BEST OF SRI LANKA
BEST OF SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is a melting pot of rich cultures, historical wonder and colourful flavours, and this nine night itinerary invites you to delight in it all!
An expert combination of authenticity and luxury awaits, with fishing markets, weaving lessons, village tours and cooking lessons allowing you to interact with the locals and boutique hotels and jeep safaris offering a taste of the island?s finest. Make stops at World Heritage Sites to explore an ancient world of royal palaces and Buddhist temples, as well as visiting Sri Lanka?s famous tea terraces for a taste of both the manufacturing process and the teas themselves.
This exclusive tour is a fantastic introduction to Sri Lanka featuring stays at hotels handpicked by specialists, which can easily be extended with a beachside finale.
An expert combination of authenticity and luxury awaits, with fishing markets, weaving lessons, village tours and cooking lessons allowing you to interact with the locals and boutique hotels and jeep safaris offering a taste of the island?s finest. Make stops at World Heritage Sites to explore an ancient world of royal palaces and Buddhist temples, as well as visiting Sri Lanka?s famous tea terraces for a taste of both the manufacturing process and the teas themselves.
This exclusive tour is a fantastic introduction to Sri Lanka featuring stays at hotels handpicked by specialists, which can easily be extended with a beachside finale.
Day 1 Negombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! You'll be met by your driver upon arrival at Colombo International Airport and transferred to your Negombo hotel just 30 minutes away.
Once occupied by the Dutch, this oceanside city is home to a lively night-time scene and is a gateway to a range of boat trips, water sports, and diving opportunities.
Once you're settled, your local guide will arrive to finalise your itinerary.
Afterwards, unwind with a stroll along the beach or a soak in your bathtub before calling it a night.
Once occupied by the Dutch, this oceanside city is home to a lively night-time scene and is a gateway to a range of boat trips, water sports, and diving opportunities.
Once you're settled, your local guide will arrive to finalise your itinerary.
Afterwards, unwind with a stroll along the beach or a soak in your bathtub before calling it a night.
Day 2 Sigiriya
Enjoy breakfast before starting the first full day of your tour at the local fish market; fishing remains at the heart of Negombo's community, with prawns and crabs from the lagoon amongst the best on the island.
Visit a local family and learn the art of traditional Sri Lankan weaving while tasting sweets prepared by your hosts.
Transfer to Sigiriya, stopping en route at the Dambulla Cave Temple. The best-preserved and largest cave temple complex on the island, this World Heritage Site resembles a film set with its sweeping wall murals and abundance of statues.
While between Dambulla and Sigiriya, feel free to request stops along the way - there is much to see and taste!
The Traditional Foods Sales Centre features stalls selling some of the most delicious and authentic food around, from savoury sauced pittu to narang kewum, an indulgent fried concoction of coconut and honey.
Meanwhile, Sigiriya's Pethikada art gallery is filled with art painted to resemble the ancient images on the walls of the Rock Fortress.
Three nights in your Sigiriya hotel will allow you to experience all that the region has to offer, from the Cultural Triangle to the local communities.
Visit a local family and learn the art of traditional Sri Lankan weaving while tasting sweets prepared by your hosts.
Transfer to Sigiriya, stopping en route at the Dambulla Cave Temple. The best-preserved and largest cave temple complex on the island, this World Heritage Site resembles a film set with its sweeping wall murals and abundance of statues.
While between Dambulla and Sigiriya, feel free to request stops along the way - there is much to see and taste!
The Traditional Foods Sales Centre features stalls selling some of the most delicious and authentic food around, from savoury sauced pittu to narang kewum, an indulgent fried concoction of coconut and honey.
Meanwhile, Sigiriya's Pethikada art gallery is filled with art painted to resemble the ancient images on the walls of the Rock Fortress.
Three nights in your Sigiriya hotel will allow you to experience all that the region has to offer, from the Cultural Triangle to the local communities.
Day 3 Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya
Continue your discovery of Sri Lanka's famous Cultural Triangle in Polonnaruwa, the island's second historical capital and home to the rulers of times past. Unspoiled remnants are a window to an ancient world with a rich Buddhist culture and sensational architecture and artistry.
In the afternoon, head to the UNESCO-ranked Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a must-see with its magnificent carved lion and remarkable views - arguably the most famous attraction in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress dates back to the reign of King Kasyapa (477-495 AD), who chose Sigiriya as the capital of his kingdom. The remains of his palace can still be found at the summit of the rock. As you climb its 1,200 stairs, take in fantastic views of water gardens and ingenious ancient irrigation systems, and keep an eye out for a former monastery, the age-old artistry of King Kasyapa's `mirror wall', and a 40 metre-high wall of paintings and graffiti.
In the afternoon, head to the UNESCO-ranked Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a must-see with its magnificent carved lion and remarkable views - arguably the most famous attraction in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress dates back to the reign of King Kasyapa (477-495 AD), who chose Sigiriya as the capital of his kingdom. The remains of his palace can still be found at the summit of the rock. As you climb its 1,200 stairs, take in fantastic views of water gardens and ingenious ancient irrigation systems, and keep an eye out for a former monastery, the age-old artistry of King Kasyapa's `mirror wall', and a 40 metre-high wall of paintings and graffiti.
Day 4 Minneriya - Sigiriya
Today starts mid-morning with a tour of the local village.
Cross a lake by boat and meet the charming locals, who will introduce you to their simple lifestyle and guide you through an interactive Sri Lankan cooking experience.
After lunch, move on to Minneriya National Park for a thrilling jeep safari and the opportunity to spy incredible Asian elephants in the wild.
Cross a lake by boat and meet the charming locals, who will introduce you to their simple lifestyle and guide you through an interactive Sri Lankan cooking experience.
