Explore Ceylon

You will be warmly welcomed in the arrivals hall of Colombo International Airport by your chauffeur-driven guide and helped to your vehicle. Afterwards, you'll head to Negombo and check into your hotel. (Normal check-in time is 2pm). Depending on the time of arrival, you can take a guided tour of the city of Negombo. Situated quite close to Bandaranaike International Airport, Negombo - the centre of the cinnamon of Dutch colonisation - offers some of the most interesting diving areas in the country. With a lovely beach and lagoon, watch as Negombo prepares some of the best lobster, prawns and crabs in the country straight to your table, or simply grab your kitesurf boards for a mesmerising flight over the waves. Today, Negombo also boasts excellent nightlife, with bars, discos and nightclubs. So get into the rhythm of the West and get ready for a night of partying, because in Negombo everything is "better". At the end, return to the hotel. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Negombo.

After breakfast, departure for Anuradhapura. Visit the old kingdom. With a rich Sinhalese heritage, Anuradhapura - one of the largest and oldest civilisations in the world, more than 1,300 years old at its peak - claims to be the largest city in ancient Sri Lanka, after its reign as the first capital. The sapphire in his crown is certainly the Sri Maha Bodhi - the sacred Bo sapling taken from the tree under which the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment - which is over 2,200 years old. Stroll along the sacred paths of the revered city to worship the legacy that entwines Ruwanweliseya - the gigantic dagoba that rests beside the Basawakkulama Tank - shading the Samadhi Buddha Statue and the Isurumuniya Rock Temple that strengthens the culture, heritage and supremacy of arguably the strongest kingdom in Sri Lankan history. After that, continue on to Mihintale. Just 16 kilometres from the holy city of Anuradhapura lies the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with stone carvings and endless staircases proclaiming a legacy that upholds the philosophy preached by Buddha - "The Awakened One". This is the sacred land that was home to Arahath Mahinda's first Buddhist sermon to King Devanampiya Thissa, when the full moon of Poson illuminated a forest used by the king himself for hunting. Pass a huge refreshing fountain and head for the temple's famous staircase. Feel the freshness of the granite slabs as you pass from the ruins of a hospital to the Kantaka Stupa, built in the 1st century BC and enriched by the magical hands of the Sri Lankan stone sculptor. Enter the courtyard and to your left, sitting quietly, is the refractory. However, the highlights of the sacred land are Maha Seya - the main dagoba - and Aradana Gala, the rock peak that guarantees breathtaking views of the Kingdom of Lakes, Anuradhapura. At the end of the visit, continue to Habarana. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Habarana / Sigiriya.

After breakfast, visit the rock fortress of Sigiriya. King Kasyapa's 5th century rock citadel and World Heritage Site - Sigiriya - not only boasts Sri Lanka's supremacy in engineering and urban planning, but is also acclaimed as one of the finest monuments of art and culture. Cross the gigantic "lion's paws" - overlooking the symmetrical royal gardens below - to understand the absolute splendour that once dominated this rocky fortress. Surrounded by walls and moats, Lion Rock - which resembles the mythological "City of the Gods" - is covered in frescoes that relate to the Gupta-style paintings found in the Ajanta caves in India. Walk in the shadow of a towering "wall of mirrors" that embraces the western face of Sigiriya and represents a hundred artistic metres covered in graffiti. Stroll through the well-built museum downstairs for an epic journey back in time and realise how the citadel floated above the citizens with the castle, ponds and irrigation systems that pumped water directly to its summit with an ingenious hydraulic system, describing a colossal masterpiece of the great king that remained a marvel in Asia for centuries. Then continue on to Polonnaruwa. Rising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa - medieval capital and jewel in the crown of King Parakramabahu I - remains a superior testament to ancient culture and heritage mixed with religious beliefs. Stroll along the sprawling walls of the World Heritage Site - blessed with stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastic Hindu sculptures - while observing the house of relics - Watadage - which boasts beautiful stone carvings. If you look closely, you'll realise the subtle Hindu influence in Polonnaruwa's architecture and statues. Or sit beside Galviharaya and watch the absolute beauty that pours out of every curve of its huge Buddhist statues. The Nissankamalla Council Chamber, however, is a head-turning beauty, with its swaying pillars that recall the aesthetics of a mighty kingdom resting next to Parakrama Samudraya - Parakramabahu's sea and irrigation masterpiece! At the end of the visit, return to Habarana. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Habarana / Sigiriya.

After breakfast, a visit to the cave temples of Dambulla. Arriving in the city of Dambulla, you'll find a centre that has been enjoyed by many kings since the 1st century BC. Now an icon in Sri Lanka, the Dambulla Rock Temple houses some of the most unique designs in 5 magnificently built cave temples that flank the golden temple of Dambulla. Notice how exquisite the cave paintings are along the walls that house 150 statues of Lord Buddha. As you enter the retreat, look directly at the gigantic Buddha statue that shines in gold over a land that is now home to an important junction in the country's economic and cultural upliftment. After that, continue on to Kandy. On the way, a visit to a spice garden in Matale. An agricultural area in the Central Province, Matale is rarely off the map due to its remarkable contribution through the island's emblematic crops, which range from tea, rubber and vegetables to spices. Leader of the rebellion in 1848, Matale is today proud of its history around spices. Stop by a spice garden - in which you will be made very welcome - and observe the therapeutic values of spices and processes with a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Or spend some time wandering the dirt streets if you want a real adventure in a city full of voices and colours. Continue to Kandy and check into the hotel. In the late afternoon, go sightseeing in Kandy. Visit the upper lake, an arts and crafts shop, an oriental market, a bazaar and a gemstone lapidary, where you can see how rough gemstones (especially the famous blue and star sapphires) are mined, cut and polished using traditional methods. In the evening, enjoy a cultural dance show. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Kandy.

