Day 01 – Colombo

Bandaranaike International Airport - Day 01 – Colombo

Arrive at Colombo International Airport and be greeted by Kalum Niriella or an associate, then transfer to a hotel in Negombo. Overnight stay in Negombo.

Sunset in Sri Lanka

Day 02 – Negombo / Anuradapura

Negombo - Visit the ancient city of Anuradapura, overnight stay in Anuradapura.

Anuradhapura Stupa

The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the center of Theravada Buddhism for many centuries. Located 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, on the banks of the historic Malvathu Oya, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and one of Sri Lanka’s eight World Heritage Sites. Founded in the 4th century BC, it was the capital of the Anuradhapura Kingdom until the early 11th century AD. During this time, it remained one of the most stable and enduring centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. It was also a prosperous city that created a unique culture and a great civilization. Today, this ancient city of Sri Lanka, sacred to the Buddhist world, with its surrounding monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²), is one of the world’s major archaeological sites.

Day 03 – Anuradapura / Mihintalaya / Ritigala

Mihintale Temple - Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, which marked the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site with several religious monuments and abandoned structures. Eight miles east of Anuradhapura, near the Anuradhapura – Trincomalee Road, is the “Missaka Pabbata,” which is 1,000 feet (300 m) high and one of the peaks of a mountainous range. Thera Mahinda came to Sri Lanka from India on the full moon day of the month of Poson (June), met King Devanampiyatissa and the people, and preached the doctrine. The traditional spot where this meeting took place is revered by the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. Therefore, in the month of Poson, Buddhists make their pilgrimage to Anuradhapura and Mihintale. Mahinda was the son of Emperor Ashoka of India.

Ritigala Forest Monastery - The Ritigala mountain range consists of four peaks, with the main and highest peak at the south of the range named Ritigala Kanda. The Ritigala mountain range, a 3776-acre (1582 ha) Strict Nature Reserve in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, has a climate at the summit that is cooler compared to the hot and dry climate at the foot. Its rainfall is the highest in the entire dry zone surrounding it by a significant margin during the northeast monsoon of the dry zone of the tropical island of Sri Lanka. The mist and cloud cover that encapsulate the summit during the southwest monsoon of the Wet Zone of the island result in high vapor condensation, making the earth moist when the plains all around are in drought.

Day 04 – Habarana / Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa - The second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 CE to reunite the country under a local leader. While Vijayabahu’s victory and the shifting of the Kingdom to the more strategic Polonnaruwa is considered significant, the real hero of Polonnaruwa in the history books is actually his grandson, Parakramabahu I. The city Polonnaruwa was also called Jananathamangalam during the brief Chola reign. Today, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best-planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing as a testament to the discipline and greatness of the kingdom’s first rulers.

Day 05 – Habarana / Sigiriya / Dambulla / Aluviharaya / Matale Hindu Temple

Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress - Sigiriya, considered by some as the eighth wonder of the world, consists of an ancient castle used by King Kasyapa in the 5th century AD. The Sigiriya site includes the remains of an upper Sky Palace on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace with the Lion Gate and the Mirror Wall and the world-famous Sigiriya Frescoes, the lower palace that clings to the slopes below the rock, and the moats, walls, and gardens that extend for several hundred meters from the base of the rock. The site is both a palace and fortress. Enough remains to provide visitors with a stunning insight into the ingenuity and creativity of its builders. The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock that still retain water. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are still exquisitely beautiful.

Dambulla Cave Temple - Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a world heritage site (1991) in Sri Lanka, located in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 km (92 mi) east of Colombo and 72 km (45 mi) north of Kandy. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m (525 ft) over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings related to Lord Buddha and his life. There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings, and 4 statues of gods and goddesses. The latter 4 include two statues of Hindu gods, Vishnu and Ganesh. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square meters. Depictions on the walls of the caves include Buddha’s temptation by Mara (demon) and Buddha’s first sermon.

Aluvihara Rock Cave Temple - The Aluvihare Rock Temple (also called Matale Alu Viharaya) is a sacred Buddhist temple located in Aluvihare, Matale District of Sri Lanka. Surrounded by hills, the Aluvihara cave temple is situated 30 km north of Kandy on the Matale-Dambulla road. The history of Aluvihare Rock Temple dates back to the 3rd Century B.C. during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. It is believed that the King built the dagoba, planted the Bo sapling, and founded the temple after the introduction of Buddhism to the country during his reign. Aluvihare Rock Temple was the historic location where the Pāli Canon was first written down completely in text on ola (palm) leaves. Many monastery caves, some of which exhibit frescoes, are situated near this temple.

Matale - The main Hindu temple in Matale is dedicated to Muthumariamman. The goddess Mariamman (pronounced “Muri-um-man”) is very popular among Tamils in India and Sri Lanka. The prefix “Muthu,” literally meaning “pearl,” is an honorific title, similar to “Sri.” The last part of the name, “Amman,” simply means “mother.” “Mari” means “rain.” The name recalls that this deity was originally an ancient Tamil fertility goddess. For today’s devotees, Mariamman is ​​a helper against all febrile diseases. In particular, she is the smallpox goddess in southern India.

Day 06 – Kandy City Tour / Temple of Tooth / Botanical Garden / Culture Dancing Show

Kandy City Center - Kandy is a major city in Sri Lanka, located in the Central Province. It is the second-largest city in the country after Colombo. It was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Kandy is home to The Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988.

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic - The “Sri Dalada Maligawa” or The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a temple in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built within the royal palace complex, which houses the tooth relic of the Buddha, a tooth venerated by Buddhists. The relic has played an important role in local politics since ancient times; it’s believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country, which caused the ancient kings to protect it with great effort. Kandy was the capital of the Sinhalese Kings from 1592 to 1815, fortified by the terrain of the mountains and the difficult approach. The city is a world heritage site declared by UNESCO, in part due to the temple.

Peradeniya - The Royal Botanical Garden, Peradeniya, is situated about 5.5 km west of the city of Kandy in the Central Province of Sri Lanka and attracts 2 million visitors annually. It is renowned for its collection of a variety of orchids. It includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees. Attached to it is the National Herbarium of Sri Lanka. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres (0.59 km2), at 460 meters above sea level, with a 200-day annual rainfall.

Kandyan Cultural Centre - Kandyan Dancers

The Kandy Dance cultural show is one of the most famous evening events in this city of heritage and is a major highlight of any trip. Starting in the evening, the show captivates your ears and eyes with spectacular displays of local culture and art. Covering various aspects of Sri Lanka’s traditions, expect to see drummers, fire dancers, and more in a cultural spectacle that should not be missed.

Day 07 – Kandy / Nuwara-Eliya

Nuwara Eliya - Nuwara-Eliya is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. Its name means “city on the plain (table land)” or “city of light.” The city is the administrative capital of Nuwara Eliya District, with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is at an altitude of 1,868 m (6,128 ft) and is considered the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka. Nuwara Eliya is known for its temperate, cool climate — the coolest area in Sri Lanka.

Day 08 – Nuwara-Eliya / Worlds End – Horton Plains / Train Journey

Horton Plains National Park - Horton Plains National Park is a protected area in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, covered by montane grassland and cloud forest. This plateau, at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 meters (6,900–7,500 ft), is rich in biodiversity, and many species found here are endemic to the region. The vertebrate fauna of the region includes 24 species of mammals, 87 species of birds, nine species of reptiles, and eight species of amphibians. Currently, the largest and most commonly seen mammal is the Sambar Deer. Some research findings estimate the population of Sambar Deer to be around 1500 to 2000, possibly more than the carrying capacity of the plains.

Nuwara Eliya - The Colombo Fort to Badulla or Kandy to Ella railway track is the most popular among tourists as it goes through tea plantations and the most scenic landscapes in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country. Most people take the Kandy to Ella station leg on this railway line. The train goes up to Peradeniya on the Colombo Fort – Kandy line, and from Peradeniya Station, the train switches tracks towards Badulla, passing through Hatton, Thalawakale, Great Western, Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya), Ambewela, Pattipola, Ohiya, Haputale, Diyatalawa, Bandarawela, Ella, and Demodara stations through tea estates, misty mountains, and valleys. This is one of the most scenic train journeys in the world.

Day 09 – Ella / Yala

Yala National Park - Yala National Park is the most visited and second-largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, along with adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as Ruhuna National Park (block 1) and Kumana National Park or ‘Yala East’ for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, in the Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometers (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometers (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and along with Wilpattu, it was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals and is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards, and aquatic birds.

Day 10 – Tissa / Thangalle

Tangalle - Tangalla is the gateway to the wide-open spaces and wide-open beaches of southeast Sri Lanka. It’s the last town of any size before Hambantota and has some old-world charm. But you’re really here to find your perfect beach and revel in it.

Day 11 – Relaxed on the beach

Tangalle Beach - Tangalle has the potential to explode with tourism, but for now, it’s a very relaxed beach town with minimal tourists, local fishermen, great seafood, and one very long sandy beach.

Day 12 – Thangalle / Galle

Galle - Galle was known as Gimhathiththa (although Ibn Batuta in the 14th century refers to it as Qali) before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century when it was the main port on the island. Galle reached the height of its development in the 18th century during the Dutch colonial period. Galle is the best example of a fortified city built by the Portuguese in South and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between Portuguese architectural styles and native traditions. The city was extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. The Galle fort is a world heritage site and is the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers.

Day 13 – Galle / Colombo / Negombo

Colombo City Centre - Galle Face Green is a ribbon of green space located in the heart of the city along the Indian Ocean coast and is a popular destination for tourists and residents alike. The Galle Face Hotel is a historic landmark on the southern edge of this promenade. Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo. The temple’s architecture demonstrates an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture. The Viharamahadevi Park (formerly Victoria Park) is an urban park located next to the National Museum of Colombo and the Town Hall. It is the oldest and largest park in Colombo and features a large Buddha statue.

• In-vehicle air conditioning

• Lunch