Fascinating Sri Lanka & Maldives

Welcome to Negombo, Sri Lanka!

Arrive at Colombo Airport. Welcome to Sri Lanka!

Ayubowan! Once your Sri Lanka guest ambassador meets you personally on arrival, you will be introduced to your chauffeur guide and then begin your journey to uncover the wonders of this island. Depart for your hotel where you will check-in for your stay.

Visit, feel, and discover. Feel the vivacity of this island nation, bask in this emerald isle’s intoxicating beauty and enjoy an extraordinary travel experience. Explore Sri Lanka’s golden beaches, the glorious history, the rich wilderness, and the bustling cosmopolitans and be amazed!

Recommended Culinary Experience
A 7-course culinary tasting menu offering delectable Sri Lanka’s favorite dishes. Hosted, guided & curated about the origins and history by an energetic host. You will be treated to some Sri Lankan Baila (folk songs) and learn its origins. You will learn how some of the food that is now a staple in Sri Lankan food came to being, through the Colonial Pas.

Negombo - Sigiriya

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Sigiriya. En route visit the historical city – Anuradhapura where once the kingdom of kings and queens of ancient Ceylon, Anuradhapura is a historical city filled with beautiful ruins of rock fortresses, gardens, and temples that have been preserved over time. People flock to this archaeological and architectural wonder for a variety of religious festivals making it a great place to experience one aspect of Sri Lanka’s culture and traditions.

Recommended experience - Visit Ancient Village
Depicting the traditional Living styles of the village folk of the past, this staged Village is a perfect example of thatched wattle and daub house and living. Ancient Village houses families under a setting with the village chief that rules to little markets and farms. After the visit, continue your drive to Sigiriya.

Sigiriya - Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Pidurangala, Discover Polonnaruwa city

After early breakfast at the resort, proceed to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The best time is to start climbing early morning before the sun gets hot.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress:

The plan of the city is based on a precise square module. The layout extends outwards from co-ordinates at the center of the palace complex at the summit, with the eastern and western axis directly aligned to it. The water garden moats and ramparts are based on an 'echo plan' duplicating the layout and design on either side. This city still displays its skeletal layout and its significant features. 3 km (2 miles) from east to west and 1 km (0.7 miles) from north to south it displays the grandeur and complexity of urban planning in the 5th century, Sri Lanka.

Pidurangala:

The best time is to start climbing by 7 AM before the sun gets hot.
Pidurangala Rock is adjacent to the UNESCO Heritage. Sigiriya rock fortress, this hike is an amazing place to see Sigiriya in its full glory.
The monastery at the base of the top opens up a steep rocky climb to an older ruined temple that is said to have been the burial ground of King Kasiyappa.

Afternoon, discover Polonnaruwa city. Once a mighty kingdom, this central plain seeps in culture and allows visitors to grasp a snapshot of history. Polonnaruwa is known for its archaeological treasures such as ancient tombs, temples, and stupas along with Brahamic monuments that were built by the Cholas who are considered to be some of the first people to inhabit the island.

Sigiriya - Pottery Making experience & Explore Minneriyal National Park

After breakfast morning at leisure

Recommended Pottery Making / Handloom experience: Learn the art of potter making and try your hand at it.

Watch how traditional handlooms are weaved on the Pottery Making / Handloom experience. Learn the art of potter making and try your hand at it. Watch how traditional handlooms are weaved on the loom.

Afternoon Minneriyal National Park
This National Park with 8889 hectares in extent is famous for its large population of elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. The entrance is at Ambagaswewa about 6 km from Habarana on the main Habarana Polonnaruwa road. Elephants, about 300 wild elephants, wild buffaloes, wild boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, Sambhur, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds, 26 varieties of fishes, 78 varieties of butterflies are recorded from the Minneriya National Park.

Sigiriya - Kandy

After breakfast check out and drive to Kandy. Visit the Kandy temple of the tooth:

The Dalada Maligawa is the temple that houses the relic of the Lord Buddha. It gets its name as the temple was the Royal Place of the former kingdom of Kandy and the last Sri Lankan capital when the kings ruled before the British conquered the country. Kandy is listed as a UNESCO heritage site as it is the home of the tooth relic.

On arrival check-in at the hotel and the rest of the day at leisure.
Recommended Excursion - Contemporary Art with Rahju:

Spend time with Rahju in his private art studio discussing art, mysticism, religion, and the cosmos. Private viewing of his art studio. Sit down to a cup of tea and tour his house and view his original paintings.

Kandy – Nuwara Eliya

After breakfast check out and transfer to the railway station to board the train to Ella.

The train ride to Nuwara Eliya: In Nuwara Eliya, you will get on the train that was built by the British in the Colonial times and probably hasn't changed much since then. However, old though it maybe it is amazing and one of the highlights of the trip so far. The views are amazing, zig-zagging around the mountains, through tea plantations, and across stunning bridges! From Ella straight to a place called Nuwara Ella which is Nicknamed Little England for obvious reasons, the houses look English, the street names are English and there is even an old English racecourse.

Arrival and city tour of Nuwara Eliya. Wave after wave of tea plantations greets you when you enter the famous town of Nuwara Eliya which gives off the atmosphere of a British countryside village. The combination of a cool climate and a hot cup of tea perfectly framed within a beautiful postcard scenery makes this a must-visit in your adventure in Sri Lanka.

Nuwara Eliya – Yala

Post breakfast check-out and drive to Yala. Enroute visit Lipton's seat and Little Adams Peak. Lipton’s Seat is the highest point in Dambatenna where you can see 4.4 miles (7 km) of tea estates from a top. The hikes take around 2 hours but worth for its historical points. The best time to hike is early morning to catch the sunrise.

