Itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Colombo
Overnight flight from London (regional connections available) to Colombo with Sri Lankan Airlines. (N)
Day 2: Colombo
Afternoon arrival and transfer to the
Cinnamon Lakeside for 1 night. Enjoy
afternoon tea at the iconic Galle Face Hotel. (N)
Day 3: Dambulla
In the morning transfer to Dambulla. Stay 3
nights at the Heritance Kandalama hotel. (B)
Day 4: Anuradhapura Mihintale
Drive to the ancient city of Anuradhapura. For
1,400 years this city was Sri Lankas capital and
contains fabulous Buddhist shrines and relics.
Afternoon visit to Mihintale, the birthplace of
Buddhism in Sri Lanka. (B)
Day 5: Sigiriya Polonnaruwa
Morning visit to the rock fortress town of
Sigiriya. Continue to the 11th-century medieval
capital of Polonnaruwa. (B)
Day 6: Dambulla Kandy
Morning visit to Dambulla, home to Asias
most impressive cave temples. Continue to
the beautiful hill station of Kandy and stay 2
nights at the Earls Regency. Afternoon city
tour. Later, in the evening, take time to watch
a traditional Kandyan dance performance
and visit the Temple of the Tooth for the
evening puja. (B)
Day 7: Kandy
Kandy is set on the shores of a beautiful manmade
lake and the area abounds with rich
and varied plant life. Morning visit to the Royal
Botanical Gardens. Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Day 8: Nuwara Eliya
Early morning drive to Nuwara Eliya hill station
via a tea plantation. Situated at 2,000 metres
above sea level, Nuwara Eliya attracted the
British in the 18th century and their legacy is
still visible. Stay at the Heritance Tea Factory
for 2 nights. (B)
Day 9: Horton Plains
Early morning visit to Horton Plains, situated
on Sri Lankas highest plateau (this excursion
involves a 2.5-hour walk*). Horton Plains is
inhabited by large populations of monkeys and
sambar deer. The remainder of the day is at
leisure. (B)
Day 10: Ella Yala
Transfer to Ella; the view through the Ella
Gap a break in the hills is one of the finest
in Sri Lanka. Visit the Rawana Ella Falls and
impressive Buduruwagala statues before
continuing to Yala. Stay 2 nights at Jetwing
Yala. (B)
Day 11: Yala
Morning wildlife safari in Yala National Park.
Covering 1,300 sq km, Yala National Park
encompasses a diversity of jungle habitats,
including scrub, brackish lagoons and riverside
locations. Creatures that may be seen include
elephants, leopards, sloth bears, spotted
deer, sambar deer, wild pigs, jackals, marsh
crocodiles and a great variety of birdlife. (B)
Days 12-13: Galle Ahungalla
Drive to Ahungalla, stopping for a visit to
the Elephant Transit home and tour of Galle
Fort. Stay 2 nights at Heritance Ahungalla
or upgrade to the Taj Bentota Resort & Spa
(Superior Charm Seaview room) from £85pp.
Following day at leisure. (B)
Day 14: Fly to London
Transfer to Colombo and fly to London with Sri
Lankan Airlines. (B)
