Itinerary

1. Day 1: Getting to the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa

   • From the airport in Colombo, we have a private driver and tour guide take us to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
   • En route, specifically in the town of Kurunegala, we can have lunch (or dinner depending on your arrival time into Colombo's international airport).
   • As this is the first day of our trip and jet-lag is common, we simply go for an evening stroll in Polonnaruwa after checking into the hotel.

2. Day 2: A Guided Bike Tour of an Ancient City Followed by a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park

   • Today starts with a guided bike tour of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
   • Afterwards, we have lunch.
   • Next, we are taken to Minneriya National Park.
   • There we go on a jeep safari.
   • In the evening, we are taken to Sri Lanka’s landmark hill, Sigiriya.
   • This is where our hotel is located.
   • Best known for pagodas and ruins, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
   • Another draw is the town’s population of toque macaques.
   • These monkeys have been living in the ruins since human occupation.
   • They continued to thrive long after the humans left.
   • The Minneriya National Park is best known as a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population dwelling in forests.

3. Day 3: Hiking the Ancient Rock of Sigiriya, Hiking Pidurangala Rock And Visiting a Cave Temple

   • Today starts with a guided hiking tour of the ancient sites of Sigiriya.
   • On the top of the rock, we will have a great view of the surroundings.
   • We should be returning to the bottom of the base around 9:30am.
   • We are then taken to Pidurangala Rock.
   • There we are also provided with a guided hiking tour.
   • We have lunch after hiking down Pidurangala Rock.
   • After lunch in Sigiriya, we are taken to Dambulla Cave Temple.
   • There we are given a guided tour.
   • Afterwards, we are taken to Sri Muthumariamman Temple, in Matale.
   • There we are given a guided tour.
   • Finally, we are taken to the city of Kandy.
   • This is where our hotel is located.
   • From all of today’s attractions, Sigiriya and Dambulla Cave Temple are the most popular.
   • Dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters (660 feet) high, Sigiriya is a site of historical and archaeological significance.
   • Sigiriya contains (A) ruins of an upper palace located on the flat top of the rock, (B) a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and a mirror wall with frescoes, (C) lower palaces located behind lavish gardens, and (D) moats and ramparts.
   • The Dambulla Cave Temple is composed of five caves, which have been converted into shrine rooms.
   • There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses.
   • This cave temple and World Heritage Site is one of most tourists’ favorite attractions in the country.

4. Day 4: A Tooth Temple, Royal Botanical Gardens, a Tea Factory Viewing And a Very Scenic Drive

   • Today starts with a guided tour of Kandy’s key attraction, the Temple of the Tooth.
   • Since ancient times, this temple has played an important role in local politics.
   • After exploring it, we are given a guided tour at Kandy’s second most popular attraction, the Royal Botanical Gardens.
   • Best known for its collection of orchids, these gardens attract around two million visitors annually.
   • The Royal Botanical Gardens are home to more than 4,000 species of plants, including spices and palm trees.
   • After walking around these gardens, we can purchase lunch.
   • After our meal, we are provided with a guided walking tour around town.
   • After discovering Kandy, we are taken to a tea factory.
   • En route, we pass through arguably the greatest landscape in the country.
   • The tea plantations in the countryside are absolutely gorgeous to look at.
   • After our tea factory tour, we are taken to a mountain called Adam’s Peak.
   • Our hotel is located in this area.

5. Day 5: Adam's Peak’s Sunrise Hike, a Train Ride Like No Other And Breathtaking Tea Plantations

   • Today we take a hike up Adam’s Peak.
   • It is a 2,243-meter (7,359-feet) tall conical mountain located in the center of the country.
   • Seeing from atop the sunrise and the surroundings, this is a hiker’s fantasy.
   • Note that views from above the mountain may be obstructed due to fog.
   • There really isn’t much that can be done about it.
   • Hopefully it will be a clear morning.
   • Hiking back to the base takes about 2.5 hours.
   • After our hike, we are taken to our nearby hotel so we can have breakfast, shower and check out.
   • Next, we are taken to the town of Nuwara Eliya.
   • There we can purchase lunch.
   • After our meal, we are taken by a quite popular and scenic train ride to the town of Ella.
   • This is where our hotel is located.

