Wild & Scenic Sri Lanka + Sri Lanka Beach
No matter where you’re going from, we take you there
DAY 1: Warm welcome to Sri Lanka at Bandaranayake International Airport by Serenite Lanka.
DAY 2: Arrive Colombo - Negombo
On arrival in Colombo you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon take in the many remnants of Colombo’s colonial past on a sightseeing tour around the city, including the Presidential Secretariat and the Grand Oriental Hotel as well as a Buddhist temple, the Catholic cathedral, a Hindu Kovil and the Grand Mosque. (D) Note:Depending on flight times, sometimes it may be necessary to do the Colombo sightseeing on day 8.
DAY 3: Colombo - Udawalawe
Pass by green paddy fields, rubber plantations and lush tea estates as you make your way to Udawalawe, stopping en route at Ratnapura. Also known as City of Gems, Ratnapura is a hub for gemstone mining and trading in Sri Lanka, and has produced some of the largest sapphires in the world including the famous ‘Star of India’. Next visit the Elephant Transit Home located near Udawalawe National Park. Funded by the Born Free Foundation, ETH cares for orphaned elephants from all over Sri Lanka before releasing them back into the wild. Later continue into Udawalawe National Park, which has one of the highest densities of wild elephants in Sri Lanka. Take a jeep safari around this stunning area, looking for elephants as well as other wildlife – the National Park boasts sambar deer, wild buffaloes, mongooses, bandicoots, foxes, water monitor lizards, crocodiles, sloth bears and the occasional leopard. (B, L, D)
DAY 4: Udawalawe - Yala
Journey south this morning towards Yala National Park, where you will take a jeep safari through the park. Home to one of the highest densities of leopards in the world, sights of these beautiful creatures are not uncommon. Yala is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with around 230 species recorded in the park. As well as leopards and birds, look out for elephants, sloth bears, water buffalo, macaques and mugger crocodiles – Yala really is Kipling’s Jungle Book brought to life! Note: National Park is closed to visitors around September / October, during this period the Yala Safari drive will take place in the Bundala National Park. (B, L, D)
DAY 5: Yala - Nuwara Eliya
Today a scenic drive takes you from Yala to the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya. En route stop at Ella, a sleepy little village nestled in a valley with fantastic views of the plains below. Later arrive in Nuwara Eliya. Otherwise known as ‘Little England’, Nuwara Eliya is set nearly 2,000 metres above sea level and is surrounded by rolling hills and lush tea plantations. After lunch, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the town, which was once a favourite retreat for European planters and still contains many colonial-style buildings. (B, L, D)
DAY 6: Nuwara Eliya - Kandy
Start your day with a tour of a Ceylon tea plantation and factory, learning about the cultivation process. Nuwara Eliya is considered the capital of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, with its cool temperatures, humidity and rainfall providing the perfect climate for tea production. Continue your journey north to Kandy, arriving in time for lunch. This evening, why not take part in an optional cultural show where you can marvel at drummers, dancers and fire walkers? (B, L, D)
DAY 7: Kandy
A jumble of culture, history and colonial buildings, Kandy is nestled amongst forested hills and is one of Sri Lanka’s most interesting cities. This morning enjoy a comprehensive tour of this green city, taking in the colourful market place, the upper lake drive, and the Gem Museum. Also visit the Arts & Crafts Centre and the Royal Botanical Gardens which are renowned for their collection of orchids, spices and medicinal plants. You will also visit the famous Temple of the Tooth, where it is said that the relic tooth of Buddha is enshrined. (B, L, D)
DAY 8: Kandy - Colombo
After breakfast, drive back to Colombo for an overnight stay. If you are extending your holiday, you will transfer to your chosen beach resort. (B)
DAY 9: Kandy - Beruwela or Bentota
Transfer from Kandy to your chosen beach resort.
DAY 10 to 13: Beruwela or Bentota.
Four full days to relax in Beruwela or Bentota.