Day 1 – Fly to Colombo

Today you will start your Sri Lankan adventure by flying to Colombo International Airport.

Day 2 – Arrival → Colombo

“Ayubowan” & ‘’Vanakkam’’ Welcome to tropical paradise. You will be welcomed and greeted by your guide or The Earth Trip representative on arrival at the waiting area at Colombo International Airport. You will be transferred to your hotel in Colombo.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Galle Face Hotel

One of the oldest hotels east of the Suez, The Galle Face Hotel embraces its rich history and legendary traditions, utilising them to create engaging, immersive experiences that resonate with old and new generations of travellers alike. No visit to Sri Lanka is complete without staying at this majestic hotel.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 3 – Colombo Tuk Tuk Tour → Sinharaja

Discover the sights of the capital of Sri Lanka by tuk tuk. You will see Colombo Fort, Independent Square, Old Parliament, Pettah Bazaar and Galle Face.
Colombo Fort is the business district of Sri Lanka with skyscrapers and big international hotels. The Fort was built by the Portuguese and partly by the Dutch, then the British later took control. In 1870, the British destroyed the Fort for urban development, and then they rebuilt some of the remaining buildings within it now. Colombo Fort is home to the Fort Railway Station, the President’s House and the Presidential Gardens, a palatial neo-classical building which was originally the home of the British Governors and is now the residence of Sri Lanka’s President.

The Lighthouse Clock Tower is situated in Chatham Street and was commissioned by the wife of Governor Sir Henry Ward in the hope that it would teach the Ceylonese to be punctual. This area is good for shopping for tea, souvenirs, and for exchanging money.

Independence Square is known as one of the most prominent locations in Colombo. It is commonly used as a place where Sri Lankans come together in unison for significant national celebrations and cultural activities. The Independence Commemoration Hall is also used to host ceremonies that mark national unity. This unique and outstanding monument positioned in the heart of Sri Lanka’s commercial capital Colombo, commemorates the country’s independence from foreign rule. Sri Lanka gained independence on the 4th of February 1948 from the British who were the final colonial rulers of the country.

Opposite the Presidential Secretariat (old Parliament), is Galle Face. Here, every walk of life comes to relax and sit on the grass whilst watching the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Next to Galle Face is the grand Renaissance-style structure of Galle Face Hotel, South Asia’s leading Grande Dame, and the Galle Face Hotel is a testimony to both Sri Lanka’s colonial past and its independent present. You can enjoy the English high tea on the Victorian style veranda or sip a Martini facing the sea and enjoying the sunset

You will travel to your accommodation at Sinharaja Rainforest National Park with your driver.

Simple

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Rainforest Edge

Rainforest Edge is a unique experience where during your stay you will enjoy learning about the habits and lifestyles of the local community.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 4 – Sinharaja Rainforest National Park

After an early breakfast take a walk into the wilderness, where time stands still at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sinharaja Rainforest National Park is a treasure trove of natural wonders encased by sheer wilderness waiting to be discovered. Here you will be welcomed by a thick air of humidity, the incessant noise of birds and insects, and an endless canopy of tall trees. Sinharaja Rainforest National park is a primary tropical rainforest and biosphere, regarded as a biodiversity hotspot in Sri Lanka. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. In Sinharaja you can spot endemic mammals, bird species, butterflies, insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. As well as an interesting spectacle known as ‘bird wave’, where birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the noisy Orange-billed Babbler. These are just two of Sri Lanka’s 26 endemic birds that can be found here in addition to the 20 rainforest species, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie.
You will have an opportunity to swim under the waterfall or river. Along the way you will visit a remote community cut off from the rest of the world. There are more than 20 communities that live in Sinharaja Rainforest and their livelihood is dependent on this forest. You will be able to enjoy the Kitul ‘palm syrup’ made by these communities.

Simple

Sri Lanka • Colombo & the West

Rainforest Edge

Rainforest Edge is a unique experience where during your stay you will enjoy learning about the habits and lifestyles of the local community.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 5 – Sinharaja → Ella

Today you will travel from Sinharaja to Ella. Ella is described as one of the most breathtaking locations in Sri Lanka. Ella is surrounded by high mountains in the central hills and through a gap in the mountains you can see all the way to the ocean off the Hambantota coast line. This special gap with breathtaking views is called Ella Gap.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Nuwara Eliya & the Hill Country

98 Acres

The exquisite country side, breathtaking views and exciting nature trails will assure you of a memorable holiday at one of the most breathtaking Ella hotels in the region.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 6 – Train to Haputale, Lipton Seat & Tea Factory

Today you will experience one of the most breathtaking train journeys. You will travel from Ella to Haputale through tea plantations and rolling hills on a scenic train. This train journey is recorded in the Guinness Books of Records as one of the world best scenic train journeys. Your guide will pick you up at Haputale Station upon arrival.

You will then visit Lipton’s Seat and Dambatenne Tea Factory.

