggest port and a burgeoning nightlife.

Accommodation: At your selected hotel – 2 nights

Set off on an all-day sightseeing tour with your driver who is also your guide. Included will be many places of interest such as Colombo Museum, Vihara Maha Devi Park, the Dutch Museum, Kelani Viharaya, the National Art Gallery with a drive past the Old Parliament, .

Other attractions in the city are Folk Art Center- Kotte, Natural History Museum, Municipal Museum, Fort Railway Station, Wolfandhal Church and Ponnambalameshwaran Kovil, St Lucia Cathedral, Janakala Kendraya, and Independence Square and will drive past some of them during the tour. 

After breakfast, we drive from Colombo to Sinharaja Rain Forest via Rathnapura, an area known for producing some of the best and most exquisite gems of the world, including fine quality rubies.

In the Sinharaja forest there is a short stop to visit rubber plantation and processing factory, before arriving at the hotel, which is on the edge of the forest.

Accommodation: At your hotel – 2 nights

Spend the day exploring the Sinharaja Rain Forest. This park’s ecosystem creates an environment that allows for a great diversity of flora and fauna.  Due to its unique habitat, the park is home to approximately 95% of the indigenous birds of Sri Lanka. Some of the rare birds to be watched out for are Red-faced Malkohas, Green-billed Coucals and Sri Lanka Blue Magpies. There are also some leopards as well as Purple-faced Langurs.

Following breakfast drive we drive to Belihuloya and on the way, visit the Udawalawe transit home, where orphan baby elephants are kept and are taken care of.  Afterwards take a

4×4 jeep safari to explore Udawalwe National Park which is known for having the largest herds of Asian Elephants in any park of Sri Lanka. You may also see many Water Buffalo, Water Monitor Lizards, Sambar Deer, monkeys and perhaps a Leopard along with plenty of birds.

Later we continue to Belihuloya, a small village with superb natural location where we stay the night.

Accommodation at your selected hotel in Belihuloya – 3 nights

This morning enjoy trekking to Kinchigune, walking along the river and through paddy fields and villages where you can mingle with the locals and learn about their livelihood. While enjoying the bird life along on the way, you will also see a spice plantation.  After a picnic lunch, there is the option of canoeing on Samanalawewa Reservoir.

Today visit the village Temple and the Uggal Aluthnuwara Dewalaya – an ancient, 14th Century temple dedicated to God Katharagama.  Next we tour the Sabaragamuwe University Museum and see its collection of the world’s oldest steel furnaces.

Rest of the day at leisure or you may take an optional tour of a Buddhist Meditation center.

This morning we drive to Nuwara Eliya via Horton Plains National Park.  While trekking in this park, considered to be one of the best nature reserves of Sri Lanka, enjoy its amazing landscape of hills covered with thick forest and grassland and wetland.  There is also ’Bakers Falls’, ’Chimmini Pool’ and the ’World’s End’ point, a 3,700 ft sheer drop with spectacular views of the tea estates below and distant southern coastline.  The park has many native plants, 29 of them being indigenous to Sri Lanka and there are Deer, Malayan Giant Squirre, Wild Boar, Wild Hare, Porcupine and Leopard.

Later we continue driving to Nuwara Eliya. Often referred to as the Little England of Sri Lanka with its colonial style buildings, it is surrounded by tea plantations where you can visit a tea factory to see the processing of Ceylon Tea.  Afterwards there will be time, if you wish, to walk to Single Tree Hill, which takes around an hour and half.

Overnight at Nuwara Eliya

Today you will be transferred to Nuwara Eliya Railway station for a short train ride to Kandy.  Upon arrival in Kandy you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Kandy was originally known as Senkadagala Pura but its present name is derived from the word ”Kanda”, meaning ’mountain’.  Our afternoon city tour will include a visit to the 16th Century Temple of Tooth and Gem Museum.

Overnight at Kandy.

This morning visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden, which is famous for its massive collection of orchids as well as many other plants, some having medicinal use.  Next we visit the National Herbarium, a research institute that identifies plants and shrubs.  Afterwards we drive to Sigiriya, and in the afternoon visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 5th Century, World Heritage Site with its lion-shaped rock rising to a height of 200 meters above the forested plain.

Accommodation: At your hotel – 2 nights

We set off for a full day excursion to Dambulla, known for its beautiful Cave temples and a huge Buddha statue, plus having over 150 images of Buddha dating back to 1st Century BC. From the top of the hill, one gets a spectacular view of the countryside.  Later we visit Polonnaruwa, another World Heritage site and a former capital of Sri Lanka where you will see the Royal Palace, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, the Statue of king Parakramabahu and the famous Gal Viharaya – where 4 splendid statues of the Buddha in ’Upright’, ’Sedentary’ and ’Recumbent’ postures are carved out of rock.

On the way back to Sigiriya, enjoy an elephant ride in Habarana forests.

Today we travel to Negombo, a fishing town that was greatly influenced by the Dutch and then the Portuguese.  This beautiful town with its many colonial churches and buildings, has a picturesque beach front and is famous for sea food.

Overnight at Negombo.

Following leisurely breakfast, we travel to Negombo, a fishing town that was greatly influenced by the Dutch and then the Portuguese.  This beautiful town with its many colonial churches and buildings, has a picturesque beach front and is famous for sea food.

Overnight at Negombo.

Today we will transfer you to the airport for a flight home or you could extend your stay and spend some relaxing days at one of Sri Lanka’s many, nearby beautiful beach resorts.