Arrive at the Airport

Meet & Assistance on arrival by a representative of Connaissance de Ceylan.
(Approx. 45 mins’ drive from Airport to Colombo)

Check in to the hotel

Enjoy a city tour of Colombo by classic car!

Among the rapid development of Colombo, the city is home to few hidden gems of colonial architecture, interesting history and authentic traits that transcends generations. Get picked up by a classic car, most likely a drop top Morris Minor, and discover a side of Colombo that is often overlooked due to the hustle and bustle. Enjoy the sights, sounds and street food of cosmopolitan Colombo.

Overnight Stay at the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at Ramada Hotel, Colombo

• 4*
• Deluxe

After breakfast proceed towards Ratnapura

(Approx. 2h 45 mins’ drive from Colombo to Ratnapura)

Ratnapura, translates to “Town of precious gems” in Sinhalese and Tamil and is the centre of Sri Lanka’s booming gem industry. Most of the gem mines, which contain Sapphires, Rubies and other stones, are found here and be observed by visitors. The world’s largest sapphire weighing 18 kgs. was found in the region. If you are brave enough, you can climb down the mines to get a first-hand look of the whole gem process.

After the visit proceed towards Seelogama

(Approx. 1h 30 mins’ drive from Ratnapura to Seelogama)

The Seelogama community village is a beautiful quaint rural Sri Lankan village in the foothills of Sri Lanka’s high country, more precisely at the bottom of the famous worlds end. This village relies on agriculture for its livelihood and uses the traditional technic of terraced paddy fields. Coupled with the rich nature and the bio diversity of the area, the Seelogama village is a unique opportunity to immerse one’s self, live and engage with a traditional rural Sri Lankan village.

Check in to the room and meet the family

Overnight Stay at the Community Village

Dinner & Overnight Stay at Seelogama Community Village

• Homestay
• Basic

After Breakfast enjoy the activities and experiences of the village

These experiences include:
-discovering the traditional farming practices of the village and helping out the local farmers with their cultivation and on the terraced paddy fields;
-discovering the close by water falls, streams and lakes and enjoying a bath in the pristine waters; learn to cook a rice and curry with the villagers and then enjoying it with them;
-fishing on the nearby water bodies with the local fishermen;
-trekking to the nearby peaks
-Discovering the ancient Budugala Raja Maha Viharaya

Dinner and overnight stay at the Community Village

Proceed to visit toward Haputale and Hike to Lipton’s Seat

(Approx. 1 hour 45 mins’ drive from Hotel to Lipton’s Seat)

This 2 to 3-hour trek takes you through tea plantations that hug the surrounding hills. This region is where the famous Scottish tea barron, Sir Thomas Lipton chose to plant his tea and make his fortune! At the summit of the hike, you will come to Liptons seat, this is said to be where Sir Lipton used to watch over his tea plantations. It offers stunning panoramic views of the rolling hills winding out and flattening in the distance.

Check in to the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at Living Heritage Koslanda

• Eco-Boutique
• Pavilion

Proceed to visit Upper Diyaluma Falls

(Approx. 45 mins’ Hike from Hotel to Diyaluma)

This 220-meter high waterfall is the 2nd highest waterfall of Sri Lanka, has different levels and natural pools on the top. The short hike to the top is worth well worth the trip with spectacular views and to top it all off you can refresh yourself by dipping your legs in the pools.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

After Breakfast proceed to Mandaram Nuwara “Misty City”

(Approx. 03 hours’ and 45mins drive)

Enroute visit Nuwara Eliya Town

Nuwara Eliya is the highest town in Sri Lanka (1,868) and was designed to resemeble a typical English village. Used as a retreat by British colonialist to remind them of home, the town is home to an 18-hole golf course, race course and various buildings that are remincent of British country houses. With their brick facades, the post office and hill club are two stircking examples of such architecture that transports you to the setting of an Agatha Christie mystery; with all the charm and cosiness of old England.

Check in to the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at Tea & Experience Factory, Mandaram Nuwara

• Experiential Boutique
• Deluxe

Enjoy a tea plucking session and make your own tea in the hotel’s own factory! Get our own pack of tea to take home to your friends and family!

After breakfast spend the day trekking and exploring the regions waterfalls!

Return to hotel

After breakfast proceed to Knuckles

(Approx. 3 ½ Hours’ drive from Hotel to Knuckles)

Check in to the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at WIld Glamping, Knuckles

• Tent

Early morning proceed to Knuckles trekking

Knuckles Massif or the Knuckles Mountain Range is part of the Hill Country of Sri Lanka, 3000 Ft or 915 metres above sea level and covers an area of about 90 Miles2 or 234 Sq. KM2. If you look at the mountain range from the Kandy area (Or South West of the range), you will see that the 5 peaks of the mountain range resemble knuckles of clenched fist, the range is named as such. The Sri Lankan name for this mountainous area is “Dumbara Mitiyawatha” which means “The Misty Vally”, it fits its name and is often an enchanting experience for its visitors. The mountainous area is off the beaten track and is truly unspoilt offering the perfect setting for hikers and bird lovers alike.

