Sri Lanka

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Dambulla and visit the Dambulla Cave Temple which dates back to the first century where Buddhist Monks first carved a cave out to create a monastery. Five separate caves contain around 150 magnificent Buddha statues and paintings, where the Buddha images were first created over 2000 years ago.

We then head to the hotel, check-in and then make our way to Minneriya National Park, known for its heard of elephants. We board a jeep and head out on a safari in search of them. The park is also an important habitat for Sri Lanka’s two endemic monkeys, deer, leopards and the Sri Lankan sloth bear as well many large water birds.

• Breakfast & Dinner Included

This morning we enjoy breakfast at the hotel and drive to Kandy. We visit Kandy Temple, also known as the Temple of the Sacred Tooth – a magnificent shrine with decorative walls and a golden roof. It is also a renowned place of worship and houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. According to Buddhist legends, more than 2500 years ago, the Buddha was cremated, and parts of the body were saved including a tooth which was snuck into Sri Lanka and became a symbol of Sri Lankan Buddhism, and after numerous places in Sri Lanka, has found its home in Kandy.

We also pay a visit to Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, started in 1374 as a pleasure garden of the Kings of Kandy, boasting more than 5000 species of tress and plants that spread over 147 acres.

• Breakfast & Dinner Included

This morning we have the option to relax at the hotel and take in the lush green surroundings, or take an optional trip to trek in Horton’s Plains. The national park is spread over the two highest mountains in the area and is a wild grassland and cloud forest. It is also known for its many pools, waterfalls and rocky hills.

Just after midday, we embark on one of the most scenic train journeys in Sri Lanka- Nuwara Eliya to Ella. The train ride takes us through the rolling green hills of the tea plantations, overlooked by waterfalls and mountain peaks. Upon arrival, we check-in to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

• Breakfast & Dinner Included

Today we head to Yala National Park after breakfast, home to the highest concentration of leopards, whilst also being the home of an abundance of Asian elephants, wild buffalo, the sloth bear, jackal, deer and hundreds of different bird species. We embark on a jeep safari this afternoon through the grassy and open plains, along sparkling waterholes and lakes, hoping to witness these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.

• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

After breakfast at the hotel, we head to Negombo, but first we stop at the city of Galle. Perched on the southwestern coast, it has grown from its ancient origins. Galle has played host to the British, Dutch and Portuguese, and the city is most well known for the magnificent Galle Fort – a World Heritage Site that was first constructed by the Portuguese back in the 16^th-Century. Galle is also a place where we can see traditional fishing methods, so a great place for fresh seafood.

We continue our day heading to Negombo where we will spend the final days of our holiday relaxing by the beach. Negombo is a relaxed and peaceful beach town. Rich in history with a well-preserved Dutch Fort, the mix of colonial architecture and vibrant culture creates a unique atmosphere.

• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

We can kick back today and spend the final day as we wish. This evening we gather one final time for our farewell dinner.

• Breakfast & Dinner Included

*For 2025 departures, we will be staying in Negombo at the Suriya Resort.