Compare Sri Lanka: North to South by Myths and Mountains vs Walking Trails of Sri Lanka by Exodus Travels

Day 01: Arrive Colombo. Drive Maniumpathy House. Evening Tour And Welcome  Dinner

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Maniumpathy – Deluxe Room

Upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport you will be greeted with ”Ayubowan,” and assisted by our  Airport Representative through passport control, customs, baggage collection and money changers, all the way to  the Silk Route arrival lounge, where our airport manager will meet you, address any last minute questions you  have about the itinerary and introduce you to your guide, who will be your travel companion as you explore  around Sri Lanka.

Afterwards you have a short drive on the Airport – Colombo expressway, reaching the charming Maniumpathy House, located in the heart of  Colombo. Maniumpathy is a stately house, home to five generations of a family originating in Jaffna. During  its history spanning over a century, the house has evolved at the hands of the different members of the family who have lived there. The most recent owners have renovated maniumpathy, transforming it into a boutique hotel, with the intention of immersing its guests in an atmosphere reminiscent of the moods and pursuits of the people who have lived within its walls in time past. As such, the curious visitor can relive these experiences, enjoying a unique perspective of past Sri Lankan culture.

The colonial structure that existed has been remodeled over time, creating the unique character of the house today. Each room is named after a woman from a different generation of the family.

In the cool of the evening, you can walk around the area, exploring the Colombo Museum, Victoria Park and Independence Square.

Afterwards, around 8PM, you have a welcome dinner at The Tintagel, the ancestral house of the first lady prime minister in the world, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranyake.

Day 2: Fly Jaffna (0730/0930)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Thinnai – Superior Suite

This morning with a packed snack into, you drive to Ratmalana airport, about 45 minutes south of Colombo, for your flight to Jaffna in the North of Sri Lanka. The scenic flight takes approximately 2 hours.

Jaffna, one of the northern most towns in Sri Lanka, is also one of the most fascinating, variying dramatically from the rest of the country. Typical Jaffna scenes include people bicycling with bananas and firewood on the back of their bicycles and majestic old houses adorned with carved roundels, grand porches and beautiful doors and windows.

On arrival, you meet your vehicle and driver, head to your hotel and leave your luggage. About 10 AM, with a cook from the Kattumaran Bungalow,  you head to the market to buy groceries, a stack of mutton and fresh crab fished just off the coast. While shopping, you see the locals whizzing by on scooters or moving along on push cycles – typical morning rush time. Yur next stop is at the Kattumaran Bungalow for a hands on cooking demonstration with their local cook. Today you will be cooking a typical Jaffna style meal.

The demo begins with prepping all the ingredients, meats and vegetables that will be used today. Then the fun begins. You join the chef in adding colour and spice to the dishes. The outcome; a colourful explosion of mouthQwatering delights. Then you sit down with the cook, your guide and enjoy the freshly prepared meal with a hearty conversation and of course with the local specialty brew, Palmyra Toddy. After the meal, in the heat of the afternoon, you head back to the hotel for a quick shower or rest.

About 4 PM, you visit the historic Nallur Kovil in time for the 4:30 poojah, and receive a traditional Hindu blessing. You can join with the locals in performing the worshipping rituals Q offering a basket of fruits to the Hindu deities and slamming a coconut on a rock, making a wish and hoping that it would be granted.

Story has it that the original kovil which was erected in the 15th century was destroyed during the Dutch invasion and the present structure was built in the 17th century. Note that  men will need to be shirtless when entering the kovil. Then you visit the Jaffna Public Library, which was the only building spared during the 30 yearlong civil war in Sri Lanka. Next you head to the historic Portuguese Fort of Jaffna to learn more about the colonial occupation in the North. Hopefully youcan witness a nice sunset over the causeways and the prawn farms on the Jaffna lagoon.

Due to numerous miracles attributed to the statue of Virgin Mary in the church inside the fort, Jaffna Fort was named the Fortress of Our Lady of Miracles of Jafanapatão. It was captured by the Dutch; and later, by the British, remaining under control of the British till 1948.

The only large military fort in the country boasting government and military buildings within the ramparts, it was garrisoned by a detachment of the Sri Lanka Army. Although the colonial architectural aspects are still present, signs of the long civil war in the area are prominently visible, on the fort walls and structures.

