Itinerary
Day 01: Airport – Colombo
Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), you will be met by our friendly English-speaking Chauffeur Guide and transferred to a hotel in Colombo.
Unwind and retire for the night after enjoying a scrumptious dinner at your luxury city hotel.
Day 02: Colombo – Kandy
Leave for Kandy after breakfast. En-route visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage & Captive Breeding Centre to spend some time with the endearing elephant orphans. Morning and midday mealtimes and river bath times are the most popular activities in the daily routine. Visitors can volunteer to bottle-feed milk to elephant calves.
Visit the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) in the evening.
Kandy was the autonomous capital of Sri Lanka’s last last kingdom, defying colonial rule for nearly three centuries. The archeological remains, architectural heritage, and cultural values still present in Kandy are reminders of its illustrious past , making it one of Sri Lanka’s iconic cities.
Night stay at a hotel in Kandy.
Day 03: Kandy – Meemure
After an early breakfast travel to Meemure.
Meemure is a picturesque village that nestles at the foot of the majestic Knuckles Mountain Range. Experience the typical life of Sri Lanka’s village dwellers, where minimalistic living and interdependence with nature is the norm.
This village is abundantly endowed with pristine natural beauty – misty blue green mountains, meandering rivers, lush emerald woodlands and terraced cultivations.
Return to the hotel in Kandy in the evening.
Day 04: Kandy
After breakfast, visit the Hunnasgiriya Waterfall. Spend time leisurely observing the surroundings and listening to the calming burble of the waterfall.
Visit the beautiful Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens in the afternoon.
The finest of its kind in the island, the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens occupies an impressive 147-acre expanse and consists of an intriguing mix of Native, Asian and International flora. It is also home to troops of macaque monkeys making mischief in the treetops whilst large groups of flying foxes dangle from the branches, unaffected by the commotion.
Night stay at a selected hotel in Kandy.
Day 05: Kandy
After an early breakfast set out on an excursion to the gorgeous, mist enveloped Knuckles Range, a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and Biodiversity Hot Spot teeming with varied and mostly endemic flora and fauna.
The Knuckles Range is home to 128 species of birds, 20 species of amphibians, 53 species of reptiles, 15 freshwater fish and 31 different mammals. 160 of the 1033 flowering plants at Knuckles are endemic to Sri Lanka.
The Knuckles Range of mountains was given this name by early British Surveyors, owing to its resemblance to the knuckles of a clenched fist. The locals however refer to this majestic beauty as ‘Dumbara Kanduvetiya’, a more romanticized name which means ‘mist laden mountain’.
You can climb all five peaks in a single day’s excursion, starting at the base, Tawalanthanna at 6 a.m. or opt for a more leisurely hike covering only the first three peaks. Make your way through the mountain trails dotted with lush flora, meandering rivers and cascading waterfalls, as breathtaking sceneries and impressive highland vistas unfold. Enjoy a river bath followed by a delightful picnic lunch, mid-way through your adventure in the mountains.
Return to your hotel in Kandy in the evening.
Day 06: Kandy
Spend a leisurely day at the hotel. Alternatively, you can head out to the busy town of Kandy, to mingle with the locals and to shop for some local merchandise at the many handicraft shops lining the city thoroughfare.
Night stay at your hotel in Kandy.
Day 07: Kandy – Kandalama
Leave for the village of Kandalama after breakfast.
Check in to a hotel in Kandalama and spend the rest of the day leisurely enjoying the serene natural surroundings of Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone and immersing yourself in the luxury and comforts of your hotel.
Day 08: Kandalama
Explore the centerpiece Kandalama Tank, surrounded by shrub covered flat terrain. The picturesque Matale Mountain Range solemnly looms in the distance. The man-made Kandalama Tank dates back to the times of the Sri Lankan King Vasabha (1st Century CE).
As an extended option, visit the Kaludiya Pokuna Forest, rich with endemic and non-endemic flora and fauna. It is also an archeological monastic site which was once a reclusive abode for Buddhist monks.
Night stay at the hotel in Kandalama.
Day 09: Kandalama – Puttalam – Kalpitiya
Leave for the West Coast District of Puttalam, which is famous for its richly diverse lagoon eco system, salt production, coconut cultivation and shallow sea fishing.
Visit the picturesque Puttalam Lagoon, one of the largest of its kind in the island. It is fed by the Kala Oya and Mee Oya rivers and is flanked by coconut plantations, open woodlands, grasslands and shrublands.
Enjoy a boat ride to the nearby islands through the thick mangrove eco system. It offers a great opportunity for watching birds such as the circling stork, eagles and kingfishers in large numbers, whilst also spotting many other animal habitants of this rich ecosystem.
Night stay at a selected hotel in Kalpitiya.
Day 10: Kalpitiya – Negombo
Set off early morning for a dolphin and whale watching excursion in Kalpitiya. Be mesmerized by these delightfully gregarious and endearing cetaceans swimming close to the shore. These excursions offer some great photo opportunities too.
Night stay at a selected hotel in Negombo.
Day 11: Negombo
Day of leisure in Negombo, lounging by the sea or poolside.
Negombo is a friendly and tourist centric beach town, located near the airport. Negombo serves as an ideal base, prior to departure, as the delightful beachfront resort hotels offer ample opportunity for comfort, relaxation and preparation.
Night stay at the hotel in Negombo.
Day 12: Negombo – Airport
Transfer to the airport for departure.
