Explore Classic Sri Lanka 10 Nights / 11 Days

Itinerary

DAY 01 – Colombo Airport – Negombo . Jetwing Blue Negombo.
On arrival at the airport, you will be met by our representative, drive to hotel and rest of the evening is at lesiure.
Approx. 35-40 min drive to Negombo and then dinner & Overnight stay at Jetwing Blue Negombo

DAY 02 – Negombo – Dambulla. Jetwing Lake Dambulla
After breakfast you’ll leave for Dambulla, approx. 4hr drive. Upon arrival, enjoy an authentic Village Tour - villages in Sri Lanka remains largely unchanged. You can feel how people live simply in harmony with the environment, responding to the seasons as they unfold. You can visit traditional a village and observe villagers day to day life, domestic activities, and cultural framework. The road surrounding the village winds its way on a flat terrain through the village past patches of jungle. You’ll have a chance to enjoy Chena cultivations, experience a bull cart ride, catamaran boat ride in the village lake, visit a traditional mud house and you can have Sri Lankan Lunch (Rice and curry). The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of 2,100 square meters (23,000 sq ft). Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.
Arrive at hotel, after check in, dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla.

DAY 03 – Dambulla – Minneriya National Park – Dambulla. Jetwing Lake Dambulla
Enjoy breakfast at hotel and then in the afternoon, a transfer to Minneriya National Park where you’ll embark on a 4 x 4 jeep safari, approx 4 hour safari.
Minneriya National Park – This National Park 8889 hectares in extent is famous for its large population of Elephants in herds of 100 to 150 roaming in the jungle and seen in the catchment area of the lake. Entrance is at Ambagaswewa about 6 km from Habarana on the main Habarana Polonnaruwa road. Office is by the side of the main road. Elephants, about 300 wild Elephants, Wild Buffalo, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Sambhur, Crocodiles, Jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds.
After this thrilling day, return to hotel and dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Lake Dambulla.

DAY 04 – Habarana – Sigiriya – Matale – Kandy. Cinnamon Citadel Kandy
After breakfast, check out of your hotel for your visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. This is a “World Heritage Site” and the 5th Century “Fortress in the Sky” which is perhaps the most fantastic single wonder of the Island. It is also known as Lion Rock because of the huge lion that used to stand at the entrance to the Palace on the summit of the 600-foot high rock. On its summit are the foundations of the Royal Palace, Water Tanks to supply water and all other buildings and at the edges the guardhouses. On one of the stairways the only known ancient work of Sinhala secular painting survived in the form of Frescoes of 21 life sized damsels in all the freshness and delicacy of their original colour. The Water Gardens, Fountain Garden, summerhouse, Boulder Gardens and the Caves with the enclosed are should not be missed.
Thereafter travel to Kandy en-route visit Matale spice Garden (03hrs) Spice Gardens at Matale – You will see many spice gardens at Matale and in Mawanella on the Colombo-Kandy road where Cinnamon, Cardamom, Pepper Creepers and all other spice trees, plants and creepers are planted for visitors to see them. Spice products are also available for those who would like to buy them. At all Spice Gardens visitors are taken round explaining each tree and plant and at the end explaining the use of them food preparations.
Evening watch a Kandyan cultural show and be awed by the spectacular dance, acrobatics, costumes and music. Held in Kandy town, this cultural show depicts various forms of Kandyan dancing which was once native to the area but has now spread to different regions of the island..

DAY 05 – Kandy – Peradeniya – Kandy. Cinnamon Citadel Kandy
After breakfast you’ll transfer to Kandy city & enjoy a local Cooking demo.
It's time to cook! The cooking class will be led by a local cooking expert that knows all the secrets to a good Sri Lankan dish. He/She will explain us how the preparing of dishes in Sri Lanka works and teach us how to cook rice and curry. We will prepare a typical meal with 2/3 curries, and there are many to choose from. Some of the favorite Sri Lankan curries are: dhal curry, potato curry, chicken curry, eggplant curry, Fish Curry and so many more… After the cooking is done we will have time to enjoy our meal!
Thereafter visit some famous Temples in Kandy
The Ranawana Purana Rajamaha Vihara is one of the biggest and most beautiful temples in Sri Lanka. The temple was constructed in a manner that allowed it to take full advantage of its surrounding natural environment. It interweaves with the landscape, the walls moving in and out of the sculpted rock face, and one of the major themes of its architecture is its relationship with the earth. A large statue of a walking Buddha stands at the forefront of the temple, while a line of Buddhist monk statues follows close behind.
Hindagala Rajamaha Viharaya - Hindagala cave temple is famous for its wall paintings. It can be reach easily from Paradaniaya - Galaha junction. Hindagala is one of the affiliate temple comes under Malwathu Vihara Chapter. It’s believed that this temple was built in 6th century. The main temple located in a cave and consists of a outer roof also. At the time of our visit, cave temple was closed, so we were only able to see the outer wall paintings and the surrounding area.
Return to hotel and enjoy dinner & overnight stay at Cinnamon Citadel Kandy.

