10 Days Classic Popular

On arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by our representative (Tour Guide)  and transferred to your hotel in Negombo, which is approximately 10 Kms  away . It is the ideal place to soak up some local ambience, while your biological clock is adjusting from jet lag after hours of flying. Our Guide will brief you on the next days program, then you are free to have a decent sleep or you can wander around!

Negombo

Negombo is often referred to as “Little Rome” after the early Dutch travelers settled here and built up a large Christian community with imposing churches and Catholic shrines scattered about the town. The area is famous for its fishing industry and there are two fish markets in the town. Negombo offers an interesting introduction to Sri Lanka and has a lively atmosphere.

We hope that you will allocate some time to explore the “Little Rome” before you leave home.

Highlights of the Day:

Overnight Accommodation

Hotel In Negombo

Program of the Day: Today you are relaxed as you had a good sleep after arriving previous day and ready to start your dream tour around the beautiful country with us!  After breakfast at the hotel, we will leave for Habarana, your first destination. Then check in to your hotel, have a rest a while and it’s time to go on the jeep safari in the national park to see the wild elephants. Evening is the best time to spot them in large numbers in a hard.

Minneriya National Park:

Minneriya National Park – Located just 10 Km away from Habarana junction. It is one of the Main National Parks in the country, especially popular and famous for its large elephant gathering takes place in during the dry season (June to September).  The park is 8,890 hectares in extent and features the ancient Minneriya Tank. Constructed in an evergreen forest where sambar deer, leopards, and elephants roam, this tank was built in 3rd century AD by King Mahasena. During the dry season (June to September), this is an incredible place to observe not only the large herd (around 300) of elephants, also flocks of birds, such as cormorants and painted storks, hawks, eagles and many wild animals including jackals and monkeys.

Highlights of the Day:

Hotel in Habarana

Today after breakfast, we checkout the hotel to leave for Kandy. En-route to Kandy, we will visit 2 of the UNESCO world heritage sites. Firstly, Sigiriya rock fortress famous for its paintings on the rock face (Frescoes), urban planing including the hydraulic engineering and landscaping created in the 5 century AD (1500 BP).

After that, we will visit Dambulla Golden Cave temple which is famous for the caves with Buddha’s statues and murals on the cave ceiling covering over 20000 square feet making a massive art gallery. Then proceed to Kandy, the last royal capital and the city in the hills where the scared tooth relic of Buddha is enshrined.

Then we check in to the hotel, here you can choose to relax during your free time or take a walk around the Kandy lake, while being captivated by  the beauty of the temple’s illumination reflecting in the water.

Highlights of the Day:

Hotel in Kandy

Today after the breakfast, we will first visit the Temple of the Tooth, see how Buddhist devotees pay homage and do the rituals to the Tooth relic which is enshrined in the heavily guarded perfume chamber. You also can take part by offering some flowers to the Tooth Relic as Buddhist do.

After the temple, we will take you to the Royal botanical Gardens and then a tour around the Kandy city. To complete the day, you will be awed by a Traditional Cultural Dance session. Then check in to the hotel, relax and get ready for the next day to leave for Nuwara Eliya, the hill country.

Highlights of the Day:

Hotel in Kandy

Kandy and the Temple of the Tooth

Kandy is the last kingdom of Sri Lanka after becoming a colony under the British flag in 1815. It is a living heritage city and one of the world heritage sites in Sri Lanka declared by UNESCO. The world famous “Kandy Esala Perahera”, the country’s biggest cultural pageant, is held every year in July and August for 10 days.

Kandy Temple is the most sacred place for Buddhist devotees all around the world. Buddha’s left lower canine tooth is enshrined in the Temple of the Tooth. The Tooth Relic is considered to be the living Buddha and Buddhists from around the world worship and conduct various rituals to pay their respects.

The Temple of the Tooth relic is architecturally a unique monument. There are other important places such as religious sites, iconic buildings and arts, structures and museums associated with the Temple of The Tooth and the colonial history.

