Best of Sri Lanka

You will be picked up from the Negombo hotel and transferred to Fishing village in Negombo.

Wake up to the tropical sunrise and head out to Wella to observe the fishermen’s way of life. Watch how they spread out their nets with care hoping for that ‘big catch’. Then simply take few steps towards the busy fishermen pulling fishing nets ashore. After all, a little help wouldn’t mind, would it? Preserve the Fresh catch in cold boxes to take them across for your lunch. 

Then proceed to Sigiriya while experiencing how busy roads change gradually to a flat terrain spreading miles ahead as the climate gets warmer.  Surely, it will be fascinating to observe how the road starts to get carpeted between lush green paddy fields.  As the journey begins, you will witness coconut cultivations and while you drive towards Sigiriya, you will see vast areas of paddy fields. It is really an amazing thing to see how the environment changes from the coastal line to paddy fields. As your journey deepens into the northern part of the island you will be able to witness exotic birds, Monitor Lizards, grey Buffalos and overly friendly Monkeys. 

On your way you will also witness beautiful pineapple plantations. Stop near a pineapple plantation and enjoy the fresh and tasty pineapple. It will open your taste buds and you will feel refreshed after a long drive. (Tasting pineapple will be depending upon the season)

Proceed to a local restaurant and line up to your own BBQ with the fresh fish you brought from the fishing village the very day, then learn the art of marinating and make your own BBQ meal. It will be a nice experience to make your own BBQ.  Once you have reached Sigiriya, you will feel the warm tropical weather, but the constant breeze will make you feel tireless. Proceed to the Hotel and check in.

Optional: Visit Sigiriya Lion Rock (Entrance fee USD 30 per person)

Hop off your vehicle at the base of the fresco-covered rock fortress sitting calm in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. As you walk through its well-trodden pathways do not be surprised to witness its symmetrical landscape which is still kept alive. Then take the stairway towards the gigantic paws of a resting lion and walk through its perfectly preserved frescoes and wonderful mirror wall to observe the brilliance of the ancient Sri Lankan artist. At the top you will be presented with nothing less than a mesmerising living specimen of King Kasyapa’s 5^th century citadel which will surely tempt you to explore the summit even more. Do not be surprised…. After all you are at the Eighth Wonder of the World!

Sunrise in the morning will stay as an unforgettable picture. As you get up you may hear birds singing and it will be a different waking up experience.

After breakfast sit in the comfort of your vehicle as your chauffeur takes you to the Giritale tank, one of the finest landmarks in the Kingdom of Lakes! The tank is an initiative taken few centuries ago with the primary objective of cooling the environment while providing much needed water for agricultural lands which today administers itself as one of the finest spoken attractions in Polonnaruwa.

This is where you get to hop on a bicycle and take a slow ride through scattered local villages. School children who run through the paddy fields will make this beautiful morning more colourful. Being captivated by the subtle beauty of the feathered – Egrets, Brahminy Kites and Bulbuls – while observing a Kingfisher making a nose-dive into sparkling water can never be a bad idea after all!

Proceed to Polonnaruwa.

Stop at a village market place and you can buy vegetables for your today’s lunch. Then transfer to a close by village house. You will have the opportunity to blend with the local family and prepare food jointly with the group. It will be an interactive cooking experience for the guests. Whilst sharing the Sri Lankan cookery secrets, the  tour  guide will  introduce  the village  family to  the  group.   After the joint preparation  of the food clients can enjoy the typical Sri Lankan rice and curry lunch with the local family. For sure this will be another unforgettable experience for all of the guests.

Visit Polonnaruwa ancient city. 

Do not let the heat absorb your interest as you have just stepped into a mine of cultural and religious extravaganza. Stamping a remarkable era from the 11th century until 1310 CE. Polonnaruwa, represents one of the most important milestones in the history of Sri Lanka. Take a walk across this UNESCO World Heritage Site – a kingdom of the greatest kings that ruled the island – and witness how stone-carved Buddha statues as well as architectural and historic Monuments add value to Polonnaruwa. Observe the glamour of Gal Viharaya, Lankatilaka, Rankot Vehera, Thivanka Image House as well as Thuparama before heading out from a remarkable royal capital of Sri Lanka!

Back to the hotel .

Leave your hotel and make a quick stop in Dambulla in the morning to witness the religious and cultural landmark embedded in Dambulla Cave Temples. Tracing its footsteps back to the 2^nd century BC, the cave temple in Dambulla form an important pick in anyone’s bucket-list merely due to its magnificently carved 153 Buddha statues nestled in five caves. Step through the gateways trodden by millions of devotees and take a slow climb right to its summit. This was a prime meditating grounds for Buddhist monks throughout phases of history. Then leave the premises with nothing less than ripe memories.

You will feel the climate change of the dry zone to wet zone as you pass by Dambulla and reach Kandy via Matale. You will witness how the flat paddy fields change into step down paddy fields beside the road. You will be reaching the up country surrounded with lot of greenery and mountains.

