Splendours of the North

DAY 1 Negombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Your tour commences with an arrival transfer to your hotel in the seaside village of Negombo. Depending on your flight arrival time, enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Stay at: Goldi Sands Beach Hotel (4 star)

DAY 2 Negombo – Anuradhapura
Today you will explore the seaside village of Negombo which has traces of old colonial charm with an interesting Dutch-era fortlet, Catholic Church and in the heart of the city is a wall which is adorned with paintings by local artists. You can also take the opportunity to walk along the beach to where the lagoon water meets with the sea. Watch as the Fisherman dry their nets on the sand and the colourful fishing outriggers with their sails can be spotted as they sail home from the sea. Drive to Anuradhapura to enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.

Stay at: The Forest Rock Garden (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 3 Anuradhapura
This morning you will visit the ancient city, world heritage listed and famous for its well preserved ruins of an ancient civilization. Visit the Sacred Bo tree, said to be the oldest historical tree in the world, and explore Ruwanweliseya Stupa and Thuparama Dagoba.

Stay at: The Forest Rock Garden (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 4 Anuradhapura – Jaffna
Leave early this morning to explore the unchartered territories of Sri Lanka's north in Jaffna. The railway from Anuradhapura to Jaffna was defunct for many decades during the period of civil unrest. Now, recently restored, the journey north aboard the train is a fantastic way to enjoy the scenery as it changes from exotic jungle to shallow lagoons and salt pans. As you explore the city of Jaffna, you will discover Sri Lankan Tamil culture, tradition and art that’s completely different to the rest of the island.

Stay at: Fox Resort (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 5 Jaffna
Go off the beaten track with a ferry ride to the small island of Nainativu. You will leave the hotel after an early breakfast for the Kurikadduwan Jetty located at the very tip of the Jaffna peninsula. The drive at dawn is spectacular as you watch the sunrise over the horizon while crossing the many long causeways. Watch fishermen retrieving their nets and prawn and crab traps which were set out the night before on the lagoon. Arrive at the jetty and take a ferry to Nainativu island to see the famous Nagadeepa Buddhist and Hindu temples which are located side by side. The Buddhist temple of Nagadeepa is considered to be one of the locations visited by the Gautama Buddha after attaining enlightenment.

Later, travel back to Jaffna andn if time permits, visit the Kadurugoda Temple which is a special and magical location with over twenty small dome shaped Stupah’s scattered around the site.

Stay at: Fox Resort (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 6 Jaffna – Sigiriya
Continue on to Sigiriya. In the evening visit nearby Sigiriya Rock Fortress, or Lion Rock, one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sights. Take the opportunity to climb to the top of this striking rock with its sheer vertical walls supporting the remnants of an ancient 5th century city.

Stay at: Amaya Lake Hotel (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 7 Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya
Explore the ancient royal capital of Polonnaruwa, one of the most beautiful centres in Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. Discover on foot, or by bicycle, the wonderful treasures that remain in the archaeological park including the four beautiful rock-cut Buddha statues at Gal Vihara Temple.

This evening join a jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park, one of the best places in Sri Lanka to see wild elephants. At certain times of the year Kaudulla National Park or Hurulu Eco Park can be visited instead, resident naturalists will advise which park is best to visit based on recent movements of elephant herds.

Stay at: Amaya Lake Hotel (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 8 Sigiriya - Dambulla - Matale - Kandy
Proceed to Kandy, stopping en-route to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Dambulla Cave Temple, the best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. This Buddhist place of worship is thought to date back to the 1st century, and houses the country’s most sacred Buddha images. Proceed to Kandy, stopping en-route in Matale where you have a an opportunity to explore the Ranweli Spice Garden where you will learn about the herbs and spices that are key to traditional Sri Lankan cooking. Your tour of the gardens will introduce you to a huge variety of spices growing in their natural habitat, while you learn where most spices come from, what the plants look like and which part of the plant is actually used as the spice and as the herb.

This evening, witness a cultural Kandyan Dance performance, a colourful spectacle including fire-walkers.

Stay at: Amaya Hills Hotel Kandy (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 9 Kandy
Today explore the UNESCO listed city of Kandy and Sri Lanka's last royal capital. Wander through the local bazaar, arts and craft museum as well as the local fruit and vegetable market. Continue on to see the Royal Botanical Gardens where you can admire the beautiful terrace gardens and ornamental plants.

In the early evening, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a complex said to hold the tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. You will be in time to witness the Pooja ceremony which takes place at 6.30pm nightly.

Stay at: Amaya Hills Hotel Kandy (4 star)
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 10 Kandy – Colombo
Your tour concludes with a departure transfer to Colombo Airport.

Meals included: Breakfast