Cultural and Natural Wonders

We will meet you at the Arrival Lounge of Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) where you will have your first whiff of Sri Lankan hospitality from your Welcome Team as you travel to your hotel in Colombo City. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own. Your hotel is located on a busy street with sightseeing, malls and restaurants nearby. In the evening, please join your fellow travelers and Tour Leader for a Welcome Reception.

• Accommodation:   Cinnamon Red Hotel Colombo.

The morning takes us on a Sightseeing Tour of Colombo City followed by an afternoon Walking Tour of Colombo’s Fort area. The evening offers the option of Dinner at a Traditional Restaurant.
Strategically positioned along the East-West Sea-trade routes, Colombo has been known to ancient traders and mariners for over 2000 years. Today, it is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life, colonial buildings, monuments, and an eclectic collection of eating houses, villas, art galleries and people. The morning Sightseeing Tour of Colombo takes us to the old Dutch Hospital, the towering Sambodhi Chaitya, St Peter’s Church, Viharamahadevi Park, the National Art Gallery, the Nelum Pokuna Theater, and the National Museum. In the afternoon, we will go on a Walking Tour of to discover the back streets and hidden gems of Colombo’s Fort area with a local specialist. The evening offers an optional dinner at a Traditional Restaurant featuring an array of Sri Lankan cuisine.

• Included meals:    Breakfast
• Accommodation: Cinnamon Red Hotel Colombo.

Optional Experiences:
Dinner at a Traditional Restaurant

We will leave Colombo City and head to the North Central Province for a Sightseeing Tour of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka’s first ancient capital city. The Kingdom of Anuradhapura was founded in the 4th century BC, preceding the arrival of Buddhism to the island. It served as the capital of ancient Lanka for over 1300 years. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its well- preserved ruins that offer a glimpse into the grandeur of the ancient Sri Lankan civilization. Whilst our sightseeing tour is conducted in a motor vehicle, you have the option of exploring the ancient sites on a bicycle with a local specialist. We will spend the night at our hotel in Sigiriya.

• Included meals:    Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation:  Aliya Resort & Spa Sigiriya

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
Guided Cycling Tour of the Ancient City of Anuradhapura with a Local Specialist.

This morning, we will visit two more UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First, we will go on a Sightseeing Tour of Polonnaruwa which served as the second capital city of ancient Lanka after the fall of Anuradhapura and flourished between the 10th and 12th centuries AD. The well-preserved ruins give us the chance to experience the grandeur of this period and marvel at the artistry of the island's early craftsmen. You have the option of a Guided Cycling Tour of Polonnaruwa. In the late afternoon, we will go on a Sightseeing Tour of Sigiriya Rock Fortress.
Also known as Lion Rock, Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic landmarks. A marvel of ancient engineering and urban planning it is built atop a massive column of rock that rises approximately 200 meters above the surrounding plains. Shrouded in myth and history, it also offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys from its pinnacle. The evening offers the option of dinner at a local family restaurant.

•  Included Meals:  Breakfast
• Accommodation: Aliya Resort & Spa Sigiriya

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
Guided Cycling Tour of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa with a Local Specialist.
Dinner at a Local Family Restaurant.

Early this morning, we will go on a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park, a wildlife sanctuary known for its large population of Asian elephants. Later, we will visit a village for a Cooking Experience before heading to Kandy - a city venerated by Buddhists as being the resting place of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha which is housed in a special temple and guarded by warrior monks. A vibrant city, it offers a rich blend of cultural, historical, and natural attractions. Once there, you will be taken on a Sightseeing Tour of Kandy and see a colorful Cultural Dance Performance that showcases traditional Sri Lankan dance forms, music, and folklore. You have the option of dinner at a local restaurant before heading back to the hotel.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Fox Resorts Kandy.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
Dinner at a Local Restaurant

Making an early start, we will explore the Udawatte Kelle Sanctuary, a biodiverse rainforest home to a variety of flora and fauna, species of birds, butterflies and mammals and visit the Royal Botanical Gardens and see the Ramboda Waterfall before arriving in Nuwara Eliya. In the evening, we will visit the Moon Plains for some spectacular sightseeing of the surrounding plains. Dinner will be at our hotel. Nuwara Eliya literally means, ‘City of Light’ and is said to have been rich in goldore which was mined by the ancient kingdoms of Lanka. The township of Nuwara Eliya is more recent and was established to serve as a holiday home for the British colonial administrators during the British colonial era – it was declared a holiday resort on 11 August 1828. Attractions today include an 18-hole golf course, horse racing, motor racing and trout fishing. Several landmarks of the British occupation include the colorful post office, Gregory's Lake and the Old Kachcheri.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: Jetwing St. Andrew’s Hotel Nuwara Eliya.

