AYUBOWAN-! Welcome to Sri Lanka, the pearl of Asia and 9 days of explorations with local expertise giving you the opportunity to touch the Unesco World Heritage sites & rich Sri Lankan culture, the lush green tea estates & waterfalls in the hills, the wildlife & exciting adventures, and beautiful soft sandy remort beaches. Upon arrival at Colombo CMB airport, you will meet your tour leader and you will be transferred to your hotel (can pick-up from any hotel at Colombo or Negombo as well). The first destination will be Negombo coastal town, which has long been known as the most popular beach in Sri Lanka, famous for its golden sandy beach, food and fun. For day one, we haven’t planned any activity, thus you are free to arrive in Sri Lanka at any time. If your flight lands early in the day, you could relax on the beach and pool of your cosy hotel. Evening, you may have a walk along the seashore while enjoying the beautiful sunset and the pleasant evening atmosphere of the beachside. Overnight stay in Negombo.

After having a delicious breakfast and enjoying a hot cup of Sri Lankan tea or coffee, you will take a wonderful journey across the stunning Sri Lankan countryside towards Dambulla city, which is the central point of the cultural triangle in the island. En-route, you may also visit the Millennium Elephant Rehabilitation Center, originally created in order to protect and look after the wild elephants found wandering in and around the forests of Sri Lanka. It is always a wonderful experience to give them a bath at the nearby river.

Upon arrival at Dambulla, you'll enjoy a wonderful cultural village tour while exploring the beautiful countryside. It will start with a Bullock Cart ride, one of the most ancient and prime transportation systems in Sri Lanka, still used in some villages. While on the tour you will also enjoy a canoeing Boat ride across the lake and TukTuk ride before reaching the farmer’s house where you will experience the typical Sri Lankan countryside hospitality.

Thereafter, you will visit the famous Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE), where you may capture the beautiful scenery of sun setting. King Kasyapa (477 – 495 BC) built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. Sigiriya refuses to reveal its secrets easily; in fact you have to climb a series of vertiginous staircases to reach the top. On the way you’ll pass quite remarkable frescoes and a pair of colossal lion paws carved into the bedrock. Overnight stay in Dambulla.

Early in the morning, climb Pidurangala rock to capture the morning sunrise. Afterwards, enjoy breakfast at the hotel and set of to Kandy. En route, visit the Golden Buddha Statue, the Royal Cave Temple (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE), and Matale Spice Garden. Then, proceed towards Kandy city, the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom. It's set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and bio diverse rainforests. Kandy is also famous for its sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). Thereafter, you’ll enjoy a walk around Kandy's busy city centre, including a tour of the Central Market, before engaging with a cultural dance show which is inspired by Sri Lankan arts, traditional dance and cultural heritage (INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE). Overnight stay in Kandy.

In the morning, you will visit the Peradeniya Royal Garden, which is known as one of the best botanical gardens in Asia. Thereafter, proceed to Kitulgala, which is a major ecotourism venue in Sri Lanka. It is a real paradise for those who love adventures. Upon arrival, experience white water rafting in the picturesque Kelani River. This activity is for anyone above the age of 10 years with safety gear, modern rafts, and a comprehensive safety briefing that will be given by our white water rafting instructors beforehand. The river and its surrounding will make you feel enchanted, with a memorable experience during your white water rafting tour in Kitulagala. Afterwards, trek to natural rock pool, which is extremely beautiful and a gift of nature, where you will be able to experience sliding down an inclined 05-meter waterfall with safety gear into the rock pool (ABOVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE). Overnight stay in Kitulagala.

After breakfast, you’ll enjoy a wonderful journey through the lush green tea plantations, the scenic view of the mountains and the waterfalls towards the tea region of Nuwara Eliya. It is often referred to as “Little England” because many of the buildings in this city retain from the British colonial period, such as the Queen's Cottage, the General's House, the Grand Hotel, the Hill Club and the Town Post Office. Since this amazing town is located in the mountains, it is characterized by a cool climate all year long.

Visit a tea plantation. Sri Lanka, tea and tourism are words which cannot be separated. Explore the cold and misty hills that host lush green blankets of tea plantations. You also have the opportunity to visit a tea factory processing the prestigious brand of Ceylon Tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive up to date. Make sure to end your factory visit in style over a perfectly blended cup of tea. In the afternoon, you will walk through Nuwara Eliya city center and the fruit and vegetable market. Try some snacks around lanes filled with ‘short eats’, street-food possibilities and bustling local eateries. Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

In the morning, you will enjoy a spectacular train journey from Nanu-oya station to Ella village. It is known as one of the most picturesque hill country train journeys in the world. Ella is everyone’s favorite hill country village due to the fact that it’s a wonderful nature-friendly location. The Nine Arch Bridge, a major tourist attraction in Ella, is a massive bridge built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel. Ella is a great place for walking and climbing and its most famous trekking route is to “Little Adam’s Peak”. In the evening, you could chill out at the village center where there are lots of restaurants, pubs and also evening entertainments. Ella is a stunning location that anyone who is visiting Sri Lanka should not miss out. Overnight stay in Ella Village.

After an amazing journey through the mountains and waterfalls, you have finally arrived at the world-famous beachside of Sri Lanka. In the morning, you will head towards Mirissa while enjoying the magnificent view of the Indian Ocean. Mirissa/Dickwella is a delightful sandy beach that was a well-kept secret in the past, but now more restaurants and pubs are opening up to visitors. Mirissa/Dickwella is also characterized by white sands and coconut palms growing right from the edge of the sea as if in imitation of a postcard of the perfect tropical beach. Upon arrival at your hotel, you could grab a towel to relax on the beach while enjoying a cocktail or a chill beer under the shade of a beach umbrella. In the evening, perhaps you could walk down along the seashore and you could find a seafront restaurant to try some authentic Sri Lankan seafood - a wonderful crab curry is likely to be on the menu. Overnight stay in a seafront resort – Mirissa / Dickwella.

Early in the morning, hit back to the beautiful golden sandy beach and jump into a boat for an amazing ride on the sea to capture the blue whales and dolphins. Mirissa is one of the best places in the world to spot the biggest creature on the planet. Please note that whale watching is a SEASONAL activity. Thereafter, you will be heading towards Galle, a city well known for its Fort (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). It is the intersection where classic Dutch and British architecture meets a tropical setting, creating a vivid atmosphere in beauty. Walk through the streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions nowadays flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale. Historical Galle Lighthouse stands proudly on the southeast tip of the fort. In the afternoon, you’ll visit a turtle hatchery center where baby turtles learn to take their first swim and injured adults are rehabilitated back into the wild. Overnight stay in a beach resort - Bentota.

After breakfast, you’ll visit the capital city of Colombo, which has an interesting history running back to the fifth century. Even in ancient times, this was an important port city in the East-West sea trade. Nowadays it has become a bustling modern town with a unique atmosphere. The colourful streets, restaurants and modern shopping malls attract hordes of locals and tourists alike. In Colombo, you have the opportunity to visit the most highlighted places in the city and also do some last-minute shopping as well. Perhaps, you may intend to pop into a famous and internationally renowned restaurant in Colombo to end your trip over an unforgettable meal. Thereafter, proceed to the airport in time for the return flight or we drop you back to your hotel in Colombo or Negombo to end this wonderful tour across the island.