Lipton’s Seat is located on the top of Poonagala hill; this is quite literally the point from which the Scottish tea baron Thomas Lipton would often proudly survey his tea plantations. On a clear day it offers a spectacular view of the mountain ranges, lakes and valleys all the way to the southern coast. You can hike to the point through lush tea plantations or you can opt to drive up in comfort with your guide.

Visit to Dambatenne Tea Factory – it was built in 1890 by Sir Thomas Lipton himself, this colonial tea factory is still in operation today. The term “Ceylon Tea” was coined here, and Lipton’s Tea was founded and sold its first pound of tea from the precincts of this very factory. The factory tour is an education in the intricate processes involved in the fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of tea, and the comprehensive tour culminates with an authentic tea tasting experience. Please note it is closed on Sundays.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Nuwara Eliya & the Hill Country

98 Acres

The exquisite country side, breathtaking views and exciting nature trails will assure you of a memorable holiday at one of the most breathtaking Ella hotels in the region.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 7 – Ella → Arugam Bay

Today you will travel to Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka’s surfing hub in the South East. A crescent shaped bay in the dry zone of the island, it sees little rain and plenty of sun soaked days.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Jetwing Surf

Built entirely with sustainable materials found in Sri Lanka and favouring natural cooling over artificial, each cabana is designed with intricate rope and woodwork, thatched roofs, woven coconut palm leaves and dried illuk grass to create an environmentally responsible coastal respite with a minimum carbon footprint.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 8 – Surfing & Lahugala Safari

Arugam bay is a beginner and intermediate surfers dream with an endless supply of right hand sand bottom points. The area is extremely beautiful and is the most traveller friendly and surfer friendly zone in the region.

In the afternoon visit the small Lahugala National Park. The park is comprised of Lahugula Tank and a magnificent swathe of dry mixed evergreen forest, dotted with lofty rosewoods and satinwoods. The park is best known for its elephants where up to 150 congregate during July and August. The park also promises chances of spotting varying species of deer and members of the cat family like the Sri Lankan leopard and fishing cat. The tank is good for spotting a wide variety of aquatic birds.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Jetwing Surf

Built entirely with sustainable materials found in Sri Lanka and favouring natural cooling over artificial, each cabana is designed with intricate rope and woodwork, thatched roofs, woven coconut palm leaves and dried illuk grass to create an environmentally responsible coastal respite with a minimum carbon footprint.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 9 – Surfing & Sunset Walk to Crocodile Rock

Your family can have another day of fantastic surfing in Arugam Bay,

In the evening have a relaxing sunset walk to nearby Crocodile Rock. From a distance the rock looks like a pair of sun bathing crocodiles. The area has a wild environment, with elephants roaming around and eagles sweeping overhead.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Jetwing Surf

Built entirely with sustainable materials found in Sri Lanka and favouring natural cooling over artificial, each cabana is designed with intricate rope and woodwork, thatched roofs, woven coconut palm leaves and dried illuk grass to create an environmentally responsible coastal respite with a minimum carbon footprint.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 10 – Arugam Bay → Kalkudah Bay

Today you will travel from Arugam Bay to the pristine Kalkudah Bay in the east. Rest of the day at leisure.

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Karpaha Sands

The East Coast is Sri Lanka's greatest undiscovered gem and Karpaha Sands its best kept secret. Unreachable for more than 30 years. Now yours to explore

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 11 – Relax at Kalkudah Bay

Relax on the beach of Kalkudah Bay,

Superior

Sri Lanka • Trincomalee & the East

Karpaha Sands

The East Coast is Sri Lanka's greatest undiscovered gem and Karpaha Sands its best kept secret. Unreachable for more than 30 years. Now yours to explore

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 12 – The Cultural Triangle- Polonnaruwa

Today your family will enjoy a tour of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka, and today it is one of the most beautiful centres of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and a UNESCO Heritage site. With its comparatively brief history and a dozen rules, it has far more complete preserved ruin than Anuradhapura. Visit the ancient ruins and Gal Vihara complex, where 3 gigantic Buddha’s statues are carved out of a single rock. You also will be able to see the toque macaque monkeys, found only in Sri Lanka.

Superior

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Kumbukgaha Villa

Kumbukgaha Villa is a private hideaway in the peaceful rural settings of Sigiriya, surrounded by wilderness & paddy fields where wild elephants, elusive civet cats & peacocks roam free.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 13 – The Cultural Triangle – Sigiriya & Minneriya

Climb the magnificent Sigiriya Rock and see the elephants at Minneriya.
In the morning you will visit Sigiriya which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is proposed to be the 8th wonder of the world. Sigiriya, a massive rock in the green scrub jungle, is perhaps the most memorable place for visitors to Sri Lanka. The site was known from ancient times as a hermitage for Buddhist monks. A well-planned monastic complex included caved temples, bathing pools, lovely ponds and Asia’s oldest surviving landscaped gardens. The “Lion stairway”, the “mirror wall” and the “water gardens” are its other highlights. The ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kassapa I (477–95) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high also known as ‘Lion’s Rock’, which dominates the jungle from all sides.

