Authentic Sri Lanka
Duration: 15 Days
Location: From coast to coast in Sri Lanka
From the traditional fishing villages to sacred ancient sights, tea plantations and leopard spotting this itinerary gives you a glimpse of everything that Sri Lanka has to offer.
Highlights of the tour
Visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage
Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
See leopards in Yala National Park
Visit the stilted fisherman of Weligama
Visit a tea planation
Relax on the beaches of Beruwela
Day 1 - Negombo
On arrival you will be met at the airport arrival lobby by one of our representatives and taken to the hotel in Negombo. The Negombo town has several buildings dating back to the Dutch and Portuguese colonial days. The sea and catamaran is the backdrop of the Negombo scenery. The lagoon is famous for its harvest of lobsters, crabs and prawns and the fish auctions on the beach are worth a look.
Day 2 - Habarana
After breakfast this morning you will proceed to Habarana. En route visit the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, home of many abandoned or injured elephants. It is one of Sri Lanka’s most visited sites. After checking into your hotel you will have the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 3 - Hiriwadunna
This morning there is an early climb of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. After your descent proceed to Hiriwadunna and enjoy a village experience. A bullock cart ride will take you through the village of Hiriwadunna, to a banana plantation. Cross a scenic reservoir by oruwa (traditional boat), its long, narrow shape gliding effortlessly on the water, to visit a chena cultivation, where in the shade of a tree house of mud and thatched palm leaves, the village of Hiriwadunna can be surveyed. On the return you can visit the house of a local and enjoy aromatic ginger tea and Jaggery. The next stop will be a visit to an authentic local cottage industry to witness the skilfull carving of caricatures from old tree roots.
Day 4 - Anuradhapura
Today with your guide you will go sightseeing in Anuradhapura. It is the most extensive and important of the Sri Lankan ancient cities. Anuradhapura was found in the 4th century BC and is famous for its Dagabas (Temples), Reservoirs, and beautifully landscaped gardens, the ruins of which still remain to this day. The sacred Bo Tree (the world's oldest tree on record) "Jayasri Maha Bodhi" and the "Ruwanwali Seya" Temples are two of Sri Lanka's most sacred places found in Anuradhapura.
Day 5 - Kandy
After breakfast leave for Kandy via Dambulla and discover the Dambulla Caves Rock Temple.
Arrive into the last stronghold of Sinhala Kings & UN World Heritage Site – the Hill Country capital of Kandy.
Day 6 - Explore Kandy
This morning explore the city’s Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Wander around the lake and the streets of Kandy getting a feel for this wonderful city. Visit the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary. Located close to Sri Dalada Maligawa and the royal palace in this verdant jungle where among trees, creepers, lichen, mosses, ferns, grasses, and fungi are found in abundance. The forest remained impenetrable for many centuries where wild boar, monkey, hare, squirrel scaly anteater, porcupine, and reptiles, monitor lizard, tortoise and varieties of birds, worms and insects live in perfect harmony with nature.
Day 7 - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast proceed to Nuwara Eliya, the Land of tea-laden hillsides, gurgling waterfalls, stirring mountains and clear hill-country air. Visit a Tea Factory and see how Ceylon tea is made and learn the art of becoming a discerning tea taster. Wander through the tea estates and visit the local tea pluckers.
Day 8 - Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast visit a farm in Nuwara Eliya. The Ambewala farm is a surreal but absolutely beautiful place. Nestled in the high hills on the road from Nuwara Eliya to Horton plains it looks like nowhere else in the country. The landscape here is not the hill country's standard tea hills and pine forests nor is it Horton Plains'rugged flatness.
Day 9 - Ella
After breakfast proceed to Weerawila via Ella, a little village paradise in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. This sleepy mountain village, with a view, is the perfect base for relaxing, whilst also offering lots of fantastic walks through tea plantations to temples and waterfalls. En route to Weerawila visit the Yala National Park located nearby. In terms of game-viewing this is probably the best place to see all of the ‘big three’: elephant, leopard and water buffalo.
Day 10- Weerawila
Today there is the option to partake in a Farmer’s Lunch and Rod Fishing. Farmer’s Lunch - You have not really eaten until your taste buds have experienced the spicy local fare of traditional rice with freshly ground coconut sambol, fish curry made from the catch of the day, lentils, young jackfruit curry, and the freshest greens. This is your opportunity to taste the best of country cooking, with a sumptuous farmers banquet lunch prepared before your eyes. Rod Fishing - Learn to fish the good old way with tools provided by us, at the scenic lake amongst the great company of our charismatic team.
Day 11 - Weligama & Galle
En route see the Stilt Fishermen in Weligama. This is no ordinary fishing, there might be several methods of catching a fish but this one is mind-boggling. Fishermen in Sri Lanka use stilts to catch a fish.
City tour of Galle - Wander on the ramparts and explore the historic town of Galle and the 17th century Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site.
Days 12 & 13 - Beruwela
Spend a couple of days at your leisure.
Day 14 - Colombo
After breakfast proceed to Colombo for a tour of the city. Start at the famous Buddhist temple, Gangarama Temple. The city’s oldest Dutch church, Wolvendaal Church, still boasts its original floor tiles from 1813. They were made from tombstones from the Dutch church in the Fort. To the south of the city, at the Galle Face Green, you can see cannons that were used during colonial war times. And to the north of the city is the Fort District, named for the Dutch and Portuguese forts that were built there.
Day 15 - Colombo
Today you will be transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight
If you’re ready to start exploring your next fabulous family holiday, we’d love to help. And perhaps inspire you, with new ideas you might not even know are possible yet.
Call us on 0118 336 0363 or click here now to reach us personally & talk more about your plans.