Tailor-Made Opulence

Drive Time – Approximately 30 Minutes

Accommodation – The Wallawwa

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Arrive in Sri Lanka in the style you deserve, greeted by your chauffeur guide and transferred directly to Wallawwawhere you can relax and unwind in a serene village hideaway setting. 

Explore the village area which is an untouched authentic small village located around the small temple and market. Stretch back with a drink in your hand to shake off the jetlag and adjust to the new time zone. Watch the sunset over the coconut trees and villages while you relax and prepare yourself for the exciting days ahead.

Drive Time – Approx. 3.5 hours

Accommodation – Ulagalla Resort

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

After a good night’s sleep and an early breakfast, set out from the tranquil grounds of your garden estate and into the quiet green inland to explore the island’s ancient highlights of the Cultural Triangle. Your first stop will be a visit to the remains of majestic Anuradhapura – the beginning of Sri Lankan civilization, one of the greatest cities of its age, and home of The Sacred Bo Tree.

Anuradhapura ruins are one of the country’s most reminiscent sights. The extensive complex contains a opulent collection of architectural and archaeological marvels: royal palace pools exclusively for royalty and ruins of temples where the residents worshipped, vast dagobas (brick stupas), built during the region’s thousand years of rule. Look over the rock statues and paintings of Isurumuniya, see the sensation of the oldest tree in the country, Sri Maha Bodiya and be astounded over the temples which are still partly preserved from the prehistoric society.

Don’t forget to sample some freshly roasted cashew nuts from a roadside hut!

Relax at the resort, have a swim in the pool, ride the resident horses, cycle around and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Accommodation – Ulagalla Resort

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Today, depart early morning with a packed breakfast to climb one of the island’s most spectacular sights – the 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya. Rising vividly from the central plains, this mysterious rocky outcrop is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most theatrical sight.  Near-vertical walls ascend to a flat-topped peak that contains the remains of an early civilisation, thought to be formerly the epicenter of the brief kingdom of King Kassapa. Enjoy the climb up to the fortress with the antics of the local monkeys to amuse you and the art and architecture on every level to reward your climb.

En route sip some freshly brewed tea with ginger flecks, sweetened with jaggery from a roadside hut!

Go on an afternoon safari ride at Minneriya. In the arid season, as lakes and water holes dry up across the nearby zones, more than 300 elephants meet on the receding waters of the Minneriya Lake and tank at the centre of the national park. This enormous meeting of the gentle giants – popularly known as ‘The Gathering’ – is the largest in Asia. See the gathering as the elephants display their habits of travelling from as far away to drink, eat, socialize, protect their young and search for mates. Besides the elephants, the park is also home to Spotted Deer, Wild Buffalo, Wild Pig, Crocodiles, Peacocks and two main kinds of primates, the purple-faced Langur and toque macaque.

Top Tip: Best time to visit Minneriya is in the afternoon from 3PM – 6 PM, when the weather cools a little. Return to the resort and spend the rest of your evening at leisure.

Drive Time – Approx. 4 hours

Accommodation – The Hermitage

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Journey to the center today out of the dry-lands and up into the lavish green mountains to Kandy – the Hill Capitol and the final stronghold of the Sinhalese Kingdom.

En route, stop by Ritigala Forest Sanctuary to enjoy a calm and serene experience in nature. Deep inside the Ritigala Nature Reserve are the rambling, jungle-covered remnants of this widespread monastery. It looks like it was a place of refuge and also has mythical status. Reclusive monks found these caves ideal for an austere existence and there are over 70 caves discovered.

En route sip some refreshing king coconut from a small home to cool yourself down!

Also en route visit the artistic caves of Dambulla. Dambulla’s rock cave temple and its art that adorns the cave is an iconic Lankan symbol. It’s glory is recognized and that is why it holds the title of a world heritage site. It lies in the central part of the country and is also known as the Golden Temple. Inside the caves there are statues and paintings scattered all over, all connected to the life of Buddha and the events that occurred. The caves may be slightly touristic but its worth a visit and should not be missed or overlooked.

On arrival, check in to your hotel and relax for the day with a cocktail.

Accommodation – The Hermitage

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Awake early and follow the sound of the drums to pay a visit to the Temple of the Tooth. Join the Buddhists who, dressed in all white, offer puja while catching a glimpse of the great sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth with its golden roof holds the most important Buddhist object – a tooth of the Lord Buddha. During ‘puja’ (prayers), the protected compartment housing the same is open to visitors. It is symbolizes glorious history and Buddhist spirituality. Further, the visit to temple needs to be planned carefully. If you are interested in living in real traditions, daily service/pooja is ideal to take part in.  The Tooth Relic chamber would be opened during puja times where flowers and other offerings are being made while drummers at the lower hall continue their drumming performance. Further, you can witness Nanumura Mangakkya every Wednesday. It is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with a herbal preparation of scented water and fragrant flowers.

Pick a flower from the flower market in the city square and offer it to the Temple of the tooth along with a lit oil lamp for good fortune and peace.

Spend the day at your leisure, exploring the charming streets of Kandy or, maybe, visit the lovely Peradeniya Botanical Gardens with its incredible collection of tropical flora. This garden is one of the finest of its kind in South Asia and couldn’t be better located. The climate of Kandy, the Gardens and the central highlands, are surrounded by River Mahaweli. You’ll share the gardens with groups of monkeys, scores of wing-flapping fruit bats, and many canoodling couples.

Also visit the Kandy fresh fruit markets and vegetable stalls sample its’ goods. If, like most, you are inspired by Kandy’s pastoral surroundings, we can organize a nature walk with our resident naturalist or you may choose to visit the trio of historical temples just outside of the city.

