Sri-Lanka
Every place has a version that is entirely yours. Which one is calling you?
From Day 01 to Day 15
Day 1 | April 3
Arrival in Colombo
Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, where you will be welcomed for transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is an opportunity to rest and enjoy the hotel facilities.
In the evening, you will meet your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.
Day 1 | April 3
Arrival in Colombo
Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport, where you will be welcomed for transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is an opportunity to rest and enjoy the hotel facilities.
In the evening, you will meet your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner.
Day 2 | April 4
Colombo: Sacred Sites, City Stories & Elegant Dining
After breakfast, a guided tour of Colombo, a city shaped by centuries of maritime trade and layered Portuguese, Dutch, British and contemporary influences. Visit the richly decorated Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, where devotional spaces and an eclectic collection of religious objects offer an engaging introduction to Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Continue to the historic Captain’s Garden Hindu Temple, an atmospheric place of worship adorned with vivid sculptures of Hindu deities. Drive through Cinnamon Gardens, once the center of the colonial cinnamon-growing district and today one of Colombo’s most gracious residential quarters. Pause at Independence Square, framed by the Independence Memorial Hall, before continuing to the broad lawns and ocean views of Galle Face Green.
Return to the hotel to relax.
In the early evening, Colombo City Walk hosted by Mark Forbes. Moving through old streets, arcades, alleyways and landmark buildings, the walk reveals the trading stories and overlooked architectural details of Fort and Pettah through the eyes of a passionate Colombo storyteller.
After the walk, proceed to Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, the former home of the Bandaranaike family (including Sirimavo Bandaranaike who served as Sri Lanka’s prime minister). After the walk, dinner.
Day 2 | April 4
Colombo: Sacred Sites, City Stories & Elegant Dining
After breakfast, a guided tour of Colombo, a city shaped by centuries of maritime trade and layered Portuguese, Dutch, British and contemporary influences. Visit the richly decorated Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, where devotional spaces and an eclectic collection of religious objects offer an engaging introduction to Sri Lankan Buddhism.
Continue to the historic Captain’s Garden Hindu Temple, an atmospheric place of worship adorned with vivid sculptures of Hindu deities. Drive through Cinnamon Gardens, once the center of the colonial cinnamon-growing district and today one of Colombo’s most gracious residential quarters. Pause at Independence Square, framed by the Independence Memorial Hall, before continuing to the broad lawns and ocean views of Galle Face Green.
Return to the hotel to relax.
In the early evening, Colombo City Walk hosted by Mark Forbes. Moving through old streets, arcades, alleyways and landmark buildings, the walk reveals the trading stories and overlooked architectural details of Fort and Pettah through the eyes of a passionate Colombo storyteller.
After the walk, proceed to Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, the former home of the Bandaranaike family (including Sirimavo Bandaranaike who served as Sri Lanka’s prime minister). After the walk, dinner.
Day 3 | April 5
Into the Cultural Triangle
After breakfast, leave Colombo and travel inland toward Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. On arrival in Dambulla, visit the UNESCO-listed Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, a sacred pilgrimage site with a history spanning more than two millennia.
A stepped ascent leads to five remarkable cave sanctuaries beneath a vast rock overhang. Inside are extensive Buddhist murals and a superb collection of statues portraying the Buddha, deities and ancient kings. The dimly lit chambers, painted ceilings and devotional atmosphere create one of the island’s most memorable cultural experiences.
Continue to the hotel. Check in and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is served at the hotel.
Day 3 | April 5
Into the Cultural Triangle
After breakfast, leave Colombo and travel inland toward Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. On arrival in Dambulla, visit the UNESCO-listed Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple, a sacred pilgrimage site with a history spanning more than two millennia.
A stepped ascent leads to five remarkable cave sanctuaries beneath a vast rock overhang. Inside are extensive Buddhist murals and a superb collection of statues portraying the Buddha, deities and ancient kings. The dimly lit chambers, painted ceilings and devotional atmosphere create one of the island’s most memorable cultural experiences.
Continue to the hotel. Check in and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner is served at the hotel.
