14 day itinerary
DAY 1
COLOMBO
Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport where you will be welcomed by a representative of Sri Lanka Escapes.
You will be welcomed by your experienced Chauffeur who will be with you for the duration of the trip. He is a local with exceptional years of experience and knowledge and is very excited to show his beautiful country. Let your adventure and journey begin.
Acclimatize yourself with Sri Lanka, and transfer to your hotel to relax.
Colombo Harbour
DAY 2
COLOMBO – ELLA
This morning, enjoy a morning city-seeing tour of Colombo before we start our adventure and we drive to beautiful Ella, making a few stops to see breathtaking viewpoints. We will meander through the countryside for 4 - 5 hours. Arrive in your hotel late afternoon and relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Ravana Ella Waterfull
DAY 3
Nine Arch Bridge
ELLA
After a leisurely breakfast, we do an easy walk through a beautiful path to see the Nine Arch Bridge, a connection of two mountains also known as the ‘Bridge in the Sky’. This bridge is 300 feet in length, 25 feet in width, and 80-100 feet in height. It is an amazing example of a colonial-era railway in Sri Lanka and this is located in Demodara and happens to be one of the best places to visit in Ella.
Little Adam's Peak is an easy walk to reach the viewpoint. Climbing up the Little Adams Peak in Ella is one of the favorite activities of the tourists on their Sri Lankan holiday with majestic views and photo opportunities – it is only a leisurely 2-hour walk. Enjoy the view over the valley.
The whole journey is very pleasing while passing through the local villages and tea plantations. End the day and back to the hotel via a scenic road. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
DAY 4
ELLA - NUWARA EYLIA
Depart on the famous scenic train to Nuwara Eliya. The train ride to Nuwara Eliya powers down through Sri Lanka's southern hill country, crossing the tea plantations before it winds up and disappears into the clouds, weaving in and out of the many mountain tunnels as it finally descends to Nuwara Eliya. Allows you to soak in the mystic vibes and cherish the beauty of slow travel.
Arrive at Nuwara Eliya and take a city tour and experience a few viewpoints before we go to the majestic Grand Hotel and enjoy the grand style and class of the hotel and visit the Hunters Club known as the Gentleman Club dating back in time with a delicious traditional English high tea followed by an afternoon at leisure. Transfer to your hotel. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Little Adams Peak
DAY 5
NUWARA EYLIA - KANDY
During our adventure today we will visit Ramboda known for its marvelous landscapes, comprising highlands, ridges, plains, streams, and hilly mountains, and see the scenic Ramboda waterfall.
Sri Lanka formerly known as Ceylon is famous for its quality tea. Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka’s lush tea-growing region, founded by the British explorer Samuel Baker in 1846 continues to give us the experience of the British colonial past with fully operational tea plantations; En route, we will see local families from generation to generation working in the fields of rolling hills, picking the tea leaves manually by hand. We will visit a real-time Tea processing factory to see how the tea is produced as there are many still in full operation today giving you an opportunity to taste the delights of fresh tea and the opportunity to buy to take home for family and friends. Arrive at your hotel and have time to relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Famous scenic train to Nuwara Eliya
DAY 6
KANDY
After breakfast enjoy the morning with a visit to one of the most stunning gardens The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya. In 1821 the park was under British rule and it then become known as the Botanical Garden. Here exotic crops such as nutmeg, tea, rubber, coffee, and cinchona are all unique and important to the country of Sri Lanka. The garden also includes a beautiful orchid house and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world.
Visit the Town of Kandy and walk among the local streets to experience local shopping as we make our way to the Gem Museum to see how the gems are cultivated from beginning to end. Sri Lanka is known as one of the largest gems produced in the world.
Early evening we will attend the Sri Lankan traditional cultural show and watch the beautiful locals dancing in a rainbow of colorful cultural costumes as they perform their dances in grace and style. We will take a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It was founded back in the 16th century, it housed one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism – a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre, which is not protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth. Arrive at your hotel early evening. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya
DAY 7
KANDY - SIGIRIYA
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we commence our drive to Sigiriya we will stop at Matale and visit the unique Spice Garden growing a large variety of spices such as nutmeg, cardamon, ginger, cinnamon, petter, and more. Enjoy an informative talk about all the spices by a local qualified educational guide who explains all the natural remedies and benefits to enhance your health and palate in the kitchen with an opportunity to try and take spices and remedies home to enhance your health and wellness regime.
Dambulla was named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Buddhist caves perched at the top of a hill. An added bonus is the beautiful panoramic view that you get of the surrounding area. Visiting the stunning Cave Temples of Dambulla, built by King Valagamba back in the 1st century BC. Dambulla is named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Buddhist caves perched at the top of a hill. It is worth the climb to see the 5 caves and stunning temples filled with over 150 colourful religious statues and paintings while experiencing the beautiful panoramic views. The monastic ensemble of Dambulla is an outstanding example of the religious art and expression of Sri Lanka and South and Southeast Asia. Then we can take a stroll through Dambulla Market and discover new fruits and vegetables. Afternoon, arrive at your hotel and have time to relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Matale Spice Garden
Cave Temples of Dambulla
Ramboda waterfall
The Temple of the Tooth Relic
Tea plantations
DAY 8
Bullock Ride local village
SIGIRIYA
After a delicious breakfast, we visit a local village and enjoy a tractor or bullock ride through the rice plantation making our way by boat as we enjoy the lily pads. We visit a local farmer and his family as we pass through the rice fields. The farmer’s wife will cook traditional Sri Lankan rice and curry over an open fire the old traditional way. We will see how to hull the rice as it has been done for generations and enjoy a local traditional lunch of rice and curry.
