Day 1, 20th July, Colombo Airport -Arrival at Colombo airport and transfer to Negombo for an overnight stay after your long flight to recuperate for your epic Sri Lankan adventure ahead. When you are all settled in, we will all meet for a sunset welcome dinner to get to know each other. Meal plan: (Welcome dinner)
Day 2, 21st July, Negombo - Dambulla - Sigiriya. Today after breakfast we will get on the road to visit Dambulla Cave Temple. Located at an elevation of 1118 feet from the sea level, rises a massive rock from its surrounding plains. Towering over 600 feet in height over Dambulla and 2000 feet in length, it is home to the world’s most acclaimed Cave complex of magnificent Buddha images. Afterwards we will do a local village tour, we will be shown around the village and after seeing how a typical Sri Lankan village runs, you will be treated lunch cooked by the locals.. After our village visit, we will depart for Pidurangala Rock. Pidurangala is where King Kassapa relocated the Buddhist monks who had previously occupied the area around Sigiriya. Just beyond an old temple which sits at the base of the hill, there is a path leading upwards. Like Sigiriya, Pidurangala was formed by volcanic activity. In the evening, back to hotel in Sigiriya for overnight stay.
Meal plan: (Breakfast and lunch at local village)
Day 3, 22nd July, Sigiriya - Sunrise in Sigiriya. We will depart our hotel at 4:30am to visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The spectacular “fortress in the sky” of the “King Kasyapa”. Its such a beautiful time to visit and a chance to beat the heat. We will be back in our hotel before 8:00 am for breakfast, and some rest, relaxation or a cool off in the pool before departing the hotel again at 2pm to visit a national park for safari. We will return to our hotel after the safari, where there will be a chance to visit the Ayurvedic Spa(extra) if you like, if not, then just relax before getting ready for dinner. Overnight stay in Sigiriya.
Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 4, 23rd July, Sigiriya - Kandy
After breakfast we will start making our way to Kandy. Along the way we will visit Matale which is the spice capital of Sri Lanka. Here we will do an educational tour around the spice garden, we will have the opportunity to explore and gain knowledge on Sri Lankan spices, herbs and benefits of Ayurveda. The tropical climate in which plants and herbs are grown helps them preserve its ancient originality. We will continue on to Kandy stopping at a view point, with panoramic views of Kandy City from a convenient spot high up on one of Kandy’s many plateaus. We will then visit Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which is a Buddhist temple built within the royal palace complex at the banks of the Kandy lake. It is considered the holiest shrine in the Buddhist world and to the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka. After we will visit Kandy lake before having lunch. After lunch we will have a chance to do some shopping before go to see the traditonal Kandyan Dance, it is considered the national dance of Sri Lanka. Overnight stay in Kandy.
Meal plan: (Breakfast and dinner)
Day 5, 24th July, Kandy - Nuwara Eliya - Ella This morning we say goodbye to Kandy and make our way to Ella. We will visit Ramboda Falls which is 109m high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world along route. We will also visit Bluefield Tea Factory and stop for the perfect cup of tea at one of the main tea factories in Sri Lanka. You will be able to see firsthand how fresh tea leaves from Ceylons’ finest high grown tea gardens are brought together and processed in techniques that have been passed down through centuries. Then onto Nuwara Eliya Town ironically referred to as “little England”, it does have an English country village feel to it with a Sri Lankan edge. We stop off at Nuwara Eliya Post Office located in the center of Nuwara Eliya,it is one of the oldest post offices in Sri Lanka. The Tudor-style two-storey redbrick building with a clock spire, was constructed in 1894 by the British. Then onto the most famous train ride in the world, we will commence the journey from Nanu Oya. The Nanuoya – Ella train trip will take you through manmade tunnels, water falls, tea gardens and beautiful scenic mountains and valleys. Grey stone cliffs and rivers will flash past your window with occasional views of enormous waterfalls cascading down the mountainside, while the Train keeps climbing steadily through to Ella. We should arrive to Ella station at approx 5pm and then transferred to our hotel for the night in Ella. As Ella is such a cool place to eat out we didn't organise dinner in the hotel, instead we will eat in Ella. Overnight stay in Ella
Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 6, 25th July, Ella This morning is a chance for anyone up for an adventure hike to little Adam's peak, and enjoy the breath taking views of Ella, we will also visit the nine arch bridge today. In the afternoon we will visit the Ravana Pool Club/Ella Swing (charge in). There is also a chance to zip line here if anyone would like to (optional extra). We will return to our hotel get ready and head out in Ella for dinner and drinks for our last night here. Overnight stay in Ella.
Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 7, 26th July, Ella - Diyaluma - Arugam Bay This morning we will leave Ella at approx 8am and make our way to Diyaluma. This is a perfect spot to have a dip in a natural swimming pool with breathtaking views. Along the way we will also stop at Rawana Water Falls for some photos. We will then make our way to our hotel in Arugam Bay arriving in the afternoon to relax. Overnight stay in Arugam Bay.
Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 8, 27th July, Arugam Bay Today is a chill day in Arugam Bay, time to relax and unwind after the last week of adventure. We are staying along the beach so the choice is your beach day or pool day, in the late afternoon we will go on a lagoon safari. We will get to cruise along the lagoon in a canoe. A lush green mangrove forest surrounds Pottuvil lagoon, and it is a common sight to see mischievous Macaque monkeys jumping from tree to tree. Another relatively common sight is seeing large crocodiles basking in the sun on the banks of the lagoon or on nearby rocks, looking deceivingly calm. But the best-kept secret about the lagoon is that it is a fantastic place to spot elephants. Overnight stay in Arugam Bay. Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 9, 28th July, Arugam Bay Today is a full chill day in the beautiful Arugam or a recovery day from the night before. Today we can check out some of the amazing cafes in Arugam or if you are feeling adventurous book on for a surf lesson. We will go to elephant rock for sunset this evening and all go for for dinner for our last night in Arugam. Overnight stay in Arugam Bay.
Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 10, 29th July, Arugam Bay - Galle
This morning we leave to head for Galle. Upon arriving in the late afternoon we will stretch out legs and will visit Galle Fort. First built by the Portuguese in 1588 and then extensively fortified by the Dutch in the 17th century, the Galle Fort is now deemed a UNESCO world heritage site for its cultural and colorful history and how the European architecture blends with South Asian tradition. We will all have dinner as a group on our final night together in Sri Lanka. Over night stay in Galle Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Day 11, 30th July, Galle - Colombo Airport
Today it is time to say good bye, (well if you don't extend for a few days) after breakfast, we will have a shuttle bus leaving Galle at 10am to take you back to Colombo. Its approx a 3 hour drive so evening flights home after 5pm are best advised. Meal plan: (Breakfast)
Total cost per person sharing €1950
Included: Tour guide for the entire tour, transportation for the entire tour, all accommadation, 2 airport transfers, 10 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners, water on whole tour, entrance tickets to the following sites: Dambulla, Pidurangala, Sigiriya, Village tour, Temple of the Tooth, Traditional Kandyan dance, train ride to Ella, National Park (Includes private jeeps), Lagoon safari.
NOT included: International flights, visa for entry to Sri Lanka, travel insurance, entrance fee to Ravana pool club, zip lining, meals not listed in the itinerary, any required PCR tests required or tips
Terms and conditions:
If you are happy with the itinerary and want to go ahead. A deposit of €500 will be required to secure your booking within upon confirmation of spot. This deposit is non-refundable.
The balance will be due 8 weeks before trip start date. (25th of May 2024) You can make the payments in instalments after the deposit is paid if that suits you.
With regards to getting a refund: The deposit is non-refundable. For the balance of your payment, I may be able to refund this up 10 weeks before the trip should you have already paid and have an emergency and need to cancel. Anything closer than 10 weeks, and I cannot refund you.
*I ask all travelers to get travel insurance for this trip so, in the case of an unexpected cancellation, you will be covered! :) Because I book this trip based on a set number of travelers & invoices are paid by me within 2 months of travel, I cannot offer full refunds within that window*
I am really excited to have you all on this trip, it is truly a trip of a lifetime.
Brenda xxxx