Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 to Day 03
Day 1
Once you arrive in Sri Lanka, you will be picked up by one of our chauffeurs and be driven to Negombo, a coastal city a few minutes away from the airport. Negombo has a colorful past, with Portuguese, Dutch and English influences being very evident in their local architecture scene. During the Dutch era, Negombo was much coveted and highly profitable in cinnamon. Today, the locals find their livelihood through fishing which has thus caused Negombo to be one of Sri Lanka’s most famous fishing towns.
In Negombo, you will be staying at the St. Lachlan Hotel, a beautiful place offering you the ultimate comfort and ability to enjoy the beach. In the evening you will have the opportunity to experience the city by one of specially arranged tuk tuk rides and return to the hotel for dinner and a nightcap.
Day 2
After breakfast, you will be driven to Wilpattu which will be a 4 hour drive until you reach our own campsite in Wilpattu known as Big Game Camps. These are luxury semi-permanent tented camps located in the boarder of the camp, offering you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the wilderness but also respect yours and nature’s space. Afterwar checking into the camp, you will proceed on a safari to Wilpattu National Park. This is the oldest national park in Sri Lanka, offering wildlife safari-goers ample opportunities to spot the famous Sri Lanka leopard. The camp is considered ‘virgin territory’ due to it being closed for a long time for visitors and offers uncharted area for wildlife enthusiasts. After your safari, you will head back to the campsite for a bonfire dinner, then a late night walk in the forest buffer before heading for a good night’s rest.
Day 3
On your third day you will proceed to Dambulla, the town holding the world famous ‘Sigiriya’. Once in the area, you will check-in to the Back of beyond Pidurangala and rest for a while. In the evening you will begin your ascent up the Sigiriya rock fortress, which is a premier eco-tourism destination in Sri Lanka designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The rock was also proposed to be named as the 8th wonder of the world, indicating that it’s on the same league as The Great Pyramid of Giza or Grand Canyon. Sigiriya which translates into ‘Lion Rock’ in English is gets its name from the way the monument was erected and one must begin their climb – through the open jaws and throat known as ‘giriya’ of the lion ‘sinha’. Unfortunately the only remains are his giant paws sculpted at the side of the rock. You will have a fabulous time wandering through the passages of this marvelous rock that rises 600 feet from the shrub jungle while admiring the much preserved frescos that have been painted by hand using earth pigments.
Day 04 to Day 07
Day 4
After breakfast in Sigiriya, you will begin a 3 hour drive to cover a distance of 100 kilometers to reach the ancient city of Kandy, Sri Lanka’s last kingdom and one of the best attractions amongst both locals and international tourists. The city is strategically nestled in-between mountain ranges with a thick natural forest which made the ancient city hard to be colonized many centuries ago, unlike the coastal towns which were under foreign rule easily. After checking into your hotel, you will tour the city and visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the most important destination for Buddhists around the world. It is advices to wear white attire, covering your shoulders and reaching below knee length in order to show respect to the deity. Afterwards you will proceed to dinner at Amaara Sky Hotel and experience a royal stay at the hotel.
Day 5
Today you will be making your way towards Nuwara Eliya, via a train ride which will begin at the Kandy station and take you up to Nanu Oya. Nuwara Eliya is surrounded by mountain chains, dense moss covered cloud forests and tea plantations coupled with its perpetual English Spring weather, seasonal mists and dry winds. These favorable factors also provides the ideal weather conditions for the production of one of the world’s best high grown tea and it is rumored that its enjoyed even by the English royal family. The town’s southern end is adorned by the famous Lake Gregory, high waterfalls and scenic beauty. The cool sparkling climate with its exquisite temperature also gives bloom to some beautiful flowers which you can enjoy down your scenic route. Due to its weather and remnants of old English architecture, the town of Nuwara Eliya is also known as ‘Little England’. You will also a tour a tea factory to learn more about the famous local trade and enjoy your night at the Blackpool Hotel.
Day 6
After the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, you will be transported to the southern beaches of Galle to enjoy some sun, sand and sea on your final day of vacation. When in Galle, you will visit the Galle Fort on a bicycle tour where you will have the opportunity to sightsee the Old Dutch Fort; a World Heritage Site covering 36 hectares, the well preserved Groote Kerk; a Dutch church, the Dutch Government House, the New Oriental Building, old bell tower and a tide-based sewage system introduced by the Dutch. You will also have the chance to take a dip in the sea, as Galle is famous for its lovely Unawatuna Bay where the sea is protected by the sea and is thus very safe for swimming. Afterwards, you can also check out the ‘pillo-lace’ weaving that still prevails in the area which was introduced by the Dutch and even some fine ebony carving and gem polishing. To end the day you will be checking into your beach hotel followed by an overnight stay at Amari Hotel.
Day 7
After breakfast you will be driven to the airport to catch your flight back home – taking with you beautiful memories made in Sri Lanka and leaving you longing for more.
Please note that you are expected to check-in at least 60 minutes before your expected time of departure.