You end the day with Karthakolomban Ice Cream, a specialty in Jaffna, at the infamous Rio Ice Cream Parlour.

Day 3: Boat To Delft Island To See Pastor David. Dinner With Aristocrat In Jaffna

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Thinnai – Superior Suite

Today after breakfast, you drive you along the causeway to board a private chartered boat to Delft Island, off the Jaffna peninsula. Your host for the day is Pastor David Jeshagasham Tavidu, who originally hails from Sri Lanka’s tea country. Having made his home at Delft, Pastor David will show you around this remote island, allowing you to take in the sights of the old Delft Fort, an ancient baobab tree and how Palmyra toddy and crafts are made with local farmers. End the day with a simple lunch with Pastor David and his wife at their humble home. Before leaving Delft, a swim after lunch at the beach not far from Pastor David’s house offers one of the most relaxed  and non-touristic encounters you will have on this journey. The beach is not developed, and has a calm and gentle sea. Your guide can organize cold drinks and fresh towels for you.

You return to the Jaffna Jetty by 3 PM and drive back to the hotel. Before the dreadful civil war Jaffna used to be a flourishing city, full of aristocratic families living in large mansions and holding massive social gatherings reminiscent of those in The Great Gatsby. Tonight, you meet one  such aristocrat, who will paint an image of the glory days of Jaffna, the dark era of the war and the city’s  transformational development, post war. You have a chat with him over dinner this evening about 7PM.

Day 4: Drive Tirappone (3.5 Hrs.) Evening Visit To Anuradhapura

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Ulagalla Resort – Uga Chalet

Your path around the island leads you today to the North  Central part of Sri Lanka, and the village of Tirappone. On arrival, you will check into the Ulagalla Hotel and have some lunch. Once the ancestral estate of local Anuradhapura nobility,  the Ulagalla in Anuradhapura features a 150 year old mansion at its center, with 20 private ecologicallyQbuilt villas spread across 58 acres of lush greenery. As one Of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World”, with its own solar farm generating half of its own energy requirements, Ulagalla is truly a unique boutique hotel.

If time permits, you might want to indulge in some of the inQhouse activities, such as a nature walk or jungle kayaking session.

Avoiding the heat of the day, you explore the roots of Sri Lanka history, culture and heritage in the ancient city of Anuradhapura by night. Ancient cities don’t get much bigger than Anuradhapura, and also outlast mammoth kingdoms such as Egypt and Rome Dating back to the fourth century BC, Anuradhapura was the spiritual and academic capital of the island for well over a millennium. At its height, the city was dotted with monasteries, used as educations centers and home to over 10,000 monks. Many of these monasteries and colossal dagobas can still be seen today.

Furthermore, Anuradhapura was also the home to the Sri Lankan dynasty prevailing at that time. Among the ruins, ancient palaces, pleasure gardens, meeting rooms and bathing ponds still remain visible. The story of Anuradhapura can be mystic at times, and visitors to the sacred site have been said to feel a stillness in time. Anuradhapura consists of more than a dozen archaeological sites, spread across a considerable area. Typically, one moves around from site to site either by bike or inside a vehicle. The most significant sites are the three largest man made stupas in Sri Lanka, which were – at the time of the pyramids of Egypt – the second largest man made structures in the world Intriguingly the points of these stupas point to the Orion’s Belt, just as the pyramids of Egypt do.

The Sri Maha Bodhi, is a Sacred Fig Tree, said to be the southern branch from the tree under which lord Buddha was enlightened.

Day 5: Meeting With Monks. Almsgiving. Explore Ritigala. Sunset At Sigiriya

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Ulagalla Resort – Uga Chalet

Today morning we proceed onwards to learn about spirituality and give a local almsgiving at the Ritigala Monastery at 10 AM, with a Buddhist blessing by the monks. As per local tradition the alms giving needs to be performed before 11 AM. Before the alms giving we sit down to have a brief chat with the monks to learn more about their story in  embracing monkhood. Then we join in the with the locals and present the cooked meals (alms) to the monks.

As a sign of gratitude the monks will then endow a Buddhist blessing to those who are present. After this we  proceed to explore the archaeological site of Ritigala.

Ritigala has an important place in mythology as the spot from which Hanuman (the monkey god) leapt to India to tell Rama that he had discovered where Sita was being held by the king of Lanka. Mythology also offers an explanation for the abundance of healing herbs and plants found in Ritigala. It is said that Hanuman, on his way back to Lanka with healing Himalayan herbs for Rama’s wounded brother, dropped some over Ritigala.

Deep inside the Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, off the Anuradhapura–Habarana road, are the partially restored  ruins of an extensive monastic and cave complex. Monks  found Ritigala’s caves ideal for an ascetic existence, and  more than 70 such caves have been discovered. Royals  proved generous patrons, especially King Sena I, who in the 9th century made an endowment of a monastery to the monks. Ritigala was abandoned following the Chola invasions in the 10th and 11^th centuries, after which it lay deserted and largely forgotten until it was rediscovered by British surveyors in the 19th century. It was explored and mapped by HCP Bell in 1893. Due to the rough terrain, you will traverse Ritigala in a 4x4 Jeep There is a really good chance for you to spot wild elephants in the sanctuary.

After exploring Ritagala, you retreat back to the Ulagalla Resort for lunch. After lunch you drive to the city of Sigirya and to enjoy the magnificent Sigirya Rock Fortress by sunset. You will be served with wet towels and fresh fruits once you are back at the base of the rock. Sigiriya was built on top of a huge boulder in the 5th Century. The large stone and ancient rock fortress and palace ruins were rediscovered during the rule of the British in 1831. The first westerners to climb Sigiriya were A.H. Adams and J. Bailey in 1853. Sigiriya, being a fortress, was well designed for its defenses by having ramparts and moats built around it. There are several approaches to the inner city, and the most prominent is the Western entrance. From the summit of the rock, at almost 650 feet, a vantage point of over dozens of miles gave the occupants of the citadel a crucial line of defense and made it very hard for the enemy to make a surprise attack on the kingdom. Hieroglyphs from Sigiriya suggest that the site was occupied from very early times, long before its fortress was built from 477Q 485 AD. When the citadel ceased to be a palace, it was taken over by monks until 1155 and then abandoned. The palaces and famous frescos more than make up for the steep climb up 600 steps. Before starting the climb, you pass through 5th century water gardens with walks, pavilions, ponds and fountains that are gravity fed, as they were 1500 years ago. At the foot of the climb are the preaching rocks and the natural overhang is known as Cobra Hood. The rock has an inscription from the 2nd century BC and the ceiling is decorated with floral paintings. The first stop on the climb is the Fresco Gallery, painted under an overhanging rock. Of the original 300 or so paintings, artistically on a par with those in Ajanta in western India, only 21 remain. Immediately beyond is the mirror hall, a highly polished rock with verses written between the 7th and 11th century by visitors and pilgrims. Lion Terrace marks the halfQway point of the climb and the final stairway takes you to the top of the rock and the ruins of the summer palace.

Check into your hotel and unwind.

Day 6: Optional Visit To Dambulla. Drive Kandy (3.5 Jrs). Evening Visit To Kandy  And Temple Of The Tooth.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kandy House – Deluxe Room

If you are not too “templed out,” you can stop at the Dambulla rock temple, given World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1991. The caves served as the refuge for King Valagambahu when he was in exile for 14 years. When he regained his throne at Anuradhapura in the first century BC, he had a magnificent rock temple built at Dambulla. The paintings and sculptures in the cave are a mix of religious and secular themes. There are several reclining Buddha’s, including a sculpture of the dying Buddha. The frescoes, which decorated the ceilings and walls, date from the 15th to 18th century and show scenes from the life of Buddha as well as Sinhalese history. Cave 2 is the largest, with over 150 statues, illustrating the Mahayana influence on Buddhism through the introduction  of Hindu deities such as Vishnu and Ganesh. From Dambulla you travel to Kandy known for its mild  climate, colonial architecture and amazing Perahera festival  that is held here in July/August for 10 Nights. The festival involves a vibrant, colorful procession of sacred Buddhist  relics through the streets of Kandy accompanied by dancers, musicians, artists and 100+ elephants. Kandy is also home to  the Temple of the Tooth, the most sacred in Sri Lanka. Your hotel for the night, assuming there is space, is the Kandy House, a beautiful example of luxury Kandy hotels and resorts. This ancestral manor house was built in 1804 and its rich history and exquisite restoration, with nine rooms to choose from. Enjoy your stay at this Kandy hotel the aim is to give guests an experience of staying more in a private house.

