Welcome to Sri Lanka. Upon your arrival into Colombo International airport you’re very own personal guide will be waiting to meet you and take you to your car. You will be transferred to the Westcoast city of Negombo. You’ll be checked in to your hotel and the remainder of the day will be at your leisure to explore this ancient fishing town with its gorgeous sandy beaches. Or simply relax and enjoy the start of one of the most memorable journeys you’ll ever take.  

After breakfast you’ll be taken on a tour of the Sacred city visiting the ruins of the oldest civilisation that thrived in Sri Lanka for over 1,300 years. Hidden within the dense forest you’ll discover palaces, monuments and monasteries dating back as early as the 3^rd century B.C.

You’ll leave this magical city with a true appreciation of an ancient civilisation that thrived for so many centuries and the perfect platform for the remainder of your journey. 

A great way to get around is by bicycle as you can continue exploring old temples which during the Anuradhapura dynasty which survived for over a 1,000 years left a lasting legacy on the region and covers a large area.  Move onto the local villages and cycle by the busy streets and locals going about their daily business.  

Today you’ll head to Polonnaruwa for a greater insight into life lived many centuries ago. There are countless archaeological treasures to explore in this ancient city and will give you a better understanding of how the city was shaped so many centuries ago. The archaeological park is a great place to visit to see the ancient ruins of temples, statues and stupas.

A great way to explore is on a bicycle as you can take regular stops and go off the beaten track and discover some hidden gems for yourself.  

Today will be action packed. After an early breakfast you’ll head out to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya Rock. The dramatic rock towers over the surrounding forests and is probably Sri Lanka’s most Iconic sites. The fortress was once the epicentre of the Kassapa Kingdom who built their palace at the summit 200 metres above. The climb up the near vertical rock face is a challenge but made all the more worthwhile as you pass temple caves and the Lions rock passageway before reaching the top with the spectacular views of the ruins and the lands below.     

You can either spend the remainder of the day by your hotel pool or visit the splendours of the nearby national park, Minneriya. The National park covers a large expanse of land which boasts dry tropical wetlands and grasslands and is home to large herds of wild elephants and other game animals. Hiring a 4x4 jeep a specialist guide will take you on an adventure of a lifetime through streams and dry terrains on a search for these unusually elusive creatures.     

After breakfast you’ll move onto the City of Mathale and en-route visit the UNESCO World heritage site of Dambulla. Known as the Golden temple of Dambulla its the largest of its kind in the country. The five caves perched high on a stone cliff face are adorned in history with the remanence of Buddhist Gods and Goddesses from murals on the cave walls to statues adorning them.

You’ll continue onto the small city of Matale where you can spend the remainder of the day at your leisure or exploring the road further north where you’ll find the aromatic Jackfruit, cocoa, cardamom and spice plantations.  

Driving up the winding valley through Matale which lies 3000 ft above sea level you’ll notice the landscape transform into a wonderful array of light and dark green forestry.  A stunning trek through the Knuckles mountain range awaits. You’ll truly understand its name as the five peaks resemble a clenched fist and makes for a spectacular sight during the early morning. Be sure to take comfortable, appropriate footwear.

Upon your return to the base you’ll be whisked over to the spiritual heartland of the country, Kandy, where you can spend the remainder of the day recouping or explore this lovely vibrant city.

Onwards to the spiritual and physical heart of Sri Lanka the former home of the King and classified as a UNESCO world Heritage site. The Temple of the Tooth relic is a sacred shrine housing the tooth of the Buddha. Smuggled into the country in the 4^th century A.D, the relic is considered the country’s most prized possession.

The day continues with a tour of the city with your tour guide and you can always end up at the beautiful Botanic gardens before heading back to your hotel. 

Another early start but today’s drive will be one of the most spectacular drives you’ll ever do, with the backdrop of gushing waterfalls, lush green hilltops to your left and a spectacular view across the many tea plantations to your right. This old British hill station is the heart of the tea country and before checking into your hotel you’ll visit a tea factory and see for yourself how the nations favourite brew is made. If you like your teas then the factory has a vast array for you to sample and buy at really good prices. Once you’re checked in why not explore the surroundings of this quint town which might just fool you into thinking you’ve gone back in time to a British country village. You’ll soon see why its commonly referred to as “Little England”. 

You’ve probably already fallen in love with the tea country and your next stop only gets better. Ella is another great quite colonial village in the heart of the Hill country. You should have become accustomed to the leisurely pace of life up in the Hills. The best way to explore this town is to get lost through the tea plantations and you may stumble across splendid waterfalls and temples. Its always easy to find your way back by asking the friendly locals who’ll take great pride in helping you find your way back to your hotel. Relax and enjoy the day as tomorrow will be action packed.  

You’ll be heading off to the tranquillity of the Sinharaja rainforest where the almost daily rain brings a cool refreshing end to your time in Sri Lanka. The regular drizzle of rain makes this UNESCO World Heritage site the lifeline of the islands eco-system. Located in South-West Sri Lanka, the largely untouched reserve is only accessible by foot so get your hiking boots on and explore the lush green forests with many species of birds and wild animals that inhabit the lands. 

You can either spend the morning heading back to the Sinharaja rainforest and exploring some more or decide to take the long drive back to the familiarity of the Capital, Colombo. The drive back passes by banana plantations and local villages before you reach the populated capital. You can take a tour around the city and maybe visit one of the local markets to pick up some gifts for those back home.