Highlights of Sri Lanka

• In search of leopards in Wilpattu National Park

Leaving Negombo we travel north following the coastal road via the small towns of Chilaw and Puttalam before reaching the entrance to Wilpattu National Park. Here we will leave our bus and change to jeeps for an afternoon safari through the park hoping to spot Sri Lanka's most elusive resident, the leopard. Despite Wilpattu National Park's location in Sri Lanka's dry zone, it boasts nearly 60 lakes and is renowned for leopard, elephant, and sambar deer spottings. We choose to visit this park, rather than Yala National Park further south because we believe it offers our customers a better experience. The same animals can be seen here as in Yala and despite being busy in places it is overall less crowded, making our visit more enjoyable and responsible. It is also worth noting that wildlife is unpredictable and therefore sightings cannot be guaranteed. Leaving the park, we drive to nearby Anuradhapura, where we will spend the night. MEALS Breakfast ACCOMMODATION Comfortable hotel

• Explore cave temple and take lunch with the locals

We start this morning with a visit to the mountain peak of Mihintale. It is believed that this was the site of a momentous meeting between the monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, introducing Buddhism to the country. Exploring Mihintale involves climbing a flight of 1,840 shallow stone steps leading to the summit of Missaka Mountain. There are excellent views from the top looking back to Anuradhapura. After the exertions, we swap our bus for a bullock cart and make our way slowly through a small village on the outskirts of Habarana. Reaching the lake we change seats again and use dugout canoe style boats - adapted with seats for a more comfortable ride! - to cross the short distance across the lake to Hiriwaduna Village where we are met by the villagers and treated to a traditional Sri Lankan lunch. Here we will enjoy various different curries and fluffy rice and after our meal and spending time in the village we make our way to Sigiriya, stopping on the way to visit Dambulla, where a great series of caves have been turned into temples dating from the 1st century BC. This World Heritage Site still attracts scores of worshippers. We will visit five separate caves, which contain a large number of Buddha images and sculptures of Hindu Gods. MEALS Breakfast & Lunch ACCOMMODATION Comfortable hotel

• Climb Lion's Rock at sunrise. Drive to Kandy.

An early start this morning as we plan to climb Sigiriya Rock ahead of the crowds and whilst it is cool. The ruins of this 5th-century' sky Fortress are one of Sri Lanka's major attractions, a stupendous sight to behold, and a feat of consummate engineering skill. Built in just seven years as a fortified palace to protect the reign of merciless King Kassapa, who had assassinated his father and deposed his brother, it is seen as one of the world's best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Unfortunately for the king, despite its impregnable reputation, he was defeated here by his brother after a reign of just 18 years. A switchback series of steps and steel stairways ascend to the top. Halfway up, tucked beneath a sheltering overhang of rock, are the famous frescoes - the Sigiriya Damsels, their colors still glowing. Before our final ascent to the summit, we pass between a set of enormous lion paws carved out of the rock - all that remains of an ancient gateway that gave Sigiriya, the Lion Rock, its name. Once at the 200-meter summit, magnificent views can be enjoyed of the surrounding jungle and countryside. This afternoon, a two-hour drive takes us to Kandy. On arrival, the time is free to explore this historic town. Perhaps visit the Temple of the Tooth, situated on the shore of the lake, or take a short tuk-tuk ride out to the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens which alongside beautiful displays of Sri Lanka's finest flowers is home to thousands of flying foxes. MEALS Breakfast ACCOMMODATION Comfortable hotel

• Learn about Sri Lanka's tea en route to Unawatuna.

Leaving Kandy behind we stop at a tea factory to learn about the processes involved in Sri Lanka's largest export. Originally a tea bush was brought from China in 1842 to be planted at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, it was 25 years later that James Taylor established Sri Lanka's first tea plantation, the Loolecondera Estate in Kandy. These days more than one million people in Sri Lanka are employed by the tea industry. The tea factory we visit is a small and intimate one and therefore does not include seeing the process of picking the tea leaves but we do see the process of drying and grinding the leaves and we sample some of the blends before leaving tea country. Making our way back to the coast our destination is Unawatuna on the southwest coast. The shallow waters and long, pristine beaches make it perfect for a spot of relaxation. MEALS Breakfast ACCOMMODATION Comfortable hotel

• free time to explore Galle or Whales watching (Seasonal)

Today are left free to do as little or as much as you wish. A short tuk-tuk ride can take you to visit the neighboring pretty coastal town of Galle. An important trading center since ancient times, the fortifications that can be seen today were built by the Portuguese and then the Dutch from the 16th to the 17th centuries. The fort ramparts of this World Heritage Site protect the harbor and a myriad of fascinating old houses, churches, and warehouses. Today, the town has a strong arts vibe, with foreign and local artists, writers, photographers, designers, and poets drawing inspiration from their surroundings. Boutique shops and cafes around the town showcase their work. There is plenty to explore in the town and enjoyment can be gained simply by wandering around its streets, soaking up its unique atmosphere. For those seeking pure relaxation, local Ayurvedic massages with natural, aromatic herbal oils are highly recommended. Alternatively, between the months of December and April, you might prefer to go on a whale-watching trip in the hope of spotting humpback and blue whales. MEALS Breakfast ACCOMMODATION Comfortable hotel

• Drive to Colombo's Bandaranayake International Airport where our trip ends.

Departing Galle this morning we drive along the coastal road back to Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport