12-Day Sri Lanka Heritage and Safari Tour with Southwest Coast

• Meet your friendly Sri Lankan driver-guide, who will welcome you on arrival and transfer you to the fishing village of Negombo, located near the airport so you can relax after a long flight.

• After a hearty breakfast, drive up to Habarana, described as one of the country's busiest fishing centres, where colourful rural boats dot the sea.

• Go on a city tour to see remains of Dutch-period architecture, canals, a Buddhist temple, and a Catholic church.

• Visit the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most impressive cave temple in Sri Lanka.

Overnight in Sigiriya/Habarana.

• Enjoy a delicious breakfast and set out to visit Polonnaruwa. This ancient city is rich in monasteries and Buddhist remains, and its most interesting sight is the "Gal Vihara," meaning the rock temple.

• In the afternoon, see one of Asia's most spectacular cultural sites at the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Only the fit and adventurous will be able to climb to the summit, but everyone can enjoy the ancient ruins and wonderful sights around the base and on a halfway hike. The site is home to water gardens, frescoes, and ancient graffiti.

Overnight in Habarana/Sigiriya.

• After breakfast, continue to Kandy.

• En route to Kandy, visit Matale Aluvihare Temple, where Buddhist doctrines were first documented on Ola leaves in the 1st century after being passed down orally from generation to generation.

• Marvel at the Spice Garden in Matale.

• See the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

• Examine how the famous Blue & Star sapphires are cut and polished using traditional methods.

• Enjoy a cultural show in Kandy at the end of the day.

• It is worth going further around Kandy and gazing at its beautiful lake, colourful streets, colonial architecture, museums, arts and crafts workshops, oriental marketplace, and bazaar.

Overnight in Kandy.

• Enjoy a good breakfast at the hotel and visit the elephant orphanage in Pinnawela, which was established in 1975.

• Set out for Peradeniya Botanical Garden in the morning, well known for its collection of over 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees. Your driver-guide can suggest places for you to stop and explore along the way.

Stay overnight in Kandy.

• Leave for Nuwara Eliya, also known as "Little England" for its Victorian-era structures and mild weather. The cool climate, eccentric tea plantations, waterfalls, and mountain ranges make the trip worthwhile.

• Relish the aroma at the Tea Factory and see how tea is produced.

• Visit the local market and Gregory Lake in the evening to enjoy the sunset.

Overnight in Nuwara Eliya.

• Transfer to Udawalawe via Ella.

• On the way, visit Ella Gap and Rawana Falls.

• Reach the hotel in Udawalawe and prepare yourself for a safari in Udawalawe National Park. The national park is a hotspot for rare bird conservation, including the Black-capped Kingfisher and the White Wagtail. However, its large elephant population is the main attraction.

• You can expect to see Water Buffalo, Wild Boar, Macaques, Langur monkeys, various deer species, and the Sri Lankan Leopard, as the population has increased in recent years.

Overnight in Udawalawe.

• Breathe in the crisp air on an early morning jeep safari at Udawalawe National Park.

• In the afternoon, visit "Ath Athuru Sevana," the Elephant Transit Camp. Established in 1995 by the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation, its primary objective is to rehabilitate orphaned elephant calves for ultimate release back into the wild.

• Immerse yourself in the rural lifestyle, Chena cultivations, vegetable farms, and village life around the area.

• Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Udawalawe.

• Wildlife lovers can make an optional morning safari in Udawalawe National Park and have a late breakfast.

• After breakfast at the hotel, others are free to take a stroll in the village and see the Chena cultivations and vegetable farms.

• Ratnapura is a valley bounded by Adam's Peak and Sinharaja Forest Reserve. This busy city is a famous trading centre for the area's ancient wealth of gemstones. The mild weather, humid climate, and the famous Kalu River create the perfect conditions for gems to develop.

• Visit a gem mining site to learn about mining methods and the several types of gems found here.

Overnight in South West Coast.

• After a good breakfast, depart for Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with tiny back streets inside the Dutch Fort.

• Marvel at the Galle Lighthouse and enjoy a nice tour of the Dutch Fort. You might like to buy some products from the quirky shops.

• Stop at a nearby cafe to enjoy some local cuisine for lunch.

• Make sure to visit the Galle National Museum.

• Have fun at the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery in the evening. It is home to Sri Lanka's pioneering sea turtle conservation project, operated with the help of international volunteers.

Overnight in Bentota Beach.

• Have a hearty breakfast and spend the day at your leisure by the beach. The Southwest Coast is renowned for its high-end resorts and pristine golden beach strips away from the main roads.

• Relish sunbathing, water sports, beach walks, and tasty seafood by the beach.

Overnight in Southwest Coast.

• After your final breakfast at the hotel, set out for a Colombo city tour.

• Go for a city walk and take advantage of the complimentary deal. Colombo features Ayurveda centres, the Dutch architecture of Pettah, colonial-era remains, Independence Square, Old Parliament House, and the surroundings of Beira Lake.

• Bid your goodbyes as you are transferred to Katunayake International Airport.