Spiritual Sri Lanka

Today is your first day in Sri Lanka! After landing in Colombo, you will be picked up by our driver/guide who will take you to your hotel in Colombo. You will then depart for your city tour. On the tour, be prepared to see some stunning Buddhist and Hindu Temples, Pettah, the Fort, the Colombo Museum, the folk art, and the Parliament House. In the evening, you will be free to explore the local shopping markets in Colombo.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Colombo.

After breakfast in Colombo, you will depart for Sigiriya or Habarana. On the way, you will stop to visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. The sanctuary is home to elephants of all ages, orphaned elephants and even wounded elephants on the road to recovery. The current capacity is 65, which is the largest captive group of elephants anywhere in the world.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Sigiriya or Habarana.

After a delicious early breakfast, you will head to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress to climb it. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 5th century AD. This fortress is located in a high outcrop on the hill and was the royal seat of King Kassapa for 18 years. You will also visit the famous frescoes of “Heavenly Maidens” of Sigiriya, for which, you will have to climb a steep, spiral stairway.

You will then leave for Kandy and head straight for the city tour of Kandy. On your tour, you will enjoy panoramic views of the city from Upper Lake Drive and stop at the Market Square to visit one of the most sacred sites in Sri Lanka. You will also visit the Temple of Tooth or Dalada Maligawa, which is believed to be the home of Lord Buddha’s “tooth relic”. You will also be able to walk around and explore the streets. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Kandyan Dance performance with a fire walking act finale.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Kandy.

After breakfast, don’t forget that Kandy is a well-known destination for gems, jewellery, handicraft, silk and much more. Stop by a local market and browse these wares to your heart’s content.

Later, you will leave for Nuwara Eliya from Kandy and stop to visit a tea estate and factory on the way, where you will see how the famous "Ceylon Tea" is made.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will explore Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya is the highest town in Sri Lanka with an elevation of 2000 meters above sea level. The tallest peak in Sri Lanka, Piduruthalagala, standing at 2555 meters can be seen from this town. It was known as “Little England” and to this day, remains popular with tourists as a mountain town with its cool climate, colonial era architecture and little bungalows with hedges. The city is in the heart of the tea region in Sri Lanka.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast, you will head out from Nuwara Eliya to go to Yala. Upon checking into your hotel, you will leave for a jeep safari of the Yala National Park. The park is 1260 km in size and is home to much flora and fauna and it is also the most visited wildlife park in Sri Lanka. You will see the beautiful natural scenery, with an array of wild animals running through the landscape. If you are lucky, you might spot leopards and bears too.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Yala.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for Bentota. Enroute, visit the Galle Dutch Fort and a turtle hatchery, well-known for its interesting sea-turtle conservation project.

Overnight stay in the hotel in Bentota.