Today you will begin your most coveted Sri Lankan adventure in the nation's capital, Colombo. Upon touchdown at the airport, you will be met by our chauffeur guide and will be transferred to your hotel. Leave the city behind for Sigiriya, a 3–4-hour drive. The picturesque route is shaded with tall trees and forest vegetation. Take a breath in the fresh island air and enjoy scenes of local markets, fruit stalls, and humble colourfully painted houses passing by. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in, and freshen up. Remaining time at your leisure to rest, relax, and unwind.

After early breakfast, proceed to visit Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya. Pidurangala Rock is an incredible 360-degree viewpoint located opposite the world-famous Sigiriya Lion Rock. Hiking to the top is possible for both of these rocks, but if you do not want to hike you can enjoy the views from the base of the rock. Best of all, you get an incredible view of Lion’s Rock itself, which is special! This is a moment that will stand out on any Sri Lanka trip, so a visit to Sigiriya is a must on your itinerary.

Later, proceed to visit Hiriwadunna Village.

A tour to Hiriwadunna - a beautiful village shaded on either side by a dry zone shrub forest, with unpaved gravel paths and humble village folk - will give you a chance to witness the environment of a typical Sri Lankan village life. A ride on a bullock cart along a dirt track and through rice paddies down to the picturesque Hiriwadunna Lake will leave you with a sense of peacefulness. A catamaran ride on the lake with its large variety of dry zone bird life and views of the surrounding forest, marshland, and vegetable plots of local farmers, will be an unforgettable experience for visitors and will most definitely be one of the places they feel most at peace, during the time spent in Sri Lanka.

Today is kept leisurely for you to rest and relax.

Alternatively you take advantage of a very popular optional tour of Polonnaruwa and safari at Minneriya National Park.

After breakfast visit Polonnaruwa ancient city. Rising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa – the medieval capital & crown jewel of King Parakramabahu I – remains superior proof of ancient culture & heritage blended with religious beliefs. Walk across its scattered walls of the World Heritage Site – blessed by stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals, and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures – while observing the relic house – Watadage – which boasts beautiful stone carvings. Take a close glance and you will realize a subtle Hindu influence on architecture and statues found in Polonnaruwa. Or sit by the side of Galviharaya and observe the absolute beauty gushing out of every bend of its huge Buddhist statues. Nissankamalla Council Chamber is, however, a head-spinning beauty to just sit back and observe with its swaying pillars reminding the aesthetics of a powerful kingdom that rests beside Parakrama Samudraya – a sea of Parakramabahu & a masterpiece of irrigation!

Next, enjoy a game drive at Minneriya National Park.

Minneriya Park is a national park in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population. Sri Lankan Leopard and Sloth bear which are rare and endangered species also inhabit this area. The park was declared a wildlife sanctuary to protect the watershed of the Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is historically important for the country as it was built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD.

Today after breakfast you’ll head to the picturesque hillside city of Kandy, the second-largest city in Sri Lanka - around 3.5 hours' drive.

En route visit Dambulla Cave Temple, the journey takes approximately  25-30 minutes.

Dambulla Cave Temple is a vast isolated rock mass, and it was here that King Valagambahu took refuge in the 01st century B.C. when fleeing from his enemies. He later turned the caves into a rock temple. The Golden Temple of Dambulla has been the centre of pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus for 22 centuries. It is Sri Lanka’s most popular historic site. The Cave monastery, home to Buddhist monks is covered with exquisite 2,000-year-old murals depicting the life and times of the Lord Buddha. The shrines also house a collection of 157 statues of Buddha in various sizes and poses, including a 15-metre-long reclining Buddha and vividly coloured frescoes on the walls and ceiling, making this the largest antique painted surface in the world. To reach Dambulla’s rock temples, pilgrims and tourists alike must climb barefoot up the sloping ground and several series of stairs almost to the summit, 100 metres above the plain. From here, the strikingly distinctive rock fortress of Sigiriya is visible, but the five caves or shrine rooms of Dambulla lie just ahead. All these house multiple images of the Lord Buddha, either lying, standing, or seated. The astonishing frescoes and the sheer size and antiquity of the caves convinced UNESCO that Dambulla should be preserved as a World Heritage Site.

