HIGHLIGHTS - DISCOVER SRI LANKA
- Relaxed arrival stay at 5 star Negombo Beach hotel
- Deluxe 4-5 star hotels
- Visit Mineriya National Park by safari jeeps to witness Wild Elephants.
- A local village visit by jeep with lunch, Dambulla
- Cooking demonstration by local villagers
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress visit
- Dambulla Rock Cave Temple
- A tea factory visit & tea tasting
- The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kandy
- The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
- An evening Kandyan Dance Performance
- The renowned train journey from Kandy to Nanu Oya
- Udawalawe National Park entrance and jeep safari
- Visit The Elephant Transit Home
- Historic Galle
- A coastal beach stay, Bentota
- A Madu River boat ride
- A Turtle hatchery visit
PRE TOUR STAY
Consider arriving a day before the tour starts or staying on after the tour ends. Some flights that arrive early on day 1 of the tour require a pre tour night of stay to guarantee morning check in. The cost of the additional night/s of stay applies. Ask our travel team about this option, and the additional costs.
DAY 1
Arrive in Colombo
Welcome to Sri Lanka! Travellers will arrive on various flights throughout the day. By mid-afternoon, meet your fellow group members and tour director for a welcome drink and briefing at the hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Negombo, including the fishing village and local market. Tonight, a welcome dinner awaits at our lovely beachside hotel.
Meals: Welcome Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 3PM group meeting for tour briefing
- Negombo sightseeing tour
- Hotel welcome dinner
DAY 2
Negombo to Dambulla
After breakfast, we depart for Dambulla, where we’ll stay for the next three nights. Later, visit the Dambulla Rock Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive cave temples. Explore the five caves adorned with over 150 Buddha statues and stunning frescoes and the largest Buddha figure carved out of rock spanning 14 meters.
A relaxed evening with dinner at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Travel from Negombo to Dambulla (approx. 3.5 hours)
- Dambulla Rock Temple visit
- Relaxed in-house dinner
DAY 3
Polonnaruwa & Minneriya National Park
Breakfast at the hotel, then depart for Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second capital city, built in the 11th and 12th centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Highlights include the ruins of the Royal Palace, Gal Viharaya’s rock-carved Buddha statues in various postures, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, King Parakramabahu’s statue, and the Parakrama Samudraya lake. Visit significant religious monuments like the Shiva Temple, Lankathilake, Watadage, Galpotha, Kiri Vehera, and remains of the former Temple of the Tooth Relic.
In the afternoon, enjoy a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park to witness wild elephants. The park features mixed forests, scrublands, and the ancient Minneriya Tank, built in the 3rd century by King Mahasena. This area is ideal for observing elephants grazing and bathing, as well as birdlife like cormorants and painted storks fishing in the tank’s waters.
Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Tour Polonnaruwa UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Minneriya National Park safari
- Relaxed in-house dinner
DAY 4
Sigiriya and Village Visit
Start early to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Ascend the ‘Lion Rock’ for breathtaking views and see the famous frescoes of the ‘Heavenly Maidens.’ The ‘Lion Rock’ is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock.
Local Experience: Afterwards, take a jeep ride through village paths to a lake, cross by canoe, and enjoy a cooking demonstration by local women. Relish a traditional lunch before returning by tuk-tuk or jeep. Tonight’s dinner is at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress visit
- Village jeep and canoe ride
- Cooking demonstration and local lunch
- Hotel dinner
DAY 5
Sigiriya - Matale - Kandy
Depart for Kandy, stopping at Matale to visit a spice garden and learn about Sri Lanka’s famed spices. After lunch, visit a temple and engage in a discussion with a Buddhist monk about the philosophy of Buddhism. On arrival in Kandy, explore the town or relax at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Spice garden visit
- Temple visit and discussion with a Buddhist monk
- Local lunch
- Hotel dinner
DAY 6
Kandy
Enjoy a walking orientation tour of Kandy, including the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, known for its stunning variety of flora. This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden by a Sinhala king and was expanded by the British. It is across 147 acres and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers.
