Itinerary

1. Day 1: Colombo – Sigiriya

   • Arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

   • Transfer to the hotel.

   • Pick up from your hotel and start the drive to Pinnawala (3 hours).

   • Reach the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in time to see the orphaned baby elephants being bottle-fed. You can also feed and pet them.

   • Have lunch at the restaurant overlooking the river, where the elephants, both young and adults, can be seen bathing and playing.

   • Visit the Pinnawala Millennium Elephant Foundation and you can do many activities with elephants like riding on them, walking with them, bathing them, and feed them etc. You can also visit an elephant museum.

   • Proceed to Dambulla to see the UNESCO World Heritage cave complex.

   • Climb up to the world-renowned cave temples and admire the fascinating interiors with vibrant décor and impressive Buddha statues. Then, visit the Golden Temple.

   Later in the evening, get back on the road to Sigiriya.

   Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Sigiriya.

2. Day 2: Sigiriya - Minneriya/Kawudulla - Sigiriya

   • Head straight to the Sigiriya Lion Rock early in the morning. This is the ideal time to beat the heat and crowd at this popular tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage rock fortress.

   • Make your way up the Lion Rock to the ancient citadel on top and take in the breath-taking scenery around you.

   • Climb down and explore the Royal water gardens at the base and take stunning photos of the rock after walking around the terraced summit and learning all about the ancient capital.

   • Proceed to Polonnaruwa archaeological site and begin by exploring one of the best-kept ruins of ancient Ceylon - the UNESCO World Heritage City of Polonnaruwa. This was the Capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to 13th century, which was a well-planned medieval city defended by enclosing walls, graced by palaces, shrines, monasteries, pavilions, parks, ponds and irrigation lakes. Polonnaruwa is strewn with ruins in a resplendent state of preservation.

   • Visit the 'Gal Vihara', which consists of statues of the recumbent- standing and seated Buddha, which has been cut from a single granite wall and rank among the true masterpieces of Sri Lankan Art.

   • Have lunch and proceed for Wild Elephant Safari at Minneriya or Kawudulla National Park.

   Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Sigiriya.

3. Day 3: Sigiriya – Kandy

   • Proceed to Kandy. This lovely city was the last Capital of the Kingdoms of Sri Lanka before it became a colony of the British Empire.

   • Visit a Spice and Herb Garden, the Nalanda Gedige and the vibrant Hindu Temple in Matale (3-5 hour drive depending on stopovers).

   • Reach Kandy by afternoon and check-in to the hotel and relax for few hours.

   • Explore the Upper Lake viewpoint, Kandy Lake, and Kandyan Dancer’s Cultural Show in the evening.

   Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

4. Day 4: City Tour of Kandy

   • Visit the world-famous Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. The temple itself is a sight to behold. You will also see beautiful white and gold stupas around. There is also a small museum here that showcases stories and information on Buddhism. Make sure you are there early for the ceremony and join the devotees to get a glimpse of ‘Buddha’s Tooth Relic’.

   • Proceed to Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden and enjoy the scenic beauty.

   • Stop by for lunch.

   • Traverse a Gem Museum after lunch.

   • Continue for a sightseeing tour of Kandy or go on a shopping spree. Kandy is well-known for gemstone shopping; your guide can recommend some shops. Ceylon tea, batik textiles and local crafts can also make for good souvenirs.

   Relax in the evening and overnight stay at the hotel in Kandy.

5. Day 5: Kandy – Mirissa

   • Have breakfast and proceed to Nuwara Eliya. On the way, see tea plantations, tea factory and spectacular views including those of waterfalls (4-6 hours drive).

   • Reach Little England and enjoy the change of scenery as well as the weather, which is a relief from the sweltering cities.

   • Go boating on the Gregory lake and visit the Post Office operating in a colonial Tudor Manor.

   • Head to Nanu Oya Railway Station to catch your train to Ella and experience Sri Lanka’s nice train trip.

   • Enjoy one of the most sought-after train journeys in the world though it is only for a short distance. The train meanders through tea plantations, hills and simply untouched nature, giving you about 3 hours of an uninterrupted picturesque view.

   • Get picked from the station at Ella.

   • Enjoy the lunch at Ella and begin the drive towards Mirissa.

   • Visit Ravana Waterfall en route (5 hours drive).

   Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Mirissa.

6. Day 6: Mirissa - Hikkaduwa

   • Go on a Whale and Dolphin Watching tour early in the morning.

   • Proceed to Hikkaduwa. 

   • Visit Galle Fort, Stick Fishing, and other spots en route.

   • Enjoy the coral reef and colourful fish by glass-bottomed boat at Hikkaduwa Beach.

   • Spend some time on the beach or enjoy activities like diving and snorkelling.

   • Enjoy the untouched beauty of this quaint beach town for the rest of the day.

   • Have dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel in Hikkaduwa.

7. Day 7: Hikkaduwa – Bentota - Colombo

   • Spend some time on the beach early in the morning or enjoy activities like diving and snorkelling.

   • Have breakfast and pack up and start your drive along the coast to Colombo.

   • Take a quick tour of the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, where you learn all about how they are attempting to raise the survival rate of sea turtles.

   • Visit Sri Lanka Tsunami Centre and Photo Museum.

   • Opt for a Madu Ganga (river) boat safari – The ride starts from the place where the Madu Ganga falls to the Indian Ocean. Madu lagoon is a very wide and a beautiful lagoon in Sri Lanka. It is in the wet zone of Sri Lanka with a high biodiversity. Madu River has been proclaimed a Ramsa wetland in the world in 2004. This is very famous and popular among the lovers of nature in the world.

   • Reach Colombo by evening and proceed to Colombo Airport for departure.