Island Dream

Welcome to Sri Lanka - The land like no other!

In keeping with Sri Lanka tradition, the whole team will like to extend to you their heartiest "Ayubowan!" (Traditional Sri Lankan greeting wishing long life to the other).

On arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, you will be met by a representative for your transfer to your hotel in Colombo.

The transfer will take approximately 1.5hours. After check-in at your hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight stay in Colombo

This morning, you will enjoy a city tour of Colombo.

Colombo - the trade and commercial capital has long been the traditional gateway to the Orient. Sri Lanka’s largest city, it is located on the west coast and draws together all the cultures, religions and influences of foreign lands into a pot-pourri of sounds, smells and a kaleidoscope of colour. The original traders and settlers - the Arabs, Portuguese, Dutch and the British have left in their wake churches and monuments, names and religions, costumes and food and smatterings of their languages which have been absorbed into the speech of the Sri Lankan.

Today, Colombo is a fascinating city - a happy blend of east & west, past & present, with a charm of its own. A less known but amazingly true fact is that Colombo has a superb range of high-quality restaurants serving food from all over the world and some of the best shopping opportunities in Asia. The main seaport of Sri Lanka is in Colombo & adjoining it, is Pettah, a local bazaar & trading area. 

Other places of interest are the beautiful Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, mosques, the historic Wolfendhal church, (1749) residential areas where you find the stately homes of the affluent, the Colombo Museum, the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, the New Parliament in Sri Jayewardenepura, the Folk Art Centre, Art Galleries, Parks, Independence Square, the Zoo, the Ceramic Corporation famous for its well-known brand “Noritake” and ODEL the renowned shopping center.

In the evening, you are free to take a stroll on your own.

Overnight in Colombo

After breakfast, you will travel to Habarana which will take approximately 4.5 to 5 hours.

In the afternoon, you can take an optional Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park. Minneriya National Park - Located between Habarana and Polonnaruwa, the 8,890 hectares of Minneriya National Park consists of mixed evergreen forest and scrub areas and is home to favorites such as sambar deer, leopards and elephants. However, the central feature of the park is the ancient Minneriya Tank (built in 3rd century AD by King Mahasena). During the dry season (June to September), this tank is an incredible place to observe the elephants who come to bathe and graze, as well as the huge flocks of birds (cormorants and painted storks to name but a few) that come to fish in the shallow waters.

Overnight in Habarana

This morning you will visit the Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

Climb to the top of Sigiriya - A mighty 600ft high rock-fortress of a 5th century King is famous for its entrancingly beautiful frescoes which are found in a sheltered pocket of the rock. One cannot fail to marvel at the masterful execution of the sinuous forms of these women (originally 500, of which only 19 remain today). The old stairway to the top led through the mouth of a huge crouching lion, carved from the rock- today only the paws remain. Remains of the handsome royal citadel are on the summit.

Transfer Time: Approximately 30 minutes one way

In the afternoon, you may take an excursion to Polonnaruwa. The second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070CE to reunite the country once more under a local leader. This city is known to have been the pinnacle of the Golden Age of Sri Lanka, during the reign of Parakramabahu I, a ruler whose goal that no drop of water falling from the heavens be wasted led to the development of irrigation systems which are still utilised to this day. The greatest of these systems – the Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakrama) is a tank so vast that it is often mistaken for an ocean. It circles the main city like a ribbon, acting both as a defensive border against intruders and the lifeline of the people in times of peace.

Overnight in Habarana

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kandy which will take approximately 3 hours. En-route you will visit the Dambulla Cave Temples.

Dambulla – located in the north central province this UNESCO World Heritage Site which dates back to the 01st century BC, it is an amazing complex of 05 caves, first used as a refuge by an ancient king who on regaining his throne, commissioned magnificent carved images within the living rock. Later kings made further improvements and the caves contain over 150 images of the Buddha of which the largest is a colossal figure spanning 15 meters. Cave inscriptions from the 2nd Century BC are found and on the walls, are many paintings most of which belong to the Kandy period (early 19th century). This temple is a perfect location to view evolution of ancient Sri Lankan art and is an important historical site due to the amalgamation of material from many eras.

Upon arriving in Kandy, you will go on a city tour with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth.
Temple of the Tooth which is commonly known as "Sri Dalada Maligawa" is situated in the city of hills, Kandy. It is an important shrine for Buddhists as it holds the tooth relic of Lord Buddha. It is famous for its carvings and the beautiful art that is unique to Sri Lanka. The most important part of the Dalada Maligawa is the octagon (Pathirppuwa). The Sri Dalada Maligawa is the most sacred temple in the whole of Sri Lanka. Thousands of people line up each day to get a glimpse of its majesty.

Overnight stay in Kandy

Today you will be transferred to Udawalawe which will take approximately 5.5 hours.

Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Udawalawe National Park. Udawalawe National Park - is an area of 31,800 hectares, which was declared a protected sanctuary with full national park status in 1972. The park area which falls within two provinces of Sri Lanka has an annual rainfall of 1,520mm and an average temperature of 29.4C. Surrounded by mountain ranges, the terrain of the park is a mixture of grassland, which of all Sri Lanka’s wildlife reserves, best rivals the Savanna of Africa and shrub jungle. Teak plantations, water holes and two important factors make this park special - the large Udawalawe Reservoir and the Walawe River, which ensure a supply of water for the fauna within. Internationally renowned for its large herd of elephants, the park is also known for several species of Deer, Wild Boar, the dangerous Wild Buffalo, Jackal and very rare sightings of Leopard.

Overnight in Udawalawe

Today, you will check out from your hotel and drive to Bentota for approximately 3.5 hours.

Enroute, visit Udawalawa Elephant Transit Home (Please note that elephant feeding times are scheduled at 0900 hours, 12 noon and 1500 hours and the tickets are issued 30 minutes prior to the feeding time).

Elephant Transit Home - Sri Lankan elephants are an endangered species and their survival in their natural habitats is threatened due to human activities. Elephants in the wild are constantly being killed and many elephant calves become orphaned. To support these orphaned elephants, the Department of Wildlife Conservation set up the Elephant Transit Home within Udawalawe National Park with help from the Born Free Foundation. The main objective of this facility is rehabilitation of orphaned baby elephants to ultimately release them back into their natural habitat. Up to three elephants per week are killed in Sri Lanka due to conflicts with humans, often leaving behind orphan calves. The elephants are kept at part of the Udawalawe National Park to maintain familiarity with their habitat but have access to both food and medical care.

Overnight in Beruwala

Today you will enjoy a Boat ride in the Madu River.

Madu River which flows across Balapitiya (approx 80kms down south from Colombo) is one of the rarely visited and unspoiled attractions any nature lover can find in Sri Lanka. She boasts of having a cluster of 64 small islands scattered along her path and the most of which are uninhabited and covered with mangroves. The smallest islet of the lot is called "Satha Paha Doowa" where there is a tiny shrine with a statue built in respect of the gods of Kataragama (Katharagama). According to folklore this islet had been purchased for five cents, but some say the name has derived due to its shape of the five-cent coin. Madu is certainly a placid and memorable place of interest to any nature lover who longs to witness mesmerising landscape of the nature.

But over thrilled visitors are forewarned! - Madu River is also a known den for crocodiles.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Beruwala

Day at leisure (vehicle will not be at your disposal).

Overnight in Beruwala

This morning, you will be transferred to Colombo's international airport for your flight back home. Please note that the standard check out time is 12 noon. Transfer will take approximately 3 hours.