Best of Sri Lanka

This morning, your private driver guide will meet you at the hotel and lead you to Negombo Fish Market. Negombo is one of the most important fishing ports in Sri Lanka. Seafood such as fish, shrimp and crab is quite fresh and cheap in the market. It is better to get here early in the morning, because the liveliest time of the market is from 5 to 7 a.m. When all the fishing boats come back to the harbor, the entire beach will be packed with people and colorful boats. Fishermen are engaged in processing and selling fish, and women are busy killing small fish to dry them on the beach. The market is fishy and noisy, but also shows a thick breath of life. Next, we will proceed to visit Lellama Fishing Village, a coastal village that still retains rustic life and traditional ways of seafood trading. You may watch the fishermen mending tangles of fishing nets, handling freshly harvested fish, or negotiating a deal. You can talk with the local villagers and get an in-depth understanding of their daily life. Afterwards, you will admire the peaceful scenery of Dutch Canal, or Hamilton Canal, which runs through the city of Negombo. The canal was originally built under colonial influence to facilitate transportation and trades of agricultural products like spices and coconuts from Colombo and Negombo. Your eyes will be caught by bright-colored fishermen houses and vibrant gardens lined along the waterway.

Then, drive 3 hours and we will get to Dambulla Cave Temple. Dambulla, a small town located in the heart of Sri Lanka, is a treasure trove of abundant cultural relics. It is home to 2 of 8 Sri Lanka’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, and today you will visit one of them. Dambulla Cave Temple, also known as Golden Temple of Dambulla, is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. With a history of over 2,000 years, the temple complex was expanded and refurbished by each kingdom in the past. There were originally over 80 caves in the surrounding area, and you will visit 5 major caves and get a close look at the Buddha statues and religious paintings in them. Stepping into the first cave, you will be impressed by the 14-meter-long (46 ft.) reclining Buddha statue, which was painted gold and the patterns on the sole of his feet can be clearly seen. In the second and largest cave is a collection of standing and seated statues of Buddha, all carved out of whole pieces of rock. Each of the caves are decorated with ancient murals on the rock ceilings and walls. Marvel at these vivid depictions of the scenes of Buddhist historical events.

★ Special Stay in a Hotel in Forest
Finally, we will drive you for half an hour to Sigiriya and help you check in at the hotel, which is hidden in the quiet forest. Get ready to be greeted by cute animals around! Animals in Sri Lanka are free to stroll on roads or in villages because people here love nature and respect life. You might hear birds singing in the morning, or encounter monkeys outside your room. Just enjoy your peaceful and relaxing stay in nature.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Amaara Forest Hotel Sigiriya (4 stars) or similar

Today, we will start with the iconic landmark of Sri Lanka - Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Rock), the other UNESCO World Heritage site in Dambulla which is also praised as the 8th wonder of the world. The ancient fortress was built on a 200-meter-tall (650 ft.) massive rock in the 5th century AD. You will explore the fortress from the water gardens along the symmetrical pathways under the rock. The pools and fountains were exquisitely designed to keep the water at a constant level, showing the unbelievable skills of ancient engineers.

As you approach the rock, you will get to know the meaning of its nickname - “Lion Rock”. The former lion-shaped carving on the rock has eroded away over time. While at the Lion’s Gate, you will meet the remaining huge lion’s paws, which are a reminder of the glorious past. You need to climb some steep steps to get to the top of the rock fortress. Please follow your guide closely and watch your step. It may be exhausting and challenging, but the sights during the climb are definitely worth your effort. The intricate frescoes on the rock walls are the highlight of Sigiriya Rock Fortress. They depict elegant female figures with beautiful accessories and garments. The Mirror Wall is another must-see site on the Lion Rock. As its name suggests, it was once well-polished so that the king could see his reflection and even the frescoes on the wall. This golden wall is no longer mirror-like, but you can see graffiti from ancient visitors and poets, expressing their thoughts and comments.

At the top of Sigiriya Rock, enjoy the breeze and feast your eyes on the panoramic views of ancient palaces and the surrounding natural beauty. The ruins of the gardens and the foundations of the buildings may give you a glimpse of the majesty of the fortress.

