15-Day Sri Lanka Solo Holiday Tour with Heritage, Safari and Beaches

Arrive at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, where you will be met by a representative of Stelaranholidays and transferred to your beach hotel in Negombo. First-night arrival accommodation is provided by the company.

Negombo is a city on the west coast of Sri Lanka, north of the capital, Colombo. Near the waterfront, the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort now house a prison. Negombo Lagoon, lined with fishermen's huts, feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal, which leads south to Colombo.

Negombo is one of the major commercial hubs in the country and the administrative center of Negombo. It is known for its long sandy beaches and centuries-old fishing industry. The city has a large bilingual population dominated by Roman Catholics; the majority settled in the coastal belt speak Tamil as well, though most are Sinhala by ethnicity. The Sinhala name Migamuva means "Village of the honeycomb," gaining its name from a legend mentioned in Rajaveliya.

Enjoy Negombo's long golden-sand beach and fishing village atmosphere. Overnight stay in Negombo.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Warm welcome to Sri Lanka and meet our representative at the airport
• Transfer from Colombo Airport to a Negombo beach hotel
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• After breakfast, leave the hotel for Negombo activities
• City tour and fisherman village night view
• Relax on the beach and enjoy a fresh sea-water bath
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the Negombo hotel

After breakfast, travel at 6:30 to Sigiriya. En route, visit Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and watch the elephants bathe in the river after the youngest babies are milk-fed.

Sigiriya has a long history. The rock fortress came into being as a result of a rivalry between two brothers. The great rock fortress of Sigiriya was built by King Kashyapa, who created this place to protect himself from his brother, King Mogallana. The Sigiriya rock is entwined with a tragic event. The heir to the throne had been King Mogallana, but King Kashyapa had taken power by force. Fearing that his brother would return to reclaim the throne, Kashyapa built this rock fortress for protection.

The site is of historical and archaeological significance and is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres high. The technology used in creating the fort is excellent. However, Mogallana was eventually able to defeat Kashyapa, and after that the rock fortress was destroyed. Earlier it had been a Buddhist monastery, and after the palace was destroyed, it became a Buddhist monastery once again. Sigiriya was later discovered in 1831 by Europeans when British army Major Jonathan Forbes came upon it on his way from Polonnaruwa. Many historians and archaeologists then began excavating the rock fortress, revealing all its glory.

Pidurangala is an enormous rock located a few kilometres north of Sigiriya. The two rocks have an interlinked history: while King Kasyapa was building Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the 5th century, he moved monks living around Sigiriya to a new monastery on Pidurangala Rock. An ancient cave temple still houses objects from various periods that reflect Buddhist, Hindu, and Western beliefs, and the stupa to the left of the temple entrance is believed to mark the spot where King Kasyapa was cremated. Pidurangala is a more challenging climb than Sigiriya, but it rewards visitors with glorious vistas of the surrounding landscape and an incredible view of the majestic Sigiriya Rock.

Overnight stay at a Sigiriya hotel.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Leave the hotel at 6:30 am
• After a 4-hour journey, arrive in Sigiriya
• Lunch break
• Visit a wood carving center
• Climb Sigiriya Rock and Pidurangala
• Village tour and activities of village lifestyle, including a bullock cart ride
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

Early in the morning, leave for wildlife activities at Minneriya National Park and enjoy a full-day game drive with wildlife and elephant sightings.

Minneriya National Park is reported as the largest known wild Asian elephant gathering in one place in the world. The area was designated as a national park on 12 August 1997, having originally been declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1938. Minneriya National Park has recorded over 170 species of birds. From migrating waders like Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, and Kentish Plovers to forest birds like Malabar pied hornbills and Rufous Woodpecker, the globally endangered Lesser Adjutant and endemics such as Sri Lanka Grey Hornbill, Sri Lanka Green Pigeon, Brown-capped Babbler, and Sri Lanka Junglefowl are some of the highlights.

