On arrival at the Bandaranayke International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality; our Representative will welcome you at the airport and you will proceed to the cultural city of Habarana. Check-in at the hotel and relax. In the afternoon you have the option to engage on a jeep safari at Minneriya National Park. OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE– A safari game drive at Minneriya National Park Minneriya National Park is a wildlife sanctuary located in the North Central province of Sri Lanka. Nature lovers on Minneriya Jeep Safari often spot large number of Sri Lankan Elephants gathering around to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. In addition there are two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka, Large herbivorous mammals such as Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer, Rare and endangered species such as Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan sloth bear, the gray slender loris, large water birds such as lesser adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican, little cormorants, Great white pelican, ruddy turnstone, and grey heron. Come back to the hotel and relax.

After a scrumptious breakfast you will be escorted to Hiriwadunna where you will partake on a village tour. EXPERIENCE – A village tour at Hiriwadunna followed up with a cooking demonstration Ride a bike in a rural village on gravel roads, between paddy fields, Chena cultivations and around hidden lake while enjoying the nature and breathing fresh air, you will discover lots of endemic birds, wild animals during this ride. Don’t forget to visit a rural house and quench your thirst with a cup of tea or herbal drink which will be served by a villager. Also during the cycle tour, you will visit a local temple and will be blessed by a Monk for good luck. You will end the ride by tasting an authentic Sri Lankan rice & curry lunch in a Mud hut in the village freshly prepared by a local family. If you are interested, you can also join them for a cooking session. After the lunch you will be driven to Sigiriya Rock Fortress to explore the magnificent view from the top. EXPLORE – The marvel of Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sigiriya is a fortress complex of a ruined palace and one of the World Heritage sites declared by UNESCO. The “Fortress in the Sky” is undoubtedly one of the most treasured historical monuments in Sri Lanka and probably the most visited tourist destinations in Sri Lanka. The most looked forward features of the fortress are the frescoes of maidens which are intact for over 1,600 years and the remains of the Palace on the summit. Out of 1200, every step depicts a historical flashback hidden behind the core of this giant rock and the interesting surroundings make the tedious climb to the top relatively easy. Climb down from Sigiriya and enjoy a King Coconut to refresh yourself (to be paid directly).

Relish a filling breakfast and check-out from the hotel to proceed towards your beach location, Kalkudah. Depending your preference, early morning proceed to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and visit the Monkey Kingdom with a researcher at the Smithsonian research centre and you and explore the history of Polonnaruwa Ancient site. Optional Activity EXPLORE – Polonnaruwa Primates Meet at the entrance to Polonnaruwa at 7.15am sharp where you will meet your host, a researcher from the Smithsonian Primate Research Center. From here you will get a brief introduction to Sri Lankan primates whilst your guide buys your entrance tickets to the site. Once the tickets have been purchased, you will walk into the first section of the site. Ancient and awe-inspiring, Polonnaruwa was once the ruling city of the country during the 8th century and the complex houses hundreds of archaeological structures that are best viewed in the soft sunlight and moderate temperatures of the early morning. Walking around the site, you’ll be surprised at how many monkeys have made their homes within the ruins. Your host will guide you around a small area of the complex, where you will be able to stand just meters away from large groups of toque macaques and grey langurs (the purple-faced leaf eaters are visible but stay high up in the trees and so are more difficult to observe at close length). The monkeys’ unerring resemblance to humans, their social behavior patterns and their obvious intelligence makes them fascinating to observe. Your host will take you on a walk to follow the monkeys on foot and learn about monkey behaviors and the various challenges of monkey conservation. When you finish you have the option to continue to explore Polonnaruwa by yourself. We recommend this, however bare in mind that temperatures tend to increase pretty quickly and by 11am you may find it too hot to explore Thereafter, you will continue towards Kalkudah and check-in at the hotel.

Today after breakfast we did not plan any acitivities letting you spend the day on leisure. With so much to offer, today’s Freedom Day is the perfect opportunity to explore this fascinating region in a way that suits you. For those happy with an early start, there is the option to take a whale watching cruise, in search of the magnificent blue whale (Whale Watching in a Shared Boat). Optional Activity EXPLORE – Whale watching at Trincomalee waters Easily ranked best among the most exhilarating excursions, holidaymakers can enjoy whale watching in Trincomalee. Sri Lanka is one of the prime spots in the world for whale watching and blue whale sightings. The Eastern shores of Sri Lanka are ideal to catch a glimpse of the blue whale – the largest animal on Earth – in their natural habitats. Whale watching is a once-in-a-lifetime, awe-inspiring experience that most can only dream of. Trincomalee, being one of the finest natural deep water harbours in the world, is one of the most recommended locations in Sri Lanka for whale watching. The whale-watching season officially begins in March and lasts until August, and those who stay at Amaya Beach Hotel in Pasikudah can spot sperm whales, blue whales as well as dolphins, including the always-playful spinner dolphin who enjoys doing acrobatics in the water. During this period, the ocean is very calm, providing an idyllic environment for whale-watching.

With so much to offer, today’s Freedom Day is the perfect opportunity to explore this fascinating region in a way that suits you. Optional Activity EXPLORE – Snorkeling at Pasikudah There is a world of wondrous life beneath the surface of the shimmering Pasikuda waters, and the best way to explore it is to put on some snorkelling gear and dive right in. Snorkelling in Pasikuda gives you plenty to explore as you experience its bountiful marine life and intricate stretches of coral reef. Wade out to the bay in front of the resort for a quick look at the surrounding fish life or inquire below for intermediate and advance snorkel locations – to be arranged and paid directly.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel and relax at the hotel. Today your journey continues to the tea country location of Ella. Upon arrival at Ella, check in at the hotel and relax. In the afternoon you will explore the cascade of Ravana Falls. EXPLORE – The charming cascade of Ravana Falls With the height of 25 meter and tucked away in the beautiful valley of Ella, this picturesque waterfall is absolutely worth a visit. Although you can’t do that much at the waterfall itself, it’s a nice stop on your way to the Diyaluma Falls for example. There are some local shacks at the parking lot, and you can make some nice pictures from the platform with the waterfall behind you. Another thing to do in the near area is exploring the Ravana Cave. Return to the hotel and relax the rest of your day.