Proceed to Kandy via Matale.

Stop in Matale – the cradle of spices in Sri Lanka – on your way to the Hill Capital to observe how Sri Lanka’s world-class spices are grown and processed. Start your spice garden tour under the watchful eyes of an in-house specialist who will take you through a journey entwining with spices and their herbal values. Finally, enjoy a cup of herbal tea – something unique for a Sri Lankan at heart – before heading out to the all-important last royal capital of Sri Lanka, Kandy.

Feel the coolness of the surrounding climate as you drive into the limits of a city which is 500 meters above the sea level and that last-witnessed Royalty. Welcome to the Colosseum of Heritage! Take a walk through streets of Kandy and observe how life unfolds under the shades of Heritage. Pass the clock tower that stands tall for decades under the sun and rain before walking around the shady banks of the Kandy Lake. Check in to your hotel.

In the evening, take part in a city tour in Kandy before witnessing a cultural show featuring traditional Sri Lankan dances. A drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798 will give you a nice feeling about the culture in Kandy. Then proceed to explore the town, Bazaar area and the market place where locals come and buy their day to day goods.

Optional: For those who are interested in visiting a Gem Museum and Art & Craft centre can visit those places as an option. Kandy is a great place for souvenir shopping and to learn about its rich culture. As you walk through the doorways of a cultural centre, stay prepared to be mesmerised by the beats of rattling drums and spinning dancers that spell out the Kandyan heritage to supremacy! Sit back in the comfort of your seat and applaud to a series of performances unfolding before your eyes featuring traditional Sri Lankan dances.

After the cultural show, come back to the Kandy city to taste the Sri Lankan street food. You may taste the nice Kottu Roti, hoppers, egg hoppers & roti. After the dinner do not forget to taste the Masala Tea. (Clients pay direct)

If passionate towards local cuisine? Then learn it from those who know it by heart! Watch how locals garnish their culinary experience – the traditional way at the resort you stayed over. You may even lend a hand to prepare your signature Sri Lankan breakfast, an experience that will last a lifetime!

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic

Leave your hotel and walk into the most sacred temple that enshrines the tooth relic of Lord Buddha where you will be able to witness Pooja – twice a day – showered by the blessings of devotees that account to few hundred on any given day.

(When you visit the temple of tooth relic please make sure that you wear the proper dress code to avoid any inconvenience at the entrance. You are not allowed to wear, shorts, Short Skirts, skinnies or sleeveless blouses)

Visit Peradeniya Botanical Garden

Head towards Peradeniya and walk through the gateways of the Royal Botanical Garden which enshrines an abundance of flora. Walk through the giant palms and be enchanted by rare orchids, spices and herbs which are sometimes found nowhere else across the island. In fact, this is not only a habitat for beautiful flowers, but also a library for an enthusiast of historic plants which date back across few decades.

The origins of the Botanical Gardens date as far back as 1371 when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near Mahaweli River. This was followed by King Kirti Sri and King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. A temple was built on this location by King Wimala Dharma, but it was destroyed by the British when they were given control over the Kingdom of Kandy. Thereafter, the groundwork for a botanical garden was formed by Alexandar Moon in 1821. The Botanical Garden at Peradeniya was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden, Slave Island, Colombo, and the Kalutara Garden in Kalutara. The Royal Botanic Garden, Peradeniya was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844. On his death in 1849 George Henry Kendrick Thwaites became superintendent. He served until 1879, when he was succeeded by Henry Trimen, who served until1895. The Garden came under the administration of the Department of Agriculture when it was established in 1912.

After visiting the Botanical Garden you may have your lunch under a shady tree. You will enjoy the picnic lunch inside the Botanical Garden. (Clients Pay Direct)

Proceed to Nuwara Eliya.

En-route Visit Ramboda Falls.

 Leave Peradeniya and take a winding road uphill into the heart of the tea country. Observe the surroundings and how the climate around you changes as busy roads studded with towns transform into pine-covered narrow roads that snake their way through lush green blankets of Ceylon Tea. Don’t be surprised if you pass a…. waterfall crashing down by the road as this is a common sight amidst the hills. Nuwara Eliya is situated 1868m above the sea level.

When you pass by the mountains you may have chance to see village children selling wild flowers besides the road. If so you may stop for a moment and purchase beautiful flowers from them (Optional).

As you approach Nuwara Eliya you will find out why it is called a visitor’s bliss. The misty hill country town is vastly renowned for unending acres of high-grown Ceylon Tea and suddenly springs out to light during its April season when golfers, horse-racers, motor racers and holiday makers flock into Nuwara Eliya to spend the best season of the year amidst Old-English style cottages and a heritage that dates back into Colonial Ceylon!

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visit Tea Factory.

