Discover Sri Lanka Off The Beat

After breakfast, drive to Sigiriya, visiting Dambulla Cave Temple en-route. Treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C., the golden Dambulla Rock Temple houses some of the most unique drawings in five magnificent cave temples. Observe exquisite cave paintings along walls that shelter 150 statues of Lord Buddha. The highlight is the gigantic Buddha statue glittering in gold. There is a short but fairly steep incline with steps, but anybody in reasonably good condition can manage easily.

After breakfast, arrive at the ancient city of Sigiriya, built on a sheer rock deep in a lush forest. This remarkable 5th-century archaeological site is unforgettable for its dramatic setting. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens with water bodies ring the rock's base. The highlight is the delicate frescoes of 'Heavenly Maidens'. Learn about the ancient prince who killed his father to claim the throne and had to flee to this pleasure palace-cum fortress. Reaching the top of Sigiriya Rock requires a climb of 1,200 stone steps up and then down. Anybody in reasonably good condition can venture to the top of Sigiriya Rock, and it's certainly worth the effort.

Continue to Polonnaruwa ruins. The second capital of Sri Lanka, built in the 11th and 12th centuries A.D., is a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the ruins of the Royal Palace and the Gal Viharaya (three splendid statues of the Buddha in upright, sedentary and recumbent postures carved out of rock. Other highlights include the audience hall, lotus bath, Polonnaruwa statue and the Parakrama Samudra tank built by King Parakramabahu the Great. A scatter of temple ruins consists of the Shiva temple, the Lankatileka, the Watadage, the Galpotha, the Kiri Vihare Dagoba and the remains of a former Temple of the Tooth. Transfer back to the hotel for a restful evening.

After breakfast drive towards the Royal City of Kandy, visiting a spice garden in Matale en route. The Spice Garden in Matale has long been renowned for its spices. Learn about fragrant clove, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, mace and pepper, and many other favorites such as chocolate and vanilla.

Reach Kandy, check-in to the hotel and proceed on a guided city tour around the lake, visit the viewpoint, Wales Park & the Garrison Cemetery in Kandy. Kandy is Sri Lanka's second-largest city located in the mountainous center of the island. It is considered by some as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka and was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988. Kandy is a great place to experience Sri Lankan culture and cuisine surrounded by a beautiful natural environment. This sacred Buddhist site, popularly known as the city of Senkadagalapura, was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lanka by the British in 1815. It is also the site of the Temple of the Tooth Relic (the sacred tooth of the Buddha), which is a famous pilgrimage site.

A prominent feature of Kandy is the golden-roofed Temple of The Tooth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important place for Buddhist worship, housing a tooth relic of Buddha. Other fascinating places include the Ceylon Tea Museum, the Buddhist Publication Society, the Ayurvedic center in the Amaya Hills nearby, the Kandyan Art Association and Cultural Centre, where craftspeople can be seen at work, and the Kandy Muslim Hotel, which offers the finest spiced curries served with naan or rotis. Witness a cultural program that offers a vibrant and unique show of Sri Lankan traditional dances.

Art and Philosophy

Included

Kandy City Walk

Optional

Reinvigorating Yoga

Optional

Royal Botanical Gardens with a Botanist

Optional

The Art of Drumming

Optional

The Three Temple Loop

Optional

Trekking in Knuckles

Optional

After breakfast, embark on the ‘most scenic train ride in Sri Lanka’ from Kandy to Ella. Resting on the southern edge of Sri Lanka’s picturesque Hill Country, the small, sleepy village of Ella is known for its natural scenery, tranquil atmosphere, and pleasant climate. This popular backpacker-hub has become a well-established, must-see tourist destination and an ideal base for travelers exploring the idyllic surrounding countryside cloaked in tea plantations and lush forest. With only a handful of essential stores and tourist facilities, Ella has managed to retain its rural charm and visitors will find a single street winding its way down the hillside past a few quaint cafés, guesthouses, and cottages enclosed in neat, flower-filled gardens. At the edge of the escarpment, you will find a classic view past the renowned Ella Rock on the right and through a cleft in the hills – the so-called Ella Gap – to the plains far below.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Explore Ella surroundings, including the Nine Arches Bridge and Ella Gap.

After a leisurely breakfast transfer to Gal Oya. Set in eastern Sri Lanka around the island's largest reservoir, Senanayake Samudraya, this wild, secluded national park offers a boat safari with close-up encounters of swimming elephants. Traditional jeep safaris and a wide range of walking trails are also on offer. Explore the lush forest, shrub, grassland, and magnificent mountains, and spot up to 32 species of mammals including wild boar, sloth bears, water buffalo, axis deer, and even the elusive Sri Lankan leopard. Take a guided hike with the indigenous Veddha people who live here. Delight in the brightly coloured birdlife and the ample luxury facilities (including a pool) at the park’s lodge.

Join a resident naturalist for a walk around the lodge, enjoying the abundant birdlife and beautiful surroundings. Find a wide range of bird species such as Kingfishers, Eagles, Kites and many aquatic birds. Feel free to discuss your interests with your naturalist for a tailored trip to suit your preferences.

For the adventurous early risers, a 1.5-hour uphill trek morning trek to the top of Monkey Mountain offer dramatic 180-degree views over the large forested valley. An early start allows you to watch the sun rise over the hills in the distance. Return for a well-earned breakfast and enjoy the rest of your day.

Gal Oya Lodge Animal Monitoring Program is an ongoing project to record and monitor the lodge’s resident species of animals. In order to understand them better and take necessary steps to conserve these animals, a team of naturalists regularly embark on evening walks around the lodge to set up camera traps. Partake in the monitoring project or learn more about the animals with the naturalists on their evening walk.

After a leisurely breakfast transfer to Pasikudah to relax and rejuvenate in the sun, sea & sand of the south. Check in to the hotel and relax. Resting about 35 kilometres northwest of Batticaloa in Sri Lanka, Pasikudah is a small seaside resort town known for its expansive golden bay with one of the longest stretches of shallow coastline in the world, where you can wade for 50 metres out to sea. This wonderful coastal setting provides an ideal environment for a range of watersports including snorkelling around the coral reef, scuba diving around the wreck of the HMS Hermes, a WW2 British naval ship, water skiing, bouncy banana boat rides, and exhilarating deep-sea fishing adventures. Sailing trips are available and include sunset cruises, whale watching excursions and overnight charters. Inland activities include adventurous safaris where you can trek through nature reserves to spot elephants and other wildlife.

Spend the day at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Colombo with your chauffeur guide. Explore the seaside metropolis of Colombo, where crumbling colonial buildings stand together with glinting skyscrapers. Stroll to Pettah, Colombo’s main market, to be dazzled by brightly coloured fruit and vegetable stalls, and a plethora of ayurvedic medicines. Sample the city’s fine fare, from curries to crabs, in any one of the beachfront bistros or inner-city dining rooms. Nature-lovers can head to Galle Face Green, a grassy promenade along the Indian Ocean for a stroll, or take a scenic train ride to Mount Lavinia Beach.

Colombo after Dark by Bike

Optional

Colombo by Tuk Tuk

Optional

Colombo’s Culture

Optional

Colombo’s Street Food

Optional

Cook the Lankan Way

Optional

Jaffna Dinner in Colombo

Optional

After breakfast remain at leisure until you transfer to the airport to connect with the departure flight.