After a scrumptious breakfast begin the day by making a visit to the Nine Arch Bridge. EXPERIENCE – A visit to Nine Arch Bridge Set against a backdrop of dense jungle and tea plantations, Ella’s Nine Arch Bridge is truly one of the most beautiful sights that Sri Lanka has to offer. It’s easy to see why this one bridge has become a popular tourist attraction, and even though you won’t have the Nine Arch Bridge all to yourself, you will certainly want to visit here while you’re in Ella! Afterwards you will enagage on a hike to the top of Little Adam’s Peak. EXEPERIENCE – A hike to the top of Little Adam’s Peak Reaching an imposing 1141 meters in the air, Mini Adam’s Peak lets thrill-seekers scour stunning sceneries that are made up of densely covered jungle and cliff drops. Affording moderate hiking and trekking opportunities for the go-getter of today, adventurers are advised to commence their journeys from Ella town from where the summit of the mountain is a mere 3 kilometres away. Also, the best time to pay a visit to Mini Adam’s Peak would be either during early morning or late evening. Mini Adam’s Peak is very similar to Adam’s Peak in nature and hence got its name from the villagers constantly calling it this name.

After a filling breakfast you will transfer to Ella railway station. Hop on a train and experience a rail journey towards “Little England”. EXPERIENCE – A scenic train ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya The train ride from Ella to Nuwara Eliya powers down through Sri Lanka’s southern hill country, crossing the tea plantations before it winds up and disappears into the clouds, weaving in and out of the many mountain tunnels as it finally descends to Nuwara Eliya. It’s indeed spectacular and definitely the most beautiful train ride in Sri Lanka, if not in the world! Upon arrival to Nuwara Eliya you will meet your chauffeur guide who will then escort you towards Nuwara Eliya to further explore this location. EXPERIENCE – A tour across Nuwara Eliya Nuwara Eliya, also known as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka is a city in the hill country of the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The city is considered to be one of the most important locations for tea cultivation and well known for its cool climate being the coolest area in Sri Lanka. Many of the buildings have still preserved features from the colonial period. Many private homes have also maintained their old English-style lawns and gardens In between the city tour you will be experiencing an interesting visit to a Tea Plantation and Tea Factory. Thereafter proceed towards the hill country capital, Kandy and check-in at the hotel.

After breakfast, we travel to the largest of the botanical gardens of Sri Lanka and the finest of its kind in Asia. EXPLORE – The Botanical Garden in Peradeniya Your guide will buy your entrance. It’s a leisurely walk in a circular fashion. Our guide is a walking encyclopedia. Even if you have very little interest in Botany he makes the visit interesting and insightful with plenty of quirks and little side stories. For some, it’s the best visit of them all to Sri Lanka. Upon completion, we head to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. EXPERIENCE – A visit to the Temple of The Tooth Relic The famous Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is an important pilgrimage site not just for the Buddhist in Sri Lanka but the world over. The temple is known as “Sri Dalada Maligawa” in Sinhalese which implies the English meaning of Temple of the Tooth Relic. The beautiful palace temple with its golden roof is located on Victoria Lake and is said to house the tooth of Lord Buddha. The temple itself stands as the pride of Kandy City which glamour the whole area while the traditional drummers beat their drums every morning. Then, you will drive to the Bahirawakanda Viewpoint. EXPLORE – The views from Bahirawakanda Viewpoint Bahirawakanda is a village located at the very heart of Kandy. The great Bahirawa Kanda, an enormous mountain, towers over the settlement. Its most famous attraction is the Bahirawakanda Temple – also called the Sri Maha Bodi Viharaya – and visiting this sacred historical site alone is worth the trip to this reclusive little village.The Bahirawakanda Vihara has a prominent Buddha statue that is located at its entrance. The statue itself is quite massive, being as tall as 88m. This makes it one of the largest Buddha statues found in the whole of Sri Lanka! Once done we head back to the hotel and rest of the will be at leisure.

Relish your breakfast and check-out from the hotel to continue towards the fishing village of Negombo. Upon arrival to Negombo, you will engage on a city tour to observe this lifestyle. EXPLORE – A drive across Negombo Negombo is located on the west coast of Sri Lanka just north of the capital, Colombo. Negombo has a strong Dutch influence, which can be seen near the waterfront where the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort stands, now housing a prison and the Neoclassical St. Mary’s Church completed in the 1920s, features a ceiling decorated with vivid religious paintings. The Negombo Lagoon was used for transporting traded goods and is lined with fishermen’s huts which feed into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal. This canal leads south to Colombo. Later, check-in at the hotel and relax.

All good things must come to an end. Enjoy one last relaxing day by the poolside to recharge our batteries and freshen up before our afternoon flight. If time permits you may stop at the commercial for a panoramic tour of the Colombo city. Afterward, continue towards the airport for your departure flight. TIPS: * We recommend you check-out from the hotel early enough to allow you to reach the airport three hours prior to your departure flight. * Please discuss the exact time of departure with your chauffeur, who will be happy to advise you based on your flight timing.