We will head out early morning in an especially outfitted vehicle to the Horton Plains National Park to view the World’s End Viewpoint. Have your cameras ready for some spectacular sightseeing. Enjoy a picnic breakfast before heading back to Nuwara Eliya.

Our Sightseeing Tour of Nuwara Eliya takes us around the town, the village of Sita Eliya and includes a picturesque boat ride on Gregory’s Lake and a visit to a Tea Factory. See the colorful post office, the Old Kachcheri and visit Victoria Park. Explore St. Xavier’s Church which was the first Christian church established in Nuwara Eliya in 1844 and Holy Trinity Church, the oldest Anglican Church in Nuwara Eliya established in 1852. Then visit Sita Eliya which is known for its significant connection to the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Explore the Sita Amman Temple, also known as the Ashok Vatika Sita Temple.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: Jetwing St. Andrew’s Hotel Nuwara Eliya

This morning, we will leave Nuwara Eliya and head to Ella, a charming town known for its stunning landscapes, tea plantations, and cool climate. The ‘Bridge in the Sky’, also known as the Nine-Arch-Bridge, is a beautiful viaduct. It is surrounded by lush greenery and tea fields, making it a popular spot for photography. Ella is probably best known for the Ravana Waterfall named after the legendary king Ravana of Lanka. The cascade falls measure approximately 25 meters in height and are surrounded by lush greenery and are particularly impressive during the rainy season when the water flow is at its peak.

Go on a Sightseeing Tour of Ella which includes a Cooking Experience, a visit to the Nine Arch Bridge and Ravana Waterfall. Our overnight stay will be in Yala, Tissamaharama.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: Jetwing Yala Hotel Tissamaharama

This morning, we will go on a Jeep Safari at Yala National Park. Experience the Sri Lanka wild as you look for the elusive Sri Lankan leopard - Panthera Pardus Kotiya. Other wildlife includes elephants, sloth bear, water buffaloes, deer, wild boar, and crocodile. Go on a Sightseeing Tour of Tissamaharama seeing ancient Buddhist temples and learning about salt production techniques in the ancient world. Later, we will head to Galle, visiting the natural “blow hole” to watch as it spouts a cascade of sea water into the air. In the evening, you have the option of a Bicycle Tour of Galle with a Local Specialist.

• Included meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Le Grand Hotel Galle.

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES
Bicycle Tour of Galle with a Local Specialist.

Ride the oceanic waves on a Whale and Dolphin watching excursion in the morning - hop onto an ocean-going vessel with an experienced crew to see a variety of marine life which include blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, orcas, pilot whales, humpback whales, dolphins, flying fish, turtles, manta rays and whale sharks. Later, you will have free time on Mirissa Beach, seeing the much Instagrammed Coconut Tree Hill and Parrot Rock.

• Included meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Le Grand Hotel Galle.

Go on a Sightseeing Tour of Galle Fort, a historic fortress located in the Bay of Galle. Recognized for its unique blend of European architecture and South Asian traditions, Galle Fort was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The Galle Lighthouse, located within the fort, is Sri Lanka’s oldest light station. Inside the fort, you will find narrow streets lined with beautifully restored Dutch colonial buildings, housing, shops, restaurants, cafes, museums, and art galleries. Galle Fort is not just a historical monument but a vibrant part of the local community, reflecting a rich cultural heritage. Later, we will head to Colombo City and view the magnificent Japanese designed Parliament and the BMICH center, the Independence Square monument and the monuments to Sri Lankan and Indian soldiers. In the evening, join your fellow travelers and Tour Leader for a Farewell Dinner.

• Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: Cinnamon Red Hotel Colombo.

As your tour ends, you will be transferred to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport CMB for your flight back home.