Wildlife, Beach, Heritage of Sri Lanka

Welcome to Sri Lanka! When your flight lands at Colombo International Airport, your private driver guide will warmly pick you up and then drive you for 30 minutes to the hotel in Negombo. After checking in, you will be free for self-exploration to know a bit of this beautiful coastal city.

➤ Recommendations for Early Arrival
The sandy beach outside your hotel is a good place for admiring the sea view and taking a leisurely walk. You may walk south for 5 minutes from the hotel to Centella Bistro (192 Porutota Rd, Negombo) for dinner. The restaurant serves western food, seafood and Sri Lankan cuisines like curry rice. The average cost per person is about USD 8-10.

➤ Visa & Money Exchange
At least 1 days before leaving for Sri Lanka, you are suggested to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) on the official website, which costs USD 50. It’s best to keep ETA certificate, or print it out for easier and faster entry. After entry, you could exchange some Sri Lankan rupees at the counter in the airport. It’s not recommended to exchange money at banks because their opening hours are often short, which is inconvenient.

➤ SIM Card
You could purchase a SIM card in the airport where counters of major network operators are easy to find. Dialog, with a variety of monthly travel plans priced at USD 5-8, is a good choice. Its network coverage and signal are good.

Accommodation: Jetwing Sea Hotel, Negombo (4 stars) or similar

Early this morning, and the guide will accompany you to start from Negombo Fish Market. Next to Negombo Lagoon and facing the Indian Ocean, Negombo has been well-known for fishing and cinnamon since colonial times. The fish market here is especially a representative of Sri Lanka’s fishing culture. At around 5 o’clock every morning, the fishing boats return from the sea and the market starts to get bustling. The beach nearby is crowded with fishermen unloading their boats and processing the fresh catch as dawn breaks. The bright-colored boats and busy figures in the morning sunshine are definitely worth your early rise. The smell of fish might be awful in this market, and if you’re worried about getting dirty, you may wear short bottoms and sandals that are easy to clean. Then, visit the nearby Lellama Fishing Village to get a deeper understanding of the real country life in Sri Lanka. After that, continue to visit the Dutch Canal. Built by the Dutch centuries ago, the canal was originally more than 100 kilometers long (62 mi.) and contributed a lot to the transportation and trading of coconuts and spices. Today’s Dutch Canal is popular with both tourists and locals. Along the canal are scattered houses, woods and paddy fields.

Next, we will move forward to Dambulla Cave Temple by a 3-hour drive. The famous temple complex is hidden in jungles and was carved into the rock on the hillside over 2,000 years ago. From the Golden Temple at the bottom of the rock, you could reach the 5 caves of Dambulla Cave Temple by a short climb. In the second and largest cave, you could see 16 standing Buddha statues, 40 sitting Buddha statues, and statues of Hindu deities and King of Sri Lanka. Admire the vivid murals inside the caves which depict stories of the Buddha.
➤ Tips: Please note that visitors need to wear modest clothes that can cover shoulders and knees to enter the religious sites in Sri Lanka. Some sites may require you to take off your shoes before entering. It’s better to bring a pair of socks in case your feet are hurt.

➤ Experience a Special Night in Forest
Your hotel is situated deep in the forest in Sigiriya. From your room you may see the surrounding trees and the rock fortress. The hotel offers a chance for you to not only enjoy a unique dining experience at the Treetop restaurant but also meet some animals. For example, there may be little monkeys knocking on your door asking for a banana.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Amaara Forest Hotel Sigiriya (4 stars) or similar

This morning, visit the iconic World Heritage Site - Sigiriya Rock Fortress, also called the Lion Rock, which is a majestic brick-red rock rising 200 meters (656 ft.) from the scrub jungle. It took 18 years to build the fortress at the king’s order in the 5th century. The king at that time murdered his father for the throne. To escape from his brother’s revenge, he fled from the old capital to the forest in Sigiriya and started to lead his luxurious life on the rock. Besides huge rock structures, there is a moat and some water gardens at the bottom. The path will lead you to the Lion’s Paws Platform, from which you could climb up to the top. Some steps may be very steep, so please follow your guide closely and watch every step. During your climb, appreciate the ancient boulder gardens and breathtaking frescoes which are the only existing non-religious frescoes in Sri Lanka. Many female figures in them are in graceful poses and wearing gorgeous golden headdresses. Pay attention when you walk by a long wall, which used to be polished like a mirror so that the king could see himself. That is the so-called “Mirror Wall”. When you reach the top, explore the ruins of the audience hall, king’s residence, and other royal palaces in the breeze.

