Road-Trip-All-Island-Sri Lanka

AYUBOWAN-! Welcome to Sri Lanka, the land like no other and 14 days of all-island explorations with local expertise will give you the best of the ancient history and unique culture, the lush green tea estates in the hill country, the wildlife and exciting soft adventures, the beautiful golden sandy and remote beaches. 

DAY PLAN:

• Upon arrival at Colombo CMB airport, you will meet and greet by the tour leader and will be transferred to your hotel. (Can pick-up from any hotel at Colombo or Negombo as well). The first destination will be Negombo coastal town, which has long been known as the most popular beach in Sri Lanka, famous for its golden sandy beach, food and fun. 
• For day one, we haven’t planned any activity, thus you are free to arrive in Sri Lanka at any time (Airport pick-up 24/7). If your flight arrives early in the day, we'll arrage you a Negombo city tour.

Overnight stay in a seafront hotel at Negombo

DAY PLAN :

• After breakfast, your tour leader will drive you to Jaffna, a journey that takes around 3 - 4 hours.
• En-route,  you'll witness the unique landscape of the northern part of the island along the A9 Highway.  Jaffna is the biggest town in northern Sri Lanka and has a real Indian feel to it being closer to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu than Colombo. This is evident in its culture, with a predominance of Hindu temples and the sounds of Tamil being spoken, instead of Sinhala. 
• It's a city that was kept away from the tourist trail due to the 30-year civil war which ended in 2009. It is now rising as a must-see Sri Lankan holiday destination as it offers much to do and it has a fascinating culture that is markedly different from that of the rest of the island, influenced by many traditions from South India. 
• Jaffna has full of hidden treasures including the famous Nallur Kandaswamy, a huge Hindu temple with golden arches and an ornate Gopuram tower.  

Overnight stay in a cosy city hotel at Jaffna

­After a delicious breakfast with a hot cup of Sri Lankan tea or coffee, you will take a drive through the stunning Sri Lankan countryside towards Anuradhapura ancient city (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). Sri Lanka has a rich heritage and Anuradhapura is one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world. It was the first capital, ruled by 113 kings for over 1000 years.

­ 

DAY PLAN: 

• The jewel in its crown is the Sri Maha Bodhi, the sacred tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment and that has stood with pride for more than 2200 years. 
• One of the main attractions in Anuradhapura is Ruwanweliseya, a monument built in 140 BC that embodies the culture, heritage and supremacy of the strongest kingdom in Sri Lankan history. 

Overnight stay in a cosy hotel at Anuradhapura

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will travel towards Habarana town, which is the central point of the cultural triangle in the country.  

­ 

DAY PLAN­

• After breakfast, you'll take a wonderful walk inside the Ritigala Nature Forest
• Upon arrival at Habarana, you'll enjoy a wonderful cultural village tour while exploring the beautiful countryside. It will start with a Bullock Cart ride, one of the most ancient and prime transportation systems in Sri Lanka, still used in some villages. While on the tour you will also enjoy a canoeing ride across the lake and a tuk-tuk drive before reaching the farmer’s house where you will experience the typical Sri Lankan countryside hospitality.
• Late afternoon visit Pidurangala Forest Monastery, this site is perfect for travellers who prefer a non-touristic experience; If you had enough of overcrowded spots and noises, this place is your ideal location (Optional activity) 

Overnight stay in a nature-friendly resort at Sigiriya

DAY PLAN

• After breakfast, you will visit Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress, which is an ancient rock fortress located near the town of Dambulla. King Kasyapa (477 – 495 BC) built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE and it is one of the best-preserved examples of an ancient civilization. Sigiriya refuses to reveal its secrets easily; in fact, you have to climb a series of vertiginous staircases to reach the top.
• Afterwards, your tour leader will take you to Minneriya/Kaudulla National Park for an afternoon safari, since it is the best time to spot wild elephants on their natural habitat. If you're up for a serious rumble in the jungle, then Minneriya/Kaudulla is your ideal destination! Spreading over 8800 hectares, this park is mainly a sanctuary for elephants, but it is also home to herds of deer, bulls, wild boars and colorful birdlife.  It is always a pleasant scenery to watch baby elephants playing with water at the lake of the park. (Optional Activity)  

Overnight stay in a nature-friendly resort at Sigiriya

DAY PLAN:

• After breakfast, visit the Royal Cave Temple and the Golden Buddha statue (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). Dambulla has the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been treasured by many kings since the 1st century B.C. The rock towers 160 meters over the surrounding plains and houses 5 cave temples with some of the most unique and significant historical drawings. 
• Thereafter, proceed towards the famous Kandy city, the capital of the last Sinhalese kingdom. It's set on a plateau surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and bio-diverse rainforests. Kandy is also famous for its sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). 
• Afternoon, you’ll explore on your own walking around Kandy's city centre before engaging with a cultural dance show which is inspired by Sri Lankan arts, traditional dance and cultural heritage.

