Experiential Tour

Your day starts at 5:30 am, with a warm cup of Ceylon tea and cookies before leaving for an exciting boat ride through the Negombo lagoon weaving through the mangroves. You can delight in the glorious sunrise, spectacular view of colourful fishing boats, the buzzing fishing communities and try your luck in fishing! Then, hop into a tuk-tuk and ride back to the hotel to enjoy a scrumptious breakfast before heading to Sigiriya.

En-route to Sigiriya you will see the urban and sub-urban living styles, sprawling grasslands, varied vegetation, roadside boutiques and rustic country life. You will then visit the Raswehera Buddha statue before heading for an authentic Sri Lankan lunch of rice and curry. After lunch, visit the Awkana statue – a masterpiece of a massive standing Buddha statue, where you will learn the history behind its creation. Several legends are linked with the origins of these two statues, where a story says that the two statues were created as the result of a competition between a master sculptor and his pupil. Finally, you will conclude your day by checking into your hotel for dinner and to unwind for the day.

Kick start your day with breakfast and head to the Pidurangala rock – the rock has an ancient Buddhist temple on the top and is a fantastic viewpoint of the Sigiriya rock fortress. This rock is a rarely visited sight and is a perfect viewpoint to see Sigiriya and the surrounding plains. After absorbing the majestic view, embark on a village culinary tour and engage in the local cooking activities. You will engage in preparing your village lunch together with village folks, whilst interacting with them. You will learn how fresh ingredients are sourced from the surroundings and see how lunch is cooked using firewood. Reward your efforts with a freshly cooked lunch of rice and curry served on a lotus leaf!

After the hearty village lunch, hop on a bicycle and peddle around the village to enjoy the serene evening atmosphere, sprawling lush green paddy fields, humble village homes, lively villagers engaged in daily chores and much more. After relishing in the village culture, return to hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.

After breakfast you will start with the Polonnaruwa Medieval City Tour, exploring the historic city and the second capital of Sri Lanka dating back to the 11th & 12th centuries AD. At this World Heritage Site, you will witness the ruins of the Royal Palace, statues of King Parakramabahu and the Parakrama Samudraya. After lunch at a local restaurant, proceed to Minneriya National Park for an adventurous afternoon jeep safari.

The Minneriya national park situated 182 km away from Colombo in the North Central Plains of Sri Lanka, is home to a variety of fauna and flora. At the massive Minneriya Rainwater Reservoir, (the highlight of the park) you will witness the most awaited elephant gathering. This is a thrilling sight and experience, plus a memory to cherish for the rest of your life. After an exhilarating safari, head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will head to the hill capital of Sri Lanka – Kandy. On the way, visit the Moragahakanda Dam and the Mahiyanganaya Temple – the first stupa built in Sri Lanka during the era of Lord Buddha. The Moragahakanda Dam is a high gravity dam with a height of 65 meters and is created with an active storage capacity of 521,000,000 cubic meters, and is four times bigger than the gigantic Parakrama Samudraya in Polonnaruwa. The dam is also used for irrigation, water supply, inland fishing and power generation.

You will continue on the winding roads along the towering mountains passing lush grasslands bursting into bloom and Lankan damsels selling king coconuts by the sideway before stopping for lunch. Take an occasional peek out of the window and you will see mist-covered landscapes studded with pools of cool waters, strolling wildlife, windy brown streets and an abundance 
of lush greenery. Consider yourself lucky if you happen to see a passing elephant or any other wildlife across the road during your travel and do not forget to capture the breath-taking view of the Knuckles range. You will be travelling through Wasgamuwa and zigzagging through the famous ‘18-hair-pin-bends’ road which will be a thrilling journey.

In the evening you will witness a colourful cultural show with an exciting agenda of traditional Sri Lankan dances and pageantry. You will be captivated by the vibrant event filled with colourful costumes, graceful dances and oriental music, making it an unforgettable experience. After an in-house dinner, you will spend the night in Kandy.

Today you will embark on a city tour in Kandy (after breakfast) to visit The Sacred Tooth Relic temple – Kandy‘s key attraction and symbol of sovereignty enshrined in great splendour. The Esala Perahera held in August each year is a must-see, and this spectacular pageant honours the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.

Next, you will visit the Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya, a magnificent 57-hectare garden that treasures the best of tropical flora, aromatic spices and rare medicinal herbs. Delight in a lunch under the shady orchards while engrossing in the beauty of nature before returning to the hotel in the evening. After dinner, you can unwind into the night at a local pub, where you will get the perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals and see and experience the local nightlife and happenings first hand. You will party your way into the night to the lively reggae played at the pub, followed by an overnight stay in Kandy.

After breakfast you will proceed to Nuwara Eliya stopping by the maginificent Ramboda falls en-route. Next, you will visit a tea-factory and walk-through to experience tea plucking and tea tasting. Ceylon Tea is a world-class brand that serves millions of cups each day across the globe. You will learn the detailed factory process whilst sipping a hot cup of Ceylon tea.

You will then have lunch before taking an evening stroll amidst the soaring trees of the Galway Grove. After enjoying the breezy walk via the Nuwara Eliya City and around the famous Gregory lake, relish in a local cocktail prepared by you whilst admiring the lovely landscape of colonial buildings with blooming gardens. You will enjoy an authentic experience of making your cocktail by following the instructions given by professional mixologists.