After the breakfast proceed to Enderagala Temple for a Dhane, meditation and a spiritual session with the Buddhist monks.

(Approx. 3 Hour 15 mins drive from Knuckles to Enderagala)

Due to tradition, Buddhist Monks eat before 12 noon; if one wants to provide a Dhane they should be there by 11:15 am.

One of Buddhism’s oldest and most common rituals is the “Dhane” or food offering given to monks. This beautiful, age old ritual takes place as Buddhist monks have a responsibility to support its communities spiritually and in return the communities take care of their monks by giving them alms as a food offering. This process of giving and receiving alms creates a spiritual connection between monks and the communities.

By giving a “Dhane” to a temple you will be able to interact with the monks that will be happy to teach you about the religion while observing the spiritual connection between temple and community. They will chant pirith (religious verses) and tie a pirith nool (Blessed piece of string) around your wrists which is said to keep away bad omens. After the offering you will be able to engage in a meditation session led by the monk.

To top it all, admire the breath-taking panoramic view of the Sigiriya region from the majestic rock top stupa.

Check in to the hotel

Evening proceed to visit Ritigala

(Approx. 30 mins’ drive from Hotel to Ritigala)

The mountain of Ritigala situated South East of Anuradhapura provide some of the most interesting ruins found in Sri Lanka. An ancient Buddhist monastery and cave complex, Ritigala’s ruins include: a complex granite footpath leading to the monastery; a hospital which includes stone beds and oil baths; and two raised platforms connected by a stone bridge, used for meditation.

Check in to the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at The Other Corner, Ritigala

• ECO hotel
• Chalets

After the breakfast proceed to visit Polonnaruwa Ancient City

(Approx. 1 Hour and 15 mins’ drive from Hotel to Polonnaruwa)

Attire- As a holy Buddhist site, you are required you to cover your shoulders, knees and take of your shoes. Please dress accordingly or bring a shall/sarong also bring a pair of old socks as the floor can be hot.

Polonnaruwa was established as Sri Lanka’s medival capital after the fall and destruction of Anuradhapura at the hands of the Cholan invaders from India. Polonnaruwa contains various masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture and architecture, as well as, remarkable feats of engineering that are widely regarded as ahead of their time. The most famous of these masterpieces is the Gal Vihara, with its famous rock carvings of Lord Buddha. The Parakrama Samudra, or the sea of Parakrama in English, is man-made reservoir (or tank) stretching over 23 kilometers which is prime example of the advanced engineering of that time.

Proceed to visit Medirigiriya

(Approx. 1 Hour drive from Polonnaruwa to Medirigiriya)

The Medirigiriya Vatadage is a lesser knows architectural marvel of Sri Lanka, not any less impressive because of its lack of notoriety. A Vatadage is the structure that surrounds a Stupa; believed to house a relic of the Buddha. The Vatadage is built on a small rock, the ascent to which is a small flight of stone steps. Four serene Buddha statues surround the site while the ruins of the stupa can be found in the centre. This is yet another example of the skill of ancient master craftsmen of Sri Lanka.

Return to the hotel

After the breakfast proceed to visit Anuradhapura Ancient City

(Approx. 1 hours’ drive from hotel to Anuradhapura)

The first Ancient Captial of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, was the capital of the king’s country (Rajarata among locals) for around 1400 years. At the peak of its glory, the city is said to have been spread out over 52 km2 with a population of tens of thousands. With its magnificent monuments, intricate sculptures and imposing stupas, Anuradhapura is the perfect testament to ancient Sri Lankan culture.

Afternoon proceed to visit Mihinthale

(Approx. 30 mins’ drive from Anuradhapura to Mihinthale)

Regarded as the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, the sacred rock mountain of Mihintale is supposedly the location where Buddhism was first introduced to the island. The ascent to the peak consists of a grand stairway of 1840 granite steps and the mountain contains many temples, lodgings for monks and several splendid statues of the
Buddha.

Check in to the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at the Lakeside Nuwarawewa

• 3*
• Standard

After the breakfast proceed to Anuradhapura Railway Station to take the unforgettable train journey to Jaffna

(Approx. 03 hours’ and 30mins train journey)

Check in to the hotel

This hotel is like no other, the Portuguese 17th century miniature fort in the middle of the lagoon is packed with history and is an experience in itself. The calm waters around it provide and calming and soothing backdrop to the well refurbished rooms. The fort is infamous in Sri Lanka’s modern political history being once a prison to Sri Lanka’s answer to Che Guevara, Rohan Wijeweera, the leader of the communist party.

