Day 01 Activities

• Arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport

• Drive to Dambulla

• Explore Dambulla City & bustling market

• Visit Dambulla Cave Temple (UNESCO site)

• Hotel check-in & leisure

• Dinner & overnight in Sigiriya / Dambulla / Habarana

Dambulla City – The town itself has a bustling market where you can experience local life, sample traditional Sri Lankan cuisine, and purchase fresh produce. A tour of Dambulla offers a blend of awe-inspiring historical sites, beautiful natural scenery, and an authentic glimpse into the local culture, making it a memorable and enriching experience.

Dambulla Cave Temple – Dambulla located in the north central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 01st century BC, is an amazing complex of 05 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is a perfect location to view evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of the material from many eras

 

Day 02 Activities

• Visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress (UNESCO site)

• Visit Spice Garden in Matale

• Transfer to Kandy

• Evening visit Temple of the Tooth Relic

• Witness Cultural Dance Show

• Dinner & overnight in Kandy

Sigiriya – this UNESCO World Heritage Site, a spectacular Rock Fortress, is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. The most impressive facets of the unique complex are the Water Gardens, the Frescoes of beautiful maidens, the Mirror Wall with ancient graffiti, the Lion platform and the Summit of 1.6 hectares, which was completely covered by buildings during the period of Sigiriya’s glory. Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the “Lion Rock” is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200m from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town and the base is ringed by a moat, rampart, and extensive gardens. The world-renowned frescoes (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today) which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway are painted in earth pigments on plaster. The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit and several caves for meditation, audience platforms and baths complete the unique site.

Kandy - A lovely exotic city, the Hill Capital and last stronghold of the Sinhala Kings is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which retains an aura of grandeur, time has not affected. Encircled by hills, with a tranquil lake in its centre, it is the site of the renowned temple that enshrines the Tooth Relic of the Buddha and the Royal Botanical gardens home to one of the world’s best collections of Orchids. A cultural sanctuary where many legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive, Kandy and its satellite 2 villages are the centre of the islands handicraft industry (items of wood, brass & silver) exquisite silver or gold jewellery and precious gems of many varieties including the world’s best blue and star sapphires.

      

Day 03 Activities

• Visit Peradeniya Botanical Gardens

• Short Kandy city tour

• Transfer to Nuwara Eliya (“Little England”)

• Explore colonial heritage, Gregory Lake & Post Office

• Proceed to Ella – Visit Nine Arches Bridge & Ravana Falls

• Dinner & overnight in Ella

Peradeniya Botanical Gardens - This botanical garden was first built as a pleasure garden for a queen and was expanded by the British. It is 147 acres in extent and provides an amazing variety of trees, plants and flowers. City tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kandy, the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. The name Kandy conjures visions of splendour and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive

Nuwara Eliya which is also called as little England, was a hill country retreat where the British colonialists could immerse themselves in their pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf and cricket.

Nuwara Eliya is located in south-central Sri Lanka. It lies at an elevation of 6,199 feet (1,889 metres) above sea level, immediately south of the island’s highest summit, Mount Pidurutalagala (8,281 feet [2,524 metres]), and 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Kandy. From 1830 Nuwara Eliya was a hill station used by the British residents of what was then Ceylon. Because of the elevation, the vegetation is of the temperate sort, and European fruit and vegetables are grown, The post Office and Lake Gregory.

Ella – Transfer to Ella. Ella a beautiful hill country climbing into the central mountain ranges through tea fields and montane forests passing the beautiful Ravana Ella waterfall which figures in the epic Indian Ramayana legend and stop at Ella where one of the best mountain views is available. Explore the wonderful city by visiting their famous sights. A lot of the residents in Ella are day wage earners who strive hard to make a living out of their earnings from informal work. Except for the villas, cafes, and high-end restaurants here, the majority of the houses resemble a rustic lifestyle.

Nine Arches Bridge, also called the Bridge in the Sky, is a viaduct bridge in Sri Lanka and one of the best examples of colonial-era railway construction in the country.

