Day 1 - Departure City - Colombo

Flight departure to Colombo. Overnight on board.

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Day 2 - Colombo

Dinner

Arrival at Colombo International Airport, meet and assist by our staff. If your arrival in Colombo is between 06:00 and 09:00, transfer to the city and panoramic tour. Enjoy a city tour visiting various historical, religious, and commercial sites, including the famous and bustling port in Tettah, the elite residential district of Cinnamon Gardens, Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, and much more. After the tour, transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
For arrivals after 09:00, direct transfer to the hotel.

IMPORTANT: The program is based on an arrival time in Colombo between 06:00 and 09:00. Once all passengers (arriving within this timeframe) have gathered, the city tour will begin. If you choose a flight arriving earlier, you can request an early check-in at an additional cost. If you arrive later, you will need to book an optional transfer to join the group for the tour or go directly to the hotel.

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Day 3 - Colombo - Dambulla - Habarana / Sigiriya

Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast at the hotel, we head towards Dambulla, stopping along the way at the Silver Temple (Ridi Viharaya) in Kurunegala. Here, we get our first insight into Buddhist culture at this 2nd-century AD temple, home to the first Arahats—those who achieved nirvana. We will admire the different Buddha postures and their meanings.

We then continue to Dambulla, where we take a short walk with a breathtaking view. Once you see a row of flags, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the entrance of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important pilgrimage site for over 2,200 years. This cave monastery houses five sanctuaries and is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. It is particularly notable for its 157 Buddha statues and murals covering an area of 2,100 m².

Transfer to the hotel in Sigiriya or Habarana with the rest of the day free.
Dinner and overnight stay at the selected hotel.

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Day 4 - Sigiriya - Polonnaruwa - Sigiriya

Breakfast and dinner

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading to the iconic Sigiriya Rock, one of Sri Lanka’s most legendary sites. The sight is spectacular, as the rock rises 200 meters above the jungle, dominating the horizon. At its summit lie the ruins of an ancient royal citadel from the 5th century.

Access is through a grand entrance shaped like a lion carved into the rock, giving the name Sigiriya, which means "Lion Rock" in Sinhalese. Over time, it was abandoned until a British officer rediscovered it in the 19th century, overgrown by vegetation. Admire the famous frescoes known as the "Celestial Maidens," painted with natural pigments on plaster.

We then leave this UNESCO World Heritage Site and head into the jungle towards another: the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Polonnaruwa features the ruins of the Royal Palace and other significant structures. Highlights include Gal Viharaya, with three magnificent Buddha statues in standing, seated, and reclining postures, the Audience Hall, the Lotus Bath, and the statue of King Parakramabahu. The site also contains monuments from important religious sites.

Transfer to the hotel in Sigiriya (Standard Category) or Habarana (Superior and Deluxe Categories) with the rest of the day free.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

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Day 5 - Sigiriya - Matale - Kandy

Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast, we head to the Matale Spice Garden. This small town is known for its pleasant climate and fragrant spices. At the garden, we will learn about the intricate processes that make Sri Lanka one of the world's top spice producers. Additionally, enjoy a 10-minute Ayurvedic massage at the Matale gardens.

Transfer to Kandy.
Tonight, we will attend a traditional Sinhalese dance performance in Kandy.
Dinner and overnight stay in Kandy.

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Day 6 - Kandy - Nuwara Eliya

Breakfast and dinner

Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a tour of Kandy’s top attractions, located on the shores of its namesake lake. This UNESCO World Heritage City was the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom before falling under foreign rule.

We visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which houses one of Buddhism’s most venerated relics. We also admire the royal palace, gardens, and the beautiful artificial lake that surrounds much of the city.

Then, we transfer to a tea plantation and factory, where we observe the tea-making process from leaf to cup. Enjoy a tasting of authentic Ceylon tea, one of the finest blends in the world.

We continue through rolling green hills covered in tea plantations towards Nuwara Eliya ("City of Light" in Sinhalese), a picturesque town on a lakeshore. Known as "Little England" due to its lush landscapes and colonial architecture, it offers a refreshing change of scenery.

Dinner and overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

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Day 7 - Nuwara Eliya - Tissamaharama

Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Ella, traveling through the breathtaking landscapes of Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands. We enjoy scenic views, including the stunning Ravana Falls.

From Ella, we continue to Yala National Park, where we embark on a 2-3 hour safari in an open-air Jeep. Yala is home to elephants, wild boars, buffaloes, leopards, bears, deer, crocodiles, and large flocks of native and migratory birds.

Transfer to the hotel in Tissamaharama (Standard Category) or Yala (Superior and Deluxe Categories) with the rest of the day free.
Dinner and overnight stay in the selected destination.

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Day 8 - Tissamaharama - Weligama - Galle - Beruwala / Bentota

Breakfast and dinner

After breakfast, we embark on a coastal journey along the Indian Ocean to Weligama. Here, we stop to observe local fishermen practicing their unique stilt fishing technique, where they balance on wooden poles set 20-50 meters out at sea.

We then continue to Galle, a historic city on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast and the best example of a Portuguese fortress in the country. Built during their 153-year rule of Ceilão (Ceylon), the Galle Fort occupies an entire peninsula and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inside its walls, we find numerous buildings from the Dutch colonial era, including a charming church with a typical Dutch façade, the old hospital, the governor’s residence, and more. After the Dutch, the British took over, leaving landmarks like the Anglican church and the Meera Mosque.

Transfer to the hotel in Bentota or Beruwala.
Dinner and overnight stay in the selected destination.

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Day 9 - Beruwala - Departure City

Breakfast

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel before transferring to Colombo Airport.
Depending on the departure point (hotels in Bentota or Beruwala), the transfer to the airport will take between 2 and 3 hours. The included transfer is scheduled for flights departing from Colombo between 10:30 and 13:00; for other flight times, a supplement will apply (please check).

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