Wild About Sri Lanka

Colombo – Dambulla – Polonnaruwa – Dambulla. Bidding farewell to Colombo this morning we drive inland to Dambulla, stopping en route at a fruit and vegetable market in Naramwela Town. Dambulla Rock Temple is an incredible ancient complex of caves that dates back to the 1st Century BC. The five caves contain over 150 images of Buddha including an impressive 14 meter carved statue. After exploring this ancient site, we continue to Polonnaruwa. This fascinating 11th-century city is home to many interesting ruins and famous monuments including the Royal Palace and the Gal Vihara. Polonnaruwa was once the capital and is also the second most ancient city in Sri Lanka. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening, we return to Dambulla for an evening at leisure. MEALS Breakfast

Dambulla – Sigiriya – Kandy. This morning we explore Sigiriya and the famous ‘Lion Rock’ fortress. Built over 1500 years ago, this beautiful citadel stands 200 meters high in the middle of verdant jungle and was an important stronghold of the 70-hectare fortified town. It can be viewed from miles around and is definitely one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic and famous sites. You’ll be able to view the world-famous paintings of the Heavenly Maidens which stand in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. From Sigiriya, we take a bullock cart ride and a short canoe trip to the village of Kayanwala. Here, at Kayanwala Village we take part in a cookery demonstration in a mud-brick home of a local woman and enjoy a freshly prepared lunch of curry, dahl, spiced rice, pickle, and more. En route to Kandy, we stop off a spice garden in Matale, to see the different herbs and spices, which Sri Lanka is famous for. You will be introduced to different spices and shown how some of these spices are grown and processed. MEALS Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we take a sightseeing tour of Kandy – the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. Our first stop will be the Temple of the Tooth Relic. Legend has it that one of Buddha’s teeth was taken from him as he lay on his funeral pyre. It was then smuggled into Sri Lanka in 313AD. It now attracts daily pilgrims who come bearing lotus flowers and frangipani. After driving around the Kandy Lake – built by the last Sinhala king, we visit the local bazaar and a gem museum, we then take the Tuk Tuk ride up into the surrounding hills. This afternoon we stop at a working tea factory at Geragama. Geragama Tea Factory is located in close proximity to the city of Kandy and was established in the year 1903, manufacturing ‘Low Grown’ and ‘Long Leaf’ tea. This evening, we watch a cultural performance of traditional Sri Lankan music and dance. MEALS Breakfast

Kandy – Nuwara Eliya. This morning offers free time before transferring to the railway station for a scenic train trip. Passing kilometers upon kilometers of verdant tea plantations that hug the winding mountain passes, we’ll see waterfalls, suspension bridges, and tea pickers on our journey up to Nuwara Eliya – Sri Lanka’s most popular hill resort. Nuwara Eliya is also the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country producing a significant share of the world’s best tea. This afternoon we take a sightseeing tour of Nuwara Eliya on a beautiful drive through ‘Little England’. MEALS Breakfast

Nuwara Eliya – Udawalawe National Park. Today we head south to Embilipitiya, our base for exploring Udawalawe National Park. This national park is probably one of the best places to spot the famous Sri Lankan elephant, the biggest of all Asian elephants. It is thought that there are around 400 elephants here. The park is also home to the elusive leopard, the Sri Lankan sloth bear, and various types of deer. We enjoy an afternoon game drive here before returning to our hotel. MEALS Breakfast OVERNIGHT Udawalawe National Park

Udawalawe National Park – Yala National Park. This morning we depart for Yala National Park – the second largest national park in Sri Lanka. This afternoon, we take a jeep safari of the park. The park also has one of the highest concentrations of Asian elephants in the world – and about 350 live here. Also present are sloth bears, golden palm civets, Sri Lankan krait, crocodiles, and some of the biggest numbers of leopards. The coastline around the park is visited by leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles. MEALS Breakfast

Yala National Park – Bundala National Park – Mirissa. This morning we depart Yala for coastal Bundala National Park. This fantastic labyrinth of waterways, dunes, and lagoons is the home to thousands of brightly colored birds, over 200 species. It is also home to the magnificent greater flamingo and has a decent amount of Asian elephants that call the park home. We take a jeep safari here before transferring to the coastal town of Mirissa for the night. MEALS Breakfast OVERNIGHT Mirissa

Mirissa – Colombo. This morning (if travelling between 01 Nov – 30 April) it’s an early start as we transfer to the boat pier for our whale and dolphin watching boat cruise (cost approx $35pp paid locally, and weather dependant). During this time of year fin whales, Bryde’s whales, sperm whales, blue whales – the largest creatures on earth, whale sharks, orcas and dolphins are very often seen just a few kilometres off Sri Lanka’s southern coast. The round trip may last anywhere between 2-6 hours with an average of 4 hours depending on how far out at sea the mammals are located. If travelling between 01 May – 31 Oct the morning is spent visiting UNESCO World Heritage Listed Galle fortress – first constructed by the Portuguese in 1588, then expanded and extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Our final stop today, is Colombo and the bustling city centre for a guided tour. We explore the Fort area in the north of the city, famous for its government buildings and interesting shops. Take a stroll along with Galle Face Green and watch locals play cricket before heading over to the stunning Gangarama Temple. MEALS Breakfast

Monday. Our tour concludes today with an onward departure transfer to the airport. Alternatively, consider spending some extra time exploring Sri Lanka’s beautiful tropical coastline or simply relax and soak up the sun with a good book. Extend your stay by a day, a week, or even two! We offer a variety of properties for you to choose from. Browse our best places to visit and pages for suggestions on what to see and do on your holiday. Alternatively, head to If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please let us know so we can accommodate your request. MEALS Breakfast