Classic Sri Lanka

Upon arrival at Colombo International Airport meeting with the driver/guide and transfer to the hotel in Hikkaduwa. It is a famous beach destination characterized by a stunning beach stretch lined with many hotels. Either snorkelling under the ocean or taking a glass bottom boat makes it possible to witness Hikkaduwa’s admire sanctuary. Tans can be worked on during the day and you can head out to the many clubs that line up the coast in the night. As of recent, body boarding and swimming with turtles are additions to the attractions of Hikkaduwa. (145 km approximately 4 hours)

After lunch at local restaurant, check-in at the hotel. The afternoon is free at leisure.

After breakfast leave for Yala en route stopping at Galle for a brief City tour (180 Km – Transfer time approx. 4,30 hrs.)

Galle is said to be the famous Tarshish of the Bible where King Solomon obtained gems and spices, this “Living” UNESCO World Heritage Site is the port where the Portuguese first landed in Sri Lanka in 1505. Captured and fortified by the Dutch who ruled maritime Sri Lanka in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, the city still retains the air of old Holland. Within the well preserved 90 acre fort and ramparts built in 1663 are old Dutch churches and monuments with armorial bearings, an imposing crested and monogrammed gateway dated 1669, many well preserved old Dutch houses and narrow alleys still bearing Dutch names.  The New Oriental Hotel, built for a Dutch governor in 1684, a colonial gem now converted to the internationally renowned Amangalle Hotel and several other excellent boutique hotels are testimony to the importance of this location. (22 km approximately 45 minutes)

Thereafter proceed to Yala and check in at the hotel. (175 km approximately 4,5 hours)

In the afternoon transfer to the Yala National Park for a 4x4 jeep safari.

Yala isSri Lanka’s most known National Park. It is popular for Elephant, Leopard, Bear, Crocodile and Wild Boar. 97,800 hectares in extent, this is the second largest of Sri Lanka’s National Parks. Its open undulating terrain made it famous for elephants for many years, but recently the park has also received much fame through publicity by National Geographic and the Discovery TV channels, which focused on a leopard research/conservation and identification project. Claims have subsequently been made that Yala National Park has the world’s highest concentration of leopard per square kilometre. Vegetation is primarily grassland and shrub jungle with patches of dense growth while several salt and fresh water lagoons are a haven for a large variety of resident and migrant birds. Areas popular with leopard are rock strewn hillocks with dense shrub in which the animals hide.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, you'll continue to Nuwara Eliya via Ella visiting Ravana falls en route. Ella is a sleepy village located in a valley of the central highlands. Ella boasts the healthiest and most refreshing climate in the world and is surrounded by mountains, plantations and waterfalls, with breath-taking scenery and landscape perfect for walks.Ravana Falls is also a renown attraction in Sri Lanka. This wide waterfall is approximately 25 m high and cascades from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop. During the local wet season, the waterfall turns into what is said to resemble an areca flower with shrivelling petals. The falls are part of the Ravana Ella Wildlife Sanctuary, and is located 6 km (3.7 mi) away from the local railway station at Ella.

Then, you'll go on to Nuwara Eliya, the heart of Sri Lankan hill country. It is the home of the famous Ceylon Tea and the rolling mountains are a carpet of velvety green tea plantations, interspersed with gushing streams and tumbling waterfalls. The salubrious climate, misty glens and the decidedly British character make Nuwara Eliya a must on any Sri Lankan travel itinerary. (190 km approximately 5 hours)

Lunch at a local restaurant and visit a Tea factory/plantation, where you can discover how the tea leaves are plucked. After having explored other main sights in Nuwara Eliya, you'll move to Kandy. It is the fortress of the Sinhala Kings and the most beautiful city of the country. The main attraction of the town is the golden roofed Dalada Maligawa. The highlight of the year is the Esala Perahera, when a replica of the relic casket is taken in procession accompanied by exotically costumed dancers, drummers and elephants during ten glittering nights in July/August. Here, there are also several shrines and temples, where you will see rare paintings, frescoes, wood and stone carvings. (85 km approximately 2 hours)

After breakfast, you'll visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation. It is located about 2 km from Pinnawela, on the Karandupona - Kandy road. You'll have the rare opportunity to feed and bathe the elephants. The working men will guide you to scrub the jumbos with a coconut shell. Perhaps you can enjoy an elephant ride. It appears that the elephants love to have baths as they are hardly scrubbed simultaneously. (45 km approximately 1 hour)

Lunch at a local restaurant and travel back to Kandy. The afternoon is dedicated to the visit of the Temple of the Tooth Relic followed by the cultural show. This temple, officially called Dalada Maligawa, is the most venerated place of worship for Buddhists throughout the world. It was built during the 16^th century and during these last years the complex has been enlarged.

