Chronicles of an Island

Upon arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport, our representative will meet you and manage your transfer to your Colombo hotel. Since no sightseeing is scheduled for today, you're free to arrive at your own convenience.

Fly overnight from the UK; your luxury Sri Lanka holiday starts on day two.

You will journey to Dambulla this morning before spending the afternoon exploring Sigiriya, a 5th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, is a 200-meter-high rock fortress built by King Kashyapa I as a royal citadel.

Known for its ancient hydraulic gardens, frescoes, and a monumental Lion’s Paw gateway, this engineering marvel attracts visitors who climb 1,200 steps to the summit. Afterwards, transfer to Dambulla for a three-night stay at the 4-star Hotel.

Visit the ancient, UNESCO-listed city of Polonnaruwa this morning, for a further glimpse into the country’s elaborate royal history. The second-most ancient kingdom in the country, this once-flourishing empire was the capital of Sri Lanka between the 11th and 13th centuries and is today scattered with temples, shrines and other archaeological treasures.

Key highlights include King Parakramabahu's well-preserved Royal Palace, featuring stone lion and elephant sculptures, alongside the massive, ancient Parakrama Samudra reservoir. Head back to your hotel in Dambulla for your overnight stay.

You will journey to Anuradhapura today, Sri Lanka's oldest royal capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, established in 377 BCE. It serves as the cradle of Sri Lankan Buddhism and an active pilgrimage site famed for advanced engineering, massive reservoirs, and colossal stupas. Key landmarks include the Jetavanaramaya, the world’s largest solid brick structure, and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the oldest human-planted tree.

Afterwards, transfer to Dambulla the night stay at the 4-star Hotel.

You will start your morning by traveling to the Dambulla historical town to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Golden Temple of Dambulla and Sri Lanka's largest, best-preserved cave sanctuary. Perched 160 meters up a towering granite rock face, this active pilgrimage site comprises five distinct cavernous shrines dating back to the 1st century BCE. The sacred spaces safeguard over 150 Buddha statues and a vast expanse of vibrant, centuries-old murals covering the rock ceilings.

This includes the massive Maharaja Lena shrine, which depicts rich Buddhist and Hindu history while offering visitors sweeping panoramic views of the central plains. Continue through majestic hill country to the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka's cultural hub.

This morning, visit Sri Lanka’s most revered site – the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, built in the 16th century to house the relic of a tooth of the Buddha.Overlooking the scenic Kandy Lake, this iconic temple brings pilgrims flocking daily, and during puja – when worshippers give prayers and offerings – visitors can see the inner shrine where the relic is kept.

After you’ve explored the complex, visit the suburb of Peradeniya to explore the picturesque Royal Botanic Gardens, the oldest formal gardens in the country.

In the evening, enjoy a cultural show featuring live drummers, fire dancers and other local performers.

Take a scenic train journey to Nanu Oya and along the way, admire verdant tea plantations, cascading waterfalls and quaint villages.

Afterwards, visit the picturesque Gregory Lake nestled at the bottom of lush green hills and constructed by a British Governor named Sir William Gregory in 1873.

Later, travel to Nuwara Eliya, an idyllic mountain town set in the lush central highlands that’s known as “Little England” for its colonial-era architecture and English-style cottages and transfer to the hotel for two nights.

This morning you will visit a tea plantation and factory to learn about the grading process, followed by an afternoon exploring Nuwara Eliya's city centre. Perched above 1,800 meters in Sri Lanka's central highlands, Nuwara Eliya is a scenic mountain retreat nicknamed "Little England" for its crisp 16°C climate and deep British colonial heritage.

Founded in the 19th century, the historic hill station features beautifully preserved Tudor-style architecture, manicured lawns, a historic golf club, the iconic Grand Hotel, historic Hill Club, racecourse and Lake Gregory,

After breakfast this morning, you'll head to the beautiful Udawalawe National Park. Located 165 kilometers southeast of Colombo, Udawalawe National Park is a massive 30,821-hectare sanctuary surrounding a central reservoir.

Its open, sweeping grasslands offer a distinct environment globally famous for year-round wild Asian elephant sightings. Beyond elephants, this thriving ecosystem protects diverse wildlife like leopards, crocodiles, and over 180 bird species. Additionally, the neighboring Elephant Transit Home rehabilitates orphaned calves to safely return them to the wild.

After breakfast, head to Yala National Park, the country’s second-biggest national park, located on the island’s southeast coast for game drive to observe the active wildlife during the early hours of the day.Also, an exciting afternoon game drive in Yala National Park is included today.

This vast expanse of forest, lagoons, scrubland and coastal plains boasts one of the largest leopard populations in the world; keep your eyes peeled for these elusive creatures, alongside elephants, sloth bears, crocodiles and wild boars, plus a vast array of birdlife.

Drive from Yala to Galle, stopping along the coast to visit the Hummanaya Blow Hole, Mulkirigala Rock Temple, and Dikwella Wewurukannala Temple. After lunch, pause in Weligama to see the traditional stilt fishermen before checking into your Galle hotel for a two-night stay.

After lunch, pause in Weligama to see the traditional stilt fishermen before checking into your Galle hotel for a two-night stay.

We follow the coast to Galle this morning, where the historic coastal fort city of Galle, visiting the UNESCO-listed Galle Fort – the walled city centre, known for its Dutch colonial architecture and home to cafes, boutiques and galleries lining cobbled streets.

Visit the Dutch Reformed Church, Galle Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, before returning to the hotel.

Turtle hatchery visits, notably in Kosgoda, offer visitors a chance to support vital marine conservation. These community-run sanctuary protect vulnerable nesting sites by safely re-burying collected eggs and rehabilitating injured species like Green and Hawksbill turtles in specialized medical tanks.

Financed by visitor ticket sales, many centres allow tourists to learn about marine threats and participate in evening programs to release newborn hatchlings safely into the ocean. Afterward, return to the hotel in Colombo for your overnight stay

Following breakfast, explore Colombo, Sri Lanka's vibrant west-coast commercial capital. This bustling economic hub seamlessly blends its 2,000-year history and Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial influences with a modern skyline anchored by the 350-meter Lotus Tower.

A tropical climate shapes its diverse culture, which transitions dynamically across distinct zones like the financial Fort district, the bustling Pettah market, scenic Galle Face Green, and affluent Cinnamon Gardens.

We depart Colombo early this morning and drive the 35 km to Colombo Airport where the tour will end.

Private transfers from Colombo are available if you prefer to make your own way at a different time.