Overnight international flight to Colombo

Upon arrival and following the airport reception, visit the contemporary capital city - Colombo - the trade capital of Sri Lanka.

As a city that has undergone rapid changes, Colombo still preserves the locality in its utmost respect. While most old buildings have been replaced by new apartments and office buildings, some parts of the city yet retain its old charm. The 100-year-old clock tower built by the British and some colonial buildings remain examples.

On this day, we will head towards the hill country’s capital – Kandy.

Some days Kandy’s skies seem perpetually bruised, with stubborn mist clinging to the hills surrounding the city’s beautiful centerpiece lake. Delicate hill-country breezes impel the mist to gently part, revealing colorful houses amid Kandy’s improbable forested halo. In the center of town, three-wheelers careen around slippery corners, raising a soft spray that threatens the silk saris worn by local women. Here’s a city that looks good even when it’s raining.

A stroll across this small town will feature the Kandy City Centre - complete with modern and world-class brands - a bazaar, an arts and crafts center, and a gem museum and lapidary. Walk through a sea of color through fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market. Fine-tune this evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music and drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka.

Continue to the famed Temple of the Tooth. This stunning 17th-century temple is believed to house the upper left canine tooth of the Lord Buddha himself. This divine relic attracts pilgrims clad in white bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani on a daily basis. Afterwards, continue to the local Gemological Museum to be followed by a visit to the Arts & Craft Center, which sells traditional handicrafts, such as wood carvings, Sri Lankan masks, stoneware, batiks, silver and brassware, paintings, and antiques. ...read less

Drive to Nuwara Eliya (80 Kms, 2-3 hours). Misty steep roads, twisting through flourishing tea bushes in a cool climate, remind visitors that they are within the range of the renowned British colonial retreat, Nuwara Eliya.

A pleasant evening to enjoy the amicable surrounding, maybe a walk through the uncharted lanes filled with ancient architecture. Augmented by an English countryside atmosphere, the city of light - once governed by English & Scottish planters - is still studded with colonial bungalows, hedgerows & one of the finest 18-hole golf courses in the world.

A hike through the green grass and red-brick walls should present breathtaking views of a buzzing countryside hamlet. Drive through green valleys of the hill country pierced by endless waterfalls & dotted by tea pluckers draped in bright-colored saris. Or rent a bike for a gentle ride along the banks splashed by the waters of Lake Gregory or enjoy a quiescent boat ride in this cool climate.

Overnight stay at a selected Hotel in Nuwara Eliya ...read less

Private Full Day Drive through the Hill Country to Yala National Park

Get ready to experience a journey of a lifetime. From the cool hill climate to a tropical weather change. The route covers some of the most picturesque sights in Sri Lanka including Ella and Bandarawela. Ella has several waterfalls which will take your breath away. These will definitely be sights to sore eyes. Relax and enjoy these mesmerizing miles with their spine-tingling beauty.

Situated in Sri Lanka's south-east, hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Yala is home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species. Among its famous residents are the world's biggest concentration of leopards, majestic elephants, sloth bears, jackals, spotted deer, peacocks, and crocodiles. The best time to visit Yala is between February and July when the water levels of the park are quite low, bringing animals into the open.

Spend 2 amazing days in this serene environment. ...read less

Embark on a morning jungle excursion in search of Yala's leopards, elephants, and other wildlife.

This will be approximately 3-4 hours. Enjoy some time at rest around noon time before heading out for a second game drive after the heat of the day has passed. Safaris will be guided in open-top Jeeps.

Again, enjoy another day of morning and afternoon jungle safaris for a last chance to see any previously unseen animals on safari.

Be met at the hotel to transfer to Sinharaja, once the capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom of Ruhuna as early as the 3rd Century B.C. Few buildings from that period can still be seen today.

The largest artificial lake - Tissa Wewa - which was a part of sophisticated irrigation system, also dates from that time. There are five main lakes in the vicinity of Tissamaharama: Tissa Wewa, Yoda Wewa, Weerawila Wewa, Panneganuwa Wewa, and Debara Wewa.

Today the town mainly serves as a starting point for visits to Yala and Kataragama. With an average annual rainfall between 3000-6000 mm, Sinharaja proves to be one of the finest examples of tropical rain forests in the world. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site & biosphere reserve, Sinharaja treasures an absolute variation of both flora & fauna, with most of them being endemic. Walk in through either entrance - Kudawa Pitadeniya or Morning Side - for a refreshing treat covering fauna varieties extending from spotted deer, hog deer, golden palm cave, stripe necked mongoose as well as butterflies & reptiles sheltered by the striking evergreen vegetation. Even though there haven't been elephant sightings in the recent past, constant leopard trails prove that the 'King of Games' still haunts this tropical stage. ...read less

Leave no stone unturned on this last major undisturbed area of rainforest.

On most days, the forest is shrouded by copious rainclouds that replenish its deep soils and balance water for much of southwestern Sri Lanka. The largest carnivore here is the leopard.
Its presence can usually be gauged only by droppings and tracks, and it's seldom seen.
Medicinal plants are collected during specific seasons. Moist and muggy, murky and mysterious, an experience of Sinharaja is like nothing else in Sri Lanka. Trekking through this magnificent jungle is a treat. An encounter with this bewildering land of exotic colors and melodious sounds is truly an enriching experience. ...read less

The day following the Sinharaja expedition, arrive in Colombo while experiencing the azure coastal border.

Upon arriving in Colombo, promenade through the streets to experience the luxury architecture. Enjoy the sunset at Galle Face Green in the south of Fort. Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight stay at a selected hotel in Colombo.

Transfer from Colombo to the airport at the correct time to check in and connect to the departure flight back home.