Royal Botanical Gardens

This was originally the King’s own royal pleasure garden that was later converted in to a botanic garden and opened to the public. At the Royal Botanical Gardens at ‘Peradeniya’ you could treat your eyes to an amazing, wide and rare collection of tropical and temperate, exotic and indigenous flora, and an orchid house with the largest collection in Asia.

Cultural Show

A Kandyan Dance performance is one of the defining experiences of a stay in Kandy and we will spend the evening seeing the elaborate costumes, the beautifully graceful dance moves and rhythmic drummers and musicians which showcase the arts and culture of Sri Lanka as the last attraction of our day.

In the morning after breakfast, we leave for the hill country, Nuwara Eliya to witness the colonial heritage in Sri Lanka. On our way to Nuwaraeliya, we include a visit to a Tea factory to learn how the world-famous Ceylon tea is produced. Follow this with, a city tour around Nuwaraeliya to see the important buildings, structures, monuments built during the colonial period (1815 – 1948). Also we can go on nature trail in the forests and through the lush tea plantation to see the beautiful waterfalls. Then it’s time to relax in the evening.

Highlights of the Day:

Hotel in Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya, the ‘City of Light’ is located in the heart of the Central Highlands, about 200 km away from Colombo. No wonder it is nicknamed “Little England” as you look around you see all the buildings, structures and gardens arranged in colonial or Victorian style as it was founded and occupied by British in the early 19 centuries as their holiday resort. Even the modern buildings are constructed in the same style to preserve this atmosphere. Queens cottage, General’s House, Grand Hotel and Post office are fine examples that belong to the colonial period (1815 – 1948).

The world’s finest high grown ‘Ceylon tea’ comes to you from here and you can see tea estates and factories along the way and around the city. You can make a visit to a tea factory to learn how the tea is produced and if you wish, you can buy them too!

Today, we make an early start.  Our journey is to the Horton Plains National Park, which is the only national park in the central highlands. We partake on a pleasant trek of about 9 km. World’s End and Bakers Falls are the famous attractions in the Horton Plains.

After that, we will return to the hotel, have lunch and set off to Nanu Oya railway station. Onboard the train enjoy the scenic panorama through the tea plantations, tunnels and mountain ranges to Ella, the Southern edge of the Central highlands. After reaching Ella, check in to your hotel and unwind.

Highlights of the Day: Hotel in Ella

Horton Plains National Park

Horton Plains is a protected UNESCO world Heritage site in the central Highland of Sri Lanka. It is the highest plateau in the island at an altitude of 2100-2300m covered with grassland and cloud forests. The park is rich in biodiversity and many flora and fauna species found here are endemic to this region. The stunning geographical highlight of the national park is the ‘World’s End’ which drops dramatically about 1000 meters to reveal breathtaking views of the plains bellow. Early morning visit is essential before the morning mist covers this picturesque view and the wild life. The park’s most visible residents are its herds of sambar deers, while you might see rare bear monkeys and also an excellent place for birdwatching.

The best way to enjoy the park is to take the 9km long circular trail around the park and takes about three hours at a gentle phase. Another highlight on this trail is the Baker’s Fall, named after a British citizen, Samuel Baker who uncovered this beautiful waterfall.

On the day 07, after breakfast we set out to go on a beautiful Tuk-Tuk ride to Haputale Lipton’s seat.

Ella and Haputale are excellent vantage points to enjoy the splendid views of the central highlands. In the morning, you will travel by Tuk-Tuk journey to Haputale.  The roads wind through the tea plantation to the Lipton’s Seat. From this outlook, you can appreciate the magnificence of the low lands of Sri Lanka from above.

After that you can proceed to Ella to explore the area and enjoy the scenic beauty. Gentle climb to Little Adam’s peak to enjoy the endless vistas of the mountain ranges and the Nine Arch bridge are the key highlights of the area that you shouldn’t miss. Then in the evening, you are free to indulge yourself at any of the cozy corners available in the colourful and touristic town of Ella.