After lunch, move on to Minneriya National Park for a thrilling jeep safari and the opportunity to spy incredible Asian elephants in the wild.
Day 5 Kandy
Begin the journey to Kandy and to the Sri Lankan Hill Country (approx 2.5 - 3 hour), with a stop at the Matale Spice Garden an optional addition.
Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the stunning Royal Botanical Garden, the finest on the island and renowned for its collection of orchids.
Arrive in Kandy and first visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Legend has it that the temple houses the tooth of Lord Buddha himself, and is a much-visited spot.
Later, explore Kandy bazaar, the arts and crafts market, and the Gem Museum before sitting down for a cultural dance performance in the evening.
Enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the stunning Royal Botanical Garden, the finest on the island and renowned for its collection of orchids.
Arrive in Kandy and first visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth. Legend has it that the temple houses the tooth of Lord Buddha himself, and is a much-visited spot.
Later, explore Kandy bazaar, the arts and crafts market, and the Gem Museum before sitting down for a cultural dance performance in the evening.
Day 6 Nuwara Eliya
Venture deeper into the Hill Country to Nuwara Eliya (where you will spend two nights), marvelling at sprawls of emerald tea fields crowned with mist. Keep a lookout for local tea pickers and picturesque waterfalls en route.
Stop off at a tea factory to taste some of Sri Lanka's famous tea and learn how it is produced.
Arrive at your hotel for the evening, a boutique getaway that is complemented by the soothing scent of Little England's plantations and its own hot-water pool - the `Una Diya Pokuna'.
Day 7 Nuwara Eliya
Embark on an early morning hike to Horton Plains to drink in the views from World's End, with a picnic breakfast as the perfect reward.
Return to your hotel and enjoy a well-deserved day at leisure.
Take the opportunity to walk or cycle amongst the fields and spend the afternoon tasting a range of teas from across the globe.
Take the opportunity to walk or cycle amongst the fields and spend the afternoon tasting a range of teas from across the globe.
Day 8 Yala National Park
Continue your journey south and transfer to Yala National Park, home to the world's largest gathering of wild leopards.
En Route visit the some of Sri Lanka's most photogenic locales, Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls and the Ella Gap.
On arrival in Yala, embark on a game drive in the park. This is the most famous national park in Sri Lanka, and is home not only to leopards, but elephants, sloths bears, sambals and more.
Settle into your luxury accommodation for the next two nights and get plenty of rest to prepare you for a morning of wild exploration.
Overnight: Chaarya Resort & Spa, Tissamaharama or similar
Meals : Breakfast
En Route visit the some of Sri Lanka's most photogenic locales, Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls and the Ella Gap.
On arrival in Yala, embark on a game drive in the park. This is the most famous national park in Sri Lanka, and is home not only to leopards, but elephants, sloths bears, sambals and more.
Settle into your luxury accommodation for the next two nights and get plenty of rest to prepare you for a morning of wild exploration.
Overnight: Chaarya Resort & Spa, Tissamaharama or similar
Meals : Breakfast
Day 9 Yala National Park
Today, choose between either a morning or afternoon game drive in the national park, spending the rest of the day at your leisure. Two of the park's five blocks can be explored, allowing the creatures their own space in the remainder of the land.
Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 - its efforts have a legacy of over a century- and gained its status as a national park 38 years later.
Along with it being home to some of Sri Lanka's finest wildlife, Yala boasts some tell-tale signs of a lost civilisation - the rock temple of Sithulpawwa is a chief site for pilgrimages and is said to have once housed 12,000 civilians seeking solace.
South Asia is the perfect place for Ayurvedic treatments; use this time to make the most of your hotel's wellness facilities and indigenous Sri Lankan methods.
Overnight: Chaarya Resort & Spa, Tissamaharama or similar
Meals : Breakfast
Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 - its efforts have a legacy of over a century- and gained its status as a national park 38 years later.
Along with it being home to some of Sri Lanka's finest wildlife, Yala boasts some tell-tale signs of a lost civilisation - the rock temple of Sithulpawwa is a chief site for pilgrimages and is said to have once housed 12,000 civilians seeking solace.
South Asia is the perfect place for Ayurvedic treatments; use this time to make the most of your hotel's wellness facilities and indigenous Sri Lankan methods.
Overnight: Chaarya Resort & Spa, Tissamaharama or similar
Meals : Breakfast
Day 10 Beach Or Depart
After breakfast your driver will arrive to accompany you either back to the international airport, or to your choice of beach hotels to continue your trip by the coast.
Meals : Breakfast
Meals : Breakfast
What's included
- Local fish market tour
- Handloom shawl weaving experience
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Polonnaruwa tour
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Village tour and Sri Lankan cooking experience
- Half-day safari in Minneriya National Park
- Royal Botanical Garden with lunch
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth
- Kandy city tour
- Cultural dance performance
- Tea plantation and factory tour
- Horton Plains hike
- Ella sightseeing; Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls, the Ella Gap
- Two half-day safaris in Yala National Park
- Local fish market tour
- Handloom shawl weaving experience
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Polonnaruwa tour
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Village tour and Sri Lankan cooking experience
- Half-day safari in Minneriya National Park
- Royal Botanical Garden with lunch
- Temple of the Sacred Tooth
- Kandy city tour
- Cultural dance performance
- Tea plantation and factory tour
- Horton Plains hike
- Ella sightseeing; Nine Arch Bridge, Ravana Falls, the Ella Gap
- Two half-day safaris in Yala National Park
Add to your experience in Sri Lanka and extend your holiday with a few days by the coast in Galle, Hambantota or Trincomalee, or venture over to India or the Maldives for further adventure.
