Island Beauty

Start your tour of Sri Lanka in Negombo, located only half an hour’s drive away from the international airport. Relax, rejuvenate and prepare for your trip in the comfort of a friendly and vibrant coastal city. Negombo is a popular destination, with the city accommodating a wide array of actives that range from beach sports to inbound exploration tours which navigate through Negombo’s colonial churches and narrow streets. Negombo is also home to a number of luxury hotels, boutique retail outlets and spas making it the perfect location to help you ease into your Sri Lankan itinerary.
Overnight stay in Negombo

From Negombo, Habarana is around 4 hours by car. Start your day by visiting the Dambulla Cave Temple. This temple is home to a large network of underground caves with statues, stupas and well-preserved artworks dating back to the era of Sri Lankan kings. This is a must-visit location on your cultural tour of Sri Lanka. After spending a few hours exploring the cave complex head to Minneriya for an afternoon safari. Minneriya National Park is recognized for its large gatherings of wild elephants amongst other mammals. Guided safari tours can be organized.
Overnight stay in Habarana

Commence your third day by visiting the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, recognised by UNESCO as the 8th wonder of the world. Make sure to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes as climbing this fortress is not for the feint hearted, with its steps often cascading into the crevices of the rock. Exploring this architectural marvel is an absolute must for any trip to Sri Lanka, however, do expect crowds as it is one of the country’s most visited sites. Following Sigiriya, explore the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The city has preserved within itself remnants of age old Sri Lankan architecture, consisting of temple ruins, lakes and large stupas. Afternoon tours can be organised to explore a collection of such sites in Polonnaruwa.
Overnight stay in Habarana

Hit the road early as Kandy is around a 3 hour drive from Habarana. Start your trip by embarking on a private, fully-guided cultural tour in Habarana. Interact with locals, dive into some local cuisines and explore the outskirts and villages of Habarana to grab an understanding and appreciate the true, local way of life. Following this, visit a spice garden closer to Kandy where guided tours will seek to inform you of Sri Lanka’s traditional Ayurvedic medicines, its’ practices and superstitions. Arriving in Kandy, choose to either spend the afternoon/night time relaxing or exploring Kandy town.

Overnight stay in Kandy

The Knuckles Mountain Range and conservation forest lies an hour away from Kandy. Knuckles is a rainforest jungle and another UNESCO heritage listed site in Sri Lanka. Adventure trips of 15-20km through the ranges can be organized, with the relatively wetter and cooler climate of Kandy making this journey more comforting. Stunning hiking tours with private guides are also an option on trails which lead past waterfalls, over valleys and through dense vegetation, offering you a breathtaking view of Sri Lanka’s raw beauty and diversity.
Overnight stay in Kandy

Visit the temple of the tooth
Kandy’s most popular and iconic landmark is its Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha which was opened in the late 16th century. This holy site is a sight to behold with visitors often opting to arrive at the temple by dawn to watch the ceremonious worshipping unfold with clusters of pilgrims bustling to prepare themselves for their worshipping process, ‘puja’. Following this, spend the rest of your day exploring Sri Lanka’s culture capital. Kandy is home to a large luxury mall, boutique hotel chains, massage parlors, tea plantations, museums, and many more attractions. Its narrow streets give way to small restaurants and local kitchens which are a must-try in the region. Speak to your guide for some local, must-try kitchens whilst in Kandy.
Overnight stay in Kandy

No trip to Sri Lanka is truly complete until you ride aboard a local train stopping at the Nanu-Oya Station. This sublime journey has been considered one of the most scenic train rides in the world. Grab yourself a comfortable seat or latch onto an exit and claim it as your own to truly experience a ride like no other, all whilst the train runs alongside forests, waterfalls, local villages and tea plantations. Following this, reach Haputale in the comfort of your car with stop-overs at local villages being recommended to better immerse yourself with the quaint lifestyle of traditional Sri Lankan living.
Overnight stay in a colonial bungalow in Haputale

