11 Days Discover Sri Lanka

Negombo Beach

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic

Enjoy Train Ride in Sri Lanka

Horton Plain: World's End

Safari in Sri Lanka

Marvellous Views along the journey in Sri Lanka

Join us to discover the best of Sri Lanka!

Customise trip is welcome!

 

Day 01: ARRIVE COLOMBO AIRPORT – NEGOMBO
Day 02: NEGOMBO – SIGIRIYA ROCK – MINNEARIYA NATIONAL PARK (BD)
Day 03: KANDY TEMPLE OF SACRED TOOTH RELICS (BD)
Day 04: VILLAGE TREK (4-10km) (BD)
Day 05:  TRAIN RIDE (1-HR) + TEA FACTORY + NUWARA ELIYA HIGHLANDS (BD)
Day 06:  HORTON PLAINS TREK (3-4 HRS, 9KM) – UDAWALAWA ELEPHANT HOME (BD)
Day 07:  SINHARAJA RAINFOREST BIRD WATCHING – DRIVE (BD)
Day 08:  SINHARAJA RAINFOREST BIRD WATCHING – ON FOOT (BD)
Day 09: AHAGAMA BEACH (BD)
Day 10: GALLE – COLOMBO (B)
Day 11: DEPART (B)

DAY 01: ARRIVE COLOMBO AIRPORT – NEGOMBO 
Meet & Greet by tour guide at the airport. Thereafter proceed to Negombo.

Negombo – sometimes known as “Little Rome” due to the profusion of Christian Churches, this archetypical fishing village has now grown to a major beach resort in the west coast, north of Colombo and 15 minutes from the International Airport. The wide sandy beaches and safe sea bathing are major attractions, as is the fish market where busy trading of a variety of fish, prawns and crabs takes place each morning (except Sunday) when the fishing craft return to shore. Traditional large sailed outrigger canoes are a splendid sight in this village which was once a trading port for the Portuguese and Dutch. Other attractions are the old Dutch fort gate built in 1672 now a part of the prison and the Dutch Canal which was then a supply route for the Dutch administration.

Overnight stay at Beacon Beach or similar

DAY 02: SIGIRIYA – MINNEARIYA NATIONAL PARK (BD)
Morning after breakfast, check out and drive to Sigiriya where you will explore the rock fortress.

Imagine walking through the mouth of a Lion lying atop a 200-meter-tall rock and enter a king’s fortress like no other. With a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape it was the perfect location for a fortress of a king anticipating an invasion. The king surrounded his fortress with a boulder and water garden that to date sprouts water on a rainy day. The frescos painted on to the rock are ones not to miss as they show off the mastery of the artists of old. The rocky outcrop and the surrounding areas were in use by humans much before the time of King Kashyapa. Aligala (Elephant rock) situated close to the main fortress is one such location where early man occupied the area over 5000 years ago. Termed as the 8th wonder of the world this complex used as fortress and as a monastery is truly a marvel of architecture, design and art and is something that should not be missed by anyone traveling to the island.

Afternoon drive to Minneriya National Park for safari. Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8890 hectares of Minneriya NP is an ideal eco-tourism location in Sri Lanka. The park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to Sri Lanka’s favourites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. However, the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3rd century AD by King Mahasen). During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze on the grasses as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in.

Overnight Kassap Lions Rock or similar

DAY 03: KANDY (BD)
Morning after breakfast, check out and proceed to Kandy.

Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings’ era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is both an administrative and religious city and is also the capital of the Central Province. Visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world. and also a world heritage site in Kandy. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country.

Overnight Stay at Polwaththa Eco-Lodges or similar

DAY 04 VILLAGE TREK (BD)
After breakfast you take a village trek with Waterfall experience (4-10 KM walk with a ride back in our tuk-tuk or jeep: soft-medium). The walk begins from Pollwatte Lodge and through quaint villages where the villagers go about their daily chores at their own pace. Visit their houses and see, for example, how they make treacle and jaggery (syrup and sugar blocks made from the sap of a palm tree). Take a “Botany lesson” by our trained Guide of the various trees you will see on the way, such as cloves, pepper, nutmeg, coffee, cocoa, jack fruit, bread-fruit, arecanut, mangosteen, mango, passion-fruit, etc. You will also see rice-fields, and time permitting, a glimpse of the nearby reforestation program – life in harmony with nature……and a breath-taking view of the lake surrounded by majestic mountains. You have the option to walk the entire 10 km to the waterfall or a part thereof – min. 4 km (rest of the way with tuktuk/jeep).

