Day 1

Fly to Colombo

Today you will start your Sri Lankan adventure by flying to Colombo International Airport from your chosen departure country.

Day 2

Arrival → Negambo

“Ayubowan” and ‘’Vanakkam’’ Welcome to tropical paradise. You will be welcomed and greeted by your guide or Earth Trip representative on arrival at the Waiting Area at Colombo International Airport. You will travel to your hotel in Hunumulla. Travel time’s approximately 30 minutes depends on the road traffic.

If you like en-route you can visit the bustling fish market of Negombo. As seen on BBC Rick Stein’s Indian Odyssey programme. This is one of the largest fish markets in Sri Lanka. Negombo made its start as a fishing community, and fishermen today continue to hawk their wares on the city’s sandy shores. Starting from as early as 4AM, fishing boats begin to make their way to the beach laden with that morning’s catch. Shrimps, crabs and lobsters are hunted at the famous Negombo Lagoon, while fresh fish is hauled in from the waves of the Indian Ocean.

Optional – In the afternoon, experience an unwinding boat tour at Dutch Canal. The fascinating canal at the coast is bustling with local fisherfolk, boat riders, water birds and sometimes monitors. The canal was constructed by the British Gavin Hamilton. Hence known as Hamilton Canal. It was designed to drain salt water out of the Muthurajawela wetlands.

This option is if your flight arrives in the morning.

Location: – Negambo   Hotel: Ambarella Lodge    Room: Superior   Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • Negombo & the Northwest • Galle & the South

Ambarella Lodge

Fall asleep to the serene sounds of nature and unwind on a terrace overlooking our pool...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 3

Negambo → Sigiriya

In the morning enjoy bicycle tour of the local villages. Discover the peaceful surrounding countryside dotted with rice fields, local villages and their welcoming inhabitants during this 2-hour bicycle tour from Ambarella Lodge to a nearby lake. You can also do short bicycle tour.

After breakfast you will travel from Hunumulla to Sigiriya. Travel time’s approximately 3 hours depends on the road traffic.

En – route, you will visit Golden Rock Cave Temple in Dambulla. It is a vast isolated rock mass of 500ft high and 1.6 km around the base which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The impressive Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC is found here. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne, he built the most magnificent Rock Temples to be found on the Island. The complex consists of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings. It is the largest area of paintings found in the world. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 14 meter long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the ceiling date back to the 15th – 18th Centuries. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of Gods from the Buddhist religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself.

Location: -Sigiriya    Hotel: Kumbukgaha Villa     Room: Villa     Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Upgrade option: £108 for both nights

Hotel: Sigiriya Kings     Room: Deluxe    Board: Breakfast & Dinner

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 4

Sigiriya

After breakfast travel to explore the ancient city with well-preserved ruins and archeological sites. Polonnaruwa was the mediaeval capital and the second ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka. Today it is one of the most beautiful centers of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and UNESCO Heritage site. With its comparatively brief history and dozen rules, it is far more completely preserved ruin than Anuradhapura. Visit the ancient ruins and Gal Vihara complex, where 3 gigantic Buddha’s statues are carved out of a single rock.

In the afternoon enjoy the Ayurvedic massage.

Ayurveda is derived from Sanskrit for life (Ayuh) and knowledge (Veda), means ‘the science of life’. It is an ancient health care system in South Asia that has been passed down from father to son based on herbs and diet. It is one of the world’s oldest forms of healing and treatment. Ayurveda is a well-known treatment for stress, diabetes, migraine, asthma, arthritis, immune system, and high blood pressure. As you enter the spa center, you can smell the organic oils infused with ayurvedic herbs and incense creams and hand – made scrubs along with a relaxing massage which balances the body, mind and spirit.

Location: -Sigiriya    Hotel: Kumbukgaha Villa     Room: Villa     Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Superior

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Kumbukgaha Villa

Kumbukgaha Villa is a private hideaway in the peaceful rural settings of Sigiriya, surrounded by wilderness...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 5

Sigiriya → Kandy

Early in the morning around 5:30 – 6am, Climbing to the top of Sigiriya rock on staircases to see sunrise with scenic views of jungles is quite challenging but an amazing experience.

The 8th wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sigiriya, a massive rock in the green scrub jungle, is perhaps the most astonishing place for the visitors with unique views between human imagination and nature. The site was known from ancient times as a hermitage for Buddhist monks. A well-planned monastic complex included caved temples, bathing pools, lovely ponds, and Asia’s oldest surviving landscape gardens. The “Lion stairway”, the “mirror wall” and the “water gardens” are its other highlights. The ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kashyap I (477–95) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high (the ‘Lion’s Rock’, which dominates the jungle from all sides).

After breakfast you will travel from Sigiriya to Kandy. Travel time’s approximately 3 hours.

In the afternoon, you will visit The Temple of the Tooth & Buddhist Museum, Sri Dalada Maligawa dates to the 16^th century, though most of the present buildings were built in the 19^th century. Venerated as the most important object in the Buddhist world, the Sacred Relic of the Tooth of Buddha is enshrined at the Temple. Brought from India 2500 years ago, it is said that the possessor of the Relic had the right to rule the country. The Relic is kept in a gold casket and stored amidst great security in the Inner Chamber.

Location: – Kandy      Hotel: The Radh      Room: Deluxe        Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 6

Kandy

After breakfast, you will visit ancient village of Heeloya to learn about ancient methods of agriculture, food and village life. You have option swim in water falls and rivers of you like it.

