Sri Lanka Getaway

Arrive in Colombo. Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to your hotel in Negombo (about 1hr). Rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy your surroundings.

Transfer from Negombo to Pinnawala (2.5 hrs) As you enter the 25 acre coconut property, do not be surprised to witness baby elephants being bottle fed or moving around freely. It is rightly a sincere sight to observe how these gentle giants - orphaned and sometimes three-legged - are taken care of since 1975 at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage. Transfer from Pinnawala to Dambulla (3hrs). Today, an icon in the face of Sri Lanka, Dambulla Rock Temple houses some of the most unique drawings in magnificently constructed 5 cave temples flanking the golden temple of Dambulla.

Transfer from Dambulla to Sigiriya (5hrs) and visit the famous rock fortress and World Heritage Site - Sigiriya. Continue to to Minneriya (1hr).

Spreading over 8800 hectares, this is a sanctuary for elephants. Minneriya is home to herds of deer and ample birdlife, but its spotlight remains between swaying trunks & flapping ears. Watch carefully as herds of elephants roll on to the grass-covered banks to feed on tender shoots. In fact, this is the largest elephant gathering in the world - over 300 at a time - which has garnished the park to become a magnet for wildlife enthusiasts across the globe. Transfer back to Dambulla (1hr).

Transfer from Dambulla to Matale (2hr). An agricultural zone in the Central Province, Matale seldom drops off the maps due to its remarkable contribution through flagship crops of the island extending from tea, rubber & vegetables to spices. Stop by the side of a spice garden - into which you will be most welcome - and observe the therapeutic values of spices & processes over a refreshing cup of herbal tea! Transfer from Matale to Kandy (1hr)
Kandy - the World Heritage Site & last royal capital of Sri Lankan kings - crafts an array of culture, history and heritage in the minds of visitors across the globe. Experience an ancient Kandyan legacy engraved around its crown jewel, the temple of the sacred tooth relic of Lord Buddha. A stroll across this small lakeside town - cradled among the misty hills - will feature the Kandy City Centre - bundled with latest and world class brands, a bazaar, an arts & crafts center, as well as a gem museum & lapidary. Visit the fresh fruits and vegetables in the Kandy market.

Depart for Bentota (4hr), popular for some of the best stretches of clean sandy beaches in the country.

Today, visit Balapitiya. Cut through the clear water of Madu River and head towards Kotu Duwa, the small island housing a temple that dates back to ancient Sinhalese kings. Or, sail through tunnels of shady mangroves swaying alongside Madu River - hiding an ecological treasure - to witness the tranquility of this bio-diversity hot spot which boasts of reptiles, mollusks and over 70 species of fresh water fish. Balapitiya has also become a household name in the minds of bird watchers ensuring a thrilling offshore experience.Continue on to Kosgoda. This vibrant tourist destination sitting calm along the southern coast is recognized by the Wildlife Protection Society who studded the region with a Sea Turtle Conservation Project which operates on a formidable scale today. Indirectly, this has become a watering hole of flipper & shell enthusiasts!

Transfer from Bentota to Colombo (2hrs). Drive along the clean streets edging the crystal white Race Course - horse racing hub in 1893 & World War II airstrip - furnished today with lavish clothing, food & tea boutiques. Head along Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards ’Arcade’ facing a historic way post, the Independence Square. Every designer boutique, top-notch cuisine outlet and even the ’walk-over fish tank’, have revamped this colonial masterpiece into one of the trendiest shopping and hangout zones in Sri Lanka. Smell the scent of incense while listening to the chiming bells of Gangarama temple.

Transfer from Colombo to Airport for departure (1hr).