14 day Mesmerising Sri Lanka

Colombo – Negombo
Welcome to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, that derives much of its vibrancy from its age-old spice trade, which also brought in European colonial powers. Colombo combines ancient heritage with the colonial architecture.

On arrival, you will be met by your private chauffeur guide, he will assist you to your hotel outside of Colombo.

Overnight: Jetwing Blue – deluxe room

Negombo – Sigiriya
Today you will visit the UNESCO Dambulla Cave Temple complex enroute. Dambulla cave temple is part of the Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka and is encrusted into a magnificently large rock. The cave temples are home to numerous religious and cultural paintings and sculptures.

Overnight: Aliya Resort & Spa – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast

Sigiriya
Today explore the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, rising dramatically from the central plains, the enigmatic rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka’s single most dramatic sight. Near vertical walls soar to a flat-topped summit that contains the ruins of an ancient civilization.

Continue to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa a fascinating scattering of temples and palaces where a thriving community once lived over 800 years ago.

Overnight: Aliya Resort & Spa – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast

Sigiriya
After Breakfast, visit Hiriwadunna for an authentic village experience. Trekking (optional) through the Hiriwadunna is an adventure that gets every nature lover excited. Ride a bullock cart, which is Sri Lanka’s oldest form of transportation on an unpaved trail. Then set off on a nature walk through a scrub jungle. Immerse yourself in an archetypal Sri Lankan village, spend time with a farmer harvesting crops, or enjoy the sight of the village folk as they go about their early morning tasks of fishing or washing clothes at the lake. Wind down and learn from the locals on how to prepare a scrumptious home cooked Sri Lankan meal in the heart of the village.

Thereafter, proceed to do a Jeep safari in Minneriya/Eco or Kaudulla national parks. Located in the heart of the Cultural Triangle Minneriya, Eco, and Kaudulla National Parks are among the best parks to see Elephants on the island, with large herds of elephants migrating between each park during different seasons. The parks mostly consist of a mixed forest of evergreen shrubs, a favorite habitat for animals, which include deer and wild elephants.

Overnight: Aliya Resort & Spa – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast & lunch with local villagers

Sigiriya – Kandy
After breakfast, you will proceed to Kandy and will visit a Spice Garden in Matale enroute.

Sri Lanka is well renowned for its spices and natural ayurvedic remedies, and Matale spice garden delivers it all! Stroll through the hand reared and harvested plantations of natural spices to satisfy the three main senses. See the large tropical trees and take in the fragrant aromas.

Overnight: Cinnamon Citadel – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast

Kandy
Continue your exploration of Kandy and visit the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens. Take your time to walk around and soak up the huge variety of plant life. Later visit the Temple of the Toot, this remarkable Buddhist temple is where the relic of Buddha’s Tooth is kept. Preserving the Relic of Buddha in this haven of refuge, it was declared that whoever houses and protects it is automatically given the power to rule the country.

Overnight: Cinnamon Citadel – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast

Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
This morning drive to the station to catch your train to Nuwara Eliya, an incredibly scenic journey through the central hills which takes around four and a half hours. Your chauffeur-guide is there to meet you at your final stop to take you to your hotel.

Overnight: Grand Hotel – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast

Nuwara Eliya
Arrive at the tea plantation and walk through to get an insight into the history of Ceylon tea and the process involved in picking the fresh tea buds by skilled estate workers. After an introduction to the tea picking process, you will take part in a ‘Tea Picking’ competition where you would need to pick the finest tea buds and fill a collection basket or sack which will be inspected by the factory staff in order to pick a winner based on the quality of the tea leaves and not the weight.

After an exciting visit to the plantation walk into a working tea factory to witness the processing which involves withering, fermenting and rolling of tea leaves before they are packed and shipped out to the Colombo tea auction.

Overnight: Grand Hotel – deluxe room

Meal: Breakfast

Nuwara Eliya – Yala
Proceed via Ella to witness the Ella Gap and Ravana Falls. The small town is used as a base for many trekking expeditions to the surrounding areas.

This is an en-route stop during journey to Yala. You can either stop for lunch or a tea break. From the Ella gap you can get a breathtaking view of the Southeast part of Sri Lanka. A great place for photography.

Overnight: Jetwing Yala – superior room

Meal: Breakfast

Yala
Today enjoy a private morning and afternoon jeep safari. Hopefully, you can see a range of wildlife. Yala National Park is the largest National Park in Sri Lanka. Yala is the best location to sight and photograph the rare and remarkable leopards. Other highlights of Yala include the herd of wild elephants, bears, wild boars, buffalos, deer, crocodiles and many species of birds. The vegetation ranges from open parkland to dense jungle. There is also an abundance of water supply for animals and birds ranging from waterholes, streams, small lakes to lagoons.

Overnight: Jetwing Light House – luxury room

Meal: Breakfast

Yala – Galle
Following breakfast, we take a drive around the south coast towards Galle, the most important seaport of Sri Lanka. En route, you will stop at Weligama to learn how the Southern Province became the producers of the world’s best cinnamon! Learn the local techniques used on this guided journey of the hillside estate.

Overnight: Jetwing Light House – luxury room

Meal: Breakfast

Galle
Today your guide will show you around the colonial heart of Galle, where you will have time to wander the rampart walls and enjoy the views. There are a few small museums you might like to visit as well as a number of imposing Dutch churches.

Overnight: Jetwing Light House – luxury room

Meal: Breakfast

Galle
After breakfast, enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight: Jetwing Light House – luxury room

Meal: Breakfast

Galle – Colombo
You will proceed today with a panoramic city tour of Colombo with your guide. This tour includes a drive through the city taking you to the busy commercial areas as well as the tree-lined residential, Cinnamon Gardens. Visit Fort, the former British administrative center and military garrison, Sea Street – the Goldsmith’s quarters in the heart of Pettah, the Bazaar area, a Hindu Temple with elaborate stone carvings, and the Dutch Church of Wolfendhal dating back to 1749. If time permits, you may also see the replica of Avukana Buddha & the Independence Square.

Thereafter, proceed to the airport in time to meet your departing flight.

Meal: Breakfast