Minneriya National Park covers an area of 8,889 hectares and has a tropical monsoon climate. The vegetation of the park consists of tropical dry mixed evergreen forests, abandoned chena lands, grasslands, and wetlands. The open grasslands and old chena lands are dominated by many species of small shrubs.

Overnight stay in Habarana.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Early in the morning, leave the hotel
• After a 4-hour journey, arrive at Minneriya
• Full-day game drive in Minneriya National Park
• Return to the hotel
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, leave at 7:30 am and travel to Anuradhapura to visit this World Heritage Site. Tour the ancient city of Anuradhapura, including Ruwanwelimaha Seya, the great stupa of Lanka, and Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, the sacred fig tree and one of the oldest trees in the world. Behold the serene beauty of the Samadhi Buddha Statue and spend the evening riding the waters of Kala Wawa, the greatest city reservoir of Lanka.

Anuradhapura is an essential stop on any tour of Sri Lanka. Located around 205 km north of Colombo, it is one of eight World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Anuradhapura is revered as one of the greatest monastic sites on the planet.

Anuradhapura currently serves as the capital city of the North Central Province and is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Its vast network of ancient Buddhist temples, monasteries, and places of worship, covering over 40 sq km, has made it a sacred site for Buddhists around the world. Sri Lanka's historical chronicle, the Mahavamsa, records that Anuradhapura first became the capital of ancient Lanka in the 4th century BC during the reign of King Pandukhabaya. The king is credited with designing the city and developing a core town and surrounding suburbs based on a highly complex plan.

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Sinhala civilization. It was the third capital of the kingdom of Rajarata, following the kingdoms of Tambapanni and Upatissa Nuwara. Anuradhapura came into prominence after Buddhism was introduced to the island in the 3rd century BC during the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa. He built the country's first stupa here, the Thuparama, which is said to house a relic of the Buddha - his right collarbone. King Tissa also arranged for the planting of the sacred Bo sapling brought to the country by Princess Sangamitta, daughter of Emperor Asoka of India. This is today the venerated Sri Maha Bodhi, considered the oldest living tree in the world.

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be the southern branch from the historical Sri Maha Bodhi at Buddha Gaya in India, under which Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment. The Sacred Bo tree, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya of Anuradhapura, is the oldest living tree in documented history. It is a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. It was planted in 288 BC and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. It was brought from Buddhagaya, India, by Ven. Sanghamitta Therini, sister of Arhant Mahinda, who introduced the teachings of the Buddha to Sri Lanka. The area around the Sri Maha Bodhi, the Brazen Palace, and Ruwanweliseya Dagoba were once probably part of the Great Temple. The Sacred Bodhi tree is the oldest historically authenticated tree in the world and has been tended by a continuous succession of guardians for over 2,000 years, even during periods of Indian occupation.

Overnight stay at an Anuradhapura hotel.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Transfer to Anuradhapura Heritage City
• First visit Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred fig tree in the Mahamewna Gardens
• Visit the Eight Great Places of Veneration in Anuradhapura
• Atamasthana: Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagaba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa, and Lankarama
• Visit Isurumuniya
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

Travel to Kandy, en route visiting the Dambulla Golden Rock Temple. Golden Rock is a cave temple dating back to the 1st century BC. The caves house the largest collection of Buddha statues in one place.

Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, is a World Heritage Site. A sacred pilgrimage site for 22 centuries, this cave monastery with its five sanctuaries is the largest and best-preserved cave-temple complex in Sri Lanka. The Buddhist mural paintings, covering an area of 2,100 m2, are of particular importance. The temple has five caves and 157 statues of the Lord Buddha, along with many paintings on the ceilings and walls that emphasize the artistic talent of ancient times. The history of the caves, rock, and temple dates from the 1st century BC. The fascination of these caves lies not only in the statues but also in the many intricate and delicate paintings that cover the ceiling and walls, created with indigenous traditional paints.

Because of its historical, archaeological, and artistic significance, the premises were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Situated in the central part of the country, the temple has been in use for over 22 centuries and still holds a sense of benevolence and spirituality. Visitors may climb the steps to the temple, and the view from the top of the rock is as inspiring as the temple's golden interior.

Overnight stay in Kandy.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

En route, visit the Dambulla Golden Rock Temple.

• Visit a spice garden
• Arrival at the Kandy hotel
• View from Kandy viewpoint
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the Kandy hotel

After breakfast, leave for Peradeniya Botanical Garden and visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic, followed by a city tour of Kandy.

Kandy, this sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings, whose patronage enabled Sinhala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the British occupation of Sri Lanka in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, a famous pilgrimage site. Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka, set on a plateau surrounded by mountains that are home to tea plantations and biodiverse rainforest. The city's heart is scenic Kandy Lake (Bogambara Lake), which is popular for strolling. Kandy is famed for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa), celebrated with the grand Esala Perahera annual procession. It is one of the most sacred places of worship in the Buddhist world and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Historically, local Buddhist rulers resisted Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial expansion and occupation.

Sri Dalada Maligawa, or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a World Heritage Site mainly due to the temple.

Peradeniya Botanical Garden was formally established in 1843 with plants brought from Kew Garden in London and encompasses a total area of 147 acres. Though the groundwork for the current gardens was laid in 1821 by Alexander Moon, the origins of the Botanic Gardens date back as far as 1371, when King Wickramabahu III ascended the throne and kept court at Peradeniya near the Mahaweli River. It was made more independent and expanded under George Gardner as superintendent in 1844, after which it was managed by several superintendents until it came under the Department of Agriculture in 1912.

The Royal Botanical Gardens of Peradeniya was also used as the South East Asian Headquarters of the Allied Forces during the Second World War. It was listed among the "10 great botanical gardens around the world" published by The Guardian in 2018. Big pergolas and wire arches are covered with glamorous climber plants with hard-to-pronounce names like Beaumontia and Saritaea, intertwined with the beautiful lilac-blue petraea, said to have grown more beautifully than in the Kew gardens themselves. A small and neat orchid house inside the gardens exhibits some of the best orchid species, and the entrance is decorated with beds of red Salvia coccinea and scarlet poinsettias. The main Broad Walk is lined with fine evergreen trees, beneath which are beds of the pretty "Prickly Bush" and "Blue Sky" flora. The National Herbarium of Sri Lanka, the leading institute for plant authentication in Sri Lanka, is also located inside the Peradeniya Gardens.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Kandy.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

Visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, including spice and orchid plants.

• Visit a spice garden and Kandy Tooth Relic Temple
• City tour of Kandy and a cultural show
• Walking tour around Bogambara Lake / Kandy Lake for nice views
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the Kandy hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, leave for Kandy Railway Station for your first train ride on this Sri Lanka rail tour. Your destination from Kandy by train will be Nanu Oya. During this ride, you can simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. From Nanu Oya, continue to Nuwara Eliya.

Visit Ramboda Waterfall, a tea factory, and a tea plantation.

Nuwara Eliya was founded by Samuel Baker, the explorer of Lake Albert and the upper Nile, in 1846. Nuwara Eliya's climate made it the prime sanctuary of British civil servants and planters in Ceylon. Called "Little England," it was a hill-country retreat where British colonialists could enjoy pastimes such as fox hunting, deer hunting, elephant hunting, polo, golf, and cricket. It is also known for some of the best Ceylon tea from the central hills of Sri Lanka.

The naturally landscaped town's attractions include the golf course, trout streams, Victoria Park, and boating or fishing on Lake Gregory. Hakgala Botanical Gardens is an attractive and well-used oasis displaying roses and tree ferns, and sheltering monkeys and blue magpies. Nearby Seetha Amman Temple, a colorful Hindu shrine, is decorated with religious figures. Densely forested Galway's Land National Park is a sanctuary for endemic and migratory bird species, including bulbuls and flycatchers. The area around Nuwara Eliya also has beautiful waterfalls such as Lovers Leap, Baker's Falls, St. Clair's Falls, Devon Falls, and Ramboda Falls.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Nuwara Eliya.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Leave from the Kandy hotel and travel by train from Kandy to Nanu Oya
• Arrival at 2:00 pm at Nanu Oya Railway Station and enjoy the scenic views

• An exciting tea-plucking experience, waterfall visits, city tour, and Victoria Park
• Visit Gregory Lake and Seetha Amman Temple
• Arrival at the hotel
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

Early in the morning, leave for Horton Plains and Nuwara Eliya. A tea factory visit is scheduled, where you can learn about the tea manufacturing process and take part in an exciting tea-plucking experience in the traditional way. Also visit Hakgala Botanical Garden and the city of Nuwara Eliya.

Horton Plains in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka was discovered by planter Thomas Farr in the early 19th century. In 1834 it was named Horton Plains in honor of Sir Robert Wilmot Horton, Governor of Ceylon from 1831 to 1837. In 1969, Horton Plains was declared a nature reserve, and in 1988 it was elevated to the status of a National Park. The gently rolling plateau at the southern end of the central montane massif is interspersed with a network of streams and channels. The montane forest is also the source of three major rivers of Sri Lanka: the Mahaweli, the longest river in Sri Lanka, the Walave, and the Kelani. Horton Plains is bounded by the country's second and third highest mountain peaks, Mount Kirigalpotta Kanda (2389 m) and Mount Thotupola Kanda (2357 m).

The escarpment with a depth of 900 meters called World's End, along with Baker's Falls, is one of the highlights of Horton Plains. It is the coldest and windiest location in Sri Lanka and consists of ecosystems such as montane evergreen forests, grasslands, marshy lands, and aquatic systems. At an altitude of 2,100 meters above sea level, Horton Plains spreads across over 3,169 hectares of the island's highest tableland. Due to its large number of endemic flora and fauna species, Horton Plains was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 30 July 2010. Horton Plains, its surrounding forests, and the adjoining Peak Wilderness form Sri Lanka's most important catchment area for almost all major rivers.

The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty and conservation importance, containing most of the habitats and endemic plants and animals representative of the country's wet and montane zones. The western slopes support the most extensive area of montane cloud forest surviving on the island. Horton Plains is not merely a destination for nature tourists. Since its rich biodiversity is still underexplored, it offers invaluable opportunities for educational and research activities. Protecting Horton Plains is a duty for all Sri Lankans.

Special consideration: Whenever you visit Horton Plains, always help keep it beautiful and protect nature.

Hakgala Botanical Garden is one of the five botanical gardens in Sri Lanka. The other four are Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Henarathgoda Botanical Garden, Mirijjawila Botanical Garden, and Seetawaka Botanical Garden. It is the second largest garden in Sri Lanka.

Overnight stay in Nuwara Eliya.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Early morning travel to Horton Plains and Baker's Falls
• En route visit to a strawberry farm
• Visit a tea factory
• Visit Hakgala Botanical Garden with many orchids
• Visit Lake Gregory and enjoy the cool weather
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Yala. En route, visit Ella. It is advisable to begin your day at the crack of dawn if you want to hike to Little Adam's Peak and get the best view at the Ella Gap. The Nine Arch Bridge is another attraction that you can visit in Ella.

Ella is a small town in the Badulla District of Uva Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an Urban Council. It is approximately 200 kilometres east of Colombo and is situated at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea level. The area has a rich biodiversity and is dense with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. Ella is surrounded by hills covered with cloud forests and tea plantations. The town has a cooler climate than the surrounding lowlands due to its elevation. The Ella Gap allows views across the southern plains of Sri Lanka.

Visit Ravana Falls. In the afternoon, continue to Tissamaharama. En route, visit a Hindu temple.

Overnight stay in Tissa.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Transfer to Yala, en route visiting Ella Gap and Nine Arch Bridge
• Enjoy scenic views in Ella
• Visit Little Adam's Peak and Flying Ravana Adventure Experience
• Visit Ravana Falls
• Arrival at the hotel

• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel

Upon reaching Yala, a jeep safari in Yala National Park is a must. Enjoy a full-day stay and game drive in Yala National Park.

Yala National Park is famous for the leopard, the country's most popular wild animal and truly one of the lords of the jungle. With a leopard density higher than anywhere else on the planet, these predators prowl majestically in Yala, while elephants roam in numbers and cautious deer move alongside them. Yala National Park is a huge area of forest, grassland, and lagoons bordering the Indian Ocean in southeast Sri Lanka. It is home to wildlife such as leopards, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as hundreds of bird species.

Inland, Yala National Park offers one of the best opportunities to witness Sri Lanka's broad variety of wildlife. Colorful painted storks are seen perched in groups along lagoon shores where crocodiles also rest. Lovely fan-tailed peacocks in resplendent blues and greens parade through the woods where monkeys hang, leap, and chatter. In the bush jungle are elephants, and crossing the tracks into the thorny scrub jungle is the park's star attraction: the leopard.

A total of 32 species of mammals have been recorded here. Threatened species include sloth bear, leopard, elephant, water buffalo, wild boar, spotted deer, sambar, and golden jackal. Sri Lankan leopards are said to be a distinct subspecies from their Indian neighbours. Leopards can be seen throughout the park, though the best period for sightings is from January to July.

Birdlife is also abundant, with around 130 species recorded. Raptors include the crested serpent eagle and white-bellied sea eagle. Among the water birds attracted to the lagoons are Lesser Flamingo, pelican, spoonbill, painted stork, rare black-necked stork, grey heron, purple heron, night heron, and darter. During the north-east monsoon, the lagoons are visited by thousands of migrating waterfowl, including pintail, garganey, Eurasian curlew, whimbrel, and turnstone, which mix with resident species such as whistling duck, Yellow-wattled Lapwing, Red-wattled Lapwing, and Great Stone Plover. The forest is home to Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, hornbills, and flycatchers, including the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, barbets, and orioles.

Reptiles found here include the Mugger Crocodile, abundant in abandoned tanks, the Estuarine Crocodile in the main rivers, and other reptiles such as cobra and Russell's viper. A variety of sea turtles, including Olive Ridley and Leatherback, nest along the Yala coastline.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Mirissa.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Early in the morning, leave for Yala National Park and enjoy a full-day game drive
• You will be able to enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch
• Transfer to the hotel in Mirissa, arriving in the evening
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

Early morning travel to Mirissa. In the morning, go for whale and dolphin watching. Enjoy an excursion for whales and dolphins, then spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach.

Mirissa is famed for some of the finest whale and dolphin sightings in the world. Take an exciting yet comfortable boat trip out to sea and, if fortunate, see Blue Whales, the largest creatures on earth, as well as Bryde's Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales, and Fin Whales. At times, you may also encounter pods of friendly dolphins such as Common dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spinner dolphins, Risso's dolphins, and striped dolphins as they playfully somersault and dance on the ocean waves. There is also a good chance of seeing flying fish, turtles, manta rays, and even sharks. Whale watching takes place between November and April each year and is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Overnight stay at Hikkaduwa Beach.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Transfer to Mirissa for a morning whale and dolphin watching excursion
• Visit Unawatuna and Wella Devalaya
• See the Weligama stilt fishermen in action
• Arrival at the hotel
• Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the beach
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, travel toward Hikkaduwa for a beach stay. En route, visit the Turtle Hatchery and stilt fishermen. Enjoy an excursion for a river safari at Maduganga, along with visits to a turtle farm, moonstone mine, and mask factory in the morning. The afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the beach.

Balapitiya is one of the most valuable biodiverse natural areas in southern Sri Lanka, located between Galle and the southern coast. Galle Fort, in the Bay of Galle on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese and then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological, and architectural heritage monument which, even after more than 432 years, maintains a polished appearance due to extensive reconstruction work by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. The heritage value of the fort has been recognized by UNESCO, and the site has been inscribed as a cultural World Heritage Site under criterion iv for its unique exposition of "an urban ensemble which illustrates the interaction of European architecture and South Asian traditions from the 16th to the 19th centuries."

Meetiyagoda, also spelt "Mitiyagoda," is situated only 4 km from the ocean and 10 km north of Hikkaduwa. Meetiyagoda is famous for its moonstone mines. Moonstone has been used in jewelry for millennia, including by ancient civilizations. The Romans admired moonstone, believing it was derived from solidified rays of the moon. Both the Romans and Greeks associated moonstone with their lunar deities. In more recent history, moonstone became popular during the Art Nouveau period, when French goldsmith René Lalique and many others created a large quantity of jewelry using this stone.

Madu Ganga is the second biggest wetland in Sri Lanka. The estuary spreads over 900 hectares, of which 770 hectares are covered with water, and includes 64 islands, 15 of them with larger landmass. Rich in biodiversity, the area surrounding the Madu River includes swampy marshlands covered in mangrove forests. It is also home to 300 species of plants and about 250 wildlife species.

Ambalangoda mask making is a popular tradition in Sri Lanka. Many Sri Lankan mask artisans ply their trade along the western, southwestern, and southern coasts of the island. Of these, the Ambalangoda area on the southwestern coast is renowned for its talented artisans. Ambalangoda is famed for its history, expertise in mask carving, and culture, and the best place to explore this tradition is the Ambalangoda Mask Workshop and Museum in Sri Lanka.

Ahungalla Turtle is the most commonly found turtle in Sri Lanka. These turtles are also found in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. Their English name refers to the colour of the fat found under their shells. Young Green Turtles are mainly carnivores, while adults are herbivores, feeding only on marine vegetation with the help of their finely serrated jaws. They grow to a maximum length of 1 metre and can weigh 250 kg. Adult females lay between 120 and 140 eggs at one time. Green Turtles are regularly found on the beach at night, and although they return only every few years, they lay several times in one season.

Overnight stay in Balapitiya.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Transfer to Balapitiya and Ambalangoda
• Madu River safari, moonstone mine, and turtle farm
• Cinnamon garden and cinnamon processing
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

Leave for Negombo in the morning. En route, enjoy a city tour in Colombo before continuing to Negombo.

Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital, is a port city on the western coast with a rich colonial heritage and a potpourri of races, religions, and cultures. Colombo displays both the best and the most contrasting sides of the country, with mansions, lush gardens, fine dining options, and shopping malls packed with expensive designer brands standing next to urban slums, diesel-fumed congested roads, and street markets. It is the financial center of the island and a major tourist destination.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, commonly known as Kotte, is the official administrative capital of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenepura as well as Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center. As Sri Lanka's economic hub, all major local and international corporations have a presence in the city, along with major designer and high-street retailers, making it a place for retail therapy in the Western Province. The Colombo metropolitan area has a population of 5.6 million, with 752,993 in the city proper.

Overnight stay in Negombo.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• En route visit Gangaramaya Temple
• See the first Parliament Building, now the President's Secretary Office in Sri Lanka
• Visit Galle Face Green, Dutch Hospital, and Bank of Ceylon Twin Towers
• Arrival at the Negombo hotel and relax on the beach
• Evening planning for the next day's activities with the tour guide
• Relax at the hotel
• Overnight stay at the hotel

After breakfast, leave the hotel for Colombo BIA. On the last day of the tour, proceed to Colombo Airport in time for your departure flight.

Plan for tour itinerary activities:

• Transfer to the airport
• Travel via the express highway to the airport
• End of tour