Haputale is a small town in Sri Lanka rich with bio-diversity. It is surrounded by misty hills and vast tea plantations making it an absolutely picturesque place to explore. Of many unique places to visit, Haputale is home to a number of lookouts. The 360-degree lookout at Prabhawa Mountain and the Lipton seat, a short walk from the Dambatanne Tea Factory are musts. These lookouts can be explored as part of guided tours where walks will often take you through small villages and luscious tea plantations making this a quintessential Sri Lankan tour.
Overnight stay in Haputale

Ella is a small but popular town in Sri Lanka having been on the radar of travellers for quite a while. This town is particularly famous due to its natural scenery and cool climate. The area is surrounded by tea plantations, hiking trails, friendly locals and eye-catching landscapes. Some favourite travel hotspots in Ella include Little Adams Peak, Nine Arch’s bridge and Ella rock, all of which require a short climb. Alternatively, Ella offers a plethora of hiking trails through tea plantations and towards the towns two most famous waterfalls; Ravana and Bambaragala, both magnificent sights to behold.
Overnight stay in Ella

Unwind at Ella town which is a chic gem on its own. Its cozy cafes, hippy vibes and inviting kitchens will definitely catch you off guard. Alternatively, you could also relax at a variety of spas/massage parlors specializing in traditional Ayurvedic courses, which can be found in town. Of course, another spot you must visit is the eco-friendly 98 Acres, one of Sri Lanka’s best and most luxurious hotels. If you do get there or even better, spend your night at 98 Acres, do try their delightful high tea!
Overnight stay in Ella

With a travel time of approximately four and a half hours, head south to explore some of Sri Lanka’s calmest beaches, with Mirissa being one of our favourite spots on the southern coastline. Enroute, either jump aboard a morning (time permitting) or afternoon safari to explore Udawalawe National Park. This park is home to a variety mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Wild elephants are one of the park’s most sought after sights as they can be easily spotted amongst the luscious vegetation. Arrive at your accommodation in Mirissa at night to relax and rejuvenate.
Overnight stay in Mirissa

The coastal township of Mirissa is not only home to a great range of beachfront bars, luxury villas with infinity pools and fresh seafood by the shore but also some of Sri Lanka’s best beaches, making Mirissa an ideal resting point in your Sri Lankan travel itinerary. This coastal city is peaceful and allows travelers to indulge in a wide variety of activities, including relaxing, swimming, surfing and even jumping aboard for some whale and dolphin watching tours. The sighting of whales has been exponentially rising off the coast of Mirissa and as such is a highly recommended activity to add to your Sri Lankan beach holiday.
Overnight stay in Mirissa

Choose to either explore more of Mirissa or travel out to other nearby towns as part of this immersive Sri Lankan cultural experience. A favorite travel destination about an hour’s drive from Mirissa is Galle. Make sure to bring your camera as Galle is one of Sri Lanka’s most picturesque spots with neon sunsets, swaying coconut trees, elegant Dutch architecture, and golden sandy beaches. For those that want to hunt for local souvenirs, catch up on some shopping and get amongst summer’s latest fashion trends, check out Galle’s boutique shopping corner, next to its Dutch Hospital.
Overnight stay in Mirissa

From Mirissa, reach Colombo within three hours. Enroute are plenty of beaches to hop in and cool off, with Unawatuna being one of our favourites. Having reached Colombo, spend your last day exploring Sri Lanka’s commercial capital. Attractions in Colombo include the Gangarama Temple, Beira Lake and Galle Face Green. The ‘Galle Face Green’ is notably Colombo’s most iconic stretch of land surrounded by the most luxurious hotels in Sri Lanka. This stretch is also home to high-end restaurants, shopping boutiques, roof-top lounge bars and buffet’s which celebrate a range of international cuisines. Stays and evening dinners at these venues are quite popular and can be organised through our travel agents to give your Sri Lankan holiday an unforgettable end.
Overnight stay in Colombo