Sri Lanka's Must-See Gems!

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed for a tropical adventure on a fishing boat. Our friendly and qualified crew will accompany you on a unique cruising experience on the smooth waters of one of Sri Lanka's largest coastal lagoons. Sail from the historic Hamilton Canal through the heart of old Negombo town before entering the lagoon. Get a close-up view of local fishing life as you pass by fish markets and thousands of fishing boats ranging from small lagoon canoes to large ocean trawlers. Listen to stories of our traditional lifestyle as you drift past a wilderness of coconut palms and mangrove forests teeming with birds and marine life. Fall in love with the lagoon's natural beauty and relax with sweeping views of calm and peaceful waters. Later, return to the hotel and rest of the day spent at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and leave for Habarana. En route, have an extraordinary elephant encounter at the Elephant Freedom Project.

The small family-run Elephant Freedom Project is a shelter for captive elephants. It is the only place where elephants are not ridden, just accompanied on walks. The sanctuary has two elephants rescued from harsh work in the tourist riding industry. A limited number of visitors ensures a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.

Arrive and check-in at the hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

After an early breakfast, visit the ancient citadel city of Sigiriya, built on a sheer rock deep in a lush forest. This remarkable 5th-century archaeological site is unforgettable for its dramatic setting. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens with water bodies ring the rock's base. The highlight is the delicate frescoes of 'Heavenly Maidens'. Learn about the ancient prince who killed his father to claim the throne and had to flee to this pleasure palace-cum fortress. Reaching the top of Sigiriya Rock requires a climb of 1,200 stone steps up and then down. Anybody in reasonably good condition can venture to the top of Sigiriya Rock, and it's certainly worth the effort.

After breakfast at the hotel, relax until the afternoon jeep safari at the Minneriya National Park. Large wild herds of elephants congregate on the edge of rivers and reservoirs to bathe and socialize in one of the best parks in Sri Lanka. The park covers 8,890 hectares and has a mixed forest of evergreen shrubs. It is a favourite habitat for leopards, deer and wild elephants. Keep an eye out for monkeys, including the purple-faced langur and macaques. Later, return to the hotel for an evening of leisure.

Leave the hotel early in the morning with a packed breakfast for a memorable safari at the Wasgamuwa National Park. The Wasgamuwa National Park, with its dry zone habitat comprising both dry and primary and secondary riverine forests and grasslands, is very popular for sighting large herds of elephants, sometimes as high as 150 in each pack. The best time to enjoy the sighting is between November and May each year, as they tend to migrate to nearby national parks during the dry seasons.

Later, depart for Kandy, stopping at a spice garden en route. For centuries, spices have been one of Sri Lanka's celebrated exports. They are primarily grown in home gardens and used for food flavourings, medicine and cosmetics. You can sample delicious scents and flavours like cinnamon, ginger, pepper, vanilla, cardamom, and more. The evening ends with a cultural show of traditional music and drumming, enhancing the vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka. Check-in at the hotel and relax.

Elephant Foundation

Optional

Kandy by Tuk Tuk

Optional

Kandy City Walk

Optional

Kandy Food Trail

Optional

Reinvigorating Yoga

Optional

Royal Botanical Gardens with a Botanist

Optional

The Art of Drumming

Optional

The Three Temple Loop

Optional

Trekking in Knuckles

Optional

After breakfast, experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Enjoy a brief tour of the beautiful Kandy town. Last ruled by King Sri Wickram Rajasinghe, Kandy came under British rule in 1815. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings and a hub of crafts, culture, history and heritage. Stroll across this small lakeside town cradled among the misty hills. Explore Kandy City Centre, bundled with the latest and world-class brands, a bazaar, an arts and crafts centre, and a gem museum & lapidary. Drive towards Victoria Golf Course, one of the best golf courses in the world. Glide through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market.

Ceylon tea is perhaps the world's most well-known and famous tea and a prime export of Sri Lanka. Go behind the scenes of this world-renowned product by meeting the people who pick it. Learn about their lives, walk through tea plantations, visit a processing factory, and enjoy a cup straight from the estate. With your chauffeur as a translator, feel free to ask questions about life in a tea plantation. Misty steep roads twisting through lush green blankets of tea bushes will remind you of the British colonial days. Augmented by an English countryside atmosphere, Nuwara Eliya, the city of light, was once governed by English & Scottish planters. Wander along colonial bungalows, hedgerows and one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the world. A hike through the green grass and red-brick walls presents breathtaking views of a buzzing countryside hamlet. Transfer to Yala, check into the hotel and relax.

