Arrive in Sri Lanka. Transfer to the Capital City Colombo 20 kms south west of the airport. Enjoy a fresh fruit welcome drink on arrival and our representative will meet in the hotel at a pre-arranged time to provide a formal brief on the destination, and guide you through the rest of the program. In the afternoon visit the highlights of the city. The Fort which takes its name from the former military garrison during Colonial rule, Pettah which is outside the Fort and a bustling bazaar for wholesale traders, Cinnamon gardens which was the residential areas for the rich and elite, Independence Square built to commemorate the country;s independence in 1948, the old Parliament which is now the Presidential Secretariat and Town Hall a replica of state buildings in the USA. Also visit Kelaniya temple 12 kms from the city and a historical Buddhist temple, one of three venues in the island visited by The Lord Buddha. Overnight at the Galle Face Hotel Colombo built over 150 years ago and is today the oldest hotel in the country. We highly recommend the beautiful “Regency Rooms” with a splendid view of the Indian Ocean.

Drive to Anuradhapura via Negombo. Negombo was a fishing village during Portuguese rule and a hub of catholic faith as inhabitants were converted en masse by the Portuguese. Visit a typical fishing village in Negombo and a church which still retains its ancient architecture. Proceed to Anuradhapura the first ancient capital 2500 years ago and the birth of the Sinhalese race. Today the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the ancient ruins which are well preserved, each with its own tale of folklore, myth and legend. Overnight at the chalet-type Palm Garden Village Hotel Anuradhapura set in a sprawling 100-acre garden.

Drive to Mihintale on the outskirts of Anuradhapura, and visit the rocky outcrop, where Arahat Mahinda appeared to the Sinhalese King of the time and preached the Buddhist doctrine which saw the birth of the religion in the country. Drive to Aukana and visit the tallest statue of the Buddha hewn on rock by the Kalawewa lake, each with its own legend. Continue to Sigiriya and visit the ruin of the rock citadel of King Kashyapa built in 700 AD and has a niche in the history of the region. Spend the night at the Village Sigiriya popular for its warm hospitality and eco-friendly environment.

In the morning drive to Polonnaruwa, the 2nd capital of ancient Ceylon and famous for its “Sea of Parakrama” the vast man-made reservoir built by a famous Sinhala King who was known for his courage, valour and contribution to the country’s heritage. Visit a traditional Polonnaruwa wood carver at his craft just outside the ruined city walls. In the afternoon visit the Village Sigiriya farm which provides fresh produce to the resort. Overnight in Village Sigiriya.

Drive to Dambulla, and visit the famous cave temples filled with ancient paintings and sculptured statues of kings, Gods & The Buddha by an exiled King who lives in the caves for 14 years. Proceed to Matale and visit a spice garden where fresh spices are grown and processed. Enjoy a refreshing herbal tea at the spice garden and an opportunity to purchase fresh spices. Also visit “Aluvihara walauwwa’ a home of a traditional Sinhala family and lunch is a typical home-cooked meal using traditional utensils. Arrive in Kandy the last capital of the Sinhalese Kings before the country was annexed to the British Empire in 1815. Overnight at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel which belongs to a Kandyan family and is well located by the longest river of the island.

Visit Kandy the Royal Botanical Gardens, 140 acres of landscaped gardens which was the pleasure gardens of Kandyan Kings and has over 4000 species of flora, the “Dalada Maligawa” the temple where the tooth relic of The Buddha is enshrined, a gem & jewelry lapidary to see how the mined stones are cut, polished and set, and in the evening enjoy watching a display of traditional folklore dances originating from historical times. Overnight at Mahaweli Reach Hotel.

Drive along scenic winding routes through lush green tea-clad slopes towards Nuwara Eliya. This region produces the famous Ceylon Tea and used to be called “little England” during colonial rule because of its cool salubrious climate reminiscent of the Scottish hills in the United Kingdom. Enjoy the spectacle of cascading waterfalls, and busy tea pluckers on the vast tea-estates who originate from the estate laborers brought from India by the British Raj. A visit to a tea factory is included to see Ceylon’s famous tea being processed and enjoy a warm cup of the unblended brew. Nuwara Eliya has a place in ancient legend where the demon king Ravana imprisoned the kidnapped beautiful queen Seeta wife of the God King Rama in India until she was rescued by an army led by the monkey-king Hanuman who built the Palk Strait linking India to Sri Lanka with huge boulders from the Himalayas for the army to cross. The straight is visible even today to satellites. Visit “Seeta Eliya” where a small Hindu temple still exists in testimony to the exact spot where Queen Seeta was imprisoned. Overnight is at the Colonial era Grand Hotel with its beautifully manicured gardens.

Drive down along scenic roads through villages and towns to the southern coast of the island and Kataragama. It is a place of devoted worship to the Hindu & Buddhist populace of the country and the highlight of the visit is to witness the evening “pooja” at the temple. Kataragama is legendary as the origins from where King Dutugemunu a warrior Sinhala King painstakingly formed his army and marched north to oust the powerful kings of south India who occupied the north and restore ancient Ceylon under the Sinhalese rule after decades of invasion. Overnight at the serene Rosen Rennaissance Hotel Kataragama.

Leave early to visit the Yala National Park, famous for its wildlife especially elephants. Tour the National Park in open-topped jeeps escorted by experienced trackers. In the afternoon drive along the coastal road by the Indian Ocean and arrive in Galle, another UNESCO World Heritage site and a former Dutch Fort City with a rich history. Colonial rule ironically came to the island in Galle when in 1505 the Portuguese naval fleet was blown off course by a storm and landed in Galle. Seeing the strategic military value of the place they built a fort and began interacting with the local population. It however was the Dutch who 150 years later defeated the Portuguese who developed Galle to what is still seen today. Overnight is at the Colonial Closenberg Hotel, Galle.

Visit the Galle Fort City and its ramparts. Leaving Galle drive through Ambalangoda famous for its hand-crafted masks and visit a mask factory. Continue to Mount Lavinia 12 kms south of Colombo city and arrive at the Mount Lavinia Hotel which has an interesting story of its own involving a Colonial Governer Thomas Maitland and his affection for a local Sinhalese girl called Lavinia. Overnight at the Mount Lavinia Hotel; this was a holiday residence of the British Governer and still retains its charm of the past.

Relax at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, enjoying its beach or exploring the nearby city of Colombo on your own, browsing through the several outlets selling hand-crafted fabrics at incredible bargain prices, souvenirs and delightful restaurants, or treat yourself to a day at a rejuvenating spa. Overnight at the Mount Lavinia Hotel.

Departure to the airport and your return flight home.