Sri Lanka-Pearl of The Indian Ocean

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, you will be met by your guide and transferred by road (½ hour drive) to Negombo and Wallawwa Resort for one night.

You will be driven to Sigiriya (5 hour drive) where you will spend three days at the eco luxury Jetwindg Vil Uyana Resort. You’ll visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Referred to as “The Lion Rock” by locals, Sigiriya became the capital during the reign of King Kashyapa in the 4th century A.D. On your second day you drive one hour to visit Anuradhapura, an ancient historical city with many religious places of worship and Buddhist shrines constructed by the past kings of Sri Lanka. You will see fabulous stupas, temples, palaces and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the holy Bo-tree. This tree was grown from a sapling of the very tree under which more than 2500 years ago the Buddha found enlightenment. Anuradhapura is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On your third day, you will visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second most ancient kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, leave for Minneriya National Park and look for “The Gathering of Elephants,” which is ranked among the world’s top wildlife viewing spectacles. (June – October). Each afternoon approximately 150-200 elephants come out of the forest in to the open to graze on the fresh green pasture by the water’s edge at Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks.

Your journey continues as you drive 4 hour to the ancient hill capital of Kandy. Kandy was established as a city by King Wikramabahu in the 13th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and sacred city due to the importance of the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This evening you will enjoy a Cultural Dance Show. From fire walking and fire breathing to Kandyan drumming and devil dancing, the cultural dance performance is one of the most sought after activities in Kandy.

The next day you will visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, regarded among the finest in Asia with over 4,000 different species of plants. After lunch, continue on to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most revered site in the country. Housing the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha, the building has held a significant role in local politics since ancient times, with a belief that whoever holds the relic has the right to govern the country. The sacred tooth was smuggled in to Sri Lanka from India by a princess in the 4th century AD and was initially kept in Anuradhapura and then moved across the country over time before being housed in Kandy. This sacred temple attracts thousands of white-clad pilgrims on a daily basis bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani for their offerings, known as pujas. You’ll also see many saffron-robed monks paying tribute to the relic.

Today you continue on to Hatton. Enjoy your 2 ½ hour drive as it takes you further into the hill country traveling through scenic hills and valleys, waterfalls and tea plantations. Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest exporters of tea with a history dating back to 1867. Hatton is abundant with many tea plantations and factories along this picturesque countryside, which provides the ideal climate for high grown tea. Lush green mountains fade into the mist covered distance while waterfalls cascade and spiral down its breath taking hillsides. After checking in to the Ceylon Tea Trails resort you will spend the afternoon at leisure.

Tomorrow you will enjoy the Tea Experience Tour where the resident Tea Planter will show you first hand the age-old tea making process, ending with a tasting of different grades of this great brew.

Your next exciting destination, Yala National Park is a 5-hour drive from Hatton. You will check in to Kulu Safaris Camp in time for an afternoon game drive.

You will spend the next days on safari in Yala National Park for wildlife photography targeting leopard, Asian elephant, mugger crocodile and other dry-zone wildlife. Yala is also an excellent birding destination and the varied landscapes from lagoons, beaches to rocky outcrops immersed among the scrub jungle are also a treat as you search out the park’s wildlife.

This morning you will depart for your 4-hour drive to Galle where you will spend your day exploring the Galle Fort UNESCO World Heritage Site. The once sleepy Galle Fort is now a vibrant area with a distinctively Mediterranean feel to it and is abuzz with activity. You can explore its narrow streets and laneways bustling with jewelry shops, numerous cafes, restaurants and luxurious villas. The Galle Fort mosque, the lighthouse, the Anglican and Dutch-reformed churches and the Maritime Museum are must-see sites. You will then drive to Cape Weligama Resort where the rest of the day is yours at leisure.

Transfer today from Weligama to the Bandaranayke International Airport for your flight home.