In the evening you do a slow stroll of the Kandy City with a local guide, ending up at the sacred Temple of the Tooth. During the walk you will learn about the conservative culture and lifestyle of the Kandyans, as well their strong devotion to Buddhism.  The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is located in the royal palace complex of Kandy, and houses the tooth relic of the Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics.  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 UNESCO World Heritage. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings.

On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with a herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers  and is distributed among those present.

Day 7: Learn About Kandyan Dance. Lunch With Expert On Kandy And Kingdom.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Kandy House – Deluxe Room

After breakfast, you drive to the hidden kingdom of Gampola, filled with mystery and history. Your first stop at 9AM is the home of Master Ruwan, a guru of the ancient Kandyan art of dancing and drumming.

According to the legend, the origins of Kandyan dance lie in an exorcism ritual known as the Kohomba Kankariya, which was originally performed by Indian shamans who came to the island. The original dancers were identified as a separate caste under the Kandyan Feudal system and aligned to the Temple of the Tooth. These dancers had a significant role to play in the Dalada  Perahera (procession) held each year by the temple. During the British period, when Kandyan kings were no more, the dance waned in popularity. It has now been revived, adapted for the stage, and is Sri Lanka’s primary cultural export. Traditional Kandyan dances include the cobra dance, mask  dance and the Ginisila (showing power over fire). The entire frenetic and colourful spectacle climaxes with an amazing fireQwalking act. The dancers wear elaborate costumes,  including a headdress, their chests only covered by a decorative beaded net. The Kandyan Dance is traditionally performed to percussion only. The most common drums are the ‘Geta Beraya’ and ‘Yak Beraya’. To assist the dancer to keep rhythm a small pair of cymbals is also used as well as conch shell to announce the arrival of the dancers and the climax of the dance. The drummers also have lyrics that are sung in tune with the movements of the dancer.

This experience is very engaging as our local dancing master will teach you the basics of dancing and  drumming, if you are interested, and perhaps try on the traditional Kandyan dancing attire. After this experience you have the option of quickly exploring three hidden temples in the artsy era of Gampola. At noon you meet Jacques Soulié to talk about the Kandy and Gampola kingdoms, over lunch. Today an ancient house of a village chief has been transformed into a functional art center, with all the facilities needed for the purpose. At the same time, architects keept intact all the historical aspects of this DutchQstyle architecture dating back to the 18th century. The vast collection of the center reflects the interests of its founder, Jacques Soulié, and includes traditional furniture, art items, antique books, manuscripts, photographs, and post cards blending two cultures, Sri Lankan and French. The evening is free to explore on your own.

Day 8: Train From Peradeniya To Hatton (1115/1340). Drive Tea Trails. Evening To Wander.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Tea Trails, Hatton. Summerville Bungalow

You have taken boats and cars. Now it is time for one of Asia’s most scenic rides, the trip from Peradeniya to Hatton (1115/1340). Your driver will drop you off at the railway station at 10.30 AM and take a head start towards Hatton and meet you there with your big suitcases. Your National Guide will travel with you.

This is one of the most scenic train rides in Asia. The dramatic landscape of the highlands stirs the senses as you wind past lush tea plantations, majestic peaks and rushing waterfalls. The Sri Lanka Railways, the government railway network, was first started in 1864 during the colonial period. There are old trains and new trains, and then there is the “observation class,” 1st class and 2nd class. With Observation class and 1st class don’t expect white gloves and silver service. The train wobbles a little so be careful when moving around, hold on to the rails. That said, the train ride is fabulous in that it is an everyday experience for Sri Lankans of all walks of life, and a place where you can connect with the locals.

On arrival, you head to the lovely Summerville Bungalow of Tea Trails and spend the evening at leisure. High above the lake at the edge of a tea plantation, Summerville stands sentinel.  This four room bungalow enjoys magnificent views of the water and beyond to tea planted mountains in the distance. Some suites open to private gardens and all accommodations have easy access to the cozy lounge where picture windows provide a backdrop to a roaring fire as the evening mist draws in. Summerville offers individual accommodation or the entire bungalow can be booked for a group to enjoy the very personal atmosphere of this great house.

