Day 1 – Fly to Colombo

Today you will start your Sri Lankan adventure by flying to Colombo International Airport.

Day 2 – Arrival → Balapitiya

“Ayubowan” & ‘’Vanakkam’’. Welcome to tropical paradise.
You will be welcomed and greeted by your guide or The Earth Trip representative on arrival at the waiting area at Colombo International Airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in Balapitiya. Travel time approximately 1:45 hours depending on the road traffic.

In the evening enjoy a romantic dinner.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Shinagawa Beach

Watch the sea unfurl its welcome from the sumptuous expanse of your Suite. From the bedroom...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 3 – Madu River

Today you will take a Boat Tour on the Madu River. You will explore this remote area and Cinnamon Islands. Madu Ganga or (Madu River) wetland spreads across 915 hectares, out of which 770 hectares is covered with water. Sail downstream for about a kilometre, the river opens its doors to 36 spectacular islands covering the rest 145 hectares. The inhabitants of these islands are mostly traditional fishermen and to some extent they are engaged in some traditional cottage industries such as producing peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil.

Sri Lankan Cooking Experience for lunch (included). You will be introduced to a local family after greetings and cup of tea. Let your host know if you have any allergies or meal preferences. Your host will talk you through the core ingredients of Sri Lankan cuisine such as curry leaves, coconuts, local fruit and vegetables, pandan leaves and spices. Together you will prepare the rice and curries. You will also discover secrets of coconut, learn to crack open and scrape out your own coconut, and taste samples of each dish as you go along. The end product is a feast of 5-7 unique dishes served in a lotus/banana leaf which you can eat local-style with your fingers if you are up for the challenge with a local beer or soft drink.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Shinagawa Beach

Watch the sea unfurl its welcome from the sumptuous expanse of your Suite. From the bedroom...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 4 – Balapitiya → Galle → Ella

After an early breakfast you will travel to Galle en route to Ella.

You can discover the Galle Dutch Fort. There are many boutique shops along the narrow streets of the Fort as well as antiques, art and craft shops. Galle is situated in the southern Sri Lanka. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. 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.

In the afternoon you will travel Ella via the coastal route. Along the way at the fishing village of Weligama you can see Sri Lanka’s picture postcard image of the Stilt Fisherman fishing. Weligama literally translating as ‘sandy village,’ Weligama has a long stretch of fine golden sandy beach. Famous for its stilt fishermen, visitors can see this unique sight only in this part of Sri Lanka. No-one knows where, or even when this form of fishing originated, but it is an old tradition which lives on in a modern world today. This centuries old traditional method of fishing is one of the best sustainable practices to catch the fish. The Stilt Fisherman spends 2-4 hours sitting on a thin plank, hoping to catch one or two fish for their family’s lunch or dinner.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Nuwara Eliya & the Hill Country

98 Acres

The exquisite country side, breathtaking views and exciting nature trails will assure you of a memorable...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 5 – Ella

You will visit Lipton Seat & Dambetenna Tea Factory. Lipton Seat 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 the comfort with your guide.

Dambetenna Tea Factory was built in 1890 by Sir Thomas Lipton himself, this colonial tea factory is still in operation today. The term “Ceylon Tea” was coined here, and Lipton’s Tea was founded and sold its first pound of tea from the precincts of this very factory. The factory tour is an education in the intricate processes involved in the fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of tea, and the comprehensive tour culminates with an authentic tea tasting experience (It’s closed on Sundays).

Superior

Sri Lanka • Nuwara Eliya & the Hill Country

98 Acres

The exquisite country side, breathtaking views and exciting nature trails will assure you of a memorable...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 6 – Ella → Nuwara Eliya

In the morning hike to see the sunrise from Little Adam’s Peak. Little Adam’s Peak resembles the main Adam’s Peak near Hatton. By foot it takes about 35-40 minutes. Here you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking views of an endless valleys, tea plantations and waterfalls.

After breakfast you will travel to Nuwara Eliya and experience one of the most scenic train journeys. You will travel from Ella to Nanuoya through tea plantations and rolling hills on an Old Colonial train with wonderful views. This train journey is recorded in the Guinness Books of Records as one of the world’s best scenic train journeys. Your guide will pick you up at the Nanuoya Station and you will continue your journey to your hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Simple

Sri Lanka • Nuwara Eliya & the Hill Country

The Plains Green

he Plains is able to provide you with one of the most comprehensive green-concept experiences in...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 7 – Nuwara Eliya → Kandy

After an early breakfast, discover the Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka’s highest and most isolated plateau with an elevation of 2,134 metres. The scenery that can be seen from here is considered to be the finest view in Sri Lanka. Here you can follow bridle paths for about 4 hours through mystic cloud forests and Patna grassland to the “Worlds End” a sheer drop of 1050 metres. Lie on your stomach and peep over the ridge, the view when it is clear of mist is simply magnificent. Horton Plains National Park is home to rare flora and fauna; Sambar deer and elusive Bear monkey as well as many birds. Early morning, the Indian Ocean rims the horizon, 80 kilometres away. The name Horton Plains, was out of respect for the then British Governor of Sri Lanka, Sir Horton and the area was discovered by Sir Thomas Farr in the 1900s. This is one of world’s best nature tracks and nature lovers will enjoy this wide, patna-grass-covered plain and the Baker Falls.

Afterwards you will travel to Kandy by scenic road. Travel time approximately 2 ½ – 3 hours.