On completion proceed to Matale, the journey takes approximately 1-2 hours. 

En-route visit Spice Garden

Sri Lanka has always been renowned for its spices. Over 15 different spices call Sri Lanka home and many of them are traded in the international spice market. Cinnamon especially is endemic to Sri Lanka, and the highest quality ‘true cinnamon’ can be obtained here. All offer free tours of their gardens with an English-speaking guide who can explain the merits and health properties of herbs, spices and plants including cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, coffee, nutmeg, pepper, cardamom, aloe vera, iriweriya and the henna plant. Not all spices are grown in a single garden, of course, since various climates and soil types are necessary for the cultivation of the different spices. The gardens introduce you to the different spices in Sri Lanka and their uses.

Afterwards, journey onward to Kandy, two hours away.

Kandy is the English name for the city of Maha Nuvara (Senkadagalapura) in the centre of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies amid hills in the Kandy plateau.

On arrival check in to the hotel. Remaining time at your leisure for rest & relaxation. In the evening, you'll visit one of Kandy's most famous sites – the Temple of the Tooth Relic, said to hold a piece of the Buddha's tooth. In the crown jewel of the city, Kandy is the famed Sri Dalada Maligawa, also known as the Temple of the Tooth. The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. The entire temple complex, from peaked tiled roofs to white walls with large airy windows, is built using classical Kandyan architecture.

You will enjoy another day in Kandy today. After breakfast you’ll proceed to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, just outside of Kandy, featuring meticulously tended gardens with more than 4,000 species of plants, including a wide range of orchids. In the afternoon, you'll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Kandy.

On completion proceed to watch the Kandy cultural show with traditional music and dance.

These classical dance forms are associated with the performance of various rituals and ceremonies which are centuries old and are based on the folk religion and folk beliefs going back to times before the advent and acceptance of Buddhism by the Sinhalese people in the third century B.C. These rituals and ceremonies reflect the values, beliefs, and customs of the agricultural civilization of Sri Lanka.

On completion return to the hotel.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before embarking on the green hills of tea country, Nuwara Eliya, a 3–4-hour train ride.  You will be taken to the Kandy Railway Station to take a train ride journey to Nanu Oya (Nuwara Eliya). Though the city of Nuwara Eliya has no Railway station, the highland railway line that winds past the city of Nanu Oya makes the journey by train one of the most scenic and memorable experiences. Nuwara Eliya which is at an elevation of 1890 meters above sea level is the highest city in Sri Lanka and it lies beneath the tallest peak of the island, Pidurutalagala or Mount Pedro (2555 meters).

Enjoy the local train experience, stunning views of the hills and the tea plantations, and wonderful picture-taking opportunities - such a fun ride! Enjoy a scenic ride that takes around 3 hours through some of the most beautiful highland countryside areas in Sri Lanka. You will see the vast green hills of the tea plantations and spot the picturesque villages with misty mountain backdrops. Enjoy the amazing sights of intimidating mountains, deep and dark woodlands, and magnificent waterfalls as they go by your window.

Arrive at Nanu Oya where your chauffeur guide will meet you at the station. After you stretch your legs a little, your chauffeur guide will take you to Nuwara Eliya. Enjoy the thrilling half-hour drive up the winding road. Finally, you’ll arrive in the pretty hillside town of Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya can be reached from Colombo via Kandy, which is the gateway to the Central Highlands of the island. Colombo-Kandy-Nuwara Eliya is the most scenic highland motor road in Sri Lanka. Though the city of Nuwara Eliya has no Railway station, the highland railway line that winds past the city of Nanu Oya makes the journey by train one of the most scenic and memorable experiences. Nuwara Eliya which is at an elevation of 1890 meters above sea level is the highest city in Sri Lanka and it lies beneath the tallest peak of the island, Pidurutalagala or Mount Pedro (2555 meters).

You'll than check in, freshen up and later proceed for a tour of Nuwara Eliya.

You will get to firstly view the iconic Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in Asia from outside and then proceed to town. Once in town, you will be shown one of Sri Lanka's oldest post offices. A typical Tudor-styled colonial building that stands proud with its red brick exterior. You will then be taken to see other traditional colonial buildings that reflect the British influence during their colonial years. Such buildings would be the HNB Bank, Nuwara Eliya Police Station, St. Xavier’s Church, and Nuwara Eliya’s pride, the prestigious colonial masterpiece of the Grand Hotel with its gorgeous manicured lawns from outside.