Day 4 | April 6
Market-to-Table Cooking & Ancient Polonnaruwa
Enjoy breakfast and a relaxed morning. Later, meet a local host, who welcomes guests to a homestay near Dambulla. Accompanied by your host, walk through Dambulla’s lively produce market and select fresh vegetables, fish, chicken, herbs and spices while learning how Sri Lankan families shop and plan their daily meals.
Gather in the kitchen for an informal, hands-on cooking experience. Prepare a generous Sri Lankan rice-and-curry meal, learning how coconut, curry leaves, roasted spices and seasonal produce are balanced across several dishes. Sit down together to enjoy the lunch you have helped create.
Return briefly to the hotel and then drive to Polonnaruwa. Explore the UNESCO-listed medieval capital, whose archaeological landscape includes royal palaces, audience halls, bathing ponds, stupas and finely carved Buddhist monuments. The ancient reservoirs and sophisticated irrigation system speak to the engineering achievements of the kingdom.
Polonnaruwa and its surrounding dry-zone forests also formed an important setting for Disneynature’s “Monkey Kingdom.” With luck, you may observe some of Sri Lanka’s charismatic primates, including toque macaques, gray langurs and purple-faced langurs, while learning about their social behavior and the conservation pressures they face. Return to the hotel.
Day 4 | April 6
Market-to-Table Cooking & Ancient Polonnaruwa
Enjoy breakfast and a relaxed morning. Later, meet a local host, who welcomes guests to a homestay near Dambulla. Accompanied by your host, walk through Dambulla’s lively produce market and select fresh vegetables, fish, chicken, herbs and spices while learning how Sri Lankan families shop and plan their daily meals.
Gather in the kitchen for an informal, hands-on cooking experience. Prepare a generous Sri Lankan rice-and-curry meal, learning how coconut, curry leaves, roasted spices and seasonal produce are balanced across several dishes. Sit down together to enjoy the lunch you have helped create.
Return briefly to the hotel and then drive to Polonnaruwa. Explore the UNESCO-listed medieval capital, whose archaeological landscape includes royal palaces, audience halls, bathing ponds, stupas and finely carved Buddhist monuments. The ancient reservoirs and sophisticated irrigation system speak to the engineering achievements of the kingdom.
Polonnaruwa and its surrounding dry-zone forests also formed an important setting for Disneynature’s “Monkey Kingdom.” With luck, you may observe some of Sri Lanka’s charismatic primates, including toque macaques, gray langurs and purple-faced langurs, while learning about their social behavior and the conservation pressures they face. Return to the hotel.
Day 5 | April 7
Sigiriya at Sunrise
Depart before dawn for Sigiriya, timing the ascent for the soft light and cooler air of early morning. Rising dramatically above the plains, this UNESCO-listed rock citadel was transformed by King Kashyapa in the fifth century into a fortified royal capital.
Walk through the symmetrical water gardens and ascend past ancient frescoes and the polished Mirror Wall. The monumental Lion’s Paw terrace marks the final climb to the summit, where palace foundations, reservoirs and sweeping views reveal the extraordinary ambition of the site. Return to the hotel for a well-earned breakfast.
The remainder of the day is free for relaxation. Enjoy the pool, gardens and peaceful lakeside setting. After dinner, guests may choose an optional guided night safari or loris walk in the hotel grounds, searching quietly for the elusive gray slender loris and other nocturnal wildlife.
Day 5 | April 7
Sigiriya at Sunrise
Depart before dawn for Sigiriya, timing the ascent for the soft light and cooler air of early morning. Rising dramatically above the plains, this UNESCO-listed rock citadel was transformed by King Kashyapa in the fifth century into a fortified royal capital.
Walk through the symmetrical water gardens and ascend past ancient frescoes and the polished Mirror Wall. The monumental Lion’s Paw terrace marks the final climb to the summit, where palace foundations, reservoirs and sweeping views reveal the extraordinary ambition of the site. Return to the hotel for a well-earned breakfast.
The remainder of the day is free for relaxation. Enjoy the pool, gardens and peaceful lakeside setting. After dinner, guests may choose an optional guided night safari or loris walk in the hotel grounds, searching quietly for the elusive gray slender loris and other nocturnal wildlife.