Leave early morning with a packed breakfast to Horton Plains for an invigorating trek. This UNESCO World Heritage Site and eco-tourism hideout, painted with unending stretches of green pastures, is one of the healthiest wet montane evergreen forests in Sri Lanka. With an altitude above 7000ft, the plateau sweeps to a robust 3169 hectares sheltering rare flora and fauna varieties. As the tributary of Belihul Oya, Bakers Falls, thunders down rocks head off the beaten track across frost-covered grass. Feel the icy-cold wind against your face and gaze down World's End, a head-spinning 3700ft drop towards the Southern end. Drive through herds of shy sambar deer and follow chirping birds. You may see a grunting wild boar, a fishing cat, an otter, or even the Sri Lankan leopard, the 'Spotted Ghost that haunts the plains'. Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Elephant Foundation

Optional

Kandy by Tuk Tuk

Optional

Kandy City Walk

Optional

The Art of Drumming

Optional

The Sri Lankan Garden

Optional

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Ella, visiting the Hakkagala Botanical Garden en route. Hakgala Botanical Garden is the second largest garden among the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. It is contiguous to Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, home to various wildlife, including bears, monkeys and birds. The main sections of the garden are the rock garden, water garden, fern garden, Japanese garden and seed room. Hakgala is a temperate hill-country garden where the lovely low-country lotus and water lily mingle in their serene simplicity with sophisticated English roses, pre-historic-looking ferns, and endemic orchids. The journey continues to Ella, rewarding you with incredible views of the surrounding hill country. The area's high point is " World's End," where a sharp drop opens up stunning vistas of towering mountains, turquoise coasts, and tea estates. Return to the hotel, rest and relax.

Arrive and check into the hotel, spending the day at leisure.

Leave the hotel early morning for a guided wildlife safari at the Yala National Park in a 4WD jeep. Your tour will last from 0600hrs to 1800hrs with plenty of picnic breaks. If the weather permits, you can dip in the river and snooze on hammocks in the bush after lunch. Wear earthy-coloured clothes and walking shoes appropriate for picnics and small hikes. The guide will carry an extra pair of binoculars. Take cameras with fully charged batteries and memory cards with enough space. Pack a spare change and bath towels if you plan to dip in the river. Raincoats will be available, but feel free to bring your own. The jeep will have a basic first aid kit, but you can carry specific medications that may require.

At Yala National Park, you can see wild boar, deer, elephants, bears, peacocks, flamingoes and many more animals roaming free in their natural habitat. Elephants gather at the waterholes to drink and bathe. Sometimes, you can spot them at close range. You may also see leopards sunning themselves on rocks on a good day. Herds of deer roam at will, keeping a wary eye on the predators. Peacocks strut around, flaunting colourful feathers, and vibrant flamingoes take your breath away. Return to the hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Have breakfast at the hotel, check out and leave for a beach hotel, visiting Galle Dutch Fort en route. The historic town of Galle was the centre of Dutch rule in the 17th century. The impressive Galle Fort bears ample testimony to that fact. One of the best-preserved colonial-era cities in Southeast Asia and a UNESCO World Heritage City, Galle was a prominent seaport long before Western rule in the country and a flourished trade hub for Persians, Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Malays, Indians, and Chinese. Arrive and check into the hotel for downtime.

A Village Ride

Optional

Aerial Whale Watching

Optional

Canoe up the Kapu Ela Canal walk

Optional

Culinary immersion: market visit and cooking demonstration walk

Optional

Deep Sea Fishing

Optional

Giants of the Ocean

Optional

Kanneliya Rainforest

Optional

Paddies & Plantations

Optional

South Coast Cinnamon

Optional

Weligama Surf School

Optional

After breakfast at the hotel, spend the whole day at leisure.

Optional: Madu River Boat ride & Visit a Turtle Hatchery

As you glide the river, witness the timeless natural rhythms of rural life, stopping at an island to watch locals engaged in coir making, cinnamon farming and coconut leaf weaving. Stop by to visit a 200-year-old Sri Lankan temple. Take a cruise in a small boat on the Madhu Ganga River through dozens of mangrove forested islets and an eco-reserve and breeding ground for many endangered species of plants and animals. An ornithologist's paradise, this wetland has approximately forty-six species of birds, including fourteen aquatic varieties. Watch out for the water monitors, kingfishers, eagles, monkeys and colourful butterflies!

Breakfast at the hotel. Full day at leisure.

Leave for the airport in time for your departure flight. You will be provided with a packed snack.