Overnight Stay at Polwaththa Eco-Lodges or similar

DAY 05: TRAIN RIDE – TEA FACTORY – NUWARA ELIYA (BD)
After early morning breakfast, check out and drive to Kandy Railway Station / Hatton Railway Station to take local train to Nanu Oya. This stretch of rail road running through the mountains & valleys covered with tea plantations like green velvet is regarded as one of the most picturesque one in the world. While the train pulls on the winding road, one can witness the wide vistas of Sri Lankan central hills. along one of the most picturesque train tracks in the world.

After a 1 or 3 hour train ride, your guide will pick you up at the station and you will then make your way to Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya is a hill city means “city on the plain (table land)” or “city of light”. Enjoy the picturesque landscape and temperate climate here. At an altitude of 1,868 m, the city is considered to be the most important location for tea production in Sri Lanka. The city is overlooked by Pidurutalagala, the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka.

Visit a factory where the all-important conversion to “made” black tea happens. The machinery used is of very traditional British design, some as old as 100 years. The process is a very artisanal one, unchanged for a century. The tour ends with a tasting of different grades of this great brew. Together with tea-infused cuisine, tea-based spa treatments and trekking trails that traverse tea-blanketed hills, you can literally lose yourself in tea.

Overnight stay at Heaven Seven Nuwara Eliya or similar.

Note: Train ticket is subject to availability.

DAY 06: HORTON PLAINS – UDAWALAWE (BD)
Early morning check out and collect packed breakfast from Hotel for drive to Horton Plains.

Horton Plains national park is situated on Sri Lanka’s highest plateau over 2100m above sea level in the central mountains. It is a strange and tranquil region with an astounding variety of scenery – from misty mountains to grasslands, from marshes to ice cold streams, lakes and waterfalls. Sri Lanka’s best flavoured “high grown” teas are from estates in the surrounding areas.

Two highlights are the spectacular view from ‘Worlds End’ where the plateau plunges almost 1000m in a sheer drop and the beautiful “Bridal Veil” Bakers Falls. Another cliff known as the Lesser World’s End of 270m is located not far from World’s End. Distinctive flora with a high level of endemism, colourful butterflies, many rare endemic, resident or migrant birds and several species of mammals including Sambar, Bear Monkey, Barking Deer, Giant Squirrel, Fishing Cat, Wild Boar, Hare and even a few very rare sightings of Leopard are recorded.

• Distance: 9 km
• Duration: 4-6 hrs
• Elevation: 1000m – 1400m
• Difficulty: Moderate

After the trek, drive to Udawalawe and check in to the hotel. On the way you will stop for Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home – This is sponsored by the Born Free Trust. Here, injured or orphaned elephants from around the island are brought and given treatment and care. Once the elephants are strong enough and old enough they are relocated in the wild at Udawalawe National Park. You can do the 12PM feed to see these baby elephants orphans (from 3 months to 5 years) come for their 3 hourly feed of milk and vegetation. There is a viewing station that gives plenty of opportunity to see them up close and take photos but you can’t touch them.

Overnight at Grand Udawalawe or similar

DAY 07:  SINHARAJA FOREST RESERVE BIRD WATCHING (BD)
After breakfast, check out and drive 3.5hrs to the rainforest. Fall asleep to the sound of streams of crystal-clear water running through the rocks and the pitter patter of rain drops falling, and wake up to the sound of a myriad of birds calling to the rising sun. The Sinharaja Rainforest Reserve, the islands last remaining pristine track of rainforest is the best place in the island to rest, relax and do some hardcore bird watching. Demarcated for logging in the 1980’s an intense legal battle ensured that the forest yet remain for the world to enjoy. Since then it has also been given the status of a biosphere reserve and UNESCO world heritage status. The forest reserve shows a high level of endemism where over 60 percent of the plants are endemic and 26 out of the 33 endemic species of birds can be found here. They say birds of a feather flock together, but in the rainforest different species of bird’s flock together to feed in a phenomenon known as mixed species bird flocks. Over 14 different species of birds can be seen together feeding with the occasional squirrel and mouse deer joining in on the party.