Day 6 | April 8
Spices, Sacred Kandy & Cultural Performance
After breakfast, travel south toward Kandy. En route, stop at a spice and herbal garden in Matale for a guided introduction to the plants that have flavored Sri Lankan kitchens and supported traditional wellness practices for generations. Continue through the central hills to Kandy.
In the evening, attend a lively Kandyan cultural performance featuring traditional drumming, dance and ceremonial costumes. Continue to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka’s most revered Buddhist shrine. Located within the former royal palace complex, the temple houses a sacred relic associated with the Buddha and remains a vibrant place of daily devotion and national significance.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 6 | April 8
Spices, Sacred Kandy & Cultural Performance
After breakfast, travel south toward Kandy. En route, stop at a spice and herbal garden in Matale for a guided introduction to the plants that have flavored Sri Lankan kitchens and supported traditional wellness practices for generations. Continue through the central hills to Kandy.
In the evening, attend a lively Kandyan cultural performance featuring traditional drumming, dance and ceremonial costumes. Continue to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Sri Lanka’s most revered Buddhist shrine. Located within the former royal palace complex, the temple houses a sacred relic associated with the Buddha and remains a vibrant place of daily devotion and national significance.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 7 | April 9
Kandy Beyond the Familiar
After breakfast, board tuk-tuks for a characterful exploration of Kandy. Travel through narrow streets shaped by the island’s last royal kingdom and later British rule, pausing at lesser-known sites such as historic St. Paul’s Church and the old coffee fountain. Continue to the hilltop Bahirawakanda Buddha statue and Upper Lake Drive for elevated views across Kandy Lake and the surrounding hills.
Then enjoy free time for shopping, perhaps for gems, textiles, crafts or Ceylon tea, before returning to the hotel.
In the early evening, drive to a local family home for an intimate Kandyan culinary experience. Discover regional ingredients and home-style techniques, take part in selected preparations and share a generous meal around the family table. This is an opportunity not only to taste Kandyan cuisine but also to experience the warmth and rhythm of a Sri Lankan home. Return to the hotel after dinner.
Day 7 | April 9
Kandy Beyond the Familiar
After breakfast, board tuk-tuks for a characterful exploration of Kandy. Travel through narrow streets shaped by the island’s last royal kingdom and later British rule, pausing at lesser-known sites such as historic St. Paul’s Church and the old coffee fountain. Continue to the hilltop Bahirawakanda Buddha statue and Upper Lake Drive for elevated views across Kandy Lake and the surrounding hills.
Then enjoy free time for shopping, perhaps for gems, textiles, crafts or Ceylon tea, before returning to the hotel.
In the early evening, drive to a local family home for an intimate Kandyan culinary experience. Discover regional ingredients and home-style techniques, take part in selected preparations and share a generous meal around the family table. This is an opportunity not only to taste Kandyan cuisine but also to experience the warmth and rhythm of a Sri Lankan home. Return to the hotel after dinner.
Day 8 | April 10
By Rail into Tea Country
After breakfast, transfer to Kandy railway station and board the scenic train into Sri Lanka’s central highlands. The approximately 3½-hour journey winds past forested slopes, waterfalls, small stations, vegetable plots and undulating tea estates—a classic slow-travel experience and one of the most atmospheric ways to enter tea country.
On arrival at Nanu Oya station, meet your vehicle and continue to Heritance Tea Factory, an imaginative hotel created from a former tea factory amid working plantations. Check in and spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, enjoying the cool mountain climate and distinctive industrial heritage of the property. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8 | April 10
By Rail into Tea Country
After breakfast, transfer to Kandy railway station and board the scenic train into Sri Lanka’s central highlands. The approximately 3½-hour journey winds past forested slopes, waterfalls, small stations, vegetable plots and undulating tea estates—a classic slow-travel experience and one of the most atmospheric ways to enter tea country.
