Pride Of Ceylon

Upon your arrival in Colombo, our driver will welcome you and drive you to your accommodation in the coastal town of Negombo, 7 km away. You can relax from getting there, for example, lying under coconut palms on the golden beach or enjoying authentic Sri Lankan food. Depending on the arrival time, you can also visit the vicinity of the small fishing village, the sights, such as the Negombo Lagoon, the Neoclassical St. Mary’s Church, and much more.

Overnight: Negombo

• After breakfast, visit the Punchi Kataragama Temple, an extraordinarily colorful neat Tamil temple in the modern Drawidian style. The temple is known as Punchi Kataragama temple, also called Replica of Kataragama temple, Kataragama being the Sri Lankan name of the Southindian deity Murugan.
• Continue to Anuradhapura. Climb Mihintale sacred mountain. Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura ancient city, believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.

Overnight: Anuradhapura

Today you have a day of leisure to explore the surroundings or do, for example, one of the following optional tours:

Option 1: Visit Anuradhapura’s “Atamasthana,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site with eight sacred places that the Buddha visited during his visits to Sri Lanka. The sacred places are known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa and Lankarama. They are situated in Anuradhapura, the capital of the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom.

Option 2: Safari at Wilpattu National Park, home to many Leopards in Sri Lanka. Picnic breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

Option 3: Puranagama, The Ancient Village. Visit the inheritance of Sinhalese culture, the lake (Wewa), the Pagoda (degeba), the village Gama and the Buddhist temple Pansala. The villagers honored monks, offering them the greatest respect. As the ancient village originated centering the lake and the paddy field, the livelihood of the dwellers was farming. The paddy fields were given a godly respect by the village folk, thus the rituals and prohibitive precepts were highly considered and practiced without fail. They considered it as paying their gratitude to the fields for nourishing and keeping them alive.

Overnight: Anuradhapura

After breakfast transfer to Sigiriya – 1 ½ hour’s drive approximately. Lunch at Hela Bojun, the Sri Lankan organic eatery. Afternoon Safari in Minneriya National Park to see large herds of elephants.

Overnight: Sigiriya

After an early breakfast, visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress and then explore a local rural village by bicycle in Habarana and Sigiriya. You’ll be joining our guide for a cycling trip in the countryside, exploring typical Sri Lankan rural villages where you can experience the day-to-day lifestyle of the villagers. The trip takes you to rice and vegetable fields where you can learn about local farming and how they protect crops from the wild. Finally, you’ll visit a village house and interact with the local villagers. Experience a home-cooked village lunch.

Overnight: Sigiriya

Today after breakfast, we’re heading to Kandy enroute to visit the Dambulla Golden Temple. Dambulla cave temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.
We will have a stop in Nalanda Gedige the center point of Sri Lanka with a wonderful Buddhist history and nature paradise for birdwatchers. We pay a visit to see the Shri Muththu Mari Amman Hindu temple in Matale.
This particular temple is dedicated to the god of rain among Hindu devotees. Shri Muththumari Amman Kovil or the temple differs completely from everything that is seen in other parts of the world except Asia. This visit will be pleasant and give you an opportunity to have an insight into the Hindu Culture.
In the evening do a city tour including a visit to Temple of Tooth Relic, and then set you free in Kandy town to explore it on your own.

Overnight: Kandy

After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Sri Lanka’s remotest village, Heeloya (2 h drive), which is surrounded by mountains and Paddy fields. At Heeloya remote village, get a feel of life in a typical village besides trekking and sightseeing and a culinary experience in true Sri Lankan style! You can do a 6-8 hrs village trail and have an amazing experience of culture, traditions, gastronomy, village life, nature, etc. We will return to the hotel in the evening.

Overnight: Kandy

Get on board the scenic train at 12:30 pm to Ella (4,5 hours). Our driver will receive you at Ella train station.

Overnight: Ella

A small, yet astonishingly beautiful town Ella, is located close to Nuwara Eliya. Explore the beautiful nature of Ella and the surroundings by hiking or cycling. Your guide will assist you with things to do in and around Ella.

Overnight: Ella

You have time to continue enjoying and exploring the nature of Ella until your transfer to Tissamaharama (5 hour’s drive).
Evening lake fishing and dinner of the catch with the fisherman’s family is sometimes possible on request.

Overnight: Tissamaharama

After breakfast, leave for Yala National Park to explore Sri Lanka’s unique wildlife in a half-day Safari (5-6 hours). Yala is the ideal place to spot the “big four” of Sri Lankan wildlife: the elephants, the sloth bear, the inclusive leopard, the wild buffalo, and many more animals.

Overnight: Tissamaharama

After breakfast transfer to Galle (4 hours drive). In the afternoon, visit the natural silk factory and cultural sites, and enjoy the endemic fruit juice of Mangrove apple (Kirala) on your way to the Dutch Fort.

Overnight: Galle

Start the day with breakfast and then embark on a full-day tour of Galle. Explore activities like pot making, lace making, and white virgin tea production. Don’t forget to try a cup of natural tea and go stilt fishing. Enjoy a corn snack with a king coconut before visiting Rumassala mountain. The Hindu epic Ramayana refers to this particular mountain as Hanuman, the monkey king grabbed this piece of soil from India & placed it in Sri Lanka.
Dinner will be organized over a local cooking class at Galle Organic Kitchen. You will visit a local organic market to pick the most preferred local veggie and prepare local cuisine with the guide’s family for an authentic local dinner.

Overnight: Galle

After breakfast, visit the Turtle hatchery. In the afternoon transfer to Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka.

Overnight: Colombo

We will visit Colombo after breakfast for a city tour. You can choose to explore for 2 hours by tuk-tuk or coach bus with a driver guide. Visit the city’s popular landmarks including Colombo Harbour, Pettah neighborhood, Wolvendaal Church, Independence Square, Gangaramaya Temple, and more, while immersing yourself in local Sri Lankan travel. After a special lunch at Thali restaurant, you can continue visiting Colombo on your own or do an optional tour:
Optional: Zoological garden.

Overnight: Colombo

After breakfast, you can spend your day free until your transfer to the airport.