Choose your sightseeing experiences this morning. This afternoon, transfer to the scenic east coast and arrive in your beautiful hotel, where you’ll savour a delectable BBQ seafood dinner on the beach tonight.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™
The choice is yours this morning. You can rise early for a serene kayak adventure at dawn, paddling past waterlilies and egrets, or you might prefer to take a bike tour of the local village of Athungama. You can also choose to take a nature walk on the lookout for the more than 120 species of bird which call the area home alongside monkeys, mongooses and a diverse range of reptiles.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Two Nights, Trincomalee, Uga Jungle Beach
DAY 6 – TRINCOMALEE
After breakfast, enjoy your chosen activity. Later this afternoon, take part in your Signature Experience.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™
Today you can explore Trincomalee your way. You might like to take an historical tour of the city with its ancient ruins, temples and colonial forts, or you can take a spiritual tour, delving into the Hindu faith with the aid of a spiritual guide. Alternatively, set out to the scenic Pigeon Island Marine National Park and reveal the kaleidoscopic world beneath the surface as you snorkel among the more than 100 species of coral and 300 species of reef fish which call the park home.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Learn everything there is to know about kite-flying, a passion of Sri Lankans, before crafting your own in a hands-on workshop. Then it’s time to see your creations soar above you on the serene beach.
Meals Included: Breakfast
DAY 7 – POLONNARUWA, HABARANA
This morning you’ll journey to the remarkable ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The World Heritage Site is home to many ancient palaces, intricately carved moon stones, royal baths and the magnificent Hal Vihara, which features impressive rock carvings of Buddha. After lunch overlooking the vast human-made reservoir of Parakrama Samudra, be transferred to your luxury hotel in Habarana. Tonight, enjoy a Signature Experience as the sun sets.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Sit down to a charming lakeside sundowner and arak tasting, a popular local spirit made from fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugar cane.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Two Nights, Cinnamon Lodge Habarana
DAY 8 – SIGIRIYA, MINNERIYA NATIONAL PARK
Your Signature Experience starts early before returning to the hotel for breakfast. This afternoon, set out on a game drive in Minneriya National Park, home to one of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants. Keep your eyes peeled for the gentle giants, who share the park with a vast array of wildlife including deer, water buffaloes and endemic purple-faced langurs and toque macaques among many others. Later, return to your hotel, where dinner awaits this evening.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Arise early for your sunrise walk to the top of the iconic World Heritage-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Stop to admire the colourful frescoes, ascend through the impressive Lion’s Paw and stroll among the atmospheric ruins of this former citadel as the sun rises, offering spectacular views.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Herd of Elephants
DAY 9 – DAMBULLA, KANDY
Set off for the remarkable Dambulla Cave Temple, a vast and beautifully reserved cave complex dating to the first century BC. The World Heritage-listed site is one of Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist monasteries, featuring spectacular ceiling paintings and more than 150 buddha statues. Continue your journey and stop off at a local batik artisans home for a Sri Lankan lunch of string hoppers.
Journey on to Kandy, where you’ll visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Arguably the country’s most important Buddhist shrine, the temple is home to a heavily tooth of Buddha. Soak up the sounds of the drums and breathe in the fragrant incense as the resident monks perform their rituals.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Stay: Two Nights, Kandy, Earls Regency Hotel
DAY 10 – KANDY
Enjoy the activity of your choice today. Later, return to your hotel for a Signature Experience.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™
Today you can take a cultural tour of three of Kandy’s most important ancient temples; Gadaladeniya, Lankathilake and Embakke Devalaya. Alternatively, you can take a hands-on gem identification and cutting experience with an expert gemmologist or learn how to craft elephant caparisons for the Kandy Esala Perahera cultural pageant.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Witness a private performance of traditional dance accompanied by music before sitting down to a delicious five-course dinner at your hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11 – NUWARA ELIYA, WELLAWAYA
Begin today with a Signature Experience. After, set off through the picturesque central highlands, to Sri Lanka’s tea country. In Nuwara Eliya, sit down at the iconic Grand Hotel for an unforgettable high tea lunch. Later, continue to your luxury accommodation in Wellawaya.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Accompanied by your expert botanist, take a fascinating stroll through the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya. Gain firsthand insight into some of the 4000 species at the gardens, including the colourful collection of more than 300 species of orchids.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Two Nights, Wellawaya, Jetwing Kaduruketha
DAY 12 – WELLAWAYA, ELLA
Today you’re set for a fascinating Signature Experience, arriving in style by local tuk tuk. After lunch at the organic farmhouse, return to your hotel and relax at your leisure this evening.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Be expertly guided through an artisanal tea experience where you can see the entire production process from farm to teacup at the stunning Amba Tea Estate. Learn how each tea is individually crafted using extensive traditional methods including hand rolling.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Picking tea leaves
DAY 13 – BUDURUWAGALA, TANGALLE
After breakfast, head to the ancient temple of Buduruwagala with its amazing stone carvings. Continue further south to Ramba Viharaya for a Signature Experience. Later, be guided to your hotel, where your dining options await you for dinner this evening.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE™
For dinner tonight, savour a range of international dishes at Journeys, or feast on Italian cuisine at Il Mare.
SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE
Visit a Buddhist temple where you’ll be able to witness the monks’ traditional almsgiving ritual, followed by simple vegetarian lunch on the temple premises.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Stay: Two Nights, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort
DAY 14 – TANGALLE
This morning, head to the fortified seaside city of Galle. Embark on an enthralling guided walking tour of Galle Fort, a World Heritage Site originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century before being further fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century.
Explore the extensive fort’s highlights including the Dutch Reformed Church, Galle Lighthouse – Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse – and Moon Bastion overlooking the beautiful Indian ocean. Tonight, toast your extraordinary journey with a Sri Lankan farewell dinner at the hotel’s Verala restaurant.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 14 – TANGALLE
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast as you’re transferred to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport for your onward flight.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sri Lankan leopard