6. Day 6: Waterfalls, Temples And Hiking Little Adam’s Peak for Sunrise

   • The early morning starts with a hike to Little Adam’s Peak.
   • We watch the sunrise once reaching the top of the mountain.
   • The guided tour from the bottom to the top and back down takes a little under 2 hours.
   • Afterwards, we are taken to Dhowa Rock Temple.
   • There we are provided with a guided tour.
   • Next, we are taken to the Nine Arch Bridge.
   • This is where an antiquated train passes by.
   • It serves as a popular tourist attraction.
   • After lunch, we take a short drive to Ravana Falls.
   • These falls measure approximately 25 meters (82 feet) in height, featuring water falling from an oval-shaped concave rock outcrop.
   • Its cave lies 1,370 meters (4,490 feet) above sea level on the foundation of a cliff.
   • Excavations undertaken in the cave uncovered evidence of human habitation dating back 25,000 years.
   • There we are provided with a guided tour.
   • Afterwards, we are taken to Ravana Cave Temple.
   • There we are provided with another guided tour.
   • The day ends in Tissamaharama, a town near to Yala National Park.
   • Our hotel for the evening is located in Tissamaharama.

7. Day 7: Wildlife Jeep Safari, Stilt Fishing, Colonial Galle And the Beach Resort of Hikkaduwa

   • Today starts with an early-morning Jeep safari at Yala National Park.
   • Yala is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka.
   • It is best known for its variety of wild animals, such as elephants, leopards, and aquatic birds.
   • After the tour, we are taken to Tangalle.
   • There we can have lunch.
   • Next, we are taken to the town of Weligama, which is home to the tradition of stilt fishing.
   • Afterwards, we are taken to the somewhat colonial city of Galle.
   • Galle has a handful of worth-seeing monuments built during European colonization, such as its fort.
   • Our guided tour in Galle takes about 1 hour.
   • Lastly for today is a drive to Hikkaduwa.
   • This is where our hotel is located.
   • Hikkaduwa was once a hotspot for hippies but is now better known for its relatively nice resorts.
   • Hikkaduwa is especially popular with Russians.
   • Note that Hikkaduwa’s high season is November through March.

8. Day 8: Whale Watching Near Mirissa or Snorkeling Near Hikkaduwa

   • Today we go snorkeling near Hikkaduwa or whale watching near Mirissa.
   • It depends on what month you are traveling.
   • November through April is whale watching season.
   • If you are joining our tour between November and April, then we are taken to a village called Mirissa.
   • Early morning, we go whale-watching on a relatively large boat.
   • Dolphins are also often seen in the area.
   • The boat should return to Mirissa around 12:00pm.
   • We are then taken for lunch nearby.
   • Afterwards, we are taken back to our hotel.
   • If you are joining our tour between May and October, then we have the morning and early afternoon to recover after all of these adventurous activities.
   • Midday, we are picked up at the hotel and taken to a dock where we get onto a boat leaving for Coral Garden.
   • Near this area, specifically at the coral sanctuary, we can go snorkeling.
   • It features approximately seventy varieties of multi-colored corals.
   • In the late afternoon, we are picked up at the dock and taken back to our hotel.

9. Day 9: A Wetland Boat Cruise, a Striking Religious Temple And Colombo's National Museum

   • Today starts with a drive to Madu Ganga.
   • For whatever odd reason, not a lot of natives know about this place.
   • Nevertheless, this wetland boat cruise is definitely a highlight when visiting the country.
   • Madu Ganga might be one of the last remaining tracts of untouched mangrove forests in Sri Lanka.
   • What’s more, the inhabitants of its islets produce peeled cinnamon and cinnamon oil.
   • There we are provided with a guided boat tour.
   • Next, we are taken to a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda.
   • There we are provided with a guided tour.
   • Afterwards, we have lunch in the coastal town of Bentota.
   • After our meal, we are taken to the Raja Maha Vihara Temple, in Kelaniya.
   • This is arguably Sri Lanka’s most beautiful religious monument.
   • There we are provided with a guided tour.
   • We are then taken to Colombo, specifically to see its national museum.
   • It features the throne and crown of the Kandyan monarchs as well as many other exhibits telling the story of ancient Sri Lanka.
   • There we are provided with a guided tour.
   • Still in Colombo, we are then taken to our hotel.

10. Day 10: Our Tour Ends This Morning

    • Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Colombo.