Overnight stay in a mount view hotel at Kandy

DAY PLAN :

• After breakfast, visit Gem Museum; get to know more about the World-renowned and most prestigious Sri Lankan gems and craft in a gem museum tour. 
• Thereafter, you’ll have a wonderful journey towards Sri Lanka's tea region of Nuwara Eliya. It is often referred to as “Little England” because many of the buildings in this city retain from the British colonial period, such as the Queen's Cottage, the General's House, the Grand Hotel, the Hill Club and the Town Post Office. Since this amazing town is located in the mountains, it's characterized by a cool climate all year long. 
• While driving through the cold and misty hills that host lush green tea plantations, stop at a Tea factory to observe the rich tradition of making Ceylon Tea that kept alive up to date. Make sure to end your factory visit in style over a perfectly blended cup of tea.  
• Upon arrival, you will enjoy your own walking around Nuwara Eliya city center and the fruit and vegetable market. 

Overnight stay in mount view city hotel at Nuwara Eliya

DAY PLAN:

• Thereafter, visit Haggala Botanical Garden, one of the best botanical gardens in Asia. It attracts 2 million visitors annually and it is renowned for its collection of orchids. The garden includes more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants, and palm trees. The total area of the botanical garden is 147 acres.
• The Seetha Amman Temple also known as Seethai Amman Thirukkovil or Ashok Vatika Sita Temple is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. It’s widely regarded as the only temple in the world devoted to Sita.
• Lover’s Leap Waterfall nestled in the verdant hills of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka its lush surroundings, cascading water, and scenic ambiance are beautifully captured (optional Tour)

Overnight stay in a mount view hotel at Nuwara Eliya.

DAY PLAN :

• In the morning you will enjoy a spectacular train journey from Nanu-Oya station to Ella village. It is known as one of the most picturesque hill country train journeys in the world (train tickets included, will be arranged at the station).  
• Ella is everyone’s favourite hill country village due to the fact that it’s a wonderful nature-friendly location. Nine Arch Bridge is a major tourist attraction in Ella, a massive bridge built entirely of solid rocks, bricks and cement without using a single piece of steel. The bridge was finally commissioned in 1921. Ella is a great place for walking and climbing and its most famous trekking route is to “Little Adam’s Peak”. 
• Evening, you will drive down to Thissamaharama na d check-in to the hotel 

Overnight stay in a mount view hotel at Yala

After breakfast, depart from Ella towards Yala National Park, the largest and most stunning national park in Sri Lanka. Thanks to a river running through it, Yala National Park is divided into two sections. Because the river makes crossing to the other side difficult, Yala is really treated as two separate parks. But that doesn’t change the fantastic offerings! Encompassing a range of diverse ecosystems, the park has an impressive variety of wildlife, including sloth bears, leopards, and lots of colorful birds.

­ 

DAY PLAN: 

• Early morning, enjoy a wonderful 4x4 jeep ride searching for leopards and black bears hanging on trees or whispering through the bushes, crocodiles patrolling the river or baby elephants drinking water and playing around under the evening sunset.
• After breakfast, you'll be continuing your journey along the beautiful south coast towards Galle, a city well known for its Galle Fort (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE). It is the intersection where classic Dutch and British architecture meets a tropical setting, creating a vivid atmosphere in beauty. Walk through the streets listening to the creaks of wooden saloon doors and observe how European architecture mingles with South Asian traditions nowadays flooding cultural enthusiasts on a global scale.  
• Thereafter, drive down to soth coast and check-in to your lovly beach hotel and enjoy a relasing afternoon. 

Overnight stay in a safari resort at South Coast

DAY PLAN :

• After an amazing journey through the coconut and tea estates, mountains and waterfalls, you have finally arrived at the world-famous beachside of Sri Lanka.  Mirissa is a delightful sandy characterized by white sands and coconut palms growing right from the edge of the sea as if in imitation of a postcard of the perfect tropical beach.   
• With a free day, you may walk down along the seashore and you will find a seafront restaurant to try some authentic Sri Lankan seafood - a wonderful crab curry is likely to be on the menu.

Overnight stay in a seafront hotel South Coast

DAY PLAN :

• After breakfast, you’ll visit the capital city of Colombo, which has an interesting history running back to the fifth century. Even in ancient times, this was an important port city in the East-West sea trade. Nowadays it has become a bustling modern town with a unique atmosphere. The colourful streets, restaurants and modern shopping malls attract hordes of locals and tourists alike. 
• At Colombo, you have the opportunity to visit the most highlighted places in the city and do some last-minute shopping as well.  Perhaps, you may intend to pop into a famous and internationally renowned restaurant in Colombo to end your trip over an unforgettable meal.  

Overnight stay in a city hotel Colombo

Proceed to the airport in time for the return flight or we drop you back to your hotel in Colombo or Negombo to end this wonderful tour across the island.

Optional extras:

• Negombo Lagoon Tour
• Shopping tours 
• Negombo city tour