Highlights of the Day: Hotel in Ella

Lipton’s Seat

Lipton’s Seat is considered one of the best viewpoints in the central highlands and it is only second to World’s End view point at Horton Plains. This view point is located at a perilous location at the top of Poonagala Mountain at a height of over 1950 meters with a sheer drop over one side and a 360-degree view.

Sir Thomas Lipton, the man who introduced the Lipton Brand Ceylon Tea entered in to purchasing tea estates in then Ceylon in 1890’s when the country was under the British rule. In 1890 Dambetenna which was 925 acres in size was purchased by him and he started the largest tea processing factories in the Uva region (Uva is one of the 9 provinces of Sri lanka).  It is said that this point was one of his favorite viewpoints where he surveyed his vast estate and that it one of the favorite places to entertain his guests. While the estate changed hands in 1930’s name of this view point survived as a remembrance to Sir Lipton.

Ella

Ella, the paradise or the tourist honeypot in the hill country. Ella is situated at the gap between two ridges of mountains affording endless vistas and excellent opportunities for hiking and at its photogenic best, surrounded by idyllic green hills covered in tea plantations.

Little Adam’s peak

It is 1141 m in height and from the entrance it takes up to about 40 minutes for the hike. Views from the summit is beautiful. 360-degree panoramic view with the clouds rolling in is amazing to see. The hike itself is a great experience as you walk through lush green tea estate, talking to locals who are plucking tea leaves and working in the estates. We recommended you start to climb early in the morning or late evening before it gets dark for the best views.

Nine Arch Bridge

Nine Arch is a bridge built between Ella and Demodara railway station during the British period. It is another engineering marvels which is over 100 years old (commissioned in 1921 by the British government) and has been built with blocks of stones and cement without and strengthening iron or concrete. The 9 arches make the bridge on curved path linking two mountains. You are lucky if you could see a train coming through the tunnel and the bridge, so check the train times before you go there.

Today’s commute takes us to Tissamaharama, the nearest town to Yala National Park. We will  visit the beautiful ‘Rawana-Ella’ waterfall and the Buduruwagala temple en route to the National park.

The temple is famous for its 51 foot tall statue of Buddha and the other statues of Aspirant Buddhas carved out on a rock face. This Buddha’s statue is considered as the tallest Statue of Buddha in the world, since the destruction of the Bamiyan Statues in Afghanistan.

Then we check in to the hotel near the National park and relax in the evening as we need to leave early in the morning next day on the jeep safari at the national Park.

Highlights of the Day: Hotel in Tissamaharama

Today early in the morning with a pack meal, we step on board a jeep safari in Sri Lanka’s most visited national park. Compared to all of Sri Lanka’s the national parks, Yala offers the greatest opportunities to sight copious varieties of wildlife, with the Sri Lankan Leopard being the number one encounter.

After the exciting wild life safari, we will proceed to our next destination Galle, the capital of the Southern Sri Lanka. After hotel check in, we will go for a walk along the Galle Dutch Fort rampart to visit important places and monuments there. Galle Fort is a lovely place to relax and watch the amazing colours in the sunset.

Highlights of the Day: Hotel in Galle

Dolpine watching

Today we will start the day leisurely,  On the way to Bentota , we will share a fabulous boat safari through the mangroves in ‘Machu Ganga’ ( Machu River – RAMSAR wetlands). Our last stop but by no means the least, is the wonderful turtle hatchery.

Our time together on this 14 day tour of the magical island of Lanka is almost complete. After Galle, we will proceed to Bentota Beach Resort to spend your last day in Sri Lanka before flying home. Bentota Beach is the perfect place to wrap up your adventure tour by either relaxing or enjoying the thrill of your choice of water sport

Highlights of the Day: Hotel in Galle

We hope you will enjoy this tour. We look forward to hearing from you to talk about our beautiful country. Sri Lanka has had many names over the centuries, one such name was  Serendib

From Serendip , Horace Walpole composed the word “serendipity” in the 18th century.

The meaning of Serendipity is when something happens in an unexpected but positive and beneficial way.

Please Contact us, we are flexible and happy to customize this tour according to your preferences.