On arrival at Nanu Oya station, meet your vehicle and continue to Heritance Tea Factory, an imaginative hotel created from a former tea factory amid working plantations. Check in and spend the remainder of the afternoon at leisure, enjoying the cool mountain climate and distinctive industrial heritage of the property. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9 | April 11
The Art of Ceylon Tea & Little England
After breakfast, enjoy a private tea experience at Heritance Tea Factory. Trace the journey from fresh leaf to finished Ceylon tea. A guided tasting introduces differences in grade, aroma, strength and preparation while connecting the cup to the landscape and people behind it.
Continue on a leisurely guided walk-through town, taking in Gregory Lake, the colonial-era Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and the red-brick Post Office, landmarks that preserve the character of the hill station once known as “Little England.
Later, drive into Nuwara Eliya for high tea at the historic Grand Hotel. In the cooler air of the highlands, enjoy savory and sweet delicacies with freshly brewed Ceylon tea in an elegant colonial setting. Return to the hotel after tea.
Day 9 | April 11
The Art of Ceylon Tea & Little England
After breakfast, enjoy a private tea experience at Heritance Tea Factory. Trace the journey from fresh leaf to finished Ceylon tea. A guided tasting introduces differences in grade, aroma, strength and preparation while connecting the cup to the landscape and people behind it.
Continue on a leisurely guided walk-through town, taking in Gregory Lake, the colonial-era Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and the red-brick Post Office, landmarks that preserve the character of the hill station once known as “Little England.
Later, drive into Nuwara Eliya for high tea at the historic Grand Hotel. In the cooler air of the highlands, enjoy savory and sweet delicacies with freshly brewed Ceylon tea in an elegant colonial setting. Return to the hotel after tea.
Day 10 | April 12
From Tea Hills to Yala’s Wilderness
After breakfast, descend from the cool tea country toward Sri Lanka’s dry zone southeast. The landscapes change dramatically enroute, from highland cultivation and forest to scrub jungle, reservoirs and broad lowland plains.
In the afternoon, set out by private jeep for your first safari. Yala’s mosaic of scrub, woodland, lagoons and rocky outcrops supports an exceptional variety of life, including Asian elephants, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, crocodiles, water buffalo and abundant birdlife. The park is also renowned for its population of Sri Lankan leopards, although every sighting is a privilege and never assured.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 10 | April 12
From Tea Hills to Yala’s Wilderness
After breakfast, descend from the cool tea country toward Sri Lanka’s dry zone southeast. The landscapes change dramatically enroute, from highland cultivation and forest to scrub jungle, reservoirs and broad lowland plains.
In the afternoon, set out by private jeep for your first safari. Yala’s mosaic of scrub, woodland, lagoons and rocky outcrops supports an exceptional variety of life, including Asian elephants, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, crocodiles, water buffalo and abundant birdlife. The park is also renowned for its population of Sri Lankan leopards, although every sighting is a privilege and never assured.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 11 | April 13
Yala’s Wildlife
Begin before sunrise with a private morning jeep safari, when temperatures are cooler and wildlife activity is often at its most rewarding. Your naturalist and tracker will read alarm calls, footprints and movement across the landscape while seeking both headline species and the smaller details that make Yala fascinating.
Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and time to rest. In the afternoon, venture into the park again for another safari, as the light softens, exploring a different sector where possible for a broader view of Yala’s habitats and wildlife. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 11 | April 13
Yala’s Wildlife
Begin before sunrise with a private morning jeep safari, when temperatures are cooler and wildlife activity is often at its most rewarding. Your naturalist and tracker will read alarm calls, footprints and movement across the landscape while seeking both headline species and the smaller details that make Yala fascinating.
Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and time to rest. In the afternoon, venture into the park again for another safari, as the light softens, exploring a different sector where possible for a broader view of Yala’s habitats and wildlife. Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 12 | April 14
Elephant Conservation & the Southern Coast
After breakfast, drive to Udawalawe and visit the Elephant Transit Home. Operated as a rehabilitation facility, the center cares for orphaned or displaced young elephants with the goal of returning suitable animals to the wild. Observe a scheduled feeding from the viewing area and learn about the challenges of elephant conservation and human–wildlife coexistence in Sri Lanka.