★ Special Experience: Visit a Rural Village & Immerse in Local Life
In the afternoon, we will drive 30 minutes to the peaceful Hiriwadunna Village. Follow your guide to explore this rural village. You will find paddy fields and vegetable gardens outside traditional bungalows, and kitchen ware and farm tools hanging on the mud walls. Sri Lanka is a poor country with a per capita GDP of about USD 3,800. With weak industrial base, its national income is heavily dependent on tourism and handicraft industry. Rare modern facilities can be seen in most villages of the country. However, you can always feel the optimism and kindness of Sri Lankans. They will warmly welcome you with their palms together and a big smile on the face. Immerse yourself in the local atmosphere and enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan lunch specially made for you, possibly including delicacies made with curry and coconut. After lunch, you can take a catamaran ride on the nearby lake and watch the birds.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Amaara Forest Hotel Sigiriya (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your private driver guide will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to Kandy - the second largest city in Sri Lanka and once the capital of the Kingdom of Kandy (1469-1815). It takes about 2.5 hours and we will stop at a Spice Garden in the midway. Sri Lanka is a small country, but it is one of the most significant spice exporters in the world. Get ready with your nose and feel the rich smells from spices like cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, clove, and vanilla. You may learn about the history and cultivation of spices, and watch how to grind the spices. You can also try some spiced drinks or snacks.

Upon arrival in Kandy, your guide will accompany you to check in at the hotel and then take you to Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, which is “Sri Dalada Maligawa” in Sinhalese. Constructed in 1595, the temple is one of the most sacred and important Buddhist temples in the world for housing one of the only 2 tooth relics of the Buddha. As you enter the golden-roofed and white-walled temple building, you may be amazed by the glorious murals and exquisite wood and ivory carvings. You can’t actually see the tooth relic because it is placed in a stupa-shaped gold casket in the inner chamber of the main temple. Local people usually dress in white and offer lotus blooms in front of the Buddha statue. Late in the afternoon, the temple will be in a devout atmosphere when devotees queue up to worship the tooth relic and whisper a prayer.

After visiting the temple, your driver guide will take you to watch a wonderful Culture Dance Show. Sri Lankan traditional dance represented by Kandyan dance dates from the 16th century, the origin of which was a kind of sacrificial dance with a history of over 1,000 years. Kandyan dance features powerful and rhythmic movements, especially the imitations of animals’ actions like peacock pecking and spreading wings. Also there will be dance scenes of harvesting or picking tea leaves, showing the charm of vitality and pureness. Then, your driver guide will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we will head to Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, which is the biggest tropical botanical garden in the country and one of the best ones in the world. Founded in 1371, it used to be the imperial garden of the king. Over 4,000 species of native and overseas plants are grown in the gardens, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. The dense plants make the environment cool and comfortable. You may stroll in the gardens, explore more than 20 different gardens or just leisurely sit in the shade of a huge banyan tree. After that, you will be sent back to your hotel. The rest of the day is left for you.

► Free Time Recommendations in Kandy
In the afternoon, you can take a walk around Kandy Lake by yourself. Located next to Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, this peaceful oasis is like a gem inset in the city. If you intend to know more about the real gems, this “Gem Kingdom” won’t fail you. It is said in the tale of The Arabian Nights, the gem Sindbad discovered was in Sri Lanka. You may go to the Gem Museum & Lapidary to learn how gemstones are classified and watch how a gemstone is processed. Opals, sapphires, topazes and amethysts are dazzling, but we suggest controlling your impulse spending if you are not knowledgeable enough because there may be many synthetic or artificial gems instead of natural ones.

► Recommended Restaurant for Dinner (at your own expense):
Just across from your hotel, you’ll find Vito Wood Fired Pizza, a decent restaurant serving delicious Italian pizzas cooked in wood-fired ovens. Teriyaki chicken pizza with garlic mayo and calzone are the top picks. You may enjoy your dinner while enjoying the view of Kandy Lake.
Average Cost per Person: USD 8
Address: 56 Saranankara Rd, Kandy 20000

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Kandy (4 stars) or similar

Say goodbye to Kandy and today we will first drive to Giragama Tea Factory. Sri Lanka is one of the leading three black tea exporters in the world. Ceylon black tea is one of the four best black tea along with Keemun black tea, Assam black tea and Darjeeling black tea. Interestingly, though, the mountain area in this country used to be coffee growing regions in colonial times. Due to a severe plant disease, people had to grow tea instead, which was the beginning of the high-quality Ceylon black tea. In the tea factory, you can watch the production processes of tea from withering, rolling to fermentation and drying while tasting a cup of Ceylon black tea. You may also walk into the tea plantation, carrying a basket to pick some tea leaves.

