Travel Time: 30 minutes / 20 km

Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), where your personal guide will welcome you and provide an introduction to your journey. Enjoy a short transfer to the coastal town of Negombo, renowned for its relaxed charm and vibrant fishing community.

Check into your hotel and unwind after your travels. Savour a delicious dinner and spend the night at leisure.

Standard Hotel: Pegasus Reef Hotel or similar
Superior Hotel: Sooriya Resort or similar

Travel Time: 3 hours / 149 km

After breakfast, journey inland to Sigiriya, the cultural heart of Sri Lanka. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and prepare for an afternoon adventure.

Opt for an exclusive jeep safari in Minneriya National Park (optional), where the extraordinary “Gathering” takes place. During the dry season (July to September), hundreds of elephants gather around the Minneriya reservoir, drawn by its fertile grasses. This natural spectacle offers a rare chance to see up to 300–400 elephants socialising, bathing, feeding, and interacting in their natural habitat.

The safari location will be selected based on the elephants’ movements, taking you to Minneriya, Eco Park, or Kaudulla National Park for the best wildlife experience. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Standard Hotel: Kassapa Lions Rock or similar
Superior Hotel: SigiriyaJungles or similar

Begin your day with a visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site often hailed as the 8th Wonder of the World. This remarkable rock fortress, built by King Kasyapa in the 5th century AD, served as a royal citadel for over 18 years. Marvel at the frescoes, landscaped gardens, and the ingenious engineering that has stood the test of time.

Return to the hotel for a hands-on cooking demonstration, where you can learn to prepare a selection of traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Enjoy the fruits of your labour with a classic rice and curry lunch.

In the afternoon, explore the medieval city of Polonnaruwa by bicycle. Designed by King Parakrama Bahu the Great, the city’s highlights include the Royal Citadel, council chamber, prince’s bathing pool, and Gal Vihara, a serene stone temple featuring colossal Buddha sculptures set in a tranquil grove. Don’t miss the impressive Parakrama Samudra, a vast man-made reservoir larger than Colombo Harbour. The city museum offers an excellent scale model, bringing the ancient capital vividly to life.

Return to Sigiriya for dinner and an overnight stay.

Standard Hotel: Kassapa Lions Rock or similar
Superior Hotel: SigiriyaJungles or similar

Travel Time: 2.5 hours / 91 km

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most impressive of Sri Lanka’s cave temples. This remarkable complex of five caves features over 2,000 sq. metres of intricate murals and centuries-old Buddha statues, representing the largest collection of cave paintings in the country.

Continue your journey to Kandy, stopping en route at a spice garden in Matale to experience the vibrant aromas and colours of Sri Lanka’s rich spice heritage.

Upon arrival, check into your hotel and relax before exploring the city. In the late afternoon, discover Kandy’s bustling streets and markets by tuk-tuk (optional), and visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth, home to a tooth relic of the Buddha and one of the island’s most revered pilgrimage sites. Conclude the evening with a captivating Kandyan cultural performance, showcasing traditional music and dance.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Standard Hotel: Hotel Topaz or similar
Superior Hotel: Hotel Tourmaline or similar

Travel Time: 2.5 hours / 77 km

After breakfast at the hotel, journey to Nuwara Eliya, the “Little England” of Sri Lanka. Enjoy a scenic train ride from Peradeniya Railway Station to Nanu Oya, offering breathtaking views of rolling tea plantations and mist-covered hills.

En route, explore the hill country with a sightseeing drive through the lush tea estates. Pause to interact with locals, experience tea plucking firsthand, or simply admire the stunning landscapes. Visit a tea plantation and factory to see how fresh leaves are transformed into the world-famous Ceylon tea, and be sure to pick up some freshly packed tea as a souvenir.

Check into your hotel and unwind amidst the cool mountain air. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Standard Hotel: Heaven Seven Hotel or similar
Superior Hotel: Galway Heights or similar

Travel Time: 3.5 hours / 144 km

After breakfast at the hotel, journey south to Tissamaharama. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and settle in before an exciting afternoon adventure.

Embark on an exclusive private jeep safari at Yala National Park, one of Sri Lanka’s premier wildlife reserves. Encounter majestic elephants, elusive leopards, wild buffaloes, bears, deer, and crocodiles, while large flocks of migratory and native birds fill the skies. This safari offers a rare opportunity to experience the wilderness up close in its natural splendour.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay, surrounded by the peaceful ambience of the southern plains.

Standard Hotel: EKHO Safari or similar
Superior Hotel: Mandara Rosen or similar

Travel Time: 3.5 hours / 278 km

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the airport or your chosen beach resort.

On the way, explore the historic Galle Fort and the charming Dutch town. Originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later expanded by the Dutch in the 17th century, Galle Fort became Sri Lanka’s principal port and a vibrant centre of trade, connecting merchants from Persia, Arabia, Greece, Rome, Malaysia, and India. Today, it stands as one of the world’s best-preserved examples of 17th-century colonial fortifications and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering a captivating glimpse into the island’s rich history.

After the visit, continue your journey to the airport or beach resort, concluding your unforgettable Sri Lankan adventure.