Day 1 – Colombo – 1 night – Casa Colombo

Our representative will be waiting at the Bandaranaike International Airport who will assist you with your luggage and guide you to your vehicle where cold towels and your personal chauffeur await. Begin your journey through Sri Lanka in the capital city, Colombo.

Time permitting, enjoy a city tour of Colombo and explore the colonial architecture of the ‘Fort’ as well as the local markets, residential areas and religious sites of the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Reside at Casa Colombo for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2, 3, 4 – Sigirya – 3 nights – Jetwing Vil Uyana

After breakfast, begin your journey to Sigirya which stops off at Pinnawala where you will visit the famous Elephant Orphanage, the only one of its kind in the world. It’s a conservation project for orphaned and injured elephants and you will be able to see the little jumbos fed and bathed in the nearby river.

Continue your journey to Sigirya and check into the Jetwing Vil Uyana, which you will have the afternoon at leisure to explore this incredible property and its surroundings.

After an early breakfast at Jetwing Vil Uyana, you will be able to climb the 5th century citadel of Sigirya which is one of the seven UNESCO world heritage sites in Sri Lanka. Built by King Kassyapa, Sigirya was a 70 hectare fortified city with moats, ramparts and gardens. It is a must see for any visitor to Sri Lanka where it’s considered the 8th wonder of the world.

Return to Jetwing Vil Uyana at your own leisure or continue to the UNESCO world heritage and ancient capital of Polonnaruwa on an optional excursion, visit the numerous ruins of temples and palaces as well as the spectacular Parakrama Samuda reservoir (The sea of Parakrama) and the Gal Vihara (Buddha statues carved out of sheer rock).

After breakfast at Jetwing Vil Uyana, journey to the UNESCO site of Anuradhapura which is the first ancient capital of Sri Lanka from the 3rd Century BC to the 11th Century AD. At its height, Anuradhapura was one of the greatest cities of its age, functioning as the island’s centre of both temporal and spiritual power, dotted with dozens of monasteries populated by as many as 10,000 monks – one of the greatest monastic cities the world has ever seen and the most extensive of all the ancient cities. Transfer from Anuradhapura back to Sigirya.

Day 5, 6 – Kandy – 2 nights – The Kandy House

After breakfast at Jetwing Vil Uyana, take the journey to the historic, UNESCO city of Kandy which goes via Dambulla to visit the Cave Temples, yet another world heritage site recognised by UNESCO with hundreds of rock paintings of the Buddha and many kings and deities.

Continue your journey to Kandy and en-route visit the Matale Spice Garden, arrive in Kandy and check into The Kandy House. In the evening you will visit the ‘Temple of the Tooth’ which is regarded as one of the holiest temples in the country, a place where the tooth relic of the lord Buddha is believed to be enshrined.

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Kandy including visits to the Kandy museum, the royal botanical gardens, the panoramic views of Kandy from upper lake drive and a visit to the Peradeniya campus grounds. You will also get the opportunity to walk around the bustling town, the last independent kingdom that held out against British colonial rule. In the evening, you will witness a Kandyan cultural dance performance and return to The Kandy House.

Day 7 – Nuwara Eliya – 1 night – Ceylon Tea Trails

After breakfast at The Kandy House, take a picturesque drive through the Hill Country’s tea plantations & beautiful countryside, arrive and check into one of the bungalows at Ceylon Tea Trails. Experience the history of Nuwara Eliya ‘the city of dawn’ which was established by the British colonists in the nineteenth century, and known as ‘Little England’ due to the quaint colonial feel, cool climate and in general a popular destination for Sri Lankans.
Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of the tea country and you can visit the plantations and factory en-route to witness how the famous ‘Ceylon Tea’ is brewed. Retreat back to your respective bungalow within the Ceylon Tea Trails which as a whole offer many treks, trails, mountain biking and local excursions.

Day 8, 9 – Yala – 2 nights – The Safari

After breakfast at your bungalow within the Ceylon Tea Trails, begin your 3 hour journey to Yala and the Yala National Park which goes via the picturesque English country-style village of Ella. Famous in Sri Lankan folklore regarding the sacred scriptures of Ramayana, the demon king Rawana brought the captive princess and wife of Rama, Sita here and hid her away in a cave a matter of kilometres away. Rawana now memorialised by the number of guest houses named after the demon king and the Rawana Ella Falls, which plunge down a series of rock faces six kilometres from Ella.
Nearby is Demodera, the home of the famous Demodera loop railway which was an engineering feat back in the days of British colonial rule. Transfer from Ella to The Safari Hotel, in Yala National Park.

After an early breakfast at The Safari Hotel, proceed on an excursion to visit the Yala National Park which is Sri Lanka’s most visited wildlife reserve and covers roughly an area of 1,260 square kilometres. The park’s dry-zone landscape is strikingly beautiful and the park’s wildlife has its own distinctive charm, with huddles of colourful painted storks perched on the incongruously conjoined sight of elephants marching sedately through the bush while rabbits scamper through the undergrowth.
Leopards, sloth bears and elephants are the ‘Big 3’ here although crocodiles, jackals and the countless variety of birds are also a huge draw to Sri Lanka’s largest national park.

Day 10, 11, 12 – Koggala – 3 nights – The Fortress

After breakfast ay The Safari, transfer to Koggala and check into The Fortress for the remainder of your stay. Enjoy the pleasant surroundings at this lovely property by the beach.

Day 13 – Airport

After an early breakfast at The Fortress, proceed to the Airport for your departure flight.