Sri Lanka in Style

DAY 1 Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Your tour commences with a private arrival transfer to your hotel, Maniumpathy. A grand old heritage home located in Colombo’s central Cinnamon Gardens district, this stately house, which has been home to five generations of a family from northern Sri Lanka before being lovingly transformed into a boutique hotel.

Stay at Maniumpathy, Ultra Suite (5 star) or similar

DAY 2 Colombo
Leave early this morning for an interesting walk through the Colombo Fort area. Arrive just as the streets awaken and vendors are sweeping the streets clean and setting up their stalls for the day. These sounds mingle with the sounds of drums and prayer chanting wafting from the nearby Hindu Temple where morning rituals are being practiced. Continue walking through the neighbourhood which slowly comes alive and see the dry-goods market where sacks of different coloured grain including green gram, orange and white lentils, grown and white rice, chickpeas and many others are being prepared for auction.

In the evening, a few hours before sunset, drive to the Colombo Fort for a walking tour of this lively area. See the Old Dutch Hospital, now a trendy restaurant and shopping area, continue along the Galle Face Green, where many city dwellers come every evening to walk and relax and street vendors sell local delicacies from tiny kiosks along the green. Lastly, arrive at the Galle Face Hotel, this icon of Colonial Ceylon was built in 1864 and provides a charming window through which to experience Sri Lanka’s past. Enjoy dinner this evening at the Galle Face Hotel.

Stay at Maniumpathy, Ultra Suite (5 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 3 Colombo - Kurunegala - Dambulla
Depart Colombo for Dambulla, located in the heart of Sri Lanka’s cultural region. Stop en route in Kurunegala to visit the factory and workshop of Selyn which is Sri Lanka’s only fair-trade guaranteed handloom company. The handloom industry in Sri Lanka is in decline and Selyn strives to revive this situation and provide empowerment to large numbers of women at the same time.

On arrival in Dambulla, check in to your own private villa at the Wild Grass Nature Resort. A beautiful boutique resort encapsulated by untouched nature and seclusion.

Spend a very special evening with a group of local folk musicians who have taken it upon themselves to revive the dying art of traditional folk music, particularly music which is intrinsically tied to the agricultural lifestyle of their ancestors. They will share with you a variety of folk music, with each piece telling a story of the different phases of traditional farming; from the preparation of soil and land, to planting, protecting farms from wild elephants to finally harvesting.

Stay at Wild Grass Nature Resort, Deluxe Suite (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 4 Dambulla - Sigiriya - Dambulla
Get an early start today, to reach nearby Sigiriya Rock Fortress just as dawn is breaking and with very little people around - an incredible experience! 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.

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. Afterwards, visit the Dambulla vegetable market for a very special experience. Explore the market with your guide who will help you select the best quality local produce before returning to your hotel. Here the chef at your hotel will teach you to prepare a typical Sri Lankan meal which you can enjoy for dinner this evening.

Stay at Wild Grass Nature Resort, Deluxe Suite (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 5 Dambulla – Matale – Kandy
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.

In the beautiful Kandyan Hills just outside the bustling city of Kandy is your accommodation for the next 2 nights, Jetwing Kandy Gallery.

Stay at Jetwing Kandy Gallery (5 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 6 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. Enjoy the opportunity to walk along the lake and admire the view of the misty hills and green forests. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, a complex said to hold the tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. Continue on to see the Royal Botanical Gardens where you can admire the beautiful terrace gardens and ornamental plants. In the afternoon enjoy free time to wander around the city’s lake.

Stay at Jetwing Kandy Gallery (5 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 7 Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella
Continue through the scenic high country to Nuwara Eliya, stopping en route at a Tea Plantation and Factory to learn about the process of manufacturing Pure Ceylon Tea. Afterwards depart for Nanu-Onya where you board the local train travelling to Ella, a journey considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful. You will travel along the edge of mountains, passing tea estates in the spectacular high country whilst rolling in and out of pockets of mist filled mountain air. On arrival in Ella check into your boutique hotel 98 Acres Resort, a uniquely designed resort that stands on a scenic 98 acre tea estate, surrounded by stunning landscape.

Stay at 98 Acres, Royal Deluxe Room (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 8 Ella
Today is free to explore the surrounds of this lush hill country destination. We suggest a visit to the charming and laid-back village of Ella and the Nine Arch Bridge, one of the best examples of colonial era construction in the country. Perhaps, relax by the pool overlooking the tea plantations or for something more energetic you might like to walk to Little Adam's Peak or tackle a more challenging hike to the summit of Ella Rock.

Stay at 98 Acres, Royal Deluxe Room (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 9 Ella – Yala National Park
Descend from high country and journey past the beautiful Ravana Ella Waterfall and visit the historic Buddhist Rock Temple, Buduruwagala. See the beautiful, 1000-year-old, rock cut Buddha figures the gigantic 15m standing Buddha. Afterwards, continue to Yala National Park, Sri Lanka's most famous national park.

Stay at The Wild Culture, King Room (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 10 Yala National Park
Depart early for your jeep safari in Yala, the second largest National Park in Sri Lanka and home to a great diversity of wildlife, most famous of which is the leopard. Look out for elephants, sloth bears, water buffaloes, peacocks, wild boars, mugger crocodiles and of course leopards. Yala is known as one of the best places in the world to spot the elusive big cat.

Stay at The Wild Culture, King Room (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 11 Yala - Mulkirigala - Balapitiya
The beautiful beaches of the west coast lie ahead today, but first a stop at the Mulkirigala Temple near Tangalle. This is a simple, yet very impressive temple complex perched at the summit of a 200m mountain surrounded by lush coconut fields. The rock temples house an impressive collection of paintings dating from the 18th century. You will have the opportunity to meet a senior monk at the monastery during your visit for a discussion about Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the education of young monks. Afterwards, you may wish to climb up to the temple complex located at summit of the hill. You are encouraged to find yourself a quiet location from among the many meditation points and relax and take in the incredible view.

Continue to the picturesque fishing village of Balapitiya where you will check in to your hotel, Kumu Beach for the next 3 nights. Beneath gently swaying coconut palms on a golden sand beach sits this tranquil beachfront boutique hotel with just 10 indulgent bedrooms, chic living, dining areas basking in the open air, and a generous lawn with an infinity swimming pool. With Balapitiya's powder-soft beach just footsteps away, this is an enchanting place to relax, unwind, eat well and enjoy personalised, high-end service.

Stay at Kumu Beach, Kumu Bedroom (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 12 Balapitiya
Not too far from Balapitiya is the exotic old trading port of Galle. Explore on foot the UNESCO Heritage listed fort area with its charming laneways, rich trading history and Dutch-colonial buildings. Wander the character filled lanes filled with buzzing cafes, shops, grand mansions and museums.

Stay at Kumu Beach, Kumu Bedroom (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 13 Balapitiya
Take the day to relax by the beach, recharge and enjoy one last Sri Lankan sunset. The perfect way to end your journey around Sri Lanka.

Stay at Kumu Beach, Kumu Bedroom (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 14 Balapitiya - Colombo
Your tour concludes with a departure transfer to Colombo Airport.

Meals included: Breakfast