Day 1

Route: Airport > Negombo | Drive Time: Approx: ½ hr

Upon arrival you will be greeted by your chauffeur guide. Thereafter proceed to Negombo. Negombo is a famous fishing village located north of Colombo with easy access to the airport. In the evening go on a Negombo sightseeing tour. Have dinner out at one of the many dining options available.

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2

Route: Negombo > Pinnawala > Sigiriya
Drive Time: Approx: 4 ½ hrs with a break at Pinnawala

After breakfast leave for Sigiriya for two nights.

En-route visit an Elephant Orphanage in Pinnawala which started in 1975 to house abandoned and wounded elephants.

In the evening climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress (A UNESCO World Heritage site) which is undoubtedly one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in Sri Lanka.

It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels still shining in their original colours.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 3

Route: Sigiriya > Hiriwadunna > Polonnaruwa > Sigiriya
Drive Time: Approx: 1 ½ hrs each way

After breakfast at the hotel leave for an interesting traditional rural village tour.

The tour begins with a beautiful trek to a manmade reservoir. After a catamaran boat ride over serene waters blanketed with lily pads, hop into a bullock cart alongside paddy fields and rural vegetable plantations to a traditional village house, where you will enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan lunch.

Look out for birds, butterflies, and perhaps even a crocodile as well as the villagers fishing or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake.

After lunch leave to visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa which was the 2nd capital of Sri Lanka; now a UNESCO World heritage site, contains some splendid and spectacular statues.

Lankatilake, Tivanka and Thuparama are the most beautiful and largest Image Houses and Tivanka has the best examples of frescoes of the Polonnaruwa period. The medieval capital, Polonnaruwa was fortified with inner & outer moats and inner & outer walls. The Parakrama Samudra is on the western side of the city. The Royal Palace, Audience Hall and other buildings in the inner city were enclosed by another tall wall.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the Hotel

Day 4

Route: Sigiriya > Dambulla > Matale > Kandy
Drive Time: Approx: 3 hrs

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning visit Dambulla Cave Temple which has a history dating back to the 01st Century BC.

The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found in the Island.

Thereafter leave for the Hill Capital Kandy for one night.

En-route visit a Spice Garden in Matale.

Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them in food preparations.

Enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan rice & curry meal at the Spice Garden.

Afterwards continue to Kandy and visit a Batik Factory, where you can see the manufacture of beautiful Batik prints. These shops contain a wide variety of Batik items.

In the evening visit the Temple of the Tooth followed by a Cultural Show.

It was the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings during the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule and finally ceded to the British in 1815 after an agreement. To the Buddhists of Sri Lanka and the World, Kandy is one of the most sacred sites as it is the home of the “Dalada Maligawa” – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 5

Route: Kandy > Galle
Drive Time: Approx: 5 hrs

After breakfast in the mountains descend to the southern coast of Galle.

In the evening visit the Galle fort which has been preserved from the colonial eras.

Walk in the narrow streets, including the Lighthouse Street (Zeeburg Street), Leyn-Baan Street (Lijnberg meaning rope walk), and Modarabaay Street (Modder-baai meaning Mud bay) see the Old Dutch Houses, private Museum where Dutch period antiques could be seen and part of the Old sewage system that emptied to the sea with the high/low tide.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the Hotel.

Day 6

Route: Galle > Kosgoda > Colombo

After breakfast leave for the commercial capital Colombo for one night.

En-route visit Peraliya Buddha Statue (Tsunami memorial). Peraliya is a little village, close to Hikkaduwa town by the coastal belt. This is the location where the tsunami of 2004 hit a crowded train. More than 1500 passengers died in this incident. This is considered as the most tragic train accident in world history. This Buddha statue was built, close to railway track, where this tragedy happened.

Thereafter visit a Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda.

The waters around Sri Lanka are teeming with sea life. Five out of the seven types of sea turtles call nest on Sri Lanka’s beaches. All of them are on the endangered list. The centre functions mainly as a hatchery and makes huge efforts to increase the rate of hatching, and survival of baby turtles in their very initial stages. They also treat sick or injured adults; treating them and releasing them back into the ocean.

In the evening go on a city tour of Colombo which is the business and commercial centre. The remains of the buildings during the period of the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule are found in every area of the city.   

Colombo is also a shopping paradise for shoppers who always enjoy a good bargain on quality clothes and fashion accessory items. Many of the malls have the latest creations from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Longchamps and Prada to name just a few. Of course you have to pay more for the real thing, which is also available at selected stores, but if you don’t mind a look-alike, some excellent options are available.

Enjoy your last Sri Lankan meal having dinner at an authentic Sri Lankan restaurant.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7

Route: Colombo > Airport

Breakfast at the hotel and say goodbye to memories as you will be taken to the airport for your departing flight.