10-Day Sri Lanka Highlights Tour with Safaris, Hill Country and Beaches

• You will be welcomed at the airport arrival lounge and then driven to Hikkaduwa for your first hotel.

Overnight stay in Hikkaduwa.

• After breakfast, drive to Weligama with an excursion to the historical Fort of Galle.

  However, the modern history of Galle dates back to the 16th century. Portuguese navigators arrived in Galle in 1505 with Lourenco de Almeida, and they fortified the city to defend the peninsula on the northern landside. But they were overthrown by the Dutch, who arrived in Galle in 1640. Galle saw the pinnacle of its development in the 18th century, before the arrival of the British. Most famous for its centuries-old fort, Galle, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the cultural category declared in 1988, today stands as a city of splendour attracting thousands of local and foreign tourists. Galle represents a perfect blend of European architectural styles and South Asian traditions.

• While driving to Weligama, you will get a chance to see a sea turtle hatchery and stilt fishing.

• Weligama is yet another tourist hotspot in the south. It is a unique bay beach and is popular for scuba diving and surfing.

• Overnight stay in Weligama.

After a late breakfast around 11.00 am, drive to Yala for an afternoon safari. The number of mammals recorded in the park is 44, and it has one of the highest leopard densities in the world.

Overnight stay in Yala.

After breakfast, drive to Ella, a picturesque countryside village of quaint beauty, safely tucked in amidst the towering peaks of Sri Lanka's central highlands in Uva Province. If the view alone was not good enough, Ella is also surrounded by hilly countryside perfect for walks through tea plantations to ancient temples and waterfalls. The most popular hotspots are Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge.

Overnight stay in Ella.

After breakfast, drive to the station to catch the train to Nuwara Eliya, considered the most beautiful train journey in Sri Lanka. Once you are in Nuwara Eliya, you will find a city of leisure and pleasure. Nuwara Eliya is one of the cities at the highest altitude in Sri Lanka and is popular as a paradise holiday destination. It is also a classic example of the climate diversity of Sri Lanka, and a city where the influence of British colonial architecture is clearly visible.

Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

After breakfast, you will get the opportunity to drive through tea plantations, visit a tea factory and waterfalls, and once you are in Kandy, go on a city tour and visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Overnight stay in Kandy.

After breakfast, you will get the opportunity to visit the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kandy and then drive to Sigiriya. On the way, visit the Dambulla Cave Temples, one of the eight World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. There are several cave temples scattered in two clusters facing the south and the west at the Dambulla rock site, which is located near the geographical centre of the island and stands about 180 meters above the surrounding plain. The cave temples date back to the 1st century BCE and are one of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

Overnight stay in Sigiriya.

• After breakfast, proceed to yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka - Sigiriya. It is a wonderful ancient palace built atop a 660-foot-tall rock column. This wonderful rock castle is a creation of King Kassapa (AD 477-495). It is also one of the biggest attractions of Sri Lanka and attracts people with its stunning frescoes. Then, after you return, if you wish, you can go on a village tour and have a small meal with the village people.

• In the afternoon around 2.30 pm, head for a safari in Kaudulla National Park or Minneriya National Park, which is home to hundreds of wild elephants.

Overnight stay in Sigiriya.

After a late breakfast, you will drive to Negombo for your last hotel before departure and take a break for the rest of the day at the beach.

Overnight stay in Negombo.

• Depending on your departure flight time, you will be driven to the airport departure lounge for your flight back home.

End of tour.