A Glimpse of Sri Lankan Culture and Heritage

Drive Time – Approximately 20 minutes

Accommodation – Jetwing Sea

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast Basis

Arrive in Sri Lanka in the style you deserve, first being greeted by your chauffeur guide, and the being transferred directly to Negombo where you can relax and unwind.

With the laid back feel of the countryside and warm Sri Lankan hospitality, your resort it is the ideal place to start your perfect Sri Lanka travel experience with a view of the ocean and small villages. You can even enjoy a bicycle ride in the oceanside roads around the hotel and get to know Sri Lankan culture better.

Drive Time – Approximately 4 hours

Accommodation – Kassapa Lions Rock

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Commence your Sri Lanka holidays by proceeding to the cultural triangle after visiting the Negombo fish market in the morning.

Don’t forget to enjoy some crunchy cashews sold by the girls in ‘Kaju gama’ on the way. They dress in colorful dresses and emerge from coconut leaf huts to hail vehicles to buy cashews.
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You’ll be able to enjoy some freshly roasted cashew nuts here in this small village.

En route explore Dambulla in the late afternoon to see the sun set from one of the Sri Lanka’s most magical Buddhist treasures – the spectacular cave temples to explore the paintings depicting the Life and preaching of Lord Buddha. Enjoy a stunning sunset to mark a perfect end for the day.

In the afternoon visit an authentic village in Harabana where you can walk around the area, interact with the locals, take a catamaran ride and have evening snacks in a farmers hut.

Afterwards continue to your resort in Sigiriya, check-in and enjoy some down time surrounded by paddy fields

Drive Time – Approx. 4 hours drive

Accommodation – Kassapa Lions Rock

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Wake up early to the sound of birds chirping and start off your day with the tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by greenery. After a hearty breakfast set off to climb one of the island’s most spectacular sights, the rock fortress of Sigiriya.
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Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka’s most sensual sights that is rising dramatically from the central plains.    .

After coming down do not forget to enjoy a drink of king coconut from a road side vendor to refresh yourself and to beat the heat. The head to the kingdom of Anuradhapura and Mihintale. The ruins in Anuradhapura are one of South Asia’s most reminiscent sights.

Mihintale; the sleepy village and temple complex holds a special place in the annals of Sri Lankan lore. In 247 BC King Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura was hunting a stag on Mihintale Hill when he was approached by Mahinda, son of the great Indian Buddhist emperor, Ashoka.

On the way back make a stop at a road side stall to enjoy a piping hot coconut ‘roti’ (flat bread) straight from stove.

Drive Time – Approx. 4 hours

Accommodation – OZO Kandy

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast Basis

Have an early breakfast and then explore the wondrous ruins and monuments of the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa. It was the home to the Sinhalese kings and queens of old; it’s a heritage site full of ancient gems to discover! Without a doubt, the best way to explore the ancient city is by bicycle. This way you can get out in the fresh open air, cover a lot of the sites. You’ll meander through stupas, ancient palaces, step wells, temples, Buddha statues, king coconut pit stops and more.

Continue your journey to Kandy. En route make a stop at Matale Spice Gardens, Nalanda Gedige and the Aluvihare temple. Set in the foothills of Matale, surrounded by giant boulders, this monastery is a low-key, but intriguing site. The sight has some Buddhist caves, paintings, and a few stupas. Also if you are lucky the Matale Heritage center will be open where you can step in and see the local ladies make handlooms for their empowerment.

Later explore Kandy. Some days Kandy’s skies seem perpetually bruised, with stubborn mist clinging to the hills surrounding the city’s beautiful centerpiece lake.. Visit the Temple of the tooth temple and cultural dance show. Before you enter the temple buy some flowers and oil lamps from a street side shop. Once you are in the temple offer the flowers to the tooth relic and light the oil lamps and obtain the blessings.

Drive Time – Approx. 3 hours train journey

Accommodation – Heritance Tea Factory

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

In the morning, do not forget to enjoy a visit to the colorful vegetable, fruit and flower market which offers everything from fresh produce, aromatic spices, clothes, jewelry shops and various knick-knacks at bargains.

Then hop on to the morning train to travel up those verdant green hills and venture further into the most beautiful and magical region – the Hill Country – proceeding to the quiet town of Nuwara Eliya. With its cool air, magnificent waterfalls, and thriving tea culture, the enchanting allure of these hills has to be seen to believe. You will take winding roads through the gorgeously lush plantations past tea bushes trimmed by regular picking that look like green sculptures stretching up and down the misty hills as far as the eye can see.

Visit a tea estate and factory en route to you hotel and see how Ceylon tea is produced. Walk through the tea fields and watch closely how the colorfully clad tea pluckers carefully pick the prized “two leaves and bud” that go into making the world finest Ceylon Tea.