Day 9: Visit Tea Factory. Afternoon To Visit Plantation, Village Trek, Hike Or Boat On Reservoir

Directly and indirectly, over one million Sri Lankans are employed in the tea industry. A large proportion of the workforce are young women and the minimum working age is twelve. As tea plantations grew in Sri Lanka and demanded extensive labour, finding an abundant workforce  was a problem for planters. Sinhalese people were reluctant to work in the plantations. Indian Tamils were brought to Sri Lanka at the beginning of the coffee plantations. Immigration of Indian Tamils steadily increased and by 1855 there were 55,000 new immigrants. By the end of the coffee  era there were some 100,000 in Sri Lanka. Today, as a community, they remain instrumental to the Tea Industry.

This morning, you will visit a tea factory. After leaving the factory, you have a choice of a variety of activites you can do with your guide.

-          Explore Warleigh Church.

-          Treks and Bike Rides around the tea country.

-          Visit a local tea planters village and a Hindu Kovil, to witness a worship.

-          If the water levels are good take a boat ride on the Castlereagh Reservoir.

Day 10: 3½ Hour Drive To Galle. Late Afternion Visit By Boat And Bike Or Tuk Tuk To  Local Village For A Light Dinner.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Rampart Street Villa – Pool Suite

After breakfast today, drive southward. Along the way, you witness the landscape change from lush green  valleys to sandy beaches rich with coconut trees. Arriving in the historic city of Galle, you check in at the Rampart Villa, located inside the iconic Dutch Galle Fort, in time for a late lunch..  Long before the Galle Fort was universally acknowledged as a national treasure, there were some properties within these storied ramparts that were special enough to spark the imagination and birth a vision. This villa in Galle is one such catalyst, the first to be bought by a foreigner in the post colonial era and one of the very first to be styled and restored into an intimate, luxurious villa,

About 3PM you head out to a traditional village in Galle. Meeting by the Jetwing Light House Hotel, you begin with a boat ride along the Kapu Ela river, accompanied by a local naturalist.

Floating along, observe egrets hunting for fish, eagles looking for prey, water monitors sun bathing on the banks and rare purple faced monkeys crashing through the tree  canopies. As you pass, you can watch village life on either side of the river. Disembark at a coconut husk processing plant and change your mode of transport to two wheels, embarking on a cycle ride through the paddy fields. You can bike a short 51/2Qmile or a 9Qmile loop from the river bank, to the midst of a local dwelling.

Pass through stunning landscapes and scenery at your own pace, following your knowledgeable guides. All bicycles are lightweight mountain bikes. Helmets, water and refreshments on route are provided and a support  vehicle follows at all time. Arriving at a local home, you can sit back and watch a local village lady prepare and cook traditional Sri Lankan hoppers.

Learn how it is done and then enjoy the chance to taste the scrumptious food straight off the fire. The perfect end  to this rustic tour.

Day 11: Tour Fort With Local Host. Visit Cinnamon Plantation. Bike/Drive To  Beaches For Stilt Fishermen Or Visit Virgin Tea Plantation.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rampart Street Villa – Pool Suite

This morning, around 9, you have the chance to explore the secrets, magic and mystery of the  colonial fortress of Galle with an eccentric local host.

Your host is a former advertising executive from Colombo. A year ago, he decided to quit the advertising world and delved straight into the stories that make Galle less a fort and more a home for thousands. Today, he is leads curious tourists into one of Sri Lankats most beloved UNESCO World Heritage Sites,.

The interactive tour blends history, colonial culture, life, comedy, and thought provoking stories. You can find out how a fruit brought down from the Amazon has taken its rightful place on the Sri Lankan food menu. Learn about Hanuman, the monkey God, and his connection to the fort. Your host also gives the perfect recommendations for the best meals or great shpping. Just ask. The more you interact with him the more you will get to know, not only about the fort but about Sri Lanka as a country.

In the afternoon, you can wander on your own or do some additional activities around the area. Ask your guide to organize any of the below that appeal.

-          Visit a Cinnamon Plantation with a resident host.

-          Bike ride from Wijaya Beach to Kahanda Kanda with Idle Bikes.

-          Visit the virgin tea plantation with a local host.

-          Stilt fisherman.