Little Adams Peak is a rock platform in the town of Ella. The easy hike takes you through rolling tea gardens with women tea pickers, and beautiful mountain surroundings. Watch the sunrise from atop or take an afternoon hike to watch the clouds roll down to kiss the ground.

After the visit, continue your drive to Yala. On arrival check-in at the hotel.

Yala - Galle

After breakfast, check out and proceed for Safari at Yala National Park.

Yala National Park:

This park is famous for leopard spotting. The chances of you catching a glimpse of the usually very elusive, leopard are relatively high in this park compared to the other national parks on the island. The parkland includes many lakes, rivers, and jungles where over 32 species of mammals, over hundreds of species of birds, and many reptiles. The park is located in a dry zone so be ready for an extremely hot safari if you visit the dry season.
After safari drive to Galle. Enroute visit Stilt Fishing (Duration 1 Hr)
From Koggala to Ahangama the southern beach belt is dotted with poles embedded on the seafloor. You will see fishermen perched on these and fishing in shallow water fly fishing. They capture small to medium fish that get carried with the currents onto the shore.

Upcoming visit is Galle. A vintage postcard town straight from the Dutch colonial area, Galle is a tourist must-see. Famous for its Dutch fort that has witnessed conquest after conquest, Galle was a major trading point in British Ceylon. Its paved streets, unique buildings, and the history etched deep within its ancient architecture, speaks volumes about the island's past, and is a great place to visit if you’re interested in surfing, seafood, colonial history, and island life.

Recommended Excursion- Galle Fort walk with Shanjei:
An eclectic walk with a very colorful host who will tell you stories to make your toes curl. You can extend this tour to include a meal at a house with a local. Choose to extend your tour that will include a brief insight into the arts and crafts of Sri Lanka.

Galle Fort is a UNESCO heritage site and offers vast and vibrant insight into the culture that is all Galle.
This tour can also be conducted at night with an extension of a bar visit inside the fort, this will mean you are away from the heat and experience a different atmosphere from the day time crowded

Galle

In the morning, proceed for Whale Watching with a packed breakfast.

Depending on the period you wish to do this excursion you can always be sure that it's going to be an amazing experience. Marissa & Trincomalee are the well-known Whale sights, in the south of the country in Mirissa this is possible from November through April and then these giants migrate to the east and can be seen in Trincomalee. Occasionally you are also able to see them in Kalpitiya during their migratory period. Some of the Whales that are seen in the Sri Lankan waters are humpback, blue Whales they can be seen either in large pods or swimming by
themselves.

After the visit, return to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure

Recommended Excursion - Top House Cinnamon experience

Learn about cinnamon plantation from its nursery to peeling point.
This tour is hosted by its Owner and offers a wonderful insight into the world of all things Cinnamon. Meet the master peeler and his team and watch how the bark is peeled into quills. You can also walk through the plantation and see many of the tropical fruit such as Jack and mangoes. The plantation produces, Cinnamon quills, powder, and essential oil, they will make great gifts to take home.

Recommended Excursion - Sunset Beach Safari:
Take a drive mid-afternoon along the southern coast cursing in a convertible tuk-tuk. Take in the southern city in the evening with some drinks and local food.

End a perfect beach drive with a sunset on the beach.

Galle – Bentota

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and drive to Bentota
Bentota is a coastal town in Sri Lanka, located in the Galle District of the Southern Province. Its long Bentota Beach stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island, parallel to Bentota Lagoon. Coral-rich dive sites include Canoe Rock. On Bentota River, the centuries-old Galapota Temple has a large Buddha statue. Southeast is Lunuganga, the estate, and gardens of architect Geoffrey Bawa. Northeast is his brother Bevis's Brief Garden.
Upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure

Bentota

Breakfast at the hotel
Rest of the day at leisure. You can take part in water sports on a direct payment basis.

Recommended Excursion- Turtle Hatchery –Kosgoda (Duration 1 Hr)
The Turtle Care Centre at Kosgoda beach is one of 18 turtle hatcheries along the southern coast of Sri Lanka. The center is located in the South Western coastal village of Kosgoda and was established in 1981. It is also very popular as all five species of turtles that visit Sri Lanka nest in Kosgoda. This is not so with many of the other hatcheries around the island whose beaches host only some of the species. The center functions mainly as a hatchery and makes huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stages. However, the Care center also works on sick or injured adults; treating them and releasing them back into the ocean. They also run volunteer programs and awareness programs for local and international visitors.

Recommended Excursion - Madu Ganga River Safari:

The estuary of the Madu Ganga River is a complex coastal ecosystem of mangroves and islands. It may be one of the last remaining tracts of pristine mangrove forests in Sri Lanka. The boat trip is a wonderful way of seeing some of the hundreds of species of plants and animals.

Depart Bentota – Negombo – Maldives

After breakfast check out and transfer to the airport to board the flight to the Maldives.

Upon arrival transfer to the resort by seaplane.

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is a small island nation in South Asia, situated in the Arabian Sea of the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 700 kilometers from the Asian continent's mainland.

The Maldives is a collection of 1,192 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is the most celebrated group of islands in the Indian Ocean and perhaps the world over. The stunning beauty of its turquoise lagoons and pristine beaches is simply unrivaled.

Maldives

After breakfast days at leisure. Lunch, Dinner & Overnight at resort.

Maldives

After breakfast days at leisure. Lunch, Dinner & Overnight at resort.

Maldives

After breakfast days at leisure. Lunch, Dinner & Overnight at resort.

Resort - Male Airport Maldives

After breakfast, check out and transfer with a seaplane to the airport to board the flight back home.