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 - Colombo
On arrival at the airport you will be met by one of our representatives and taken to your country house hotel.
You have the option to set out to explore the capital city Colombo with your travel host in the evening. Return to your hideaway for the night.
Day 3 - Sigiriya Rock Fortress & Wilpattu
In the early morning you will climb of the iconic Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress. Head over to the long standing 8th Wonder of the World found in the cultural triangle. Before heading to the peak of the Sigiriya ruins, be sure to stop at the water garden followed by the boulder garden found at the base of the rock. The ancient fountains made in the 5th century that pumps waters to give an awe-inspiring site.
After lunch back at your hotel head to Wilpattu National Park for a sunset game drive. Be guided through the home of the leopards, Elephants, Slot bears, Water Buffaloes and many other creatures.
Day 5 - Central Highlands
After breakfast, you will head out towards the hill country of the Island, the Central highlands awaits your presence. Drive towards the city famously known as "Little England". The town was founded by Samuel Baker as a hill retreat for the British during the colonial era. Several buildings and parks here retain features from the colonial period.
Enjoy a visit to a tea factory where you will meet the amazing tea-pluckers of Sri Lanka and then to observe the withering, rolling and the fermenting process of tea. After learning the art of leaf to cup, take-part in a typical Sri Lankan Tea Tasting session.
Day 6 - Horton Plains National Park
Wake up cozy to the mountain mist of Nuwara Eliya, leave your hotel to enjoy a sunrise guided walking tour of the Horton Plains National Park. The park is home to a diverse array of flora and fauna and is particularly known for its unique landscape, cloud forest, and the World's End cliff. You can explore the park through various hiking trails and wildlife sightings including endemic bird species and mammals such as sambar deer, wild buffalo, and leopard can be observed throughout the park.
En route to your hotel, enjoy a tour of Nuwara Eliya town with your travel host. Afterwards, return back to your hotel to enjoy rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 7 - Ella
Wake up early this morning to the chilly weather and misty views. After breakfast, hop on board one of the most scenic rail journeys in Asia.
Upon reaching Ella you will be driven to your hotel.
Stroll through the Ella town in the evening and enjoy the lifestyle of the locals and spend a moment being one of them. You have the option to set out to explore Little Adams Peak with your travel host in the evening.
Day 8 - Yala
This morning you will leave the highlands for the wild side of Sri Lanka - Yala. If time permits, you can stop to enjoy a visit to Buduruwagala ancient Buddhist temple in Wellawaya. The complex consists of seven statues and the statues date back to the 10th century.
Have lunch in your hotel before driving towards the Yala national park to enter the animal kingdom with your expert ranger. The National Park is home to many animals such as leopards, Elephants, deer, ample bird life, buffalo and many more. After an exhilarating experience you will be driven back to your private pool cabin to be under the watchful night's sky.
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.