The afternoon is free for your own discoveries or relaxation. In the evening, visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic and witness a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dance. Dinner is at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Walking tour of Kandy
- Peradeniya Botanical Gardens visit
- Temple of the Tooth Relic visit
- Cultural dance show
- Hotel dinner
DAY 7
Kandy to Nuwara Eliya
We depart Kandy with a scenic train journey through tea plantations to Nanu Oya. Upon arrival, visit a tea estate and factory to learn about tea production and enjoy a freshly brewed cup. After lunch, transfer to Nuwara Eliya where we check into our grand hotel and experience a late afternoon high tea.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (packed), High Tea
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Scenic train journey
- Tea estate tour
- Packed lunch
- Afternoon high tea
DAY 8
Nuwara Eliya to Udawalawe
Travel to Udawalawe via Ella and Wellawaya. In the afternoon, visit the Elephant Transit Home, where orphaned baby elephants are rehabilitated for release into the wild. The elephant transit home was set up in 1995 as a pilot project by the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Dinner is at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Travel by road to Udawalawe
- Visit to Elephant Transit Home
- Hotel dinner
DAY 9
Udawalawe National Park
Start the day with a dawn jeep safari in Udawalawe National Park, known for its thriving elephant population and diverse wildlife.
This national park was established in 1972 and with the land only recently reverting back from cultivation, the park has some fascinating characteristics that make it well worth a visit. Not least of these is the large elephant population. Udawalawe is the most reliable place to see elephants in their wild habitat year round. Some 400-500 elephants live in the park and herds of up to 50 are commonly seen. The open plains are covered in thick manna grass up to the borders of the large reservoir in the centre and the Walawe River. The park is also covered by some abandoned teak plantation and dense scrub jungle. This variety in habitat makes for a rich variety of wildlife and game. As well as elephants, leopards live in the park (though you will be very lucky to spot one), toque monkeys, grey langur, spotted deer, wild pig and samba. There are numerous bird species of course and Udawalawe is particularly rich in raptor species, among them the white bellied sea eagle and the crested serpent eagle
The afternoon is free for relaxation or an optional second safari.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Dawn safari in Udawalawe National Park
- Free time in the afternoon
- Hotel dinner
FREE TIME EXTRAS:
Optional Afternoon Safari | Cost: USD 75
Paid directly/on location.
DAY 10
Udawalawe - Weligama - Galle
Depart for Galle, stopping en route to see stilt fishermen at Weligama.
We take a sightseeing tour of Galle Dutch Fortress, and enjoy free time to explore the old fort city, shop, or relax. This evening, dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Visit stilt fishermen at Weligama
- Galle Dutch Fortress visit
- Free time in Galle to explore
- Transfer back to the hotel
- Dinner at hotel
DAY 11
Galle - Balapitiya – Kosgoda - Bentota
We depart Galle for Bentota today. Along the way we stop for a scenic cruise along the Madhu River. Pass dozens of islets forested with mangroves and can appreciate the timeless natural rhythms of rural life. You cruise in a canopied, outboard motor powered boat; pausing to view a 200-year-old temple & to watch the locals cultivating cinnamon. You may also see traditional fishing techniques in action. We also visit a turtle hatchery at Kosgoda.
Near the day end we arrive to our hotel on the coast and dinner in house.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Galle to Balapitiya transfer road (about 1 hour)
- Madhu River cruise
- Balapitiya to Kosgoda transfer by road
- Turtle hatchery visit
- Hotel dinner
DAY 12
Bentota
A day at your pace.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- A leisure day
- Hotel dinner
DAY 13
Bentota - Colombo
After breakfast we depart Bentota for Colombo via the expressway.
On arrival to Colombo a sightseeing tour around the city passing Pettah Bazaar, Cinnamon Gardens, and key city landmarks. We check into our hotel this afternoon and this evening, a memorable farewell dinner in the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Highlight Dinner
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer to Colombo city
- A sightseeing tour, Colombo
- Highlight farewell dinner
DAY 14
Colombo
A final breakfast and your Sri Lankan Encounter comes to a close. There’s a transfer to the airport to meet your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
SNAPSHOT – WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Transfer to airport (37km/about 1 hour)
SPECIAL NOTES:
- Option for a late (paid) hotel checkout for evening departures.
Itineraries may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. We aim to inform you of significant changes prior to departure. Itinerary changes while on tour will be informed by your tour leader/guide while on tour.