Day 12: Explore Kannellya Rainforest. Late Afternoon At Leaisure With Beach Options.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Rampart Street Villa – Pool Suite

The morning is an opportunity to explore the Kanneliya rainforest with lunch. Kannellya is Sri Lanka’s lesser known forest reserve, with two of Sri Lanka’s main rivers running through it and a diverse range of wildlife living within its thick canopy. Neatly tucked away just 21 miles away from Galle, the forest reserve also houses around 78 villages.

Your tracker is from one of these forest reserve villages and has spent his entire lifetime living within the reserve. He will walk you through the forest, pointing out any animal sightings along the way. Expect to see plenty of birdlife, perhaps a few monkeys, some unique bugs and creepy crawlies, and maybe even some snakes. The rainforest provides a lush habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. If you’re feeling adventurous you can even crawl through a cave underneath the rainforest floor Stop for a drink and a piece of cake along the way at a beautiful waterfall. Finish the walk with a hearty authentic Sri Lankan lunch of rice and curry, cooked by your tracker’s wife in their nearby home and served on a table inside one of the large lakes running through the forest. The scenery in the area is straight out of the “Jungle Book.” In the event of rain the lunch will be served at a nearby home overlooking the lake, with a rope swing in the garden leading on to the lake that will provide endless fun for children.

After lunch, you return to Rampart Villa and have free time. If you wish, you can visit the beaches of Unwatuna for a nice relaxed evening. Wijaya Beach Restaurant comes highly recommended.

Day 13: Drive Colombo. Late Afternoon Walk Through The City With Local Expert. Farewell Dinner

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Galle Face Hotel – Premier Room

After a lazy breakfast, you travel to Colombo, about a 1Q½ hour drive. Along the way, stop to visit Lunuganga, Geoffrey Bawa’s fascinating old country home. Lunuganga is situated approximately 30 minutes from Galle, in the area of Bentota. Created over several decades by the  ‘father of Asian architecture’, the late Geoffrey Bawa, this beautiful 15Qacre estate, was fashioned by Bawa into a place of extraordinary beauty. Geoffrey Bawa was Sri Lanka’s most  prolific and influential architects and his work has had a tremendous impact upon architecture throughout Asia and is  unanimously acclaimed by connoisseurs of architecture worldwide.

Lunuganga is his tropical vision of an Italian Renaissance  garden bordered on two sides by the Deduwa Lake. Featuring  rolling lawns, terraces and pavilions set out like a series of  spacious outdoor rooms, whose position has been  carefully chosen to exploit the fabulous vistas over the lake, tropical jungle and paddy fields. Statues, pavilions, courtyards and lily ponds provide much interest as they  flank secret pathways that link gardens characterized by  majestic banyans, silvery rubber trees and ageing frangipani. Leaving Lunuganga, you continue on to Colombo, the largest city of Sri Lanka, located on the west coast of the island. Colombo is a busy and vibrant city with a mixture of modern life and colonial buildings and ruins and a opulation of 647,100. Due to its large harbor and its strategic position along the East West sea trade routes, Colombo was well known  by ancient traders over 2,000 years ago. When Sri Lanka was ceded to the British Empire in 1815, Colombo  became the capital of the island, and maintained its position as capital after independence in 1948.

On arrival, you check in at the colonial, Galle Face Hotel.

Sri Lanka’s iconic landmark, the Galle Face Hotel, is situated in the heart of Colombo, along the seafront and facing the famous Galle Face Green. No visit to Sri Lanka is complete without staying at this majestic hotel, built in 1864 and recently restored back to its former glory.

At 5 PM, get ready for a fun and informative day with Mark Forbes, on a short walk of the Colombo Fort and Pettah area. Mark will pick you up from your hotel in his jeep and  take you to the Dutch Hospital where the walk begins. Emphasis is on photography, architecture and history in two stages; stage one covers the Fort while stage two covers the Pettah markets.  There will be a a break for tea and stops along the way to sample street food. You end at the Old Dutch Hospital. Tonight you have a very special farewell dinner at Kaema Sutra.

Day 14: Transfer To The Airport For The Flight Out.

