Don’t Miss
- Explore the great sites of Sri Lanka's cultural triangle and Kandy's Temple of the Tooth
- Take in the magnificent hill country with its tea hills and gushing waterfalls
- Go on a wildlife safari and whale and dolphin spotting
- Stroll around Galle’s 17C Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Lie on the palm-fringed sandy beaches of the Galle Coast
- Stay at exquisite villas and boutique hotels
PACKAGE INCLUDES
- Accommodation in a shared double / twin room
- Chauffeur-guide and vehicle for the duration of the tour (including leisure days)
- Both airport transfers
- Expert advice and support prior to and during the tour
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- Price shown is a starting price and is subject to change, depending on travel dates / the number of people travelling etc.
- Price shown is based on two people sharing a double / twin room
- See our Booking Conditions for more details
Day 1 Pannala, North-West Coast
Upon arriving in Sri Lanka, transfer to a convenient hotel close to the international airport. Relax and unwind after your flight, preparing yourself for the adventure ahead.
Accommodation: The Notary's House
Day 2, 3 & 4 Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle
Sri Lanka's famous cultural triangle offers plenty to fire both mind and body over the next three days. Explore the lion rock of Sigiriya; Dambulla’s Buddhist Cave Temples, and the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa, which was Sri Lanka’s royal medieval capital between the late 11th and 13th century. After visiting Polonnaruwa museum, which will provide an overview of this ancient city and its heritage, move onto exploring the ruins themselves. You might also consider a safari at Minneriya National Park when you visit Polonnaruwa.
Accommodation: Aliya Resort and Spa
Recommended Activities: Dambulla Cave Temple , Polonnaruwa , Sigiriya Rock Fortress , Minneriya National Park
Day 5 & 6 Kandy
The journey from the cultural triangle to Sri Lanka's hill capital – the small lakeside city of Kandy – will occupy most of the morning. Visit the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined since 4th Century AD. The temple has decorative walls, a golden roof and fine woodwork. Religious services with traditional music and drumming are held daily at dawn, mid-day and in the evening where guests can participate. You might also want to see Kandy's Botanical Gardens.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy
Recommended Activities: Royal Botanical Gardens , Temple of the Tooth
Day 7 & 8 Ella, Hill Country
Travel on into Sri Lanka’s tea-growing highlands. You might like to enjoy the “Tea Experience”, which involves a visit to a plantation to observe the process, starting from the plucking field where it all begins with the picking of “two leaves and a bud” to the factory where the processing begins. Temperatures in Sri Lanka's hill country are akin to an early English summer's day and you can go trekking, cycling, canoeing or just soak up the magnificent scenery. Consider an all-day trek to see Ella’s three iconic landmarks: Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak and Ella Rock. Further afield, in the west of the highlands, an all-night climb up Adam's Peak is another option that we could offer by special request.
Accommodation: 98 Acres Resort
Recommended Activities: Nine Arch Bridge , Little Adam's Peak
Day 9 & 10 Yala National Park, Yala
Head southeast to Yala National Park. En-route visit Buduruvagala to see Sri Lanka's tallest rock-cut Buddha statue (51 ft. in height) and other Mahayana Buddhist statues that date back to the 8th-century AD. Yala National Park consists of scrub plains, lagoons and rocky sections and is probably the best place to see all of Sri Lanka's Big Three: Elephant, leopard and water buffalo. If you wish to limit your journey consider Uda Walawe game park instead.
Accommodation: Jetwing Yala
Recommended Activities: Yala National Park
Day 11 Galle Fort, Galle Coast
Journey along the scenic south coast to the historic city of Galle and spend a night in Galle's 17C Dutch Fort, a UNESCO-protected World Heritage site. Several hours can be spent wandering along the narrow streets and well-preserved ramparts, exploring iconic historic buildings such as the lighthouse and Dutch Reform Church. Art and craft shops and cute little cafes now abound in Galle, making it one of Sri Lanka’s great meeting places. The thick, high ramparts that protect and distinguish the Fort are today used for romantic evening strolls and knockabout cricket games.
