Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 | Fly from UK to Colombo

Day 2 |  Arrive in Colombo where you will be met by your private chauffeur guide and vehicle, and then transferred to the fishing town of Negombo to relax after the journey. The transfer is just 20 minutes and this is a great place to start your tour. With its Dutch canals and fish markets, there is plenty to explore. Remainder of the day at leisure.

Overnight Negombo.

First Class – Heritance Negombo - Blending local culture with exceptional luxury, Heritance Negombo is an oasis of comfort located by the azure Indian Ocean. Overlooking the Laccadive Sea, this upscale beachfront resort offers a contemporary style and a refreshing experience on the Sri Lankan coast. 

Moderate – Villa Hundira - Villa Hundira is a private and unqiue lagoon side villa nestled in the back roads of the Negombo lagoon, located just 20 minutes from the Bandaranayke International Airport. Offering 5 rooms & 1 suite with all modern amenities, the villa is housed with a swimming pool, a restful view of the lagoon from a very spacious and comfortable pavillion.

Day 3 | Drive to Dambulla – the drive is about 3 hours – 125 kms. 

Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings which relate to Gautama Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square metres. Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon. Prehistoric Sri Lankans would have lived in these cave complexes before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka as there are burial sites with human skeletons about 2700 years old in this area. 

You will have a guided visit of the cave complex after lunch. The caves are reached by a hike to the top of a sloping rock (about 10 minutes).

Overnight Dambulla for two nights.

First Class – Heritance Kandelama - Shaped like the outspread wings of a bird, the hotel is a staggering 1km from end to end, and rises up seven floors, yet appears to be a perfectly natural extension of the mountainside. The abundance of real-life animals around the hotel is complemented by wonderful large-scale sculptures within it. while focusing on highlighting its enchanting natural surroundings, this luxury resort provides the finest comforts and service.

Moderate - Pelwehera Resort - An eco-friendly resort located in Dambulla just 3 km away from most famous Dambulla cave temple. This is the perfect base to explore the nature, culture and Sri Lankan history. Pelwehera village resort is one of the most famous nature resort in cultural triangle in Sri Lanka.

Day 4 | Today you will visit Sigiriya the drive is 16.8 kms – 28 minutes

Sigiriya or ‘Lion Rock’ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hike to the top is fairly strenuous (1200 steps) but worthwhile to see the rock frescoes, the ruins of the 5th Century palace and the spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.

Overnight in Dumbulla.

Day 5 | After breakfast drive to Polonnaruwa – the drive is 70 kms about 1 hour and 20 minutes 

On arrival you will visit the former capital which was built during the 11th and 12th Centuries and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ruins of its ancient Royal Palace and temples. 

There will be time to relax before visiting Minneriya National Park for an afternoon/evening game drive. The 37 kms drive will take about 40 minutes – your game drive will be from 3pm-6pm, a good time to view the wildlife there.

Minneriya National Park is a wildlife sanctuary located in the North Central province of Sri Lanka. On your game drive you should be able to see numbers of Sri Lankan elephants gathering around grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. In addition there are two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer, rare and endangered species such as Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan sloth bear, the grey slender loris, large water birds such as lesser adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican, little cormorants, great white pelican, ruddy turnstone, and grey heron. 

You can also find endemic birds such as Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, black-crested bulbul and crimson-fronted barbet, eight species of endemic reptiles, saltwater crocodile, Indian python, Asian water monitor and Bengal monitors and more. Minneriya Jeep Safari would be a valuable opportunity to observe unique and amazing wild animals in their natural habitats.

Spend one night in Polunnaruwa.

First Class – The Deer Park Hotel - Overlooking the Giritale reservoir, this scenic hotel with cottages is 14 km from both the ancient Polonnaruwa Vatadage and the shrine of Hatadage. Refined cottages surrounded by jungle and lush vegetation have tile floors, satellite TV and sitting areas. Most have open-air bathrooms. Upgrades add private gazebos and pool, pond or forest views. Dining options include a restaurant, with Room Service. Additional amenities include spa treatments and bird watching, and hot-air balloon tours and jungle safaris can also be arranged.

Moderate - Honey Tree, Rest Assured at Polonnaruwa - Set in Polonnaruwa, 2.3 miles from Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Honey Tree Polonnaruwa offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a shared lounge. Featuring a garden, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom.

Day 6 | Drive to Kandy the drive is 3 hours – 136 kms

Afternoon tour of Kandy including the British Garrison Cemetery and the Ceylon Tea Museum (closed Mondays).

Spend two nights in Kandy.

First Class – Kings Pavillion - Kings Pavilion is a boutique hotel in Kandy with nine modern and spacious rooms. Situated on a hill overlooking the lush valley below, it is in a great location with lots of verdant open space. The hotel is decorated with local art work and handmade furniture, and each of the rooms is uniquely decorated with a Sri Lankan feel.

Moderate – Elephant Stables - The Elephant Stables is a beautiful colonial era bungalow on a hill overlooking Kandy city that has been converted into a luxurious boutique hotel offering elegant colonial style living in Sri Lanka. It features a unique blend of original mid-century furniture with modern chic interiors with an exceptional level of personalised service.

Day 7 | Visit the bustling market and enjoy a leisurely stroll around the beautiful Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. 

A day of sightseeing before returning to Kandy for the night.

Day 8 | Continue your road journey to Nuwara Eliya. The drive is 2.5 hours – 76 kms

The drive is beautiful and you will be travelling into the heart of the tea producing region. A visit to Ramboda Waterfall, a tea plantation and a city tour of Nuwara Eliya is included.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya. 

First Class - The Grand Hotel - Situated on Nuwara Eliya Hill, the hotel is adjacent to the Nuwara Eliya Golf Course. Surrounded by tropical greenery and enjoying cool climates, it features 2 restaurants, a shopping arcade and a gym.

Moderate - The Hill Club - A fabulous gateway located amidst the scenic beauty of the misty Blue Mountains.

Day 9 | Today you will travel by train through beautiful scenery to Ella. From Ella you will be driven to Yala National Park with a stop at the Rawana Waterfall – the drive is 2 hours 25 minutes.

Spanning ten acres of jungle and beaches, the beautiful Cinnamon Wild Yala boasts untamed beauty and the opportunity to spot numerous wildlife species – both at the resort and on a safari into the park itself. Located in Tissamaharama, Cinnamon Wild Yala is on the beach. Kirinda Temple and Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yala National Park and Palatupana Beach. Spot wildlife as you sip a cocktail at the rooftop bar or even from the beautiful pool which overlooks the lake.

Stay 2 nights at Cinnamon Wild on a half board basis. 

Day 10 | Yala National Park – full day game drive

Day 11 | Drive to Ahangama drive is 3.5 hours – 159 kms

Nos Da Ty (The Good Night Hotel in Welsh) is a delightful, boutique house beside the Koggala Lagoon in Galle district in southern Sri Lanka. Set in a private garden filled with flowers and fruit trees, Nos Da Ty is a great place to use as a base from which you can discover nearby beaches and take day or overnight trips to explore the southern part of Sri Lanka. Relax by the hotel pool and enjoy the stylish hotel which is as individual as the Sri Lankan and Welsh owners. The closest beach is a 400 metre walk and there are a number of delightful beaches nearby. For 2020 the hotel is expanding the banana garden, a spot where you can read and relax and adding a ‘serenity space’ up in the tree house.

Accommodation for 4 nights at Nos Da Ty Boutique Hotel.

Days 12-14 | Nos Da Ty Boutique Hotel

Relax, enjoy the nearby beaches and the swimming pool at the hotel, take an optional day trip to Galle.

Day 15 | You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the UK.