After lunch, we join an adventurous Minneriya Wildlife Safari in a 4 x 4 jeep with the opportunity to see herds of wild elephants. This is one of the most exciting safari experiences in Sri Lanka and an opportunity to take photos up close and personal to send home and share with family and friends. Includes Breakfast/Dinner.
Minneriya Wildlife National Park
DAY 9
SIGIRIYA
Sigiriya is nominated among travel enthusiasts as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient rock fortress with awe-inspiring architecture.
Lion Rock’ is optional for those who wish to climb to see the fortress of Sigiriya Lion Rock’ built by King Kayapa in the 5th century. It is a spectacular 200-meter-high natural formation of granite some 750 steps up and at the top, preserves the ruins of an ancient, fortified palace.
This afternoon we have a great opportunity to Cooking Class with a Local, learn the secrets of how to cook traditional Sri Lanka rice and curry with a hands-on cooking class in a local Sri Lankan home, and enjoy the aromatic delights of what you cook. This afternoon enjoy an Ayurvedic full body massage. Return to your hotel and relax. Includes Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Fortress Sigiriya 'Lion Rock'
DAY 10
SIGIRIYA - POLONNARUWA ANCIENT CITY
This morning after a leisurely breakfast we drive to Sri Lanka’s second most ancient kingdom, Polonnaruwa, which became the capital of Sri Lanka following the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993 AD. Built by King Parakramabahu I, this urban green city has seen numerous civilizations journeying through this kingdom including the Cholas, South Indian Hindu and Buddhist Sinhalese, between the 12th and 13th centuries.
Brimming with archeologically treasures, the city is dotted with temples, shrines, palaces, and ruins. Explore the royal palace from the period of King Parakramabahu I (1153 – 1186). A few miles west of Polonnaruwa we visit the fascinating Medirigiriya. Dating back to the Anuradhapura period, a massive monastery complex Medirigiriya Watadageya stood here and today the main attraction is the Medirigiriya Vatadage (ancient structure). Once a place of worship, this ancient structure with a stupa in the middle was built on a small rock circled by three concentric rings of pillars and four Buddhist statues that are all still intact.
Meander around the surroundings and see ponds, a cave, an ancient hospital, ruins, and historical artifacts. A fascinating architectural location, Medirigiriya is a fine example of a stone craft. Set in a natural reserve it offers a tranquillity that makes visiting worthwhile and return to your hotel to relax before dinner. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Polonnaruwa the Ancient city
DAY 11
SIGIRIYA - RITIGALA - ANURADHAPURA ANCIENT CITY
After a leisurely breakfast, we will visit Ritigala Ancient monastery Ritigala is an extraordinary and fascinating cultural and eco-tourist site which is home to seventy rock caves that were believed to have been inhabited from the 1st century BC. A mountain range of four peaks that houses an old Buddhist monastery. Then we continue to Anuradhapura, one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka that has earned fame for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. Transfer to the hotel and relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner.
Negombo Fishing village
DAY 12
ANURADHAPURA – TRINCOMALEE
After breakfast, we visit the Sacred City of Anuradhapura, the first kingdom of Sri Lanka that has earned fame for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. Founded in the fourth century B.C.E., Anuradhapura served as the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom until the beginning of the eleventh century C.E. During that period, the city enjoyed stability constituting one of the most durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. Considered sacred to the Buddhist world, monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²) surround the ancient city. After lunch, we will travel to the East Coast and we will reach our destination of beautiful Trincomalee
Visit Trincomalee town to see the temples culture and traditions of east Sri Lanka. The art and cultural activities in Trincomalee will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions, and artwork. Visit The Koneswaram Temple - a popular place of worship in Sri Lanka and is one of the Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes) of Lord Shiva. The earliest mention of the temple goes way back to the 6th century BC. In the afternoon time to relax around the pool at your resort or the beach. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
DAY 13
TRINCOMALEE
A full day of relaxation or take an optional visit via boat to Pigeon Island. The pigeon island national park comprises two islands. The islands are a breeding and feeding ground for over 300 species of coral reef fish keeping the colourful underwater symphony alive.
Enjoy and experience some snorkelling in the morning and afternoon and you can witness a variety of underwater life ranging from Trumper fish, angel fish, parrot fish, eels, coral gardens, and other colourful fishes, etc. There is also a high chance of seeing huge sea turtles and even blacktip sharks. Or a day to relax on the beach Includes Breakfast/Dinner.
Pigeon Island
DAY 14
TRINCOMALEE – COLOMBO AIRPORT
Enjoy an early morning swim on a deserted beach be we depart mid-morning to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast with a full day of traveling we will reach our destination of Negombo and authentic the Fishing Village also known as Little Rome.
Transfer to the airport for your outward-bound flight
Breakfast/Dinner
Ritigala Ancient monestery
The Sacred city of Anuradhapura
The Sacred city of Anuradhapura
The Koneswaram Temple
Trincomolee beach