Meals: Breakfast (If Time)

Day 1 Start Dambulla

The group flight arrives at Colombo's Katunayake Airport and we transfer to our hotel at Dambulla (100mi/160km, four hours' drive). Those not flying with the group can meet us at the hotel or the airport in time for the transfer. Please be aware, if you are meeting the group at the airport for a transfer you might need to purchase a ticket outside to enter the arrivals hall. We make our way to the hotel in Dambulla (100mi/160km, four hours’ drive). Accommodation: Pelwehera Village Resort (or similar)

Day 2 Visit Dambulla Caves, village walk towards Sigiriya; afternoon visit to Lion Rock fortress

After breakfast, we visit the magnificent Cave Temple at Dambulla, one of the most impressive sights in Sri Lanka. There are colourful, well-preserved paintings and statues of Buddha inside, dating to the first century BCE. We then have a short, gentle, warm-up walk through villages and rice paddies and on towards Sigiriya, where we have lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the imposing fifth-century rock fortress, which rises 590ft (180m) from the plains overlooking the countryside with far-reaching views. The route to the top is up a series of steep steps and gangways. From the base, where a moat surrounds impressive water gardens, we ascend 655ft (200m) and pass an overhanging rock, under which superb portraits of indigenous maidens holding flowers and temple offerings still adorn the walls. Crowning the flat-topped summit are extensive remains of the King's Summer Palace from where there are breath-taking views of the countryside. The descent is much easier and we have a final 35-minute drive back to our hotel in Dambulla. Accommodation: Pelwehera Village Resort (or similar)

Day 3 Drive to Illukkumbura; walk the Manigala Trail in the Knuckles Mountain Range

The next two days takes us across the Knuckles Mountain Range. We start early with a three-hour drive to the start of our walk, where we begin with an easy descent past paddies and through the villages of Pitawala Patana and Etanwala. Descending to the river, we cross a small bridge and climb up through more farmland. Finally, emerging at the top of an escarpment, we are rewarded with great views of the countryside. An easy trail takes us along the escarpment to Manigala Top at 3,660ft (1,115m), the high point of today. Next, we descend to the Mahalakotuwa village area, which leads to the main road and then it’s a 20-minute walk to our campsite by the river where we can bathe in the cool, refreshing water. Accommodation: Camping at Knuckles with Eco Team (or similar) (Occasionally, we use an alternative campsite due to high water levels, which is about 40 minutes’ drive from Illikumbura).

Day 4 Walk through forests to Meemure; transfer to Orutota

We begin with a half-hour drive to the Narangamuwa Temple at Ranamuregama. Starting our walk, we pass paddies and coconut groves before we enter a heavily forested area. The trail climbs gently for an hour and then levels out before undulating though this lush forest. The only sound we can hear is the birdsong around us. Emerging from the forest in the village of Meemure, make sure to look back for a spectacular view of the Lakegala peaks. Passing farms growing pepper and other spices, we come to a small tea shop where we have lunch. After, we take a truck or rickshaws for a bumpy 90-minute ride to Corbett’s Gap, a much-loved viewpoint. Our bus meets us here for the 1hr 30min drive to our hotel at Orutota overlooking the Victoria Reservoir. Accommodation: Oruthota Chalets (or similar)

Day 5 To Kandy; visit the Temple of the Tooth

We enjoy a relaxing morning in the hotel garden and pool. Mid-morning, we have an 11mi (18km) drive to Kandy and the afternoon to explore. The town is located around a small lake and we can walk round to look for water birds and large water monitors. Later, we visit the Temple of the Tooth, which houses the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka, the Tooth of Buddha, which was taken from the funeral pyre in India in 543 BCE and found its way to Sri Lanka in the fourth century. Hundreds of worshippers visit the temple each day and in July/August the most spectacular ceremony takes place. Accommodation: Hotel Suisse (or similar)

Day 6 - 7 Ascend Adam’s Peak

This morning, we drive to Dickoya (three hours), where we stay for two nights in a simple summer house with a wonderful view of the Castlereagh Reservoir. On a clear day, we can see the outline of Adam’s Peak in the distance. In the pilgrim season (December to May), we have the day to relax or you can take a walk around the lake (approximately 3.7mi/6km). We leave around midnight for the walk up Adam’s Peak (approximately 8.7mi/14km). This will take around four hours and we should reach the top with the many pilgrims at sunrise. In the off season (May to November), we spend the first day at Dickoya and can walk around the lake and we climb Adam’s Peak during daylight hours on the following day. (Day 6: B) (Day 7: B,L) Accommodation: Summer House Hatton (or similar)