 

Day 04 Activities

• Early morning Ella Rock hike

• Visit Ravana Falls

• Transfer to Udawalawe National Park

• Dinner & overnight in Udawalawe

Ella Rock is one of the most popular hikes in Sri Lanka, offering a rewarding panoramic view over the lush central highlands. It’s a must-do for anyone spending time in Ella and looking to combine nature, a bit of adventure, and a taste of rural Sri Lankan life.

Ravana Falls is located at a height of 25 meters above the Ella Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a beautiful waterfall that is very popular among many local and foreign tourists with its three floors. This Falls has three sections and can only be reached from the lower part and the middle part of the waterfall. Going to the top is very difficult, it's scary. Going to the top is never recommended. Climbing to the middle of the waterfall and bathing should be done very carefully.

Udawalawe - Udawalawe National Park was established on 30th June 1972 (Government Gazette Notification No. 14). Primary objective of this declaration was to protect the immediate catchment areas and to provide a safe refuge for displaced wild mainly Elephants as a result of the Walawe Basin Development project. Udawalawe is the third most visited national park and an important habitat for water birds 4 Department of Wildlife Conservation of Sri Lanka (DWC). Udawalawe National Park encompasses an area of and Sri Lankan elephants (Elephas Maximum Maximus). Thus, Udawalawe National Park is one of the most recommended places to visit during your wildlife photography tour / family holiday in Sri Lanka managed by hectares 32,315 including the Walawe reservoir comprises of micro habitats such as marshes, the Walawe River and its tributaries, woods, and open grasslands. Udawalawe is known for its extensive areas of thick grass, bushes, and trees. Even though the park is mostly made up of grasslands, scrublands, and other types of plains, mountainous and rocky areas can also be found.

    

Day 05 Activities

• Visit Kataragama Temple

• Drive to Galle – explore Galle Fort & Dutch heritage

• Witness Stilt Fishing on beaches

• Dinner & overnight at Southern Coast

The Kataragama temple, also known as the Kataragama Devale, is a sacred pilgrimage site located in the town of Kataragama in Sri Lanka. It is dedicated to Lord Kataragama also known as Lord Murugan the Hindu god of war, and is also revered by Buddhists and some indigenous Vedda people.

Everyday many pilgrims from all over Sri Lanka and India visit this secrete temple. The temple complex is famous for its vibrant religious festivals, especially the Kataragama Esala Perahera, which is held annually in July or August. During this festival, devotees gather to pay homage to Lord Kataragama, and colorful processions featuring decorated elephants, traditional dancers, and musicians fill the streets. The vicinity of the temple has number of ancient ruins and inscriptions. Based on dated inscriptions found, it is believed to have been built or renovated around the 1st century BCE. One unique aspect of the Kataragama temple is its inclusive nature, where people from different religious backgrounds come together to worship. It's a symbol of religious harmony and unity in Sri Lanka.

Galle - Galle, port and city, Sri Lanka, situated on a large harbour on the island’s southern coast. Galle dates from the 13th century, possibly much earlier, but it became the island’s chief port during the period of Portuguese rule (1507–c. 1640). Under Dutch rule it was the island capital until 1656, when Colombo replaced it.

  

Day 06 Activities

• Full day leisure by the beach

• Dinner & overnight at Southern Coast

 

Day 07 Activities

• Madu River Boat Safari

• Drive to Colombo – city tour (Independence Square, bazaar, shopping)

• Airport transfer for departure

Madu Ganga Boat Safari. Madu Ganga, is one of Sri Lanka’s most magical wetland ecosystems! Located near Balapitiya, this biodiversity-rich river winds through 64 small islands, creating a labyrinth of mangrove forests, wildlife habitats, and hidden temples. A boat safari here isn’t just a tour—it’s an unforgettable journey into nature’s serenity.

Colombo. The happening city of the country. If time permits go on a city tour of Colombo including the bazaar and residential areas, Independence Square and International Conference Hall. The trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Sri Lanka’s largest city, it is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of colour. The original traders and settlers - the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and the British have left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankan. Today, Colombo is a fascinating city - a happy blend of east & west, past & present, with a charm of its own. A less known but amazingly true fact is that Colombo has a superb range of high quality restaurants serving food from all over the world and some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia. The main seaport of Sri Lanka is in Colombo & adjoining it, is Pettah, a local bazaar & trading area.