Splendors of Sri Lanka

Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport. There you will be met by our representative and the transportation service will then transfer you from the airport to Colombo, where you will check in to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and freshen up after your flight. You can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, relax in the hotel or head out into the vibrant city of Colombo for a sneak preview of its historic streets, colourful back alleys and most famous landmarks. Visit the Pettah District, one of Colombo’s oldest regions, and imagine a time when the streets were teeming with ox carts loaded up with the island’s most important exports such as rubber, tea, cinnamon, kithul treacle, rope and peacocks. Head over to Colombo’s more cosmopolitan side for stylish eateries, galleries and shops or walk to the sea front to look out over the Indian Ocean. 

• Overnight In Colombo.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel, then prepare for your tour of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The enigmatic rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka's single most dramatic sight. Near-vertical walls soar to a flat-topped summit where the ruins of an ancient civilization sit. This 5th century citadel built by King Kasyapa is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning and one of Sri Lanka’s finest monuments of art and culture. The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys, fountains and frescoes. Step through the gigantic Lion Paws carved into the rock and look down over the symmetrical royal gardens, lily-pad-covered moats, water gardens and cave shrines. Walk in the shade of the Mirror Wall on the Western face of Sigiriya. In the past, this wall was polished so thoroughly that the king could see his reflection in it. Visit the museum to learn about the castle, ponds and the impressive hydraulic system that pumped water up to the summit of the rock. At the end of the tour, transfer from Sigiriya to Habarana. 

• Overnight in Habarana. Breakfast included.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then transfer from Habarana to Polonnaruwa. Visit the Polonnaruwa Ancient Kingdom. Kings ruled the central plains of Sri Lanka from Polonnaruwa 800 years ago, when it was a thriving commercial and religious centre. The archaeological treasures left behind give you a good idea of what it would have looked like in its heyday. Walk around the World Heritage Site and observe the stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and intricately carved Hindu sculptures. Visit Vatadage, a structure more or less unique to the architecture of ancient Sri Lanka, which is full of ornate stone carvings. Sit beside Gal Vihara and marvel at the most perfect example of a Buddha statue hewn out of solid stone. Then take in the majesty of the Nissankamalla Council Chamber, the pillared hall where King Nissanka Malla's council would have met. Lastly, visit Parakrama Samudra, the 12th century irrigation system built by King Parakramabahu to alleviate the water shortages between the monsoon seasons. In the evening, transfer from Polonnaruwa to Sigiriya.

• Overnight in Habarana. Breakfast included.

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel then prepare for a day exploring Dambulla and Kandy. First, visit Dambulla Cave Temple, a beautiful rock temple complex sitting about 160 m above Dambulla. Five separate caves contain about 150 Buddha statues and paintings, some of Sri Lanka's most important and evocative religious art. As you enter the complex, look up at the giant golden Buddha glittering in the sun. After your visit to Dambulla, continue to Kandy to visit the Temple of the Tooth, the golden-roofed temple that houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. In the afternoon, visit the city of Kandy, a UNESCO World Heritage Sacred City, which boasts a wealth of culture, history and religious heritage. Stroll around the lakeside city surrounded by misty hills and take in the sights and sounds of the fresh fruit and vegetable stands in Kandy market. In the evening, join a cultural show and move to the beat of traditional Sri Lankan music and drumming, a true demonstration of the rich and vibrant culture of the jewel of Asia. 

• Overnight in Kandy. Breakfast included.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer from Kandy back to Colombo, the ‘City of Everything’. This charismatic, historic and commercial capital has always been popular with locals and tourists alike. The capital of Sri Lanka has a long history and has been ruled successively by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. That heritage is reflected in its mix of colonial buildings, old bazaars and markets and new high-rises and shopping malls. There is also a wealth of religious and cultural heritage on offer. Visit the Gangaramaya Temple, one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, then take a short-cut through to one of the best and not-so-secret street food spots in the city. The bustling streets of Slave Island and Pettah will give you a true feel for Colombo life. Enter a Sri Lankan bar and taste Sri Lankan arrack, then sample a selection of authentic Sri Lankan street food – the fiery flavours are a true delight for the taste buds. Don’t forget to try a traditional Kottu Roti. When you can’t eat any more, jump aboard one of Sri Lanka’s famous tuk-tuks and enjoy the ride back to your hotel.

• Overnight in Colombo. Breakfast included.

After finishing your breakfast, prepare for your departure and transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport in time for your onward or return flight. Although this is the last day of your journey through some of the most fascinating locations in Sri Lanka, we hope that your memories and photographs of this remarkable, colourful island nation will last a lifetime.

• Breakfast included.