Family Adventure & Culture

You will be met on arrival and driven to Negombo just 1 hour from the Katunayake Bandaranaike international airport. Bustling Negombo town is a historically interesting place, strongly influenced by the Catholic Church. The narrow strip of land to the South of the lagoon and the many canals make for good exploring.

Today you will be driven to the Cultural Triangle - the ancient heart of Sri Lanka. From here you can explore Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, & Sigiriya. In the morning visit the beautiful Dambulla cave temple, the largest cave monastery in the country with a history going back to the 1st century BC. Spend the afternoon exploring and set off to climb the spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya, with its rocky abode & water gardens. Sigiriya is famous for its toadstool of golden-hued granite, protruding into the searing blue sky from a hot, flat wilderness of scrubland, which is transformed in the rainy season to a water garden. In the 5th century King Kashyapa domesticated the Lions Rock, by building a palace atop its summit. Sigiriya commemorates some of the turbulence of Sri Lanka’s history.

First you will visit the Ancient city of Polonnaruwa an ancient royal capital, with its well-preserved 12th century ruins & impressive stone culture recalls an inspired past. (Optional: A great way to explore the ancient city is on a bicycle – these can be rented with an early appointment) Evening enjoy a jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank this national park has plenty of scrub and light forest in its 8890 hectares to provide shelter for its toque macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Elephants – to name a few. In addition, an enormous number of birds ( some 160 species) have been spotted at Minneriya, including endemics such as the Sri Lankan hanging parrot and the crimson-fronted barbet. End the day with a swim at the hotel pool and with a lovely dinner.

While coming from Sigiriya/Dambulla towards Kandy you may stop at Matale Aluvuhare , which sits beside the Kandy- Dambulla road. The monastery caves are picturesquely situated among rocks that have fallen from the mountains high above the valley. On the way you could stop off at a Spice Garden in Matale. Some people think this is too touristy. I will leave that for you to decide. There are several directly on the way to Kandy.

Spend today exploring Kandy. A lively city, Kandy is surrounded by rolling hills and forest. The last capital of the Singhalese Kingdom, this hill country city is famed for its lake and the Temple of the Tooth. North of the lake is the Udawattakelle Sanctuary (Optional). Filled with forest birds and monkeys, a beautiful spot for a relaxing walk through the cool woodland. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens are within 30 minutes of Kandy, and are also home to the enormous fruit bats who hang from the tree tops as they sleep during daytime. You could also visit a traditional arts & crafts centre, a gem museum. (Again these are quite touristy however totally up to you) This evening you could visit the Temple of the Tooth, resting place of the country's most precious Buddhist relic. Set on the banks of the lake, and surrounded by moat, the temple and its setting makes for unforgettable moonlit walks.

Morning leave for Nuwara Eliya via Gampola and Ramboda. On the way you are passing Tea plantations, factories, Tea Pluckers (Tell your Guide to speak to the Kangani and arrange few Pluckers for photographing the plucking of “two leaves & the bud” and for a close up as well, for which you have to pay everybody) and waterfalls. Stop at the Glenloch or Labookele Tea Factory to see and photograph the processing of tea. See Ramboda Falls (329 feet high) on the way. However you will also have the option of enjoying a Train journey in an A/C carriage from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya. Get down from Nanu Oya station. At Nuwara Eliya see the houses similar to houses & mansions in England, same type of flowers and vegetables and walk in the Victoria Park & the Market where you can see local fruits, vegetables and flowers kept for sale. Check in at the hotel and relax.

After early breakfast leave for Horton Plains via Ambawela and Pattipola. Horton Plains National Park is in an elevation of 7200 feet above sea level and is called a “Cloud Forest”. It is the only National Park in Sri Lanka where visitors can walk in the jungle to observe wildlife. Look for birdlife whilst proceeding to 'World's End' and "Little World's End" for the fantastic view for photographers and look for the 'Bear Monkey' (Purple-faced Leaf Monkey), Sambhur (more than 3000 in the plains), and other animals. The stunted trees, the jungle cover interspersed with the Patna grasslands, the crystal clear streams, flowering trees, ground orchids and tree orchids and other flora for beautiful photography. Return to Nuwara Eliya.

Today morning you may proceed to Bentota via Kithulgala enjoying a White Water Rafting expedition and a typical Sri Lankan Lunch. You may proceed to Bentota for your beach stay.

Enjoy your beach stay and visit to the Turtle Hatchery with the kids in Kosgoda. You may proceed to hotel to enjoy your beach stay.

Departure to the Airport.