Afternoon drive for a safari to see the elephants at Minneriya.

After lunch around 2pm enjoy a Jeep Safari at Minneriya National Park. It’s on the banks of the Minneriya reservoir, which was built in the 4th century A.C. Minneriya is a hide-out for many elephants, where you may see herds of elephants, with approximately 50 to 60 elephants in a herd. During July to September, one of the world’s top ten wildlife spectacles takes place, known as ‘The Gathering’, where more than 250 elephants gather around Minneriya water tank in search of food and water. Apart from elephants, it is a habitat for migrant and resident bird species like Grey heron, Open built storks and Painted storks. In addition you may see three different species of monkeys: Silica makake, Pink faced leaf monkey and Grey langur.

Superior

Sri Lanka • The Cultural Triangle

Kumbukgaha Villa

Kumbukgaha Villa is a private hideaway in the peaceful rural settings of Sigiriya, surrounded by wilderness & paddy fields where wild elephants, elusive civet cats & peacocks roam free.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 14 – The Cultural Triangle – Dambulla → Wilpattu

Dambulla Golden Rock Cave Temple is a vast isolated rock mass 500 ft high with 1.6 kilometre around the base. The impressive Rock Temple dating to the first century B.C is found here. The caves of Dambulla sheltered King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne, he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found on the island. The complex consists of five caves with over 2000 square metres of painted walls and ceilings. It is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the first cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 14 metres long, cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the ceiling date back to the 15th – 18th centuries. In the second cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of Gods from the Buddhist religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself.

Afterwards you will travel to your accommodation in Wilpattu.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • Negombo & the Northwest

Ibis Wilpattu

The Ibis is a four bed roomed exclusive and private ‘Villa’ styled property which lets you experience the absolute peace and serenity of rural Sri Lanka only to be broken by the twittering of over a hundred species of birds by day and at night it gives you the impression that you could touch the moon and the stars making you feel that you are one with nature.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 15 – Wilpattu National Park

In the morning you will take a full day safari to discover Wilpattu National Park.

Wilpattu National Park (‘Land of Lakes’) is situated on the Northwest coast near the ancient city of Anuradhapura. It is the largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka, consisting of 140,000 hectares of mostly dry zone evergreen forest cover and a coastal belt to the West. This is one of best places to see leopards in Sri Lanka alongside Yala National Park. The open grassy plains are set within the thick dense scrub jungle. The wetland includes around 48 shallow natural lakes known as Villus, natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and two salt water lakes. These natural lakes are the most important parts of the complex eco-system in the park.

The park is home to elusive leopards, elephants, sloth bears, water buffalos, Mugger Crocodiles, Spotted and Barking deer, wild boar and pythons. Alongside these wild animals you may be able to see many endemic birds include the Ceylon Junglefowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Ceylon Woodshrike and Black-capped Bulbul in riverine habitats. Butterflies recorded include the Great Eggfly, Great Orange Tip, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Blue Mormon, Common Mormon, Common Rose and Crimson Rose. Diverse varieties of colourful butterflies can be seen in the park as well. You may see the wild animals, particularly elephants, near lakes in the early morning and late afternoons. The wildlife is abundant around the lakes and coastal belt, here you may spot the White Ibis, Open Bills, Painted Storks Spoonbills, Egrets, Whistling Teals, Kingfishers and you may also see the water buffalos, monitors and crocodiles.

Mid-range

Sri Lanka • Negombo & the Northwest

Ibis Wilpattu

The Ibis is a four bed roomed exclusive and private ‘Villa’ styled property which lets you experience the absolute peace and serenity of rural Sri Lanka only to be broken by the twittering of over a hundred species of birds by day and at night it gives you the impression that you could touch the moon and the stars making you feel that you are one with nature.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

Day 16 – Wilpattu → Negombo

Today you will travel to Negombo.

Negombo is located approximately 37 kilometres north of the commercial capital of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It is located at the mouth of the Negombo lagoon. The wide sandy beaches and the safe sea are the major tourist attractions of Negombo. Water sports and diving are also extremely popular, with a few well preserved coral reefs and a 50 year old shipwreck that serves as an artificial reef for many varieties of fish. It is common to use the town for the first or the last night of your stay in Sri Lanka, on your way to or from the airport. Negombo is perfectly located within 7 kilometres from Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

Simple

Sri Lanka • Negombo & the Northwest

Goldi Sands

All rooms are stylishly decorated and equipped with every luxury you would want for an enjoyable stay.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast

Day 17 – Negombo → Departure

You will be transferred to Colombo Airport to fly home. Travel time will be approximately 45 minutes.

• Board Includes:
• Breakfast