Panorama Sri Lanka – 14 Days

Welcome to Sri Lanka, the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean"! Upon arrival at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be greeted by your private chauffeur guide and escorted to your hotel in Negombo, a seaside town around 20 minutes away from the airport. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

In the morning, enjoy leisurely time at hotel or you can explore this small town on your own.
You can also partake in some optional activities e.g. early morning Fish Market visit or take a boat ride to discover the water wild life on the Muthurajawela Marsh.
In the afternoon head inland to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Anuradhapura (approx. 5 hrs). Known as one of the 3 ancient cities in Sri Lanka's cultural triangle, it is excellently-preserved of ruins of ancient Ceylon. Check in to your Anuradhapura hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, start your cultural triangle tour with the city tour of Anuradhapura including the Abayagiri complex and passing ancient monuments such as Sri Maha Bodhi and Thuparamaya. Anuradhapura is noted for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. It was the capital of Sri Lanka from the 4th century BC till the beginning of the 11th century AD, during which it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. This ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering over sixteen square miles (40 km²).

After breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will head to Polonnaruwa (1.5 hours drive away from Anuradhapura), the second ancient capital of Cultural Triangle. It well preserves ruins of palaces, bathing pools, stupas and religious rock sculptures. Drive to Sigiriya after your tour in Polonnaruwa.

In the morning, start with a visit to the Landmark of Sri Lanka, the "Lion Rock". It's the 5th-century legendary sky citadel and is said to be the most impressive site in this country. The story behind the monument and the panoramic view of Dambulla seen on the top is definitely worth the steep climb requested.

In the afternoon, continue your exploration in the rural village of Hiriwadunna. Travel into the lush Sri Lankan countryside by a jeep or a tuk-tuk, alongside paddy fields and rural vegetable plantations. At dusk, get on a catamaran and sail to the other side of a lake, enjoying the fantastic sunset view, and looking out for birds, butterflies, as well as the villagers fishing or washing clothes at the periphery of the lake.

Today, get started with the famous Dambulla Cave Temple, home to many magnificent Buddha images and rock paintings dating back to the 2nd century BC. Then head for Ceylon's old capital of Kandyen route stop at one of the interesting spice gardens where you can learn a wide range of spices. A 15-minute complimentary Ayurveda Massage is recommended.

After arriving in Kandy (approx. 3.5 hrs by road), you will appreciate a vivid and traditional Kandyan Cultural Dance. Then walk to the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic nearby. This is Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist shrine; the Puja Ritual held in the temple with all the fanfare, drums, trumpets, and brightly coloured Monks is showing you how special and spiritually important the temple means to Sri Lanka.

In the morning, visit the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya where you will be immersed in the sea of 300+ varieties of orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees.

The afternoon is at your leisure. You could either rest at your lovely hotel or explore the city with your chauffer, like walking around Kandy Lake in the city centre or going some shopping in the downtown markets.

After breakfast, set off for Nuwara Eliya by train (subjected to availability), a picturesque 4-hour journey packed with beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and tea plantations. Upon your arrival at Nanu Oya Railway Station, your chauffeur guide picks you up and escorts you to your Nuwara Eliya hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure after check-in.

Note: The train for the sector of Kandy - Nuwara Eliya is not only a scenic train for tourists but also public transport carrier for local people, which means that getting hands-on a reserved seat especially during the peak period is pretty tough, no matter how early we make the reservation. In case tickets were sold out, we will change the railway to a road trip by private air-conditioned vehicle.

Wake up in the early morning and head to Horton Plains National Park (around 6:00 AM-6:30 AM), where you take a 3-4 hours easy trek (It is 14 km in total, but you could do 8km or14km, which depends on your wish and pace) and see sambar deers, waterfall, diverse flora & fauna, and the stunning views over World's End.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to a tea plantation and a tea factory, where the world's best Ceylon Tea is produced. After learning about the process of manufacturing tea, get hands-on experience of tea picking, and don't forget to sip a cup of pure Ceylon tea in the factory.

Note:
1. Packed breakfast will be prepared on this day;
2. The temperature in Nuwara Eliya is low even in the Summertime, so it is suggested that you should bring suitable attire;
3. Sometimes normal jeep or Non-A/C van would be used when heading to Horton Plain NP due to the narrow road.

Check out after breakfast and head to Ella. We will visit Diyaluma water falls, Ravana Ella cave and rock temples. And take a train journey from Ella taking in the Demodara Loop. Stay overnight in Ella.

After breakfast, we will drive to Yala (approx. 2.5 hours by road). Upon arrival at Yala, check in to the hotel and have a rest before your afternoon jeep safari at Yala National Park, home to a diverse range of wildlife including elephants, leopards, wild buffalo, sambar deer, musk deer, black bears, macaques, jackals and a numerous variety of birds. The park is renowned as the best park in the world to observe and shoot pictures of leopards.

Note:
1. Yala National Park would be kept closed during September and the first 2 weeks of October. In this period, we alter Yala to other NP (Eg. Bundala National Park).
2. Afternoon safari starts around 2:30 PM-3:30 PM, and it is approx. 3.5 hours per safari.

After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and drive around the south coast towards Galle (approx. 4 hours), en route you might see the iconic stilt fishermen at the beach.

Upon arrival at Galle, a colonial port fortified by Portuguese first then Dutch, spend your time at the Galle Dutch Fort, regarded as one of the best-preserved fortresses in Sri Lanka.

Today you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Colombo (approx. 1.5 hours by road). You will visit Turtle Hatchery enroute. Upon arrival in Colombo, take a guided city tour to explore Colombo's colonial legacies covering the Independence Square, Gangarama Temple of Colombo, the mile-long promenade of Galle Face Green, and Colombo's National Museum, etc. Take photo stops when passing by the former British Administrative Centre, etc. Overnight in Colombo.

Note: Colombo National Museum is closed on public holidays: Full Moon Poya day, Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day, Thai Pongai, Ramazan, and Christmas holiday.

Today, you will be escorted to CMB airport (a 1-hour drive from Colombo city) for your onward flight.

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Note: Driving time in the program is approximate, subject to traffic, weather, and road conditions.