Arrival at the Colombo Airport / We then travel to the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka to explore the island's rich history and rural lifestyle / Upon arrival, in the afternoon we visit the Dambulla Cave Temple which is home to some of the best preserved Buddha statues and cave paintings in the world. The climb is not too long, and along the way we can enjoy some nice views of the surroundings. Reaching the summit, we witness the beautiful cave paintings and the Buddha statues in each chamber / Proceed to your accommodation and enjoy the evening
Enjoy an early breakfast at the resort / We travel to Sigiriya to explore the iconic Sigiriya Rock Fortress - often refered to as the 8th Wonder of the World by many. The Hike upto the summit is a very interesting one as you will pass through beautifully landscaped gardens, highly advance water distribution systems, guard points, boulders, mirror wall and ancient paintings. Once you reach the summit, you will witness uninterrupted 360 degree views / After exploring Sigiriya, we indulge in a nice farmer's lunch in a village wattle & daub hut to experience local cuisine as the villagers do (The food will be cooked specially for you by a local family with less spices) / In the afternoon we get involved in an Elephant Rescue & Welfare project where we visit a rescued Elephant for a meaningful yet fun experience where you can bathe and feed an elephant. Enjoy local modes of transport such as a ride on a raft on the lake and a tractor ride which locals use in their day to day transport (All proceeds from this experience are used for the rescue and welfare of these beautiful animals)
After enjoying your stay in the cultural triangle, we check-out after breakfast and travel to Kandy - The Hill Caital of the island, which was also the final kingdom prior to the colonial era / En route, we visit a Private Spice plantation and enjoy a guided private tour and learn about the benefits and uses of spices / We continue to Kandy and visit the Temple of The Tooth Relic which is one of the most venerated places of worship by Buddhists around the world at the temple houses the sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Witness the culture and customs and be a part of the experience by lighting oil lamps and incense sticks alongside local pilgrims / Later, we enjoy a city walk to witness the architecture and the lifestyle of this busy town with unique lifestyle, including a visit to the market and a brief tuk tuk ride which is one of the quickest ways to get about in busy urban cities. Thereafter perhaps spend some time to explore the city on your own / Proceed to your accommodation
After breakfast, we travel to the Kandy railway station to board an Authentic train to enjoy one of the world's most scenic railway journeys across a mix of forests, hills & valleys and breathtaking tea fields. The train journey is approximately 4 hours, and your chauffuer guide will drive to the Nanu Oya Railway station with your luggage and await your arrival. / Reaching Nuwara Eliya, enjoy this unique hillcountry town which is known as "Little England" due to it's weather, old historical and colonial buildings and their architecture, parks, golf course, Horse race course which truly make you feel like you are in England. Nuwara Eliya is also surrounded by beautiful tea plantations. Enjoy a walk in the Nuwara Eliya town and take in the atmpsphere.
Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel / We then check-out and visit a Factory producing world famous Ceylon tea to learn the history of Tea and understand the process of producing high quality Tea / We leisurely drive from the hills to the Southern wilderness of Yala / Check-in to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure
Enjoy an early morning safari at the Yala National Park which boasts the highest Leopard Density in the world and is also popular for other amazing wildlife such as the Asian Elephant, species of Deer, Wildboar, Jackals, Pangolins, Buffalos, Monkeys, Reptiles including Crocodiles and pythons and plenty of birdlife / Late morning, we travel to Galle - a historic coastal town with a 17th Century Fortress to experience a stay within the fort walls / In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of this unique living fortress which is home to many Dutch period buildings, historical sites, and now has been restored to its former glory with many hip cafés, pubs and boutiques. After the guided tour, spend time exploring the fort on your own and enjoy the evening
After a memorable stay in the Emerald Isle, it’s time to bid farewell to the island and it's people! / We will arrange a departure transfer corresponding with your flight time.
