Day 1: Arrive Colombo – Negombo
On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), meet your Luxury Escapes representative for a group transfer between 11.00pm and 11.59pm to your hotel in Negombo. The rest of the evening is at leisure to settle in and rest ahead of your Sri Lankan adventure.
Stay: Goldi Sands Hotel – Deluxe Room or similar
Day 2: Negombo – Dambulla
After breakfast, travel to the Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its sacred cave shrines, Buddha statues and ancient paintings. Continue to your hotel at Amaya Lake, set on the shores of Kandalama Lake. Enjoy a one-hour herbal oil full-body spa treatment before sitting down to a BBQ welcome dinner with your fellow travellers.
Stay: Amaya Lake – Standard Villa or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Dambulla
Start early with a visit to the spectacular Sigiriya Rock Fortress, rising high above the jungle and offering panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. Later, enjoy lunch before continuing to the ruins of Polonnaruwa, the former medieval capital of Sri Lanka, where you’ll discover ancient reservoirs, stupas and beautifully preserved statues. Return to your lakeside hotel for dinner.
Stay: Amaya Lake – Standard Villa or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Dambulla – Kandy
Following breakfast, visit the spice gardens of Matale and learn about Sri Lanka’s famous aromatics and healing herbs. Continue to Kandy for lunch and a city tour, including Kandy View Point with sweeping views over the lake and city below. This afternoon, visit the UNESCO-listed Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic before checking into your hotel for dinner.
Stay: Amaya Hills – Deluxe Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
After breakfast, board one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys as you travel from Kandy into the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya. Along the way, pass tea plantations, stone bridges and rolling green landscapes before arriving in Sri Lanka’s charming ‘Little England’. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Stay: Araliya Green Hills – Deluxe Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Nuwara Eliya
Today, explore Sri Lanka’s celebrated tea country with a visit to the local tea fields and factory, learning about the process from leaf to cup and trying your hand at tea plucking. In the afternoon, enjoy a classic high tea at the Grand Hotel or Jetwing St. Andrew’s, then spend the rest of the day at leisure before dinner.
Stay: Araliya Green Hills – Deluxe Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Nuwara Eliya – Ella – Tissamaharama
After breakfast, journey south towards Tissamaharama, stopping in Ella to visit the iconic Nine Arch Bridge. Enjoy a tuk-tuk ride for a closer look at this colonial-era railway bridge spanning the lush valley below, then continue on to your hotel where the evening is at leisure.
Stay: Chaarya Resort & Spa – Deluxe Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Tissamaharama – Yala National Park – Tissamaharama
Rise early for a morning safari through Yala National Park, renowned for its population of leopards as well as sloth bears, elephants, buffalo and abundant birdlife. Explore the park’s scrublands, lagoons and grasslands before returning to your hotel for a leisurely afternoon.
Stay: Chaarya Resort & Spa – Deluxe Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Tissamaharama – Galle
This morning, continue along Sri Lanka’s southern coast towards Galle. Along the way, see the famous stilt fishermen, a striking and traditional sight unique to this part of the island. On arrival in Galle, explore the historic UNESCO-listed Galle Fort before checking into your oceanfront resort for the rest of the day at leisure.
Stay: Radisson Blu Resort Galle – Deluxe Sea View Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Galle
Take a morning tour of Galle, Sri Lanka’s oldest seaport, and discover the fascinating history of Galle Fort, first built by the Portuguese and later expanded by the Dutch and British. Wander cobbled streets lined with boutiques, galleries and colonial buildings, then enjoy a leisurely afternoon before dinner.
Stay: Radisson Blu Resort Galle – Deluxe Sea View Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Galle – Colombo
Travel to Colombo today and discover Sri Lanka’s dynamic capital city. Pass through Cinnamon Gardens, visit Independence Square, cruise along Galle Face Green and see Colombo Fort and other city landmarks. Later, settle into your hotel and enjoy dinner.
Stay: Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo – Superior Room or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Depart Colombo
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
