We will meet you at the Bandaranayake International Airport and drive you to the coastal city of Negombo, which is about 15 minutes away. Return to your hotel and unwind. You can sunbathe on the charming Negombo beach, swim in the ocean, take a boat ride on the lagoon, or tour the bustling fishing villages if you so desire. Dinner at your leisure.
Travel time: 0.5 hours
After breakfast, drive 3 hours north of Negombo to Kalpitiya. The hotel where you are staying will greet you warmly. Kalpitiya offers a variety of exciting water sports, including sea kayaking, windsurfing, and catamaran sailing. Under the silvery moonlight, savor a delectable dinner (included).
Travel time: 3 hours
Set out early in the morning for a dolphin-watching excursion. (Best from November to April, weather permitting.) Return to your hotel for a hearty breakfast. After that, try sailing between the lagoon’s small islets to Dutch Bay, which is located north of the lagoon. The boat will also take you to one of the best snorkeling spots in Sri Lanka, which is still relatively undiscovered by tourists. Lunch will be served at the hotel. Then, for dinner, go to the historic St. Anne’s Catholic Church and enjoy a delicious barbecue by the beach (included).
Travel time: 2 hoursAfter breakfast, drive to the Mud House, a private and seductive eco-lodge surrounded by tropical greenery. You’ll stay in clay huts with coconut thatched roofs and outdoor showers. Because there is no electricity on the premises and cars are not permitted, bicycles are the only mode of transportation available. Each hut has bicycles, binoculars, bird-watching books, blankets, towels, and cool boxes. After lunch, go on a cycling tour through the nearby countryside. Stop for a moment to admire a small Buddhist temple perched on a rock. Return to your hut for dinner (included) and overnight.
Travel time: 1.5 hoursAfter breakfast, kayak on the pond and observe the birds and other wildlife. Visit the former royal capitals of Yapahuwa and Panduwasnuwara after that. Investigate the intriguing ancient ruins, statues, and exquisite carvings. If you don’t want to travel, you can stay at the Eco-lodge and explore the surrounding natural areas. Return to your hut for dinner and an overnight stay.
After breakfast, depart for Dambulla, a 2-hour drive away, to visit the UNESCO-designated Dambulla Cave Temple complex. These five magnificent caves contain breathtaking Buddhist paintings, murals, shrines, and over 150 statues. Lunch will be served at your new hotel.
After that, visit Minneriya National Park for an unforgettable elephant safari. The best time to visit is between May and November, when the elephants congregate in large numbers. Crocodiles, buffaloes, monitor lizards, pelicans, and other bird species can also be seen. Return to the hotel for dinner (included) and an overnight stay.
Travel time: 2 hoursAfter breakfast, depart for Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a 5th century rock fortress built by an ancient Sri Lankan king. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an unusual castle built on top of a rock 200 meters above dense jungle. After that, take a two-hour drive to Kandy, the capital of the island’s last kingdom. Visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth, which is thought to house the Buddha’s tooth relic, take a relaxing drive around Kandy Lake, and tour the town center, an arts and crafts center, and the vibrant bazaar. Then take a 4km walk around the lake before heading to the nearby vegetable market, which is worth seeing for the variety of products and prices.
After breakfast, go to the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, which are only 5 kilometers from Kandy’s center. The largest botanical garden in Sri Lanka spans 150 acres and contains many of the island’s endemic flora as well as bamboo and palm trees. The orchid house and medicinal herb garden are visual delights.
After that, pay a visit to the nearby Millennium Elephant Foundation, which is dedicated to the care of formerly captive elephants. The facility now houses approximately eight elephants. Visit their museum, take an exciting elephant ride, and assist in bathing the elephants. Dinner at your leisure.
After an early breakfast, depart for the mountains. Drive through the spectacular Hill Country, with its impressive landscapes, beautiful tea plantations, lakes, and waterfalls, to Haputale, a city known for its breathtaking views of the valley below. Visit the Dambetenna tea factory and Lipton’s Seat, where tea baron Sir Thomas Lipton used to gaze over his tea plantations. Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight (included).
Travel time: 5 hoursMeet your professional hiking guide after breakfast, who will accompany you on your exotic hiking trip. The scenic hiking trail will provide views of verdant paddy fields and charming villages. After your hike, return to your Haputale homestay for dinner (included) and overnight
After breakfast, take a scenic trek from Haputale to Ohiya, where you’ll see highland forests, tropical wildlife, beautiful tea plantations, and cool weather. Lunch should be a relaxing picnic. In the afternoon, travel to a village near Ohiya to spend the night at a homestay. Dinner is provided.
After breakfast, embark on a rejuvenating early morning hike through picturesque fields to Bambarakanda Falls, Sri Lanka’s highest waterfall. Take a refreshing dip in the cool water. After that, take winding roads through beautiful scenery to Kitulgala. Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight (included).
Travel time: 4 hoursAfter breakfast, depart for Kithulgala and begin an unforgettable 3-hour whitewater rafting trip on the Kelani River, with stunning riverside scenery. After that, drive to Colombo and check into your hotel for the night. Dinner at your leisure.
Travel time: 3.5 hoursOn your last day, take an exciting Colombo city tour. Colombo is Sri Lanka’s economic capital, with magnificent colonial houses and structures such as the Portuguese Fort. We recommend the Pettah district with its bazaar and mosque, as well as the City Hall district with its colonial buildings. Explore the area around Beira Lake to find the Buddhist temple of Gangaramaya. It’s also a chance to meet your local agent. Before transferring to Bandaranaike International Airport, go shopping.
Travel time: 1 hour
