Sri Lanka: Wonders & Wildlife - Premium Adventure

Day 1  Negombo    
Upon arrival at the airport, you are met by our airport representative and guide and transferred to the west-coast city of Negombo. We then have the afternoon at leisure, allowing us to enjoy the many facilities at the resort. We come together as a group for a welcome cocktail before dinner, and the tour leader provides a welcome briefing.  

Day 2  Negombo to Habarana  
After breakfast, we travel to Habarana. En route, we stop at the Umandawa Global Buddhist Village, a ‘walking monastery’ with hamlets, gravel paths, gardens, organic farms, ponds and sculptures. After our food, we visit the Dambulla cave temple complex before completing our journey to Habarana.  

Day 3  Habarana  
Following breakfast, we take a village tour around Habarana. We help a local family to prepare and cook a traditional meal of vegetarian curries and steamed rice before observing various rituals performed by a local monk for the alms-giving ceremony.  The meal will be shared between us, the monks, and the host family. Late afternoon, we visit Sigiriya, an icon of Sri Lanka.  

Day 4  Habarana to Kandy  
After breakfast, we head to Kandy. Along the way, we visit a spice garden for a delightful sensory experience. We then continue to Kandy, the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. After checking into our riverside hotel, we have the afternoon at leisure.  

Day 5  Kandy to Gal Oya    
After breakfast, we visit the Temple of the Tooth. The last king of Kandy, having embraced Buddhism, made the town home to the tooth relic of the Lord Buddha. We have lunch at a local restaurant and then proceed to our glamping site near Gal Oya National Park.  

Day 6  Gal Oya    
After breakfast, we have a boat safari on the largest lake in Sri Lanka, Senanayake Samudraya. In the afternoon, we explore Gal Oya with a village chief from the indigenous, forest-dwelling Veddha community. He leads us on a walk through the jungle of his ancestors, bringing the forest to life by explaining how his community uses medicinal plants, and identifying ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings.  

Day 7  Gal Oya to Ella    
For those who wish to explore, there’s an early morning walk to Kiri Oruwa Lake. We then return to the hotel for breakfast, before driving to Ella. This afternoon, once we’re checked into the hotel we head out to visit a private tea plantation and factory.  

Day 8  Ella    
After breakfast, we stretch our legs with a 5.4mi (8.7km) hike leaving from Ella town. We follow a train track through the Ella Forest Reserve and visit the Nine Arches Bridge, also known as the Bridge in the Sky. After completing the 2hr 30min walk, we travel by tuk-tuk to a local restaurant where we have an interactive cookery experience where together we will prepare traditional recipes and cook several Sri Lankan dishes. Afternoon at leisure.  

Day 9  Ella to Yala National Park  
After breakfast, we head to Yala National Park. Along the way, we visit the Elephant Transit Home. It’s then on to Yala National Park, said to be home to the highest concentration of leopards in the world. Here we jump into 4x4s for an evening safari.  

Day 10  Yala National Park to Weligama  
In the morning, we have our second opportunity to meet the wild and wonderful animals of Yala National Park with a 4×4 safari. Then, after breakfast, we leave for the south-coast town of Weligama, popular for its sandy beach, swimming, snorkelling and surfing.  

Day 11 Weligama  
Today is yours to spend relaxing on the beach or wandering around the local shops and people watching from a beach bar.  

Day 12  Weligama to Galle  
After breakfast, we transfer to Galle, said to be the ancient seaport of Tarshish where King Solomon obtained gems and spices. This Unesco World Heritage site is where the Portuguese first landed in Sri Lanka in 1505.

Day 13  Galle to Colombo  
After breakfast, we take a boat safari on the Madu Ganga. As we cruise along the calm river waters, enjoy the tranquil surroundings and lush greenery of the mangrove forests. We arrive in Colombo in the afternoon, the commerce capital of Sri Lanka. This evening, after a brief city tour, our leader takes us out for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.  

Day 14  Colombo  
The adventure ends today. You are transferred to Bandaranaike International Airport for your international flight home. If you’d like a bit more time to explore Sri Lanka, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.