Walk into a traditional factory processing fine Ceylon Tea, a world class brand which boasts of millions of servings each day across the globe. Be mesmerised by the process extending from plucking to processing and be guided by a team of experts who know it by heart! You can enjoy tea plucking session at the tea factory with the tea bucket hanging on your neck. After the tea plucking session enjoy the finest Ceylon tea at the tea lounge.

Proceed to Ella.

Leave your hotel in the morning and head out to Nanu-Oya Railway Station. Catch a local train that will rattle its way to Ella and be amazed by the breathtaking views that will swish pass your window. Train will be stopped at the Pattipola railway station during your fascinating train journey, it is the highest station in Sri Lanka with an elevation of 1,897.5 m above the sea level. The Pattipola Station has that unique feeling of a British Village Station as you pass by you will feel that you are away from it all. Get down from Ella railway station to end the memorable train ride.

Once you reach Ella, You would witness unforgettable Ella-Gap. Thereafter, proceed to Yala. Observe how the steep roads flatten into a speed-friendly terrain that stretches past acres across Wellawaya into the heart of wilderness, Yala National Park. Welcome to leopard country! Yala National Park has the highest density of leopards in the world.

In the land overlooked by the spotted and clawed, you will be in for a treat that blends well with wildlife and local smiles. Check into your hotel and take a good rest as the following day promises a bumpy ride in the island’s largest national park that often lives up to its promise of a lifetime experience.

You will enjoy the Garden BBQ Dinner near the camp site. (Clients direct pay)

Have packed breakfast and transfer to do the Yala Safari.

Leave to Yala National Park for Morning Safari by private Jeep.  

Wake up early in the morning to the chirps of birds announcing the dawn and find a comfortable seat in your safari jeep…. Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to enter the holy land of Sri Lankan wildlife! Enter the park and head inside through its bumpy roads and wide open plains to witness an abundance of peacock, crocodiles, wild boar and spotted deer grazing across the scrub forest. But, keep your eyes wide open as a roaring leopard, a fuzzy sloth bear or a colossal tusker may be just few feet away. Spanning across 978km² Yala is home to a large number of mammals and birds. So, do not be surprised even if you are presented with a spine-tingling cry of a deer, as A Hunt may be just seconds away!

Thereafter proceed to Induruwa & check in to the hotel.

It is a place to relax, rejuvenate and experience a tropical beach resort that will offer where you will enjoy sun, sea, sand and the way of life in the south of Sri Lanka.

The long quiet stretch of beach offers you peace in abundance and a dip in the warm Indian Ocean is rejuvenating. Lie under a palm tree and relax on this unpolluted stretch. Learn the art of stilt fishing (Optional) – a mastery passed down from generation to generation and experience the insight of the only village of stilt fishing in the world. Also you can visit a turtle  hatchery  if  you  wish to do . (Optional)

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Galle to do a city tour.

Catch a public bus from Induruwa to Galle to get the hang of the local lifestyle. Experience how the locals get along with their daily means of transport as the bus will take you along the coastline to Galle. Simply act local and pay attention to the busy conductor who yells at the top of his voice at every halting place while your driver will steer the bus through coastline until you bid adieu to them in Galle. On public transport always be vigilant about protecting your pockets, valuables. 

Do a walking city tour in Galle

Walk through the Galle city, living museum of the Dutch architecture, which still boasts of its colonial heritage and historic fort. Walk into the gigantic gateways of the fort – first built by Portuguese and refined later by the Dutch and then later by the British– and observe how life goes by living inside a Dutch monument. You will be surprised to see how well the roads within the fort are aligned parallel to the fort’s ramparts. Take a walk along the well-paved roads of this UNESCO World Heritage Site that has remarkably held its ground throughout years of its living style by itself. After walking through the Galle Fort you’ll then step in to a nice restaurant with the colonial touch inside the Galle Fort to have lunch. (Only lunch - Clients Pay Direct)

After exploring the Galle City take a walk up to the train station and catch a public train to Induruwa. Hence it’s a nice feeling to witness typical southern Sri Lanka villages occasionally experiencing the train to the southern coastal line.

Optional: After a fun filled exciting tour you will enjoy the nice Fare well dinner on the beach. (If weather permits) (Clients to pay direct)

Enjoy your mind, body and soul with a Yoga session early in the morning which is guaranteed to seal your holiday with a stamp of perfection!

Breakfast at the hotel.

Although the tour has come to an end, those who would like to stay few extra nights in this beautiful beach resort are most welcome to have their beach extension in the Pandanus resort – ask your My Travel Experience consultant about extending your booking.

You can enjoy the serene beach, sun and sand. Also you can use the Ayurveda spa and get yourself refreshed unwind and be stress free before you finish your holiday. It’s also nice to make a day excursion from hotel to Sinharaja rainforest which is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of a kind. In an around Induruwa there are many lovely lakes to go on boating to see mangroves. Moreover it’s a nice resort with a southern touch of Sri Lanka to relax and enjoy very nice food and drinks.