Heeloya is a rural, remote village situated in the foothills of the Knuckles Mountain range. An amazing vegetative village for tourists to get a chance to experience the lifestyle of a typical villager by trekking along the village for 1 – 2 hours of walk. Sight at the paddy fields can show you an exact traditional way where farmers use buffaloes to plough the field and work. The village itself is unique in look as the paddy fields are terraced at every turn. Paddy cultivation, home gardening, livestock, spice plantations, toddy tapping, handicrafts, beekeeping are their means of life. Along with the unique attraction, you will also grasp the knowledge of how a court case is heard, proceeded and justice is made by the village – headman in ancient times.

This is a part of The Earth Trip community tourism partnership to preserve the traditional agricultural methods and to help the villagers to earn living through tourism. It is great opportunity to meet the locals and enjoy the scenery of this beautiful village. (Including Lunch).

In the evening you will watch Traditional Kandyan Dance – Kandy, Sri Lanka’s second largest city is home to a Sinhalese cultural tradition of which Sri Lankans are justifiably proud. Rich in colour and agile in their movements, the Kandyan Dancers evoke images of pageantry and traditions past. Lively and exuberant, spellbinding and hypnotic, a Cultural Show is a spectacle to remember with its nimble dancers, energetic drummers, and fireproof firewalkers.

Location: – Kandy      Hotel: The Radh      Room: Deluxe        Board: Breakfast

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 7

Kandy → Haputale

Today you will travel from Kandy to Haputale part by road and part by train. Travel time’s

approximately 4 ½ hours.

En – route, you will visit Damro Tea factory situated in between Kandy and Nuwara Eliya at Labookellie Tea Estate. The second oldest tea plantation estate in the island. Experience the process of plucking and making fresh tea at the factory and relishing delicious cup of tea at the Damro tea lounge at the end. The surrounding scenery of the factory is amazing.

Afterwards you will experience the most breathtaking train journey from Nanu Oya to Haputale through tea plantations and rolling hills on Scenic train with panoramic view. The train journeys recorded in the Guinness Books of Records as the one of the world’s best scenic train journeys. Your guide will pick you up at Haputale Station and you will go by car to your hotel.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Location: – Haputale   Hotel: The Capoe House   Room: Galapitigala   Board: Breakfast & Dinner

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 8

Haputale → Yala

In the early morning you will visit the enchanting Lipton’s Seat. It is located on the top of the Poonagala hill; this is quite literally the point from which the Scottish tea baron Thomas Lipton would often proudly survey his tea plantations. On a clear day it offers a spectacular view of mountain ranges, lakes, and valleys all the way to the southern coast. You will hike to the point through lush tea plantations, or you can opt to drive up in comfort with your guide.

After breakfast at the hotel,  you will travel to Yala. Travel time’s approximately 2 ½ hours.

In the afternoon you will experience the safari at Yala national park. Jeep Safari in Yala is one of the best national parks in Asia for spotting and photographing elusive and prowling leopards in the wild. The best times to spot these magnificent creatures roaming freely in the park are early in the morning and in the evening. Evaluators state that there are between 500 – 650 leopards living in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Leopard is a recognized subspecies of the Indian Leopard and is the largest leopard living in Asia making this wildlife safari as one that is not easily forgotten.

Yala is home to 32 recorded species of mammals and is abundant with birds of migratory and non-migratory birds. Some of the mammals are sloth bears, Leopards, wild elephants, Water buffalos, Wild boars, spotted deer, Sambars, and Golden jackal. You will also be able to spot Mugger Crocodiles, Estuarine Crocodile and giant lizards that are left over after ages. There are 130 species of birds recorded at the park. The brilliant blue Peacocks can be found on every corner of Yala.

Location: – Yala      Hotel: Tranquil Wild         Room: Deluxe       Board: Breakfast & Dinner

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 9

Yala → Galle

Today you will travel to Galle. Travel time is approximately 3 hours.

In the afternoon you will discover the Dutch Fort in Galle. It is situated in the southern Sri Lanka. The Galle fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the natural harbour, the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island. Galle offers a unique opportunity to create a visible demonstration of the conservation of its inheritance. There are many boutique shops along the narrow streets of the fort as well as antiques, arts, and craft shops.

Location: -Galle       Hotel: Yara Galle Fort       Room: Deluxe      Board: Breakfast

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • Galle & the South

Yara

Discover unparalleled elegance and exquisite architecture at Yara Galle Fort Hotel, located in the heart of...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 10

Galle → Balapitiya

Today you will travel from Galle to Balapitiya. Travel time is approximately an hour.

Lunch – experience Sri Lanka culinary with a local family to learn about Sri Lankan food.

Enjoy Sri Lankan traditional culinary experience for Lunch (included). You will visit a local family in Bentota and will be welcomed. Here you will learn how to prepare and cook certain Sri Lankan dishes with aromatic spices and organic herbs; Also discover how coconut milk is made, learn to crack open and scrape out your own coconut, and taste the samples of each dish as you go along. The end product is a feast of 7 unique dishes served in a lotus leaf which you can eat local style with your fingers if you are up for a challenge. (If you like to spend the day buying ingredients with the host in local markets, you are welcome to join in the Morning).

Location: – Balapitiya    Hotel: Sundara by Mosvold     Room: Deluxe Sea view    Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Mosvold Sundara

Sundara by Mosvold is a luxurious beach hotel located in the tranquil town of Balapitiya. With...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 11 – 13

Balapitiya

Full days at leisure.

Location: – Balapitiya    Hotel: Sundara by Mosvold     Room: Deluxe Sea view    Board: Breakfast & Dinner

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Mosvold Sundara

Sundara by Mosvold is a luxurious beach hotel located in the tranquil town of Balapitiya. With...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 14

End of Tour

You will be transferred to Colombo Airport to fly home. Travel time to the airport is approximately 1h30 minutes.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast