Book your holiday to Sri Lanka
Trip Itinerary
Day 1-2: Horathapola Estate
Day 3-4: Cultural Triangle
Day 5-6: Kandy and Dambulla
Day 7-9: Hill Country
Day 10-12: Weligama
Day 13: Kotugoda
Day 14: Departure
Day 1-2: Horathapola Estate
- Head to Horathapola Estate, a plantation bungalow hidden amidst the beautiful lush landscapes of rural Sri Lanka.
- Explore this fully functioning 50-acre organic coconut plantation, which dates back to the early 1900’s.
- This is an ideal place to start your journey and relax and unwind before you set out to explore the rest of the Island.
- Hop on a bicycle and go for a leisurely ride, passing temples, plantations and farmlands
- Stroll on a nature walk into the community to engage and interact with the friendly locals.
- Sit atop a bullock cart and traverse the lush expanse, and gain insight into how this organic plantation works.
- Visit the local ‘pola’, a bustling farmers-market selling delicious fresh produce.
- Explore an organic coconut oil manufacturing plant.
- If you are an avid birdwatcher, there is a diverse array of kaleidoscopic birdlife painting the sky above.
Day 3-4: Cultural Triangle
- Explore the Cultural Triangle starting with a privately guided tour of the magnificent city of Anuradhapura.
- Meander through enormous bell-shaped stupas, temples, sculptures, palaces, and ancient water reservoirs.
- Buddhism is significant here, and on holy days the streets brim with religious devotees.
- Discover the second most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa, a prehistoric site containing the archaeological remains of ancient structures, temples and statues that reflect the great works of the Kings of Sri Lanka.
- Visit the Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks and revel in the ‘The Gathering of Elephants’, a massive gathering of approximately 150 – 200 towering elephants that emerge from the lush forest to congregate at the water’s edge.
- Climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, an exquisite ancient palace and fortress complex and site of significant archaeological importance, and explore archaic paintings of the King’s maids in waiting at the fresco gallery and Mirror Wall
Day 5-6: Kandy and Dambulla
- Choose to take an excursion to the Dambulla Cave Temple, one of the most magnificently preserved monastic temple cave complexes in Sri Lanka.
- Read the walls with their rock paintings and marvel at 150 Buddha statues located in over 2000 square metres of colourfully painted walls and ceilings.
- Visit the Temple of the Sacred Relic Temple, the most revered site in Sri Lanka. While the tooth stays hidden within a gold casket, visitors and devotees always visit the temple during puja, the prayer session, just to glimpse the well-protected inner shrine where it is housed.
- Meander through the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, and discover a vibrantly colourful montage of over 4 000 different species of plants and flowers
Day 7-9: Hill Country
- Embark on a Ceylon Tea Trails Tea Experience with the resident planter, and discover the age-old tea making process.
- End off your tour sipping on delicious varieties and grades of delicious brews.
- Relish tea-infused cuisine, treat yourself to tea-based spa treatments and trek on tea-laden trails.
- Indulge in the ultimate relaxation in English gardens abundant with old-world charm.
- Take a leisurely wander through the beautiful Ceylon tea gardens.
- Embark on an adventure trek up verdant slopes, a great way to delve into diverse terrain and colourful birdlife
- Savour sweeping vistas of shimmering mountain lakes, charming doll’s house villages and enchanting misty forests.
- Make sure to utterly spoil yourself at the scrumptious afternoon high teas in flourishing, colourful gardens.
- Take the time to rest and relax in one of the luxurious bungalows, perfectly enveloped in warmth from a crackling wood fire, watching as the captivating mists rolls across the landscape.
Day 10-12: Weligama
- This morning you will take the scenic air transfer from Castlereagh reservoir to Koggala (approx. 1 ½ hours flight with one stop en-route).
- Delight in a variety of land and water-based activities. Offering first-rate PADI dive courses and exciting dives, other activities include private cruises, big game fishing, seasonal whale and dolphin watching trips and banana boating.
- Stroll on the infinite sun-kissed stretches of sand and frolic in the sensational sparkling waters.
- Explore neighbouring coves by kayak, or learn to surf on Weligama’s legendary curls.
- Savour mouth-watering fare, dramatically poised at the cliff edge, with nothing but azure expanse as far as the eye can see.
- Indulge in a ‘spa day’, with organic homegrown Sri Lankan spice scrubs and essential oil massages.
- Explore the intricately beautiful historic Old Dutch Fort in Galle. Wander through this vibrant, bustling area, complete with courts, schools, administrative buildings and churches. Stroll through the Dutch Hospital Shopping Complex and soak in the ambience.
Day 13: Kotugoda
- After breakfast, you will be driven to Kotugoda (approx. 3 hours’ drive).
- En-route visit and explore the city of Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka with your guide.
- Immerse yourself in the colourful, bustling sights and sounds and relish the enticing street food scene.
- Enjoy a stay in an old colonial manor house in Kotugoda that has been lovingly restored to a luxury private hideaway and boasts magnificent manicured gardens.
- Indulge in sumptuous cuisine, revitalising spa treatments, a leisurely swim and a tranquil night’s sleep.
Day 14: Departure
- Drive from your hotel to Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight (approx. ½ hour drive).
- Wave a fond farewell as your wonderful journey comes to end.
Accommodation
Amanwella
Amangalla
