Kalpitya The Waterfront of Sri Lanka - 12 Days

On arrival at the Bandaranayke International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality; a representative will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to Negombo.

Overnight stay at Suriya Arana - Standard Room or Similar

Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Kalpitya, a popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka, which consists of 14 islands. Kalpitiya is a peninsula beautifully located between the deep lagoon of Puttalam and the Indian Ocean is a marine sanctuary with a diversity of habitats. A boat trip from the Alankudah beach can offer you a chance to visit the, famous spot for dolphin watching where you can see about a hundred at once and it even offers a chance to glimpse an occasional blue whale and the largest toothed whale in the world, the sperm whale. The largest coral reef in Sri Lanka is also in Kalpitiya, the best place for scuba divers and snorkelers to explore. In the afternoon, visit the fishing village. Kalpitiya lies north of Colombo just three hours’ drive from the capital of Colombo is a rural town with Portuguese and Dutch influence and is home for some pristine beaches inhabited by turtles and rural fishing villages. It is ideal to visit Kalpitiya during the months of December to March when the sea is calm, making it the ideal place to go Dolphin and whale watching off the coast in the Indian Ocean.

Overnight stay at Kalpitiya Chalets by Thilanka - Deluxe room

Early morning transfer to Wilpattu national park with a packed breakfast. Wilpattu Sanctuary was declared as a National Park in 1938. Wilpattu National Park is located on the west coast close to the historical city of Anuradhapura Wilpattu National Park is home for many villus, or natural lakes which dot the landscape in the Wilpattu National Park. Except for two, these lakes contain rainwater, thus are important for resident and migratory water-birds. Wilpattu National Park is the biggest and one of the oldest national parks in Sri Lanka. With over 30 species of mammals and a staggering range of flora and fauna spanning its jungles and nature trails, a visit right here is simply something to experience. Proceed to Anuradhapura and visit the ancient city, which was the first capital and undoubtedly the grandest city of the ancient Sri Lanka. It is the home of two World Heritage sites. Many places of historical and archaeological interest could be visited. Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo-Tree) was brought as a sapling of the tree under which Prince Siddhartha attained to enlightenment and it is over 2,200 years old and is the oldest historically documented tree in the world. At Brazen Palace (2nd century B.C), the 1600 stone columns you see are all that is left of a magnificent multi-storied residence for monks. Ruwanweliseya (2nd century B.C) is the most famous of all the Dagobas. It originally depicted the perfect 'bubble shape" that modern restoration has not been able to accurately reproduce. 'Samadhi' Buddha statue (4th century AD) is one of the most famous statues, depicting the Buddha in a state of 'Samadhi' or deep meditation. Isurumuniya rock temple (3rd century B.C) is well known for its rock carvings. In the evening (around 18:00), visit Jethawanaramaya stupa. At night, this serene place looks extremely peaceful. If the weather permits, you will experience an hour of introduction to a meditation program by a Buddhist monk by the stupa. (You will be served with snacks and coffee before starting the mediation session). Guests are requested to wear light colored clothing to participate in this meditation. Relax and unwind your mind for an hour by setting aside a disturbed mind. After the meditation, return to the hotel.

Overnight stay at Lavendish Miridiya Lake Resort - Standard room

After breakfast, proceed to Mihintale. Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures. In the afternoon visit to Minneriya National Park. (Herds of elephants can be spotted where the water is abundant inside the parks. Depending on that, you will visit either Minneriya or Kaudulla or Eco park). Minneriya Park is a national park in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population. Sri Lankan Leopard and Sloth bear which are rare and endangered species also inhabit this area. The park was declared as a wild life sanctuary in order to protect the watershed of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is historically important for the country as it was built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD.

Overnight stay at Kassapa Lions Rock - Standard Room or Similar

In the early morning, you will climb Sigiriya rock fortress. The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 meers from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on plaster. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, go to a village house to prepare lunch with a local family. You will have the opportunity to mingle with the family and prepare food. After the preparation of the food, you can enjoy the lunch with the local family. In the evening, cycle on the back roads through rural scenery and explore the surroundings of Sigiriya.