Overnight at Blue Magpie Lodge or similar

DAY 08: SINHARAJA FOREST RESERVE BIRD WATCHING (BD)
Today you will explore the forest reserve and the nearby village by foot searching for rare endemic birds. If we are lucky you will be able spot roughly 26 of the 33 species of endemic bird that live in the island.

Overnight stay at Blue Magpie Lodge or similar

DAY 09: AHANGAMA BEACH (BD)
After breakfast, free before check out and drive to Ahangama Beach. Today you are free to rest and relax on the palm-dotted Ahangama Beach, lined with restaurants and bars. Ahangama is popular for its golden beach, stilt fishing and water activities.

Overnight stay at Garton’s Cape or similar

DAY 10: GALLE – COLOMBO (B)
After breakfast, check out and enjoy a scenic drive down to the largest city in the island, Colombo. En-route explore the world heritage Galle fort.

Galle Fort in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument, which even after more than 423 years maintains a polished appearance, due to extensive reconstruction work done by Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka.

Then drive to Colombo for your overnight stay. Colombo like many capital cities in developing countries is fast changing its face. Almost overnight, skyscrapers arise from where old buildings once stood, yet in some parts; the old-world charm is retained. A 100-year-old clock tower and several British built, colonial buildings are still seen in the city. The Pettah bazaar – where one can shop for bargains, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple, residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo museum, the Bandaranaike memorial international conference hall – an outright gift to Sri Lanka from the people’s republic of china, the new parliament in Sri Jayawardenapura and the Folk Art Center are some of the places of interest that one can visit to.

Overnight stay at Fairway Colombo or similar

DAY 11: DEPART COLOMBO (B)
After breakfast, check out and enjoy your free time in the city before departure to the airport for the flight home.

11 Days Discover Sri Lanka

Tour Code: SL-D11

Email us for the price!

Price is subjected to changes without prior notice.
Winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr) and Summer (1 May – 31 Oct): – Half board double sharing basis
*Christmas and New Year supplements will apply on Christmas eve and New Year’s Eve.

Price includes

  • 8 Nights’ accommodation on half-board basis (Breakfast & Dinner) and 2 Nights bed and breakfast in Negombo and Colombo
  • All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
  • 2nd Class train tickets as mention in the itinerary (tickets are subject to available).
  • Service of an English-Speaking driver guide for 5 Pax and less and a National guide for 6 Pax and above.
  • Entrance fees and jeep hire for Minnaeriya National Park
  • Village and waterfall Experience in Kandy
  • Tea Factory experience in Nuwara Eliya
  • Entrance fees to all sites mentioned above (Other than optional experiences)
  • Excursions, Safaris and treks mentioned
  • Hotel Service Charge and VAT
  • Briefing prior departure
  • 15% discount for gears at X-Boundaries before departure

Price excludes

  • All airfare & taxes
  • Personal gears
  • All personal expenses such as bars, beverages, laundry, telephone and tips.
  • Travel Insurance
  • Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather, landslides, road conditions and any other circumstances beyond our control.
  • Optional tours and excursions

Important:
• Optional excursions can be booked directly and paid for locally
• Bars, Clubs or similar entertainment is prohibited during “Poya” Days. As such liquor will not be served in public areas of the hotels during this time
• The mentioned hotels will only be confirmed on availability at the time of booking. If not available, alternative will be suggested prior to confirmation.
• Kindly note that the standard check in time at all hotels will be at 1400 hrs and check out is at 1100 hrs.

Notes
The itinerary is intended as a guide only. Local conditions and weather may necessitate variations to the program and can affect the availability of views and panoramas described. Be aware that all times stated are approximate, and may vary with individual and group fitness.

If you have any special dietary requests, please let us know in advance.

Throughout your stay you have the option to participate in a range of extra Outdoor Activities at an additional charge.

Travel Insurance

It is strongly recommended that you be insured against medical and personal accident risks (including repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services) and that you also take out cancellation insurance and Travel Agency Insolvency.

You should be aware that some policies restrict coverage or may not cover activities such as trekking (and mountain bike). Please ensure that your policy provides a sufficient level of protection and covers you for the activities involved.