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.
Acclimatise yourself with Sri Lanka transfer to your hotel to relax.
Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Colombo Harbour at Night
DAY 2
Scenic viewpoints to Belihuloya
COLOMBO – BELIHULOYA
Enjoy a tour of Colombo city and continue the drive and viewpoints to Belihuloya. This is a four and half hour drive and along the way, we stop on the way to see beautiful temples and spectacular viewpoints on the way. Belihuloya is a village in the Ratnapura District, of Sri Lanka south-east of Colombo. This hillside location is a climatically transitional area, linking both the dry and wet zones and the hill and low country.
Reach your hotel in the evening and relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
DAY 3
BELIHULOYA
Belihuloya is one of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems and is adorned with several unique and unforgettable nearby attractions, making it a hotspot for those who take a keen interest in nature and adventure.
One of the primary nearby attractions when visiting this charming little town is the Pahantuawa Waterfall. Your visit to Belihuloya gives you plenty of options in terms of attractions. For the adventurer, nature lover, or curious tourist in you, Belihuloya has something for everyone.
We start early in the morning and visit a scenic waterfall and then proceed to see village life around Belihuloya. Walk through rice fields and beautiful nature and meet the locals. End the day with a nice swim in a natural pool.
Includes Breakfast/Dinner
DAY 4
BELIHULOYA – ELLA
This morning enjoy a scenic hike capturing all the amazing views of Belhihuloya. We then continue to drive to Ella, making a few stops on the way with breathtaking viewpoints. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon and relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Ravana Ella waterfalls
DAY 5
Nine Arch Bridge
ELLA
We 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 with a visit to Ravana Waterfalls and return back to the hotel via a scenic road. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Little Adams Peak
DAY 6
Famous scenic train to Nuwara Eliya
ELLA – NUWARA ELIYA
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. Allowing 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 hotel dating back in time with a delicious traditional optional English high tea followed by an afternoon at leisure. Transfer to your hotel. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
DAY 7
Ramboda Ella Waterfall
NUWARA ELIYA – KANDY
During our adventure today we will visit Ramboda known for its marvellous 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 of 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 unwind.
Includes Breakfast/Dinner
DAY 8
KANDY
This morning we will visit one of the most stunning gardens, The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya. In 1821 the park was under British rule and it then became known as the Botanical Garden. Here exotic crops such as nutmeg, tea, rubber, coffee, 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.
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 now protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth. Then transfer to your hotel and have time to relax. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya
Temple of the Tooth Relic
DAY 9
Matale Spice Garden
Cave Temples of Dambulla
KANDY- SIGIRIYA
As we 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
DAY 10
Bullock Ride local village
SIGIRIYA
Adventures begin as 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 live lily pads. We exit the boat and walk a little way to see a local farm and rice fields. Learn the secrets from the locals on how to cook delicious Sri Lankan rice and curry. We also have the opportunity to experience how you can hull the rice as it has been done for generations and enjoy a local traditional lunch of rice and curry, roti, and fruits.
After lunch, we will join an adventurous Minneriya Wildlife Elephant Safari 4 x 4 jeep to see the 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. Early evening return to hotel. Includes Breakfast/Dinner
Elephant Safari
DAY 11
Sigiriya Lion Rock fortress
SIGIRIYA
This morning after breakfast, an option to climb Pidurangala Rock, at the top, you will enjoy the amazing view of Sigiriya Lion Rock with your group, and at the top, you have candid photo opportunities. Or for those keen on history, 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 meters 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 Cook with a Local, learn the secrets of how to cook traditional Sri Lanka curry and rice with a hands-on cooking class in a local Sri Lankan home, and enjoy aromatic delights of what you cook. Enjoy an Ayurvedic full body massage. Return to your hotel and relax. Includes Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
DAY 12
Polonnaruwa Ancient City
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 archeological 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 we continue to have a relaxing Ayurvedic massage before returning to your hotel to relax before dinner. Includes Breakfast/Dinner.
Polonnaruwa Ancient City
DAY 13
Ritigala Monastery
SIGIRYIA - 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. We 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.
Ancient City of Anuradhapura
DAY 14
Ancient City of Anuradhapura
ANURADHAPURA - COLOMBO/NEGOMBO AIRPORT
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 centres 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 West Coast and we will reach our destination of Negombo. We arrive at your hotel to relax, freshen up, and after dinner transfer to the airport for your outward-bound flight Includes Breakfast/Dinner.