Continue to Galle on the island’s southern coast. The remainder of the afternoon is free to settle in the hotel, enjoy the pool or spa, and watch the changing light along the coast. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 12 | April 14
Elephant Conservation & the Southern Coast
After breakfast, drive to Udawalawe and visit the Elephant Transit Home. Operated as a rehabilitation facility, the center cares for orphaned or displaced young elephants with the goal of returning suitable animals to the wild. Observe a scheduled feeding from the viewing area and learn about the challenges of elephant conservation and human–wildlife coexistence in Sri Lanka.
Continue to Galle on the island’s southern coast. The remainder of the afternoon is free to settle in the hotel, enjoy the pool or spa, and watch the changing light along the coast. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 13 | April 15
Weligama Traditions & Galle Fort at Dusk
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before driving along the coast to Weligama, where the famous stilt-fishing tradition is associated with simple wooden perches set above the shallows. Meet local fishermen and learn about the history and changing reality of this much-photographed practice.
Afternoon includes leisure time and In the early evening, a private walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Galle and its fortifications. Built and expanded under Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, the fort is a living neighborhood of ramparts, churches, courtyards, merchants’ houses and sea-facing bastions. Walk the ramparts while stories of spice traders, colonial rivalries and present-day Fort life bring architecture into focus. Dinner in Galle.
Day 13 | April 15
Weligama Traditions & Galle Fort at Dusk
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before driving along the coast to Weligama, where the famous stilt-fishing tradition is associated with simple wooden perches set above the shallows. Meet local fishermen and learn about the history and changing reality of this much-photographed practice.
Afternoon includes leisure time and In the early evening, a private walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Galle and its fortifications. Built and expanded under Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, the fort is a living neighborhood of ramparts, churches, courtyards, merchants’ houses and sea-facing bastions. Walk the ramparts while stories of spice traders, colonial rivalries and present-day Fort life bring architecture into focus. Dinner in Galle.
Day 14 | April 16
Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga
After a leisurely breakfast, drive north to Bentota and enter the private world of Lunuganga, the former country estate of Sri Lanka’s most influential architect, Geoffrey Bawa. During a guided architectural and garden walk, discover how Bawa shaped a former rubber estate into a sequence of outdoor rooms, framed views, terraces, sculptures and lakeside vistas. The experience offers an intimate understanding of tropical modernism and Bawa’s ability to choreograph landscape, light and movement.
Enjoy lunch at Lunuganga and time to absorb the estate’s tranquil atmosphere. Continue to Cinnamon Bentota Beach, itself linked to Sri Lanka’s celebrated architectural legacy, and check in for a relaxed final afternoon beside the ocean.
Near sunset, visit a responsible sea turtle conservation project. Learn about the threats facing Sri Lanka’s marine turtles and, only if hatchlings have emerged naturally and the center follows appropriate conservation protocols, witness a carefully managed release toward the sea. Return to the hotel for a farewell dinner celebrating the journey.
Day 14 | April 16
Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga
After a leisurely breakfast, drive north to Bentota and enter the private world of Lunuganga, the former country estate of Sri Lanka’s most influential architect, Geoffrey Bawa. During a guided architectural and garden walk, discover how Bawa shaped a former rubber estate into a sequence of outdoor rooms, framed views, terraces, sculptures and lakeside vistas. The experience offers an intimate understanding of tropical modernism and Bawa’s ability to choreograph landscape, light and movement.
Enjoy lunch at Lunuganga and time to absorb the estate’s tranquil atmosphere. Continue to Cinnamon Bentota Beach, itself linked to Sri Lanka’s celebrated architectural legacy, and check in for a relaxed final afternoon beside the ocean.
Near sunset, visit a responsible sea turtle conservation project. Learn about the threats facing Sri Lanka’s marine turtles and, only if hatchlings have emerged naturally and the center follows appropriate conservation protocols, witness a carefully managed release toward the sea. Return to the hotel for a farewell dinner celebrating the journey.
Day 15 | April 17
Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and some final time by the coast, depending on your flight schedule. Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your homebound flight.
Day 15 | April 17
Departure
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and some final time by the coast, depending on your flight schedule. Transfer to Bandaranaike International Airport for your homebound flight.