Afternoon discover Nallur Kandaswamy Hindu Kovil & the city of Jaffna

Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil or Nallur Murugan Kovil is perhaps the most important Hindu temple in the Jaffna district. Found in the town of Nallur, The presiding deity is Lord Murugan/Skanda in the form of the holy ‘Vel’ (a devine javelin)

The presiding deity is Lord Muruga in the form of the holy Vel. The idol of Nallur Devi or goddess was offered to the temple in the 10th century by Queen Chola Sembiyan Mahadevi. The temple is a socially important institution for the Sri Lankan Hindu identity of Tamils in northern Sri Lanka. In the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, many temples were built in Europe and North America using the same name as a cultural memory.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at the Fort Hammenhiel Resort

• Standard

After breakfast take the ferry for a full days exploration of the mysterious and mythical Delft Island

Delft Island is in the Palk Straight located in the north of Sri Lanka. The sovereign Sri Lankan island is also known by its name of Neduntheevu or Neduntivu. Oval shaped, the island is 50km² in size with a maximum length of 8km and width of 6 km. The island was named Delft after the Dutch city of the same name when It was made one of the seats of the Dutch East India company by its governor general Rijckloff van Goens (1619 – 1682). On the island one can find an old Dutch fort, gigantic Baobab and Banyan trees, wild horses, small fishing villages and small houses typical of Delft

Return to the hotel

After Breakfast proceed to Thanthirimale

(Approx. 3 Hours’ and 15 mins’ drive from Kalpitiya to Thanthirimale)

Thanthrimale is famous for its ancient Buddhist temple situated in a rocky area which makes up the centre of the little village. This temple has important historical significance. When the Sri Maha Bodhi (Branch of the tree where Lord Buddha gained enlightenment) was brought from India to Sri Lanka, a branch of the holy tree is said to have separately grown out of the pot as the procession carrying the tree to Anuradhapura stopped for the night. To remember this occasion, a sampling was planted in Thanthirimale. Certain believe this is the first sampling of the Sri Maha Bodhi planted in Sri Lanka. The tree was planted on a large stone layer which protect it until now.

Proceed to Wilpattu

(Approx. 35 mins’ drive from Thanthirimale to Wilpattu)

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at the Wilpattu Tree House

• Eco Lodge
• Superior tree house

Early morning proceed to visit Wilpattu National Park with picnic breakfast packets

(Approx.10 mins drive from Hotel to Wilpattu)

Wilpattu National Park also known as the “Land of Lakes” is a park located on the island of Sri Lanka. The unique feature of this park is the existence of natural lakes. The park is located approximately 180 km north of Colombo The park is 131, 693 hectares, nearly includes sixty lakes and tanks are found. Wilpattu is the largest and one of the oldest National Parks in Sri Lanka and is world renowned for its Leopard population.

Proceed to Kalpitiya by boat

Situated 15o km North of Colombo, the region of Kalpitiya, is one of the most beautiful coastal areas of the North-Western Province. Kalpitiya is a peninsula which separates the Puttalam Lagoon from the Indian Ocean and as a result boasts of great bio-diversity. It includes a protected marine sanctuary with coral reefs, salterns, mangroves, flat coastal plains, vast white sand beaches and even a Dutch fort! Kalpitiya also has gained a reputation as one of the best and upcoming kite surfing beaches in the world. In addition, Kalpitiya is also popular for Dolphin watching and is a boat ride away from Wilpathu National Park.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel

Dinner & Overnight Stay at the Villa Kalpitiya

• Guest house
• Deluxe

After breakfast enjoy a full day boat expedition around Kalpitiya

Attire- Bring a swim suite and a change to go snorkelling, we also recommend bringing sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the suns rays.

Once you’ve had a good breakfast, meet the boat team and jet off towards the bar reef. Once there you’ll discover one of the country’s most beautiful coral reefs and marine ecosystems by snorkel. Finish with the treasures of the sea, and continue your expedition to the remote, fishing island of Bathalangunduwa. This long but narrow, sandy island is quite the fascinating place; various cultures and religions have lived at the island for hundreds of years with even a group of inhabitants whose roots trace back to Africa! Walk around among the fisherman, discover the beautiful sand dunes and enjoy a local lunch with the natives of the island. On your way back, if you are lucky you will be able to spot a pod of Kalpitiya’s famous, playful Dolphins jumping around your boat

Return to the hotel

Full day leisure at the beach

Optional experiences

 Dolphin Watching
 Kitesurfing
 Visit the Dutch Fort and town of Kalpitiya
 Scuba diving & Snorkelling on the Bar Reef.

Your amazing holiday in Sri Lanka has reached to the final day.
After Breakfast, proceed to the Airport for the departure.
(Approx. 3 hours 30 mins’ drive from Hotel to the Airport)

We wish you a safe flight back home…

Ayubowan!