★ Special Experience: Indulge into Rural Atmosphere of a Local Village

After the visit, we will drive you to the nearby Hiriwadunna Village where around 2,500 people live. Here you may get into the spirit of the simple life and rustic charm of this idyllic village. Respond the villagers with a friendly smile if you are warmly greeted with their hands folded. Most of the roads in Hiriwadunna are dirt roads, along which are verdant vegetable gardens and woods. You may see bullock carts, or encounter a farmer looking after his garden in case wild elephants destroy it. Hospitable local people will make a traditional Sri Lankan lunch for you. In the afternoon, further explore the village, or take a catamaran ride on the lake nearby to watch some pretty birds in trees. After that, we will drive you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Amaara Forest Hotel Sigiriya (4 stars) or similar

This morning, we will leave Sigiriya and drive to Kandy. On the way, stop at a Spice Garden to see a rich diversification of some of the best-produced spices in Sri Lanka. Let your nose get ready for the rich smells. Sri Lankans have been cultivated spice plants for over 3,000 years. This country abounds with cinnamon, cardamom, curry, etc. It’s not hard to see various spices from people’s daily diet. You will see the gardens of different spice plants and learn about their ways of processing.

On arrival in Kandy, your driver guide will help you check in at the hotel and then take you to visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, also called Sri Dalada Maligawa. This temple is considered to be one of the must-go places for all Sri Lankan Buddhists for housing one of the most valuable Buddhist treasures in the world – the tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. Previous kings of Sri Lanka built temples called “Dalada Mandira” to enshrine the sacred tooth, and the temple of the tooth in Kandy is the final one with a history of over 400 years. The white walls of the temple and the nearby jade Kandy Lake together form a delightful contrast. The interior of the temple is richly decorated with splendid carvings in gold, wood and ivory. Local people often offer lotus flowers in front of the Buddha.

➤ Tip: One of the most celebrated festivals in Kandy is the Esala Perahera, also known as “Festival of the Tooth”. The 10-day festival usually falls in July or August, during which the tooth relic casket will be paraded through the streets atop an adorned elephant accompanied by dancers, drummers and other performers. Don’t miss the lively event if you plan to come during this time.

After that, get immersed in a cultural banquet through watching a one-hour Culture Dance Show. The ancient Kandyan dance has various forms and contents such as Kulu Natuma dance to celebrate a rich harvest, tea-picking dance, and even acrobatics like fire-walking, fire-eating, and plate spinning. Although many of the performers do not have a perfect figure, they dance with power and passion. Feel their enthusiasm and love through the movements and rhythms. After watching the show, we will send you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy (4 stars) or similar

★ Cultural Immersion: Take a Traditional Sri Lankan Cooking Class

After breakfast, attend an immersive cooking class to make a wonderful Sri Lankan lunch for yourself. Learn something about selecting the freshest ingredients, uses of different spices, or steps of processing a fish. Put on an apron and try your hand at cooking some traditional dishes to experience the food culture in Sri Lanka.

➤ Free Time Recommendations in Kandy
After enjoying your homemade lunch, your guide will drive you back to your hotel, and the afternoon is free for you to have a rest or further explore the city. You may take a leisure walk around Kandy Lake and the lakeside shops and boutiques. If you are interested in handicrafts and textiles, you may visit Batik Factory and watch the technology of decorating fabric with hot wax. Kandy Municipal Central Market is where you can get a glimpse of the local life, with a lot of small stands of fruits, vegetables, tea and spices.

➤ Recommendation for Dinner (at your own expense)
Hideout Lounge is a decent restaurant situated next to Kandy Lake, serving pizzas, burgers, salads, and local food. Pumpkin Salad and black pork curry are the top picks. Enjoying your food with the live music while admiring the lake view could be a fantastic experience.
Average Cost per Person: USD 10
Address: 52 Sangaraja Mawatha, Kandy 20000

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy (4 stars) or similar

This morning, we will visit Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. Surrounded by a river on three sides, it is like an emerald embedded in Kandy. This 200-year-old botanic garden is renowned for over 500 species of orchids. Besides flowers, you could also see towering Java fig trees and banyan trees with huge canopies, through which sunlight streams down. Fruit bats like hanging upside down from the branches. Sit in the shade of trees or take a stroll round the gardens.