Then explore the quaint Nuwaraeilya. With brick and stone-built houses, rose gardens and perfect lawns, in many ways the town resembles a ‘small English village’. Engage in a walk around the Gregory Lake and explore the local fresh fruit and vegetable market.
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You can enjoy a mug of beer in a local colonial pub with some locals.

Check into the unique property which is a tea factory converted in a hotel and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure with a cup of tea in your hand, enjoying your surroundings and the pleasant change in temperature.

Drive Time – Approx. 5 hours

Accommodation – Thaulle Resort

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

From the hills of Nuwara Eliya descend to the jungles of Yala. Are you ready to spice up your holiday with some adventure? You will be heading to the Yala National Park which is the second largest National Park in Sri Lanka and which houses some of the most diverse wild animals.

Rumble on an afternoon safari via a 4×4 jeep. Yala National Park gives the best opportunity to witness Sri Lanka’s broad variety of wildlife: colorful painted stork in flocks are seen perched at the shores of lagoon where the crocodiles have chosen to doze off; lovely fantailed peacocks in their resplendent blues and greens parade about amidst the woods where monkeys hang, leap and chatter; in the bush jungle are the elephants; crossing the tracks and wandering off into the thorny scrub jungle and the star attractions of the park: the leopard and sloth bears.

Depending on your timing and luck you will be able to get a glimpse of a leopard that would laze around on a rock catching the sunset or praying for food

Enjoy a well-deserved massage at the spa and wind down with a cocktail.

Drive Time – Approx. 3 hours

Accommodation – Insight Resort, Ahangama

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Go on another early morning safari at Yala to have the opportunity to see various different set of animals and birds. As you slowly proceed along the winding roads of the park you can witness how the nature comes to live with the dawn of sunlight. Remember to keep your camera ready to capture the mesmerizing events that you are about to witness.  The park is the habitat for many endemic and migratory birds, majestic elephants, fine-feathered peacocks, deer, buffaloes, crocodiles.

After enjoying a late breakfast, with a camera full of wildlife photos, you will head out of the jungle and into the charming town of Ahangama, one of Sri Lanka’s most alluring sea-side retreats. Drop into the white virgin tea estate to see how virgin and organic tea is produced.

On the way in Tissamaharama, you’re sure to see wayside stalls with stacks of clay pots on display. Sometimes these pots, strung together, hang from the branches of trees. These stalls are selling a local delicacy: buffalo curd. Enjoy a cup of curd with locally made treacle. Sri Lankans call curd “Meekiri” it’s so delicious and it makes mass produced yoghurt seem insipid.

Arrive at your hotel, check-in and spend some time at leisure.

Drive Time – Approx. 30 mins one way

Accommodation – Insight Resort, Ahangama

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Spend your last day pampering yourself on one of the area’s glorious white sand beaches. Whether you want to catch a wave and surf, soak up the sun with your toes in the sand, sample cuisine at the various beach restaurants around, or just meander through the coconut groves and collect seashells in the tide pools, the beaches around Ahangama offer countless ways to enjoy your last day in Sri Lanka.

Galle Fort is a wonderful place to wander, soak up its rich history, and do some shopping while the area also boasts some fantastic beaches and opportunities for surfing or other water sports. Spend some time exploring this beautiful fort town and its rich history. Cycle through the fort’s sleepy, cobblestone streets to experience the quiet lifestyle of Sri Lanka’s southern coast.

Next stop at the fresh produce market where fruits and vegetables of different shapes, sizes and colors, most native to Sri Lanka like the Mangos, Rambutan, Banana Blossom, Breadfruit, Jack, Egg Plant, Drumsticks and Snake Gourd, along with plenty of native greens, herbs, spices all enticingly laid out in rows. Do not forget to talk to the vendors if you want to know more about the produce and learn the rule of thumb in choosing ‘just the right’ fruit or vegetable. Walk along the market filled with local people and vendors shouting out to bring more customers to their vending place.

Also when you are here, do not forget to stop and witness the amazing cliff jumpers who jump from ramparts of the Galle fort to the deep sea. The most adventurous part about it is that they do not have a safe landing place as the sea surrounding the fort has a lot of rocks. But those adrenaline junkies run to the edge and dive head first in to the sea!

In the afternoon do not miss to watch the sunset from the fort walls over the Indian Ocean. It’s a festive and happy affair; cricket games are played on the grass below, families gather to see off the last of the day, and travelers mingle and chat while Mother Nature streaks the sky all kinds of shades of blue, orange, pink and purple. It is definitely not to be missed.

Drive Time – Approx. 2.5 hours

Though it will be difficult to say goodbye, all good things come to an end. You will be taken comfortably to the international airport in time for your return flight.