After breakfast, visit the Kandy Temple. The impressive 17th century Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) is believed to harbour the upper left canine tooth of Lord Buddha himself. This precious relic attracts pilgrims dressed in white every day, with lotus flowers and frangipani. Then continue on to Peradeniya and visit the Royal Botanical Gardens. Initially developed as a pleasure garden under royalty and later harmonised by the British, the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Garden - today with the most welcoming facilities, located just four miles from Kandy - is a flourishing national asset in the Wonder of Asia. Enter this 147-acre bliss experience, passing manicured lawns, pavilions and an octagonal conservatory, to be greeted by the vast expanse of magnificently landscaped lush green lawn that will encourage you to take a stimulating break. To the north of the entrance, there is a cafeteria that you can find before entering some of the highlights - the orchidarium and the giant Javan fig tree - of this place that are overflowing with grace. When you've finished, head for Pinnawela. When you enter the 25-acre coconut estate, don't be surprised if you see baby elephants being bottle-fed or roaming freely, harming no-one. It's a heartwarming sight to see how these gentle giants - orphaned and sometimes three-legged - have been cared for since 1975 at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. To date, more than 20 chicks have been born here and it's surprising to learn that some of its interns have even seen their grandchildren over the last few decades! Watch as they feed at 09:15, 0:15 and 05:00 and bathe in the river twice a day, at 10:00 and 02:00 respectively, for an experience that could never be felt anywhere else in the world! Back to Kandy. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Kandy.

After breakfast, head to Kandy railway station to catch the train to Nuwara Eliya. Get on a noisy train that smokes and whistles through the green valleys of the mountainous region, crossed by endless waterfalls and punctuated by tea pickers dressed in brightly coloured sarees. Get off at Nanu-Oya railway station and continue to Nuwara Eliya by road. Visit a tea plantation and a factory to witness the making of Ceylon tea. Sri Lanka, tea and tourism are words that cannot be separated. Take an excursion into the cool, misty hills that pride themselves on being the ultimate tea tour, covering lush green blankets of tea plantations. Or simply step inside a tea factory that processes the prestigious Ceylon brand of tea, to observe a rich tradition kept alive to this day. As you watch the whirring and clattering of the machines, inhaling the heavenly aroma that emanates from these facilities, make sure you end your day in style with a cup of perfectly blended Ceylon tea. Continue para Nuwara Eliya. The steep, misty roads, which wind through lush tea bushes in a cool climate, remind visitors that they are within easy reach of the famous British colonial retreat, Nuwara Eliya. With an English country atmosphere, the City of Light - once ruled by English and Scottish farmers - is still full of colonial bungalows, hedges and one of the best 18-hole golf courses in the world. A walk through the green grass and red brick walls will give you a breathtaking view of a lively rural village. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast, head to Yala and check into your hotel. In the late afternoon, enjoy a safari in Yala National Park. Spreading over a vast area of 1259 square kilometres, Yala - with its glory revolving around vast grasslands, bushes, ponds and dunes - is rightfully the heart of Sri Lanka's wildlife. When your jeep drives through the gigantic gates of Yala, you are not only entering the country's most visited national park, but also the lands of a civilisation that thrived during the reign of Sri Lanka's kings. You name it, Yala's got it! Its usual inmates include herds of elephants, sloth bears, spotted darlings, jackals, an extensively populated avifauna, as well as the highest density of leopards in the world, which make the park one of the best destinations in the country. Feel the bumpy road as your jeep thunders over rocks and through narrow bends for a thrilling experience mixed with the screams of wild nature under the tropical sun. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Yala.

After breakfast, continue to Galle via Weligama to take in the beautiful view of the fishing on stilts. Watch the patience of the fishermen on stilts in this photographer's paradise as you dip your toes in the gentle waves that caress the golden shores, an experience that never gets old under the bold sun! Continue to Galle. Galle, the epic capital of the South, is a cross between classic Dutch architecture and the tropical environment, creating a vivid atmosphere of beauty. Stroll through the Dutch-haunted streets, listening to the creaking doors of the wooden halls and observing how European architecture blends with South Asian traditions, today inundating culture enthusiasts on a global scale. Its original walls and bastions, preserved to this day, show the evidence of a heritage that has been preserved for more than three and a half centuries. Walk clockwise inside the fort to see the "old gate" bearing the British coat of arms. Flanking the old gate is the Zwart bastion - the oldest of them all - and the lighthouse that rises 18 feet in its glory next to the Point Utretcht bastion. This Dutch happiness is painted with streets that stretch out in a rectangular grid pattern, criss-crossed by houses with Dutch colonial-style balconies. However, its brand image is a reality in which the Dutch fort remains a working community with its usual buzz of administrative offices, court complexes, commercial buildings, churches and people from the south who frequent its streets, giving an air of the Elysium of architecture, Galle! Afterwards, visit a turtle hatchery in Kosgoda before leaving for the seaside resort. Both locals and international volunteers fight for the good of the sea turtles, which is common in Kosgoda. This vibrant tourist destination, quietly situated along Sri Lanka's southern coast - in addition to its traditional industries of fishing and cinnamon cultivation - was later recognised by the Wildlife Protection Society, which endowed the region with a sea turtle conservation project that currently operates on a formidable scale. Indirectly, this region has become a meeting point for fin and shell enthusiasts! Dinner and hotel accommodation in Kalutara.

Full day free to enjoy your stay on the beach. Dinner and hotel accommodation in Kalutara.

Leave the hotel at the normal check-out time and continue to Colombo International Airport.