After that, your guide will continue to drive you to Nuwara Eliya. Along the 2-hour scenic journey, we will first stop by Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple if time permits. This is a Hindu temple located on a hill with magnificent golden exteriors and exquisite carvings. Then, visit Ramboda Falls, one of Sri Lanka’s highest waterfalls. With a drop of more than 100 meters (330 ft.), the fall offers a stunning view when water thundering down with dense water vapor. Please pay attention to your foot while taking pictures, as the view point may be slippery. Later, we will head to a Tea Plantation and Tea Factory. Reputed as “Little London”, Nuwara Eliya produces one of the world’s best high mountain teas. Have a cup of authentic Ceylon black tea in the tea factory and get to know how the tea is made. Walk into the bushy tea plantation, and experience the joy of tea-picking in the fresh air mixed with scent of tea trees. Upon arrival in Nuwara Eliya, we will help you check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Blackpool Resort & Spa, Nuwara Eliya (4 stars) or similar

Today’s itinerary begins with a hike in Horton Plains National Park. The park was named after Sir Horton who was the British governor of Ceylon during colonial times. The unpolluted plains are not only the headwaters of 3 major rivers in Sri Lanka, but also home to abundant resources of species and vegetation. Some species that are unique to Sri Lanka can only be found on Horton Plains. The hiking route stretches for about 9.4 kilometers (5.8 mi.) passing by the World’s End, which takes around 4 hours to finish. The route might be rocky and slippery, but the breathtaking scenery is worth your adventure.

➤ Tips: 
1. We suggest you start your hike from 6 am to better admire the scenic view and spot wild animals before it’s foggy at 10 am.
2. Due to large temperature difference between day and night in highlands, it’s better to take a warm coat with you. Comfortable walking shoes and insect repellant are necessary as well.
3. If you visit during the rainy season usually from May to August and November to February, remember to bring a raincoat or an umbrella.

We will then take you to a local market after the hike. The market in Nuwara Eliya is so colorful that you could imagine yourself walking into a fairy tale world. The stands here have almost everything from groceries to clothes and souvenirs. Stroll around the stands, feast your eyes on exotic tropical fruits and feel the pleasant aroma of them. If you want to buy something, remember to bring some change and ask the price beforehand to avoid getting ripped off. Next, you will be sent back to your hotel.

➤ If you want to climb the more challenging Adam’s Peak and enjoy a sunrise there, please feel free to let us know and extend your stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Blackpool Resort & Spa, Nuwara Eliya (4 stars) or similar

★ Experience One of the Most Beautiful Train Journeys in the World

It’s hard not to expect a local scenic train ride especially if you know that the Nuwara Eliya-to-Ella train is praised as one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. It winds its way through green tea plantations and rolling hills, and embrace you with picturesque scenery and refreshing breeze during the 2.5-hour journey. Sitting in the old-fashioned train, you won’t be able to take your eyes off the view and may even wish the train goes slower. It could make you feel going back to the mid-1800s.

➤ Tips: 
1. We will book the most recommended second-class ticket for you, because in a second-class compartment, you can open the windows or doors to take photos without reflection of the sun. As you enjoy your journey, don’t forget to pay attention to safety. It’s better not to lean out of the window or dangle your feet out the door in case you get hurt by the branches or signs along the tracks.
2. If you still prefer a quiet and comfortable journey, we are glad to upgrade your seat to first class at no extra charge. However, as the train is commonly used by locals, the seat class depends on the real-time availability of tickets, so please book your holiday package as early as possible.
3. There may be a train delay without any advance notice, so if you have to wait too long, we can drive you to Ella instead.

Upon arrival in Ella, you will be picked up at the railway station and guided on a visit to Nine Arch Bridge. The 24-meter-high (79 ft.) bridge connects the mountains and you can see valleys and streams under it. The bridge was made of bricks and cement in colonial times, standing here for over 100 years. The mottled black bricks on sides of the bridge are telling the history of it. If lucky, you may hear the roar of the train around the mountains. After that, your private driver guide will escort you to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Mountain Heavens, Ella (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, you will go to Little Adam’s Peak, which is, like Adam’s Peak, considered as a sacred mountain in Sri Lanka. It’s at an elevation of just over 1,000 meters (3,280 ft.) and it takes about 1 hour to reach the peak. The path to the top is scenic with vast tea plantations. From the top of the mountain, enjoy a panoramic view of the nearby scenic waterfalls and Ella Gap. Then, we will drive you to visit Ravana Falls, which is 25 meters (82 ft.) high and is part of Ella’s wildlife reserve. There are pools below the waterfall where local people usually swim or bathe. Please make sure to be careful while taking photos at the view point.

Next, we will drive 2 hours to Tissamaharama and go on an afternoon jeep safari in Yala National Park. It’s one of the most popular national parks in Sri Lanka, in which you would see lots of elephants, peacocks, crocodiles, etc. And it’s quite possible to spot some rare Sri Lankan leopards. Please be careful during the safari and do not feed the animals or chase them. If you want to take some clear pictures of the wildlife, you could use telephoto lens. After this exciting exploration, you will be accompanied to the hotel.

★ What Makes Us Different

Due to large number of tourists in Yala, there might be traffic jams in the morning during the peak season. Therefore, we specially arrange the afternoon safari for you. There would be relatively fewer tourists and more wildlife to see as many animals come out to drink near sunset. We will also serve you fresh watermelon as refreshment in the park.


Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Thaulle Ayurveda Resort, Yala (4 stars) or similar

Today, you will leave for the next destination, Bentota. En route, stop to catch the sight of Stilt Fishing, which is one of the most unique fishing practices in the world. You could see fishermen sitting on vertical wooden poles with crossbars in the sea. Their swarthy figures and the blue sea together form a harmonious picture. This ancient fishing method used to be an iconic representative of Sri Lankan culture, but now it is becoming a commercial site for tourists instead of people’s way of living. If you like, you could pay to experience stilt fishing or take a photo of the fishermen, and please be careful when you climb the stilt to prevent yourself from falling off.

Next, we will continue to drive and stop at the exotic Galle Dutch Fort, which was built by Portuguese in the 16th century. Whether the white lighthouse by the sea, or the bell tower, European churches and ancient buildings in the fort, are all typical colonial-era buildings. But at the same time, the salty, spice-scented sea breeze and the dark-skinned sari-clad locals are reminding you that you are on an island in South Asia. The collision of culture and nature gives the town its unique charm. There are snack bars selling Sri Lanka’s traditional food, elegant and vintage cafes, bars, craft shops and hotels in the fort. They could bring you a romantic memory whether you are a history enthusiast or an architecture fan. After arriving in Bentota, we will help you check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NH Bentota Ceysands Resort (4 stars) or similar

Today’s activities are entirely up to you, and you can have a wonderful day at the beaches of Bentota. You may lie in the sun on the beach or leisurely explore the coastal town, or you can do some water activities like windsurfing, jet skiing, paddling, and snorkeling. If you are interested in architecture, you can go to Lunuganga to visit Sri Lanka’s famous architect Geoffrey Bawa’s former residence, which is also one of his first architectural design works. It is an integration of architectural ingenuity and nature. In the afternoon, you could visit Sea Turtle Conservation Center at the seaside, from which you could get knowledge of sea turtle species in Sri Lanka and the rescue process. In the evening you could experience releasing baby turtles into the sea.

➤ Recommended Restaurant for Dinner (at your own Expense)
Bamboos Garden is a seaside restaurant, serving seafood, salads and local food like curry rice and chicken chowmein. It’s recommended to sit on the second floor, from which you can overlook the sea and railway tracks and even watch trains go by.
Average Cost per Person: USD 12
Address: Pitaramba Road, Bentota 80500

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NH Bentota Ceysands Resort (4 stars) or similar

Today, you will be transferred to the airport for departure flight, and your driver guide will see you off from there. We wish you a pleasant and safe flight home!

➤ For Your Information:
If you want to explore Colombo before leaving, we can set out earlier to drive you to downtown Colombo. You may visit Independence Square and Independence Memorial Hall. The open square and old buildings are perfect for taking photos, strolling, and learning history.

➤ If you want to stay one more day in Colombo to visit some other attractions, we are glad to add a hotel for you. If you’d like to extend your holiday to northern Sri Lankan ancient cities, or you want to explore the nearby India or Bangladesh, please contact our travel consultants to tailor an itinerary.

Meals: Breakfast