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Matale, where you'll visit the Spice Garden and discover how spices grow in their natural habitat, as well as something about their use in Sri Lankan cuisine. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and black pepper are some spices you can find in the Spice Garden. It is possible to buy the products in their natural state or in the form of oils and potions that are used by Ayurvedic medicine, during the Dutch rule, very famous spices of Sri Lanka were exported to different countries. Boasting so many spices has earned the country the name of "Island of the spices”. (29 km approximately 1 hours)

After lunch, you'll travel to Avukana and visit the Avukana Buddha Statue. It is a 12 m high standing statue of the Buddha carved out of a large granite rock face during the 5^th century. It represents a variation of the Abhaya mudra, and the closely worn robe is elaborately carved. Chiseled during the reign of Dhatusena, it may have been made as a result of a competition between a master and a pupil. Avukana statue is one of the best examples of a standing statue constructed in ancient Sri Lanka. (85 km approximately 2 hours)

Afterwards, you'll reach Sigiriya. Known as the centre of the cultural triangle, Habarana sits in the middle of the many cultural attractions in the island such as Sigiriya, the Rock Fortress, the ruins of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, the sacred city. The Minneriya National Park, famous for the Great Gathering of Elephants, and Ritigala, the ancient Buddhist monastery, are only 15 minutes away. The Cultural Triangle is rich in agriculture and fertile soil due to the many artificial bodies of water, rivers and canals and reservoirs connected by an elaborate network of canals designed by the ancient kings. These water infrastructures enrich the whole environment and have kept the biosphere sustainable for many years. There has been no confirmed idea about how the kings had made this epic tanks.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning you'll climb the Rock Fortress, in Sigiriya, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The fort is one of Sri Lanka’s most important attractions. The Water Gardens are the most fascinating aspect of the complex, as well as the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was entirely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya glory. The so-called "Lion Rock" is a citadel built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), it unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) are worldwide famous, they are sheltered by a pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway led through the mouth of a crouching lion, but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the great proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site. (12km approximately 10 minutes)

Then, you'll move to Polonnaruwa, the capital city ages ago. It is surrounded by big artificial reservoirs designed and built during the 10^th century and is considered one of the best planned archaeological sites in the country. Nowadays, it is possible to enjoy the ruins that give information about the organisational structure of the ancient kingdom such as the Kings Palace, the Audience Hall, the Quadrangle the former Temple of the Tooth as well as the Gal Vihare complex paying homage to Buddhism with 4 large statues of Buddha. The site, declared Unesco World Heritage Site in 1982, can be discovered by bicycle, a great way of traversing the large complex. The city also hosts the Polonnaruwa Nature Sanctuary where the Smithsonian Institute has been conducting research into primates for over forty years. (55km approximately 1,5 hours)

After lunch at a local restaurant, you'll go back to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is dedicated to a trek in Hiriwaduna, a Sri Lankan Village. It begins with a picturesque walk along a bund of a Wewa (man-made reservoir). En route it is possible to admire the rich and amazing birdlife, butterflies and spot crocodile. You'll learn something about the villagers dailylife, as they go about their early morning tasks of fishing or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake. You'll wade through a shallow stream and cross a wider tributary in a catamaran of an obliging farmer to inspect Chena cultivation.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Then, you'll reach Negombo. It is also known as “Little Rome” due to its dense catholic population and many churches, Negombo is a fishing town on the North West coast of Sri Lanka. Enjoy its wide golden beach and several beach hotels or its attractions that include the fish market, Dutch Fort and the Dutch Canal.  (165 km approximately 4 hours)

Free time during the afternoon.

After breakfast at leisure (check- out time from the hotel will be at 14.00hrs).

Departure transfer to the airport (travel time: 10kms - approximately 20 mnts).