Kandy is a beautiful historical city in the citadel of the country. It is not only known for its great kings who ruled the city for almost 225 years independently until the British took over in 1815, but it is also the place where the Sacred Tooth of Lord Buddha is laid in a magnificent temple. Strategically nestled amidst three mountain ranges, Kandy was initially built in this location as a natural fortress against attack. Kandy was not an easy target for the foreign invaders who could gain the control of coastal areas of the island without too much loss. Kandy’s main architectural monuments date mainly from the 19th Century when King Vikrama Rajasinha, the last King of Kandy, constructed many new buildings. At the time of the eventual surrender of Kandy to British Rule in 1815, when King Rajasinha was captured, imprisoned and finally deported to India where he died in 1832.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 8 –  Kandy

In the morning you will explore Kandy City and the markets. A walk through the town offers brilliantly coloured bazaars, aromatic spices and fruits. There are also many shrines and temples in and around Kandy city where you can appreciate their intricate sculptures and the intriguing paintings. Kandy period marks another golden era of Sri Lanka‘s legendary past. It is a great place for shopping or just walks around the Lake to enjoy the beautiful scenery and narrow streets.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 9 – Kandy → Dambulla

In the morning you will travel to Dambulla situated in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. One of Asia’s major archaeological centres it is home to 4 of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The ruins and temples date back to 4th century B.C. The area is full of culture, history and wildlife. Here the ancient Kings have developed a sophisticated and advanced civilisation of Sri Lanka.

En route you will visit Spice Gardens and Dambulla Cave temple. Dambulla Golden Rock Cave Temple is a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a 1.6 km around the base. Here is found the impressive Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC. 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 of 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. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 14 metre 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.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Sungreen Resort & Spa

Hidden away in a beautiful ancient ruin is a serene, comfortably warm, miraculously breathtaking haven, a...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 10 – Sigiriya, Ayurveda & Minneriya

After an early breakfast you will climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress (2-3hrs depending on your fitness). Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage site which is proposed to be the 8th wonder of the world. Sigiriya, a massive rock in the green scrub jungle, is perhaps the most memorable place for visitors to Sri Lanka. 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 landscaped 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 Kassapa I (477–95) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high also known as ‘Lion’s Rock’, which dominates the jungle from all sides.

After lunch around 2pm: (Duration – 2 hours). Enjoy a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park It’s on the banks of the Minneriya reservoir, which was built in the 4th century A.C. Minneriya is a hide-out for many elephants, where you may see herds of elephants, with approximately 50 to 60 elephants in a herd. During July to September, one of the world’s top ten wildlife spectacles takes place, known as ‘The Gathering’, where more than 250 elephants gather around Minneriya water tank in search of food and water. Apart from elephants, it is a habitat for migrant and resident bird species like Grey heron, Open built storks and Painted storks. In addition you may see three different species of monkeys: Silica makake, Pink faced leaf monkey and Grey langer.

In the afternoon, enjoy an hour long Ayurveda massage to feel rejuvenated (one hour per person).
Ayurveda is the ancient health care system in South Asia that has been passed down from father to son and based on herbs and diet. It is one of the world’s oldest forms of healing and treatment. You will find some of the best Ayurveda practitioners in Sri Lanka. Ayurveda is a well-known treatment for stress, diabetes, migraine, asthma, arthritis, immune system and high blood pressure. Ayurveda is derived from Sanskrit for life (ayuh) and knowledge (veda), it means ‘the science of life’. Therefore, Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical sciences of the world and its origins date back as far as 5,000 years in South Asia.

Enjoy a romantic dinner in the evening.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Sungreen Resort & Spa

Hidden away in a beautiful ancient ruin is a serene, comfortably warm, miraculously breathtaking haven, a...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 11 – Sigiriya → Wilpattu

After breakfast you will travel to Anuradhapura and Wilpattu.
The Sacred City of Anuradhapura stands equal to the Pyramids at Giza on an architectural level. This magical UNESCO World Heritage Site with enormous Dagobas, palaces, monasteries and monuments is evidence of one of the greatest civilisations in the world. The sacred city of Anuradhapura was the first Royal Kingdom and capital of Sri Lanka that lasted for 1,500 years until it was abandoned after the invasion by South Indian Cholas in 993. Today Anuradhapura is one of the world’s major archaeological sites in the world. It covers an area of about 40 km² and was established around a cutting from the ‘tree of enlightenment’, the Buddha’s fig tree, in the 3rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, the founder of an order of Buddhist nuns. The ruined city hidden away in dense jungle for many years was brought to life by The British in the nineteenth century.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 12 – Wilpattu → Maldives

Enjoy a morning safari at Wilpattu National Park then you will travel to the Maldives.

Wilpattu National Park (‘Land of Lakes’) is situated on the north western coast near the ancient city of Anuradhapura. It is the largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka, consisting of 140,000 hectares of mostly dry zone evergreen forest cover and a coastal belt to the West. This is one of best places to see leopards in Sri Lanka alongside Yala National Park. The open grassy plains are set within the thick dense scrub jungle. The wetland includes around 48 shallow natural lakes known as Villus, natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and two salt water lakes. These natural lakes are the most important parts of the complex eco-system in the park.

After lunch you will travel to the airport, travel time approximately 2 ½ hours.

Upon arrival at Male International Airport you will be transferred by speed boat to your Resort. Transfer takes approximately 35 minutes.

You will spend the next 4 nights in the beautiful Maldives

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Maldives

Cinnamon Dhonveli

Feel your spirits soar on a natural high as you conquer the surf at Cinnamon Dhonveli...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 13, 14 & 15 – Maldives

Full days at leisure.

Superior

Maldives

Cinnamon Dhonveli

Feel your spirits soar on a natural high as you conquer the surf at Cinnamon Dhonveli...

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

Day 16 – End of Tour

You will be transferred to Male Airport to fly home.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast