A typical 10 day excursion of Sri Lanka out of Colombo

Stopping 9 nights at villas, bungalows
and small boutique hotels

Day 1 Arrive Colombo, Sri Lanka's Commercial Capital:

Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport Colombo's nearest airport, meet your local transfer agent for assisted passage to your Colombo hotel or bungalow.
Evening - Commence an escorted sightseeing tour around Colombo. Visit Pettah, a busy commercial area, visit a Hindu temple, cinnamon gardens and Colombo's residential area. Drive through the old capital centre; past the Town Hall, Independence square and International Convention Centre.
Afterwards return to your Colombo bungalow or hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2 Colombo to Sigiriya via Polonnaruwa visit:

Breakfast at the Colombo hotel or bungalow.
After breakfast leave for Polonnaruwa. Your journey will take us through some of Sri Lanka’s most scenic countryside. At Polonnaruwa commence a guided sightseeing tour. Polonnaruwa was one of the old capital cities from the 11th to the 13th century AD. See the ruins of the Audience Hall, Council Chamber, The Royal Citadel, The Kumara Pokuna, Royal Pavilion, Siva Dewale, The Thuparama, The Vatadage Relic House, Kiriwehera, Gal Vihare, With some of the most impressive sculptures & the reservoirs hewn out of the solid rock.
Leave Polonnaruwa to your bungalow or boutique hotel in Sigiriya for overnight stay.

Day 3 Visit Sigiriya Rock and travel to Kandy:

Breakfast at the bungalow or boutique hotel in Sigiriya.
After breakfast climb the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, built by the King Kassapa in the 5th century A.D., Sigiriya Rock was a Royal Citadel for more than 18 years. The lion rock is a citadel of exceptional beauty, rising about 200m from the jungle. The base of the rock is circled by a moat, ramparts and extensive gardens including the renowned Sigiriya water gardens. Observe the world famous Sigiriya Rock frescoes, some known as the “Heavenly maidens” of Sigiriya in a sheltered area of the rock.
Continue to drive up-country to Kandy.
En route visit a Ceylon Spice Garden and Sri Lankan Batik Factory.
On arrival in Kandy after check in at your hotel, visit the Temple Of Tooth, Kandy, home of the holy relic of the Lord Buddha, and continue to the venue where a Sri Lankan cultural pageant event takes place. Witness this colourful and entertaining event as well as a demonstration of fire walking!
Overnight stay at your Kandy hotel.

Day 4 In and around Kandy:

Breakfast at your Kandy hotel.
After breakfast commence an escorted sightseeing tour in Kandy.

Drive past picturesque premises and visit the Market Place in Kandy as well as a Sri Lankan arts & crafts show room.
Drive along the Upper Lake Road for a great panoramic view of the Kandy Lake and surrounding area.
Visit the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, with its collection of rare tropical, exotic and indigenous flora. As well as the famous Orchid House.
Return to your Kandy hotel.
Rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight in your Hotel in Kandy.

Day 5 Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and Nuwara Eliya:

Breakfast at the boutique hotel in Kandy.
Leave for Pinnawela and visit Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage near Kegalle. Here you can see the baby elephants and youngsters being fed. After feeding escort them on foot to the nearby river for their morning bath.
Leave for Nuwara Eliya.
En route visit a Ceylon Tea Factory on a working Sri Lanka Tea Estate. At the tea factory follow the process of making Ceylon Tea from plucking of the green leaves to packaging of the tea, mainly meant for the export market.
Upon arrival in Nuwara Eliya commence an escorted sightseeing tour.
Visit the Nuwara Eliya Town, Market place, Golf Course, The Hill Club, and drive around the old British colonial 'hill station' eventually taking in a view of Lake Gregory.
Overnight in a Nuwara Eliya hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation Bungalow.

Day 6 Nuwara Eliya, Tour the Horton Plains:

Early morning leave the bungalow with picnic breakfast for an excursion to Horton Plains by private jeep.
Horton plains is a protected nature reserve, the highest plateau in Sri Lanka.
Nature lovers will love this wide, Patna-grass covered plain, the home of several wild yet harmless animals and the home for many species of birds.
Bridal paths through the plains will take you to the 'lover's leap' precipice, popularly referred to as 'Worlds End', a sheer drop of over 1000m.
The view when it is clear of mist is magnificent. Also visit Baker’s falls in the Horton plains.
Return to your Nuwara Eliya hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation Bungalow.
At your leisure in the afternoon.
Overnight in a Nuwara Eliya hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation Bungalow.

Day 7 Nuwara Eliya to Haputhale by narrow guage train:

After breakfast at the Nuwara Eliya hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation bungalow.
Leave for the railway station to catch the train to Haputhale.
After ending the picturesque train trip take an escorted drive through Haputhale.
Afterwards drive to your Haputhale hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation bungalow.
The rest of the day at your leisure.
Overnight in the Haputhale hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation bungalow.

Day 8 Haputhale to Bentota:

Breakfast at your Haputhale hotel, guest house or Tea Plantation bungalow.
Leave for Bentota.
En route stop at Uda Walawe for an escorted jeep safari at Uda Walawe National Park. The park offers a refuge to migratory elephants and herds as large as 200 animals have been seen in the park and as wild habitat around it has been lost to cultivation, it has also become a haven for many other animals, including toque monkey, grey langur, spotted deer, wild pig, leopard and sambur.
Uda Walawe is also one of the best Sri Lankan national parks for bird watching; the endemic species of bird called Red Faced Maloha has its favorite habitat in the 192 square km parkland, Serpent Eagles, Black Capped Bulbuls, Racket Tailed Drongos, Malabar Pied Horn Bills, As many as 100 bird species may be spotted here in a single day. Uda Walawe is particularly rich in raptor species, among them white-bellied sea eagle, crested serpent eagle and changeable hawk eagle.
After finishing the Uda Walawe jeep safari continue to drive to Bentota for your Sri Lanka beach stay.
Upon arrival in Bentota check in your hotel.
Overnight at a Bentota hotel or guesthouse.

Day 9 At Your Leisure in Bentota, Sri Lanka:

Breakfast Bentota hotel or guesthouse.
Rest of the day at your leisure on the beach or take a sea fishing trip, go snorkeling or go shopping!
Overnight at a Bentota hotel or guesthouse.

 

Day 10 Bentota:

Breakfast at your Bentota hotel or guesthouse.
After breakfast leave for Bandaranaike International Airport for your departure flight.