8 Days Guided Cultural Small Group Tour of Sri Lanka

WELCOME TO THE PEARL OF INDIAN OCEAN !

Arrive at Colombo International Airport (CMB), where a representative will meet, greet, and transfer you to the selected hotel in Colombo.

The remainder of the day is free at leisure.
Evening Enjoy Colombo City & Shopping Tour (Optional) : The throbbing metropolis, Colombo - located in the West - is not only the country's commercial capital, but also the turbine that impels above 50% of the national GDP flanking Colombo's fancy urban development effort. Drive along the clean streets edging the crystal white Race Course - horse racing hub in 1893 & World War II airstrip - furnished today with lavish clothing, food & tea boutiques. Meanwhile, ride to Pettah & tune into the Floating Market - an offbeat shopping experience - or feel the buzz surrounding the upcoming inspiration, the Colombo Port City - an offshore city - featuring parks, commercial complexes & even an F1 track! Head along Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards 'Arcade' facing a historic waypost, the Independence Square. Every designer boutique, top-notch cuisine outlet and even the 'walk-over fish tank', have revamped this colonial masterpiece into one of the trendiest shopping and hangout zones in Sri Lanka. Have a chilled beer at the Dutch Hospital while gazing through fancy windows showcasing best fashion, jewelry & handicraft brands. Smell the scent of incense while listening to the chiming bells of Gangarama temple. Or, jazz up to Colombo's night life spiced by night clubs & casinos that borderline its bustle. If you're lucky, head into an exhibition at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) before swaying your head to an opera or play at Nelum Pokuna that should just drive your day into perfection!

Overnight stay at Colombo

Standard Hotel Category = Grand Oriental Hotel/ Earls Red or similar

THE REAL ADVENTURE BEGINS !

Fill up on a delicious breakfast in the hotel before we hop on a private bus to start our journey to Sigiriya. On the way we will stop off to explore the magnificent Dambulla Caves, history and religion bounce off every painted wall and stone Buddha statue, leaving you with an unrivalled sense of spirituality. Then we’ll continue on to check into our stunning hotel in Sigiriya, the jewel of the Cultural Triangle.

We will finish our epic day with a sunset climb to the quiet Buddhist monastery of Pidurangala, to get an open and unobstructed shot of what it is we’ll be climbing in the morning!

Overnight stay at Sigiriya

Standard Hotel Category = Asna Nature Resorts / Pelwehera Village or similar

SIGIRIYA

An early wake up time today as we put on our hiking shoes, grab our camera and head out to climb the incredible Sigiriya Rock. Protruding produly out of the earth, ruins of a grand palace provide evidence all around the grounds of a once violent and noble Sri Lankan history. View the ancient wall paintings, the sanskript marked mirror wall and the huge stone lion paws guarding the ascent to the summit. The views from the top are unrivalled as you travel through time examining the ruins.

Prepare to "GET WILD",
Shift to a 4WD Jeep and get inside Minneriya National Park to see herds of Elephants Gathering and spot many Wild Animals

You also have an opportunity to take a Village Tour in the evening, (Optional)
Experience the best Sri Lankan Culture and learn about how ancient people spent their life inside the village by riding a tuk tuk, going on a bullock cart ride, tasting the traditional sri Lankan food by getting the hands on experience of making your own, riding a catamaran in a lake and more.

Overnight stay at Sigiriya

Standard Hotel Category = Asna Nature Resorts / Pelwehera Village or similar

LETS TRAVEL TO THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE !

Today we say goodbye to Sigiriya and embark on our travels to Central towards Sri Lanka’s second largest city, Kandy. We will stop at a spice garden on the way to learn about where our favourite spices come from and have a cooking class where we’ll learn the secret to a perfect Sri Lankan curry! Here, our local chef will teach you how to make dhal and chicken curry as well as fried cashew coconut sambal and poppadoms.

Then we’ll continue our drive to Kandy, check in to our next accommodation and take in the sights and sounds of this bustling city with a Tuk Tuk tour! (Optional)

Fine tune your evening by stepping to the beat of traditional music & drumming amplified by a cultural show enhancing the rich and vibrant culture of the Wonder of Asia, Sri Lanka

Overnight stay at Kandy

Standard Hotel Category = Oak Ray Regency/ Sandriana Lake View or similar

SCENIC TRAIN RIDE YES !

Eat your breakfast overlooking the hills of Kandy before we head into town to visit the sacred Temple of the Tooth,
Last ruled by King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe - before it was brought under the British rule in 1815, Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings - crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe.

Head towards Nuwara Eliya (Little England),
Tea and Tourism are words which cannot be separated. Take a tour to the cold & misty hills that take pride of an ultimate tea tour, covering lush green blankets of tea plantations. Or just step into a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date. As you observe the hissing and swishing of machines, inhaling the heavenly scent arising from these facilities, make sure to end your day in style over a perfectly blended cup of pure Ceylon Tea.

A trip to Sri Lanka is not complete without experiencing life on the train and the journey from Nanu Oya to Ella is dubbed as the best journey in the world. 180 degree views of tea plantations, waterfalls, lakes and local villages pass on by as your train traverses the tracks cut into the mountainside. Try the sweet milk tea on board, converse with friendly locals and take pictures to make you the envy of all your friends back home.

Sit back and enjoy the Scenic drive through Misty Mountains & Lush Green Tea Plantations while your Coach arrive and wait for you at Ella Railway Station

Overnight stay at Ella

Standard Hotel Category = Flower Garden Resort / Morning Dew Hotel or similar

BEACH VIBES !

Today we will rise early to explore some of the hidden gems of Ella, such as the 9 Arch Bridge and Little Adam’s Peak. Afterwards we will continue our way down South (Mirissa),

We’ll drive to the South West Coast, arriving at the stunning beach side town of Mirissa. A place where the world class waves hit the sand, where turtles inhabit the water, and where the beer is ice cold. After the hill country, this is exactly what you need.

Overnight stay at Mirissa

Standard Hotel Category = Sea World Mirissa / Mirissa Gate or Similar

BEACH VIBES !

Today we wake up early and head to the beautiful golden sand beach. We jump on board one of the best boats in the area to view the largest animals in the world. Watch as blue whales, jump, swim and dive around you and be blown away by their size. Sit back and enjoy the delicious breakfast served at the Cruise while the Blue Whales, Killer Whales, Sharks & Dolphins play around.
After a morning on the boat, we head to Unawatuna enroute via Galle,
Relax at the beach along with some extra options like Surfing, Snorkeling or Para Motoring

Drive down to Unawatuna enroute via the stunning Galle Fort, a city encased in walls, where Dutch, Portugese and British Colonial buildings still stand proud. The cobbled streets lead to the sea, where crazy Sri Lankan locals swan dive into the ocean.

In the evening you can have a Boat Ride at Madu River to get the experience on ho Ancient People Conducted their business on a Marshland

Overnight stay at Unawatuna

Standard Hotel Category = Hotel J Unawatuna or similar