Nuwara Eliya consists of a big Tamil community and hence, the day will be completed with a traditional Jaffna styled dinner with a mix of Indian cuisine. So, do treat yourself with a variety of dosas and other delicious preparations, followed by an overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

You will head to Horton plains for an exciting morning trek. It is one of the windiest locations in Sri Lanka and has a mixed ecosystem of montane evergreen forests, grasslands and marshy lands. After a picturesque hike, enjoy your breakfast packets before boarding on an epic train ride from Pattipola railway station to Bandarawela railway station. Pattipola railway station is a Legendary landmark due to its remarkable location. It is the highest railway station in Sri Lanka with an elevation of 1,897.5 m (6,225 ft) high above average sea level.

The train journey weaving through the scenic hill country is one of the most beautiful explorations in Sri Lanka. From the edge of soaring mountains, you will oversee the branching valleys from the mist capped mountains, sloping lush green tea plantations, villages dotted with houses, thick forests and whooshing waterfalls. The day ends with dinner and an overnight stay in Bandarawela.

After breakfast you will take off to Ella and engage in the Mini Adam’s peak hike to view the iconic ‘Ella Gap’. ‘Ella’ is a small up-country town with waterfalls, caves and geographically magnificent spots. You’ll be amazed at the fauna and flora on your way up to the peak, and it’s an incredible experience in the morning when the clouds roll in. As one of the top destinations in the country, you will soak in 360 degrees of unbelievable views!

After lunch at a restaurant, you will continue to Yala visiting the Ravana falls en-route. Afternoon awaits you with an adrenaline-packed jeep safari in the Yala National Park- a sprawling forest with watering holes, and home to an abundance of wildlife including leopards, elephants, crocodiles, birds and much more. Yala is home to one of the best leopard spotting places on the planet, with the highest population density of leopards in the world. If you want to see a leopard, there is no better place! So, do appreciate what you see and capture the sightings as much as you can!

After a delicious BBQ dinner and bonfire, an exciting bush stroll awaits you in the night where you will witness birds, reptiles and other wildlife creatures resting on trees and in their respective habitats after an active day. This will be an unforgettable experience for you amidst the stillness of the night. You will then return to camp for an overnight stay.

You will begin the day with an early morning visit to the Kataragama temple to witness the morning ‘Pooja’. The pooja is a colourful and enigmatic prayer done among chanting worshippers. The legendary worship place has mysterious legends about the Kataragama god and is an example of Sri Lanka’s racial unity and has mysterious legends about the god residing in Kataragama. After breakfast, you will visit the Udawalawe elephant transit home.

Since inception in 1995, the Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home has helped care for injured, sick and orphaned baby elephants from all over Sri Lanka. You will be able to observe a lively group of 20-30 young and teenage elephants who are fed four times a day. The resident animals are looked after until they are considered fit enough to be released back into the wild. After this visit, you will head for lunch at a restaurant.

Next, you will check-in at the beach resort and refresh yourself for the rest of the day. The resort is blessed with a beautiful beach frontage offering you the perfect island getaway from the busy city life. It is the ideal place to unwind, relax, refresh and experience the heritage, culture, nature and the way of life in southern Sri Lanka. You can indulge in a spa treatment or take a dip in the azure pool if you wish. You will then enjoy a delicious spread of English dinner followed by an overnight stay in Ahangama.

After breakfast, you will travel to Galle. Depending on the season (If November – April you will be transferred to Mirissa for whale watching at 5.30 AM with breakfast packets). Mirissa is on the south coast of Sri Lanka and is a key whale and dolphin watching spot in the country with the most stunning sunrises and sunsets to be enjoyed. Sperm whales, Bryde’s whales are some of the most common whales that you will encounter, and if you are really lucky, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the killer whales (also known as orcas). Among the species of dolphins, you may see the Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, and Striped dolphins. These playful creatures would swim alongside your boat and jumping out of the water much to your delight!

Upon reaching Galle, you can take part in a city tour by bicycle/ bike to witness the charming colonial town on the Southern coast. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a 300-year-old fort, a maritime museum and a historic lighthouse that you can visit to learn more of Sri Lankan history. You will conclude the day with a “Rotti Night” dinner with a seafood BBQ by the beach, followed by an overnight stay by the beach.

Today is your last day on the paradise isle. Indulge in a lavish spread of Sri Lankan breakfast (Kola Kanda, Kurakkan pittu with more coconut, plain pittu, kokkis, kevum, string hoppers, roast bread with curries and koppa kiribath) before travelling to Colombo. You will then take part in a Colombo city tour from Fort and Pettah covering the commercial and residential areas of the city whilst sighting the key landmarks – Galle Face Green, old parliament, the lighthouse clock tower, Colombo harbour, Gangarama Temple, Independence Square and the Viharamahadevi Park. After lunch and a quick shopping tour to your heart’s content, you will proceed to the airport for departure. As the final stop, enjoy dinner at a local Indian restaurant before reaching the airport.

This brings you to the end of an exciting, fun-filled and memorable adventure in Sri Lanka!