DAY 06 - Kandy – Nuwara Eliya. Jetwing St Andrews Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, check out and travel to Kandy Railway Station to enjoy a scenic train journey from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

Special Note: We generally obtain 1st class train tickets for all our clients, but first-class carriages, with air conditioning are very limited and trains are often cancelled at the last minute. Therefore we often face challenges in obtaining the tickets due to the very high demand. Hence cannot guarantee the train journey until we receive the tickets directly from the suppliers. Alternative arrangements will be made in such circumstances.
Upon arrival check-in at the hotel, then enjoy dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing St Andrews Nuwara Eliya.

DAY 07 –Nuwara Eliya. Jetwing St Andrews Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, you’ll embark on a city tour of Nuwara Eliya. Explore the charming city of Nuwara Eliya, also known as Little England on a full day tour visiting all the main attractions which include colonial buildings, Lake Gregory, Victoria Park and seeing beautiful landscapes covered with tea plantations.

Highlights

Witness the historical landmarks of Nuwara Eliya and absorb its colonial heritage

Stroll around Lake Gregory and take in the serene and calming atmosphere

Visit the Victoria Park and enjoy its unique ambience and landscaped gardens

Visit the Sita Amman Temple which is wrapped in history and legend

Visit the Nuwara Eliya Markets where you would get great bargains of warm clothing and lovely fresh produce

Return to hotel and enjoy dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing St Andrews Nuwara Eliya.

DAY 08 - Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Yala. Jetwing Yala
After breakfast depart for Yala via Ella and then transfer to Yala National Park to commence Yala National Park jeep safari (3hrs)

After breakfast and check out, you’ll leave for Udawalawa to visit the Elephant Transit Home. Located approx 20 minutes from the Uda Walawe National Park is the ‘Elephant Transit Home’, associated with the Born Free Foundation (UK). Here, orphaned or sick elephants are fed and cared for until they are strong enough to be returned to the wild. The centre allows you to visit at the feeding times of 10.30am, 2.30pm, and 6.30pm. From behind a barrier you can watch the elephants ambling along behind a keeper, into the compound where they will be fed milk through plastic hoses with funnels attached, some stamping and trumpeting with impatience.
Transfer back to your hotel and dinner & overnight stay at Jetwing Yala.

DAY 09 – Yala – Udawalawa. Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort
After breakfast, you’ll embark on a city tour of Nuwara Eliya. Explore the charming city of Nuwara Eliya, also known as Little England on a full day tour visiting all the main attractions which include colonial buildings, Lake Gregory, Victoria Park and seeing beautiful landscapes covered with tea plantations.
Thereafter transfer to Udawalawe National Park & enjoy a jeep safari. Stretching over a land of 30,821 hectares, Udawalawe National Park is famous for its large population of elephants. Hence, this national park is ideal to observe the herds of marvellous Asian elephants in their unique natural habitats. It is known that about 400 elephants in total are sustaining here while about 250 of them are considered as permanently resident.
Later check in to hotel and dinner & overnight stay at Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort.

DAY 10 – Udawalawa – Galle. The Heritage Galle Fort
After breakfast depart for Galle, approx. 2.5 hrs.
Galle - Sri Lanka’s most historically interesting town in Galle. Built on a premonitory rock in the south of the Island. It was a major port until about 100 years, but today still handles shipping and sailing boars in the natural harbour. Stroll around the Light House and harbour or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and carvers and purchase some the finest shell-craft souvenirs in the World.
Check-in to the hotel, dinner & overnight stay at The Heritage Galle Fort.

DAY 11 – Galle – Colombo Airport
Breakfast at hotel and then according to your itinerary, transfer to the airport for your departure flight back home.