Accommodation: Fort Bazaar
Recommended Activities: Galle Dutch Fort
Day 12, 13 & 14 Habaraduwa, Galle Coast
We have saved the last three nights for a taste of the Sri Lanka beaches. Our Classic Island tour keeps you on the sought-after Galle Coast, but you may prefer the west coast resort of Bentota, a family-friendly resort where the beaches are as broad as anywhere on the island: as always the choice is yours. Consider a visit to Balapitiya puppet museum where a fourth-generation puppeteer will explain the history of this great art. Bentota offers a wide range of water-sports on the coast and along a river estuary. When your tour is over it is conveniently placed within two-and-a-half hours of the international airport.
Accommodation: KK Beach
The Notary's House
Makandura, North-West
The Notary’s House is a large mansion with plenty of outdoor space and overlooking a lake in Makandura. One hour at most from the airport, it is an ideal first stop that immediately introduces you to Sri Lankan living.
Aliya Resort and Spa
Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle
Aliya Resort and Spa is a modern, eco-friendly resort which offers a range of good accommodation including luxury tents and interconnecting rooms for families. It is perfectly situated for excursions in the Cultural Triangle and has a variety of facilities including a spa and an infinity pool with stunning views.
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Radisson Hotel Kandy
Kandy
Centrally located in Kandy town, Radisson Hotel Kandy offers 122 stylishly-designed rooms with fantastic amenities for an affordable price.
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98 Acres Resort
Ella, Hill Country
The 98 Acres Resort is a 12 room eco-friendly, boutique hotel in Ella set amidst tea covered hills with magnificent views of the southern plains, Ella rock and Little Adam’s Peak. Accommodation is in individual stone chalets and the lounge and restaurant pavilion has breathtaking views.
4.3
Jetwing Yala
Yala National Park, Yala
This stylish and modern hotel blends peacefully into 38 acres of parklands and woodlands close to Yala game park
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Fort Bazaar
Galle Fort, Galle Coast
Fort Bazaar is an 18-room luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Galle Fort, its beautiful architecture and décor inspired by Portuguese heritage and contemporary design. The addition of a great restaurant makes this a must-visit place in the Fort.
4.8
KK Beach
Habaraduwa, Galle Coast
KK Beach is a stylish beachfront boutique hotel in Habaraduwa, a quiet coastal town along the Galle Coast just a short drive from historic Galle Fort. Sister property of the highly-praised Kahanda Kanda.
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Following are recommended optional activities
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa, Cultural Triangle
Sri Lanka’s medieval capital from 1073 until the late 1200s, the ruins of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa are incredibly well-preserved and include magnificant granite sculptures of Lord Buddha.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Sigiriya, Cultural Triangle
Sigiriya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most majestic, awe-inspiring and stunning historical locations in the world, built in the 5th century AD by ‘mad’ King Kasyapa.
Minneriya National Park
Habarana, Cultural Triangle
Minneriya National Park is a small but popular wildlife park home to a wide range of Sri Lanka’s wildlife. It is also the site of the world-renowned wildlife event ‘The Elephant Gathering’.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambulla, Cultural Triangle
The most famous cave temple complex in Sri Lanka, the ancient Dambulla Cave Temple boasts the largest number of Buddha statues to be housed in one place, as well as stunning ceiling paintings.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Kandy
The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens is the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka and the finest in Asia. Explore the beautiful surroundings with an expert, or simple enjoy a relaxed stroll in the sun.
Temple of the Tooth
Kandy
Tradition relates that a sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha was brought to Sri Lanka in 4th century A.D. and has been enshrined in the Dalanda Maligawa, or Temple of the Tooth, since the late 1500s.
Little Adam's Peak
Ella, Hill Country
Although this climb is relatively easy, the views from the top of Little Adam’s Peak are sensational. Begin the climb with a gentle stroll through a sloping tea field, passing endless neat rows of terraced tea plants.
Nine Arch Bridge
Ella, Hill Country
Located in Ella, the Nine Arch Bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in Sri Lanka and is a stunning example of the incredible engineering prowess behind the island’s railway system.
Yala National Park
Yala National Park, Yala
Yala National Park, situated in the south-east corner of the island, is home to the greatest variety of Sri Lanka’s wildlife including the island’s big game – elephants, leopards and sloth bears.
Galle Dutch Fort
Galle Fort, Galle Coast
Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally built by the Portuguese before it was further developed by the Dutch and British, covers nearly 4sqkm and houses a range of old colonial buildings.