Next, we will drive you to Galle Dutch Fort, a 300-year-old fortification located on the south coast. With many well-preserved European-style architecture in this small town, Galle Fort looks different from other World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. The Dutch built this fort and later the British expanded it, making it a mix of different architectural styles and local culture. The clean streets in the fort are lined with colonial houses which are now shops, cafes or restaurants. Some old buildings like the Dutch Reformed Church, the clock tower and the post office are still in use. You could not say no to enjoy a sunset beside the Galle Fort Lighthouse when the glow of sun paints the sky red and makes the sea glitter.

After admiring the beauty of Galle, we will drive you to the hotel in Bentota.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: NH Bentota Ceysands Resort (4 stars) or similar

Enjoy your breakfast and your driver guide will pick you up at the hotel for a Madu River boat safari. Madu River, locally called “Madu Ganga”, is one of the biggest and most important mangrove reserves in Sri Lanka. Mangrove forest provides appropriate environment for hundreds of wildlife species. You will take a 2.5-hour adventurous boat tour along this river to explore the intricate maze of rivers, tree roots and small islands, and watch the wildlife including monkeys, crocodiles, snakes and chameleons. You will make a stopover at Cinnamon Island and visit the cinnamon plantations on it and watch how the locals produce cinnamon bark. Besides, you may try a fish therapy for a fee in the midst of the river.

Next, we’ll visit a Sea Turtle Conservation Project. Under the influence of Buddhism, most Sri Lankans are kind to animals. There are many animal conservation projects and stations in this country. You will be shown around the turtle hatchery and learn something about species of turtles, the life cycles and hatching process of them, and various conservation efforts of this place such as how to care for injured turtles and how to release baby turtles.

★ A Scenic Coastal Train Journey from Bentota to Colombo
You may have traveled on a train before, but not all the trains can take you through the scenic views like Sri Lankan trains, especially the one from Bentota to Colombo. This coastal rail route, renowned as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world, stretches along the western shore of Sri Lanka with Indian Ocean close at hand. You will experience a 1-hour train journey like a local and feel the warm and lively atmosphere in the carriage. The highlight of the journey will be the part from Mount Lavinia to Colombo when the tracks are almost parallel with the shore and you may immerse yourself in the salty sea wind and clear blue sea. If you have seen Hayao Miyazaki’s animated movie “Spirited Away”, you will surprisingly find the scenery resonates with the scene in which Chihiro and No-Face take the ghostly train that rides through seawater.

► For Your Safety: Most diesel trains in Sri Lanka are old with doors and windows wide open. Trees and signs may be very close to the train, so try not to lean out of the window for a photo. Make sure to firmly hold on to the railing when you get close to the open door.

► Things to Know: 
1. Since no advance ticket booking is available online and the train tickets can only be purchased at the station, they may be sold out in the peak season or on weekends. Your driver guide will accompany you to the train station in Bentota to buy your ticket to Colombo. If the tickets are sold out, we will drive you to Colombo instead.
2. If you take the train to Colombo, your driver guide will pick you up at the train station and send you to the hotel. For the rest of the day, you may take your time to enjoy your night in the city.

► Free Time Recommendations in Colombo
From the room of your hotel, you will get good views of the coastal road and train tracks outside the hotel. Walk south for 8 minutes and you will get to Abid’s Restaurant Sri Lanka (38, Alexandra Road, Marine Drive, Colombo 00600), which serves a variety of dishes including Arabic food, western food and Asian food. It costs about USD 10 per person. After dinner, you may take a 5-minute tuk-tuk or taxi to Spa Ceylon Urban Spa & Boutique (740 Galle Rd, Colombo 4) to experience a traditional Sri Lankan massage. You can get a head, shoulder or foot massage with essential oil or herbal oil to relax your muscle and relieve fatigue.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Colombo (4 stars) or similar

At the end of this trip, your driver guide will escort you to the airport and see you off. Wish you a nice flight home!

Meals: Breakfast