Then you will be taken to Victoria Park, a beautiful park named after Queen Victoria’s commemoration. Take the time to walk around the park and enjoy the ambiance and gorgeous views of its landscapes with stunning trees and lawns. This will be followed by a visit to the Nuwara Eliya Race Course, another colonial beauty stemming from the British era. It is the only horse racing course in Sri Lanka and is renowned for the annual events held around April which are reminiscent of the Ascot Races.

Then you will visit Lake Gregory, a man-made marvel of colonial days. It was initially built for electricity and is now used for recreation and leisure. This beautiful lake is surrounded by breathtaking views of mountains in the distance. You will have time to take part in the activities provided on-site. Such as paddle boats and other water sports.

On completion we would drive to Sita Amman Temple and Hakgala Botanical Gardens. These two sites comprise the former ‘Ashoka Vatika’. Sita Amman Temple is uniquely dedicated to Sitadevi, wife of Lord Rama with Hakgala Botanical Gardens being the 2nd largest botanical garden of Sri Lanka. It comprises beautiful gardens divided into separate sections of different flowers such as roses and orchids.

Upon your journey back to the city, you will stop at a strawberry farm. Be sure to indulge in the popular strawberries and cream, waffles strawberry cheesecake, or anything else that takes your fancy. After returning to the city in the evening, you will be taken to the Bale Bazaar, a local flea market popular for winter wear at bargain prices.

On completion check in to the hotel & relax.

After breakfast in Nuwara Eliya, it’s time to move to one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned national parks, a 3-4 hours’ drive. Upon arrival check in at the hotel, and the remainder of your time at your leisure to rest and relax.

Today with a packed breakfast enjoy the drive through Yala National Park in the search of its elusive leopards.

Yala National Park is in the southeastern region of Sri Lanka and extends over two provinces Hambantota district of the southern province and Monaragala district in Uva province. The gateway to Yala National Park is Tissamaharama. A 20 km drive via Kirinda takes the visitors to the Palatupana. At Palatupana, the well-designed visitor center provides information to tourists and assigns a tracker to all incoming vehicles. The park provides jeeps with soft tops that allow viewing wildlife. Dawn and dusk bring about the best timing for Safari tours in the Yala National Park. Being in one of the arid regions of Sri Lanka, the Climate of Ruhuna National Park is usually hot and dry. Yala National Park which consists of five blocks is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. Though Yala spreads over an area of 1260 square kilometres, only one-fifth of the area is open to visitors. Four-fifths of the park is a strictly designated Natural Reserve. Yala National Park gives the best opportunity to witness Sri Lanka’s broad variety of wildlife: colourful painted stork in troops is seen perched at the shores of the lagoon where the crocodiles to have chosen to doze off; lovely fantailed peacocks in their resplendent blues and greens parade about amidst the woods where monkeys hang, leap and chatter; in the bush jungle are the Elephants; crossing the tracks and wandering off into the thorny scrub jungle is the star attraction of the park: the leopard.

Head back to your hotel and a good night’s sleep awaits.

After breakfast, it’s now time to say goodbye to the Yala and head to the coastal town of Waskaduwa, a 3–4-hour drive where you will spend the next couple of well-deserved days resting, relaxing, and unwinding at the beach. Check in to your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the area.

The entire day in kept leisurely for you to rest, relax, and unwind at the beach resort.

Today it’s time to say goodbye to Sri Lanka as the 12-day holiday of a lifetime involving adventure, culture, and relaxation has now come to an end.

As per your flight schedule, transfer to Colombo Airport for your return flight home. Depending upon the return flight schedule and the availability of the hotel's breakfast service, you will most likely be unable to enjoy inclusive breakfast on the last day.

Take your holiday to the next level and enjoy an extra night at the end at 5* beach resort Citrus Waskaduwa and a direct flight for £395 per person (subject to availability).

Alternatively, you can take advantage of our optional extensions embarking on 05 nights in Maldives or 06 nights in Golden Triangle India