Day 8 Drive to Nuwara Eliya; optional walk to explore the town

This morning, we have a wonderful drive through tea plantation districts to Nuwara Eliya. This was the favourite hill station during the British era, situated in the cool highland air. Known locally as Little England, it is dotted with British-style houses, hotels and a racecourse. There will be an optional walk into the hills around the town and also time to explore the bazaar. Accommodation: Windsor Hotel (or similar)

Day 9 Early morning to Horton Plains; walk to World's End viewpoint; to Ella by train

Today we drive to Horton Plains, a large plateau more than 6,560ft (2,000m) above sea level, overlooked by the second and third highest peaks in Sri Lanka. The scenery is beautiful and best explored on foot. We trek through the rolling grasslands, seeing forest and unusual wildlife, such as the sambar deer and purple-faced monkey, all the way to World's End, one of the most stunning sights in Sri Lanka. Here the ground drops 3,445ft (1,050m) to the plains below. We then catch the train from the highest railway station in the country; within two hours we go from 6,197ft (1,889m) to 3,599ft (1,097m). The train travels through the cloud forest into the tea plantations, the views are spectacular; we disembark at Ella. Accommodation: Hotel Country Comfort (or similar)

Day 10 Morning trek to Ella Rock; Free afternoon

This morning, we set out to ascend the iconic Ella Rock, the highest point in Ella standing 3,743ft (1,140m). The round trip to Ella Rock takes about four to five hours. Starting off gently with flat trail where you walk through farm land, passing by locals as they get on with their day to day life. The second phase is a gradual ascent to reach the top. You look out over the Ella gap, a deep valley connecting the city of Ella with the low country. The afternoon is free to explore the vibrant and busy Ella town. Accommodation: Hotel Country Comfort (or similar)

Day 11 Drive to Yala National Park; afternoon game drive

We now head south of the hills to Tissamaharama down the plains. On the way, we stop at Ella Gap where the most of the southern part of the island is in view and the shimmering silver of the ocean is visible on a clear day . We continue on our journey visiting the spectacular Ravana waterfalls, which is 82ft (25m) tall and one of the widest waterfalls in the country. We also stop at the Buduruwagala Temple, where we see seven statues of Buddha carved out of a rock that dates to the 10th century. Tissamaharama is our base for visiting Yala National Park – its open terrain was well known for elephants for many years, but recently the park has become better known as a place to spot leopards. The park, which is primarily shrub jungle with several salt and freshwater lagoons, has one of the highest concentrations of leopard in the world. We have a game drive in the afternoon. (Please note, the sanctuary may be closed for four to six weeks from September to October allowing the park authorities to check the animals. In this instance, we visit a nearby alternative, usually Udawalawe National Park). Accommodation: Chaarya Resort (or similar)

Day 12 Walk around Yodakandiya Lake; transfer to the coast.

This morning, we drive to the beautiful Yodakandiya Lake in Tissamaharama where we walk for approximately 3hr 30min (approximately 3mi/5km). This is an opportunity to see the day-to-day life of the local people plus a range of birdlife. In the late afternoon, we drive for approximately four hours to the coast and your beach front hotel. Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)

Day 13 Free day to relax on the beach or optional activities including whale watching (November to April)

We have a free day to relax on the beach or by the pool. There are also numerous optional activities including a boat ride through mangrove swamps to a cinnamon plantation or you can go whale watching off Dondra Head from November to April. This is one of the best places in the world for seeing blue and sperm whales. Accommodation: Insight Resort (or similar)

Day 14 To Galle; transfer to Colombo

We drive along the coastal road to the historic port of Galle, which dates to the 17th century and is now a Unesco World Heritage site. On the way, we stop at a small folk museum inspired by the local writer Martin Wickramasinghe. The museum is a typical house from the Koggala region and is set among beautiful gardens. We continue along the expressway to Colombo reaching our hotel in the late afternoon (the drive takes around two to three hours plus stops). Accommodation: Hotel Cinnamon Red (or similar)

Day 15 End Colombo

Today is the end of your journey. If you are travelling on the group flight we will have a morning transfer to the airport for the daytime international flight. The arrangements for those not flying with the group ends after breakfast. If you would like to continue the adventure with our post-trip extension to the Maldives or a beach stay in Ahangama, speak to your sales representative.