Sri Lanka Family Island Explorer

Arrive in Colombo,  where you'll meet your guide & transfer to The Wallawwa, an old colonial manor house (located 15-20 minutes from the airport) lovingly restored into a beautiful hotel.

Check-in in your hotel and rest of the day at leisure to recoup from the flight.

This morning after breakfast, drive 4.5 hours to the cultural triangle, arriving at Sigiriya. Alternatively, you have the option of taking a scheduled Air Taxi from Colombo to Sigirya (30-minute flight, 07 seater Cessna Aircraft).

In the afternoon, a short drive takes you to the World Heritage site of Sigiriya, built in the 5th century as a bastion and palace of king Kasyapa. The most impressive facets of this unique complex are geometrically laid water gardens, frescoes of beautiful maidens, and the mirror wall with ancient graffiti. It’s around 1200 steps to the summit, which reveals a spectacular panorama of the surrounding jungle and Sigiriya village. The site can also be enjoyed from ground level that is well laid out with nice gardens.

Return to your hotel and spend the remainder of your day at leisure.

Early this morning we travel to a lake for a unique morning where you get an exclusive opportunity to feed & bathe a Sri Lankan Elephant. The visit begins with a country boat ride in the magical Kandalama Lake & on return we take a local tractor ride back to the vehicle. Return to your hotel for breakfast.

 After breakfast, you will visit a rural village, where you meet a guru in the ancient indigenous martial arts system known as Angampora (Vishuddhi). This technique was used to protect Buddhism and the ancient kingdoms from foreign invasions. You will witness a high flying exhibition of martial arts by his students.

In the afternoon, you can pursue one of the following activities:

Have a session of traditional kite-making with the locals in the village.

Meet with a family in the rural village and learn how to make kites using colourful paper sheets, neatly cut strips of wood and using glue to cut and paste the colourful sheets. Once you have assisted in making the kites, fly them with the village children in verdant farmlands, which would be a fun filled activity.

Have the unique opportunity to play a game of ‘Cricket’ with the local villagers.

You will meet the villager in their home turn and we will provide you with the equipment. As the game progresses yprobem ou will see more and more locals joining in to cheer the teams on. If you are new to cricket we will give you a crash course in taking up the bat and ball. Be prepared as the homeboys will bring their ‘A game’ to you. After the match, we serve the locals ice creams and also donate the sports equipment to the kids in the village.

Try your hand at some local lake fishing.

Lake fishing in the cultural triangle has become the livelihood of many rural villagers. The water tanks in the Habarana/ Sigirya area are teaming with small lake fish. We get on board a small catamaran and start fishing with locally-made fishing rods and catching a nice sunset. 

This morning after breakfast, take a 1.5 hour drive to Polonnaruwa, the second ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka. En-route, you will have the opportunity to interact with local children at a local rural school (not possible during Saturdays - Sundays / school holidays and public holidays in Sri Lanka).

On arrival in Polonnaruwa, enjoy a traditional home cooked Sri Lankan meal at a rural café, before visiting the medieval city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Following our experience of Polonnaruwa, continue to Minneriya National Park for a private Safari of the Park.

Minneriya National park is famous for observing large wild herds of Asian Elephants in their natural habitat. The ideal National Park to visit would depend on the Elephant Herds movements at the particular time period. Encountering these giants at close range would definitely be an unforgettable experience. 

After an early breakfast, checkout from the hotel and drive 2.5 hours to Kandy. Onward to the quaint Peradeniya railway station to board a local train for a 2 ½ hour ride to the teaside town of Hatton. An engineering marvel, this route is spoken off as the most picturesque of rail journeys. Our train ascends along winding tracks, into the home of the famed Ceylon Tea.

On arrival, you will be transferred to your bungalow at the elegant Ceylon Tea Trails, where you will spend your next three nights. 

Tea Trails at an average altitude of 1250 meters with manicured tea as far as the eye can see, would be the world’s first Tea Bungalow resort. The English love for the sweet rhythm of life in a tea garden left its stamp on these charming colonial planters’ bungalows, a little distance from each other, separated by hillside lakes and valleys, with sweeping lawns and swimming pools and gardens of roses, agapanthus and spring crocus. 

Your stay here includes accommodation, full English or Sri Lankan breakfast, 3-course lunch (gourmet packed lunch if on excursion), Traditional afternoon cream tea, pre-dinner cocktails, 4-course gourmet dinner, wines, spirits & liqueurs, beer, juices and soft drinks, "Tea Experience" tea fields & factory tour with the Tea Planter in Residence

During your stay, you can enjoy scenic walks and hikes, some biking, or croquet, tennis and in-house spa treatments (chargeable).

You will also have the opportunity to visit a working tea factory with one of the Tea Trails resident planters (small group join-in through Tea Trails), where you can learn about how different types of teas are created. You will be taken through the entire process—from the drying of the green leaf to the process of dehumidifying and provoking the chemical reaction that turns green leaf into tea, to the segmenting of the different particles which result in the different grades, to finally the packing and distribution.

This morning, say a sad farewell to your hosts at Tea Trails as you check out and make your way through the hill country, towards the Yala National Park. (5.5 hours). Alternatively, you have the option of taking a scheduled Air Taxi from Hatton to Weerawila, (30-minute flight), 45 minutes drive from Yala.

Upon arrival in Yala, check in to Wild Coast Lodge. 

You'll have a little time to relax and get settled at the resort before your first wildlife safari with a naturalist guide in the park later this afternoon. If you prefer to have some rest, you can choose to relax today and go on a game drive later on in your stay. 

Your stay here includes accommodation, morning & evening wildlife safaris (01 per night booked) in a PRIVATE customized safari game viewing vehicle, all park entry fees, refreshments included on game drives, breakfast, lunch & dinner at the resort, water, fruit juices & other soft drinks, teas and coffees, selected wine, beer and spirits, Mini Bar (replenished once daily), and laundry.

This morning you will have an early wake-up call with coffee/tea and light breakfast. You will then depart at dawn for another 4WD jeep wildlife safari into the national park. Among the many wondrous sites and experiences today our main goal: a glimpse of the magnificent yet elusive leopard.

Return to your resort for a full breakfast followed by some leisure time to rest and enjoy the amenities of your resort.  Enjoy lunch and then if interested, depart by 3:00 for an afternoon safari (returning to your resort around 7:00PM this evening).

This morning, you will depart for Galle – a 4-hour journey - drive alongside the beautiful coastal belt of the South, arriving in the historic city of Galle in time for lunch. You could also choose to have lunch at a restaurant on the way, possible in Tangalle or Unawatuna.

En-route, you will learn Stilt fishing with the local Stilt Fishermen in the Koggala area.

Arrive in Galle, and check-in at the Fort Bazaar, an old Dutch house now restored beautifully and converted into a charming boutique hotel.

This afternoon, you will explore the fort, overflowing with landmarks, strolling past the Dutch church, the governor’s house, the spice warehouses, Court Square, the Kacheri or Town Hall, the lighthouse and ramparts. Near the old Arab mosque are streets leading to cricket fields and the district Judge’s house, surrounded by ancient frangipani trees. There’s a variety of exclusive boutique stores to explore.

Leisurely morning at the hotel before you make your way to Colombo via the Southern Expressway- 2 hours.

Upon arrival in Colombo, have lunch at the Barefoot Café, a popular and trendy restaurant in Colombo. Afterwards, spend some time sightseeing in Colombo, to see the highlights of the city.

Thereafter you will be transferred to the Airport in time to connect with your departure flight.

Depending on your flight timing, we can also arrange a wash and change room at one of our preferred hotels in the city.