Exploring Sri Lanka

A warm welcome awaits you in the arrivals hall of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake. Your designated guide will greet you and transfer you to Negombo. Upon arrival at the hotel, proceed with check-in. Afternoon tour of Negombo. Negombo is a characteristic fishing town north of Colombo, situated on the shores of the lagoon, and is the ideal place for those who want quick access to and from the airport. Nestled among lush coconut groves, it breathes the spirit of the sea. Negombo is a paradise for food lovers with an abundance of seafood. Traditional fishing boats, such as the outrigger canoe and the catamaran, bring in fish like kingfish, mackerel, herring, mullet, butterflyfish, and amberjack, while lobsters and prawns are fished in the lagoon. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we leave for Sigiriya, visiting the Dambulla Cave Temple along the way, the magnificent rock temple in Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the first century BC. It is recognized as the largest cave sanctuary in the world, with its 2000 square meters of painted walls and ceilings featuring over 150 images of Buddha, the largest of which is carved into the rock and reaches 14 meters. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Free afternoon. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we climb the Rock Fortress of Sigiriya (Lion Rock), one of the most extraordinary artistic complexes of its time (477–498 AD). This magnificent citadel, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, attracts artistic and architectural curiosity from all over the world. Return to the hotel. Later, we participate in a cooking class to prepare some spicy dishes from Sri Lanka and enjoy a lunch of Sri Lankan rice and curry at the hotel. In the afternoon, we proceed to Polonnaruwa and begin a sightseeing tour of Polonnaruwa (UNESCO) by bicycle - the Medieval Kingdom from the 11th to the 13th century. During this period, ethnic harmony prevailed between the Sinhalese and Tamils. Buddhist and Hindu temples located in the same complex and many other ruins symbolize this fact. The palaces, huge granite sculptures, and large basins and complex irrigation systems built by the great kings convey the extent of development existing in this period of medieval history. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Sigiriya.

After breakfast, we head towards Kandy. On the way, we visit a Spice Garden in Matale and experience an Ayurvedic massage in the spice garden (10-15 minutes). We continue towards Kandy. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, we start a sightseeing tour of the city of Kandy. Kandy was the hill capital from 1514 to 1815 AD. Originally known as Senkadagala, the city was later renamed Kandy. Kandy was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The style and character of the Sri Lankan civilization of the time are well articulated in the heart of the city itself, with its lake, temples, including the Temple of the Tooth, and the well-preserved ruins of the royal palaces. In the late afternoon, we visit the Temple of the Tooth of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The sacred relic was brought to Sri Lanka in the 4th century AD. Since then, the sacred relic has always been the symbol of sovereignty for its ruler and is always kept with great splendor. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, departure for Nuwara Eliya. You can cover this distance either by car or by train. A train journey is truly a rare experience and an adventure in itself! In addition to the breathtaking landscapes of the tea country and picturesque waterfalls, it also offers the opportunity to mingle with the locals. Afterwards, proceed towards Nuwara Eliya. Later, visit a tea plantation and a factory. Here you will enjoy the complete tea experience, from the moment the young tea leaves are picked from the plantation to their processing in the factory to make a steaming cup of tea. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Afternoon tour of Nuwara Eliya. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, we'll set off for Yala/Tissamaharama, taking a scenic route through Ella. Along the way, we'll have the chance to marvel at the Ravana Waterfalls. Upon arrival, we'll check into our hotel. In the afternoon, we'll embark on a thrilling jeep safari in the Yala National Park. Located in the southeast of Sri Lanka, Yala National Park offers wildlife enthusiasts a unique opportunity to observe wild boars, deer, leopards, crocodiles, and monkeys in their natural habitat. We'll return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, departure for the beach (South) passing through Galle. In the afternoon, we start a sightseeing tour of the Galle Fort and its walls, which enclose a perfectly preserved heritage city. Walking along the walls and bastions is the usual way to appreciate the magnificence of its structure and to get a perspective of the city it encloses. With a bit of imagination, this stone sentinel fort can reveal a corridor to the past, a journey that evokes images of bygone times. Later, explore the narrow and crowded streets that reveal much about the life of the inhabitants. Admire the Dutch houses, the Dutch Reformed Church, and the restored Dutch gate. Continue towards the beach. Arrival and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Bentota / Kalutara.

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, proceed towards Colombo and start a sightseeing tour of the commercial capital, Colombo. The commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The walk through the colorful city will take you from the noisy bazaar to the elegant residential areas, passing by places where grand colonial-era buildings coexist with modern office structures. The diversity of religion and ethnicity of the people in this city becomes very evident. Later, departure for the airport for your return flight. It is advisable to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight. The transfer to the airport will be arranged according to the information on your departure flight.