Drive Time – Approx. 2.5 hours

Accommodation – Ceylon Tea Trails

Meal Basis – All Inclusive Basis

After a lovely breakfast, you will travel further south into the verdant green hills of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful and magic region – the Hill Country – proceeding to the quiet town of Hatton.

A ride by local train is the way to see this country best and is a highlight of any Sri Lankan visit. With its magnificent waterfalls, thriving tea culture, misty mountains and gorgeous views, the scenery must to be seen to believe. ‘Clicketty-clack’ through winding tracks and dark tunnels, past tea bushes that look like green carpets stretching along the misty hills as far as you can see. While on board you will meet food vendors with their offerings of train food and local performers who will perform for a few rupees. This is the complete experience! Don’t forget to try some street food in the train which are mostly freshly cut pineapple slices or deep fried vades!

Upon arrival at your luxurious bungalow, meet your personal butler, have lunch and then spend the rest of the day at your leisure with a cup of tea in your hand during high tea, enjoying your surroundings and the pleasant change in temperature. Have a scrumptious tailor-made dinner as per your wish.

Accommodation – Ceylon Tea Trails

Meal Basis – All Inclusive Basis

Today you can truly soak up the beauty of this magical place on all inclusive basis wanting nothing more! You can take the tea experience as well with the resident planter in order to see and understand the tea manufacturing and making process. If you wish, take a walk through the unbelievably beautiful tea plantations, or just relax by the pool amidst these truly stunning surroundings. This is the ideal setting for biking and trekking against the magnificent backdrop of mountains, winding roads, reservoirs, and waterfalls. If you prefer to observe life on a working tea estate, play croquet on the lawn, enjoy a spa treatment, sunbathe alongside the pool or simply unwind while being pampered by your butler – this is the ideal place. All meals and beverages are unlimited and included during your stay. Don’t forget to have the famous scones and Earl Grey tea during the afternoon cream tea session!

Drive Time – Approx. 6 hours

Accommodation – Aditya Resort & Spa

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

After a couple of pampered days in the mountains, you may be ready to explore the island’s sun and sand. You’ve waited long enough! Descend the hills and head south to the dry-zone and into the decadent, white sand beaches of Rathgama – Hikkaduwa, in the Galle region.

Take a cooking class with a home cook and visit a small village market to pick your ingredients before cooking your own lunch under her friendly guidance!

Do not forget to drop into and explore the Galle fort which is also a Unesco World Heritage Site. This historic city is a delight to explore on cycles or foot, a boundlessly striking trading port containing grand Dutch-colonial architecture, grand mansions and museums and ancient churches. No visit to the Island is complete without visiting picturesque Galle city which is a perfect combination of blue ocean, history and culture. This is a walled city surrounded by ramparts. Galle Fort is the slow beating heart of Galle.  Visit the fresh fruit and vegetable markets in Galle and sample some fruit and vegetables! Mask making, stilt fishermen viewing or spice plantation tours are all activity options around. Explore the fresh fish, vegetable and fruit markets and sample the goods whilst having a conversation with the sellers and farmers around the area!

Accommodation – Aditya Resort & Spa

Meal Basis – Bed and Breakfast

Today, treat yourself with a long luxurious day on the beach. Spend the day at your leisure.

You can visit the beaches of Hikkaduwa and snorkel among the corals. Or else you can also visit the secret beaches of Dalawalla and Hiriketiya to have a truly memorable beach experience. Also you can visit Unawatune and Mirissa beaches which are also incredibly popular. With palm-lined beaches, turquoise waters and a good selection of guesthouses and restaurants, they are very popular with travellers. The resort’s location is superb, with the historic city of Galle minutes away and a wooded headland to the west dotted with tiny coves.

If you haven’t gotten your fill of wildlife, today you can go on a whale-watching excursion or tour the mangroves with one of our skilled naturalists. Mirissa is positioned, just south of the island, which makes it ideal to view blue whales where they ascend from the deep and break the surface to feed on krill. Blues Whales, the biggest of earth’s mammals, along with Sperm Whales, Orcas, Spinner Whales, and dolphins are among the species that can be viewed daily from the shimmering blue waters. This will be an approximately five hour boat journey both ways and its not for the faint of heart!

Drive Time – Approx. 2.5 hours

Accommodation – Maniumpathy

Now, having seen rural Sri Lanka in its entire splendor, head north to the island’s urban center of Colomboto experience the bustling color of “cosmopolitan” Sri Lanka and enjoy its frenetic energy.

On arrival, you may wish to explore the unique historical sites, and, maybe do a little shopping. Colombo is the largest city in Sri Lanka and is known as the commercial capital. This city was originally a small seaport and due to its strategic location on the East-West sea trade routes used by Roman, Arab, Persians and Chinese trade sailing vessels over 2,000 years ago, it has always been a part of the world’s history.

Drive around the city to see the architecture and history and then get ready for a street food tour! This is a great way to get a sense of how life is for the locals. You will not only taste a large variety of food and know about its origins but also touch on the history of the different areas you will be visiting. The only thing you need to make sure is to come hungry as there will be a lot of food. You will meet at the Galle Face Green, the ideal place for eating street food overlooking the sunset! Here you can try a number of different snacks and short eats and walk over to the nearby Slave Island neighborhood and visit one of their many small local “hole-in-the-wall” food joints. Not only is the food amazing but they are located in beautiful old colonial buildings although very worn out in a charming way.

Spend the evening at your leisure and unwind with a dinner at Ministry of Crab restaurant!

Drive Time – Approx. 1 hour

Though it will be difficult to say goodbye, all good things come to an end. Your chauffeur guide will return you by way of a scenic drive to the international airport for your departing flight and a safe journey home.