Overnight stay at Kassapa Lions Rock - Standard Room or Similar

After breakfast transfer to Kandy. En route, you will visit a spice garden in Matale, where the scent of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and mace will overwhelm your senses. Continue to Kandy, the last capital of Sri Lankan kings. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive here. Drive around Kandy Lake, built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit Kandy town and the bazaar, the arts & crafts center, a gem museum and a lapidary. Spend the afternoon exploring the city of Kandy. There is much to see in this historic city.

Overnight stay at Hotel Thilanka Kandy - Deluxe Room or Similar

After breakfast transfer to Nuwara Eliya. As you ascend in altitude, you will witness the scenic beauty of the hill country. En route, there is a visit to a tea factory and then a train ride from Nanu Oya to Ella. This train ride is famous for its scenic beauty. Upon reaching Ella check into your hotel and relax.

**We always strive to secure the best seats in the train, but if these are not available 2nd or 3rd Class tickets will be booked instead. The train ride will be subjected to availability. If the train tickets are not available, you will be transferred to the destination by the vehicle used to do the tour. Please be aware that train tickets in Sri Lanka can only be booked 30 days before train departure and are therefore subject to availability. Should the tickets be sold out or unavailable you will of course be driven by your chauffeur / guide instead between your destinations.

Overnight stay at Ella Flower Garden Resort - Standard Room

After breakfast, you can explore Ella. A short walk to Little Adams Peak viewpoint offers a great view of the Ella Gap. Visit the beautiful Ravana Falls and the Nine Arch Bridge.

9 Arch Bridge
Built during the British Colonial period, located almost 3100 feet above the sea level with 99.6ft high When one stands underneath it and looks up there is a beautiful sight of ‘nine skies’ through the nine arches. This massive bridge is built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel. The bridge was finally commissioned in 1921.

Visit Ella Gap
No entrance fees, but there are Trekker charges (USD 23 net - not included).

The Ella Gap offers a stunning view and on a clear night you can see the subtle glow of the Great Basses light house in the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

Little Adam’s Peak
Little Adam’s Peak has become an attraction to local and foreign tourist. Many people visit the area to admire its scenic beauty. It is located about 2 km from the Ella town. From this location Kataragama and the Hambantota beach which are hundreds of kilometers away can also be seen. The Namunukula, Poonagala and Narangala mountain ranges also located on near this place.

Overnight stay at Ella Flower Garden Resort - Standard Room

Breakfast at the hotel and spend the day at leisure.

Overnight stay at Ella Flower Garden Resort - Standard Rooms

After breakfast drive to Mirissa. Mirissa is situated on the south coast of Sri Lanka in the Matara District. It is a fishing port and one of the island's main whale and dolphin watching locations. On a clear day stunning sunset could be witnessed on this small tropical sandy beach. It is a popular tourist destination due to its beach and night life activities.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Paradise Beach Club - Deluxe Room or Similar

Breakfast at the hotel. The next few days are at your own leisure.

Optional: Whale Watching (November to April - Local payment approx. USD 60 per person)
The largest living animal on earth, blue whales can grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and weigh almost 200 tons. They are among the Earth's longest-living animals with an average lifespan of around 80 to 90 years. When breathing, Blue whales emit a spectacular single column spout up to 12 meters into the air. They also typically raise their shoulders and blowholes much higher out of the water than other big whales when surfacing to breathe. These two characteristics make Blue whale watching an incredible experience.

Dinner and Overnight stay at Paradise Beach Club - Deluxe Room or Similar

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. This is the end of the tour.

Accommodation at specified hotels or similar standard hotels on BB basis, except at Paradise Beach Club as it is on HB basis.
Services of an English-speaking driver
Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
One bottle of mineral water per person per day
Entrance fees to
- Wilpattu National Park Entrance + Jeep safari
- Mihintale
- Minneriya National Park Entrance Fees + Jeep safari
- Anuradhapura
- Meditation session near Sri Maha bodhiya
- Sigiriya rock Fortress
- Cooking session at village house
- Cycle ride in Sigiriya
- Tea Factory Visit
- Train Tickets