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Discover our Classi Best of Sri Lanka tours are the best of the diverse regions of the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean". Like discovering the ancient cities in the cultural triangle, summiting Lion Rock in Sigiriya, majestic views from Little Adam's Peak and the Nine Arch Bridge, and exploring historical Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

The best is also a hands-on cooking class in a local Sri Lankan home, a traditional cultural show, elegant high tea, sunrise yoga, and your feet in the sand on the beautiful beaches and hiking through the tea plantations and villages in Nuwara Eliya. Majestic train ride via the tea plantations and misty mountains.  In fact, we think the best is doing all that and more in our Classic Best of Sri Lanka Itineraries. 

Explore the highlights of Sri Lanka - from ancient cities and scenic landscapes to cultural experiences and relaxing beaches. 

Why Sri Lanka Escapes?

We Include Accommodation:

Hotel options 

• Comfortable 3-star hotels, double share with private ensuite bathroom

• Elegant 4-star hotels are available on request for a touch of extra luxury

• Optional 3 - 4 star hotel mix

• Single supplement available on request

 We Include Transport & Guide:

• Smooth, hassle-free return airport transfers

• Friendly, professional English-speaking chauffeur/guide to make your journey effortless

• Spacious, air-conditioned vehicle for relaxing travel

• Refreshing bottled water daily

 We Include Meals:

• Delicious daily breakfast and dinner (breakfast  -  beach hotels)

• 4-star upgrade: gourmet daily breakfast included

 We Include Experiences:

• Exciting wildlife elephant safari with park entry, 4x4 jeep adventure, and expert tracker

• Scenic, memorable train ride through lush tea country (subject to class availability)

• Relaxing Ayurvedic massage and vibrant cultural dance performance

• Authentic traditional cooking class in a local home

• Charming visits to local farm villages, rice paddies, with a hands-on lunch experience

• Invigorating spice garden walk with wellness talk

We Include Trip Highlights:

• Explore UNESCO sites Sigiriya Lion Rock, Dambulla Cave Temple

• Temple of the Tooth Relic

• Nine Arch Bridge, Little Adam’s Peak, Tea plantations & factory to

• Visit Ancient Cities, Negombo Fishing Village

• Royal Botanical Garden, Cultural Show

• Waterfalls viewpoints, Treks & hidden gems

• Gem Museum visit, walk the Local markets & local villages,

• Traditional curd/treacle and exotic fruit tasting on tour

• Tea shops & refreshing King coconut stops

We are an Australian Boutique agency, happy to customise a Dream itinerary for your family and friends.  With our wealth of experience, our local team in Sri Lanka, is here to offer a personal and unique unforgettable experience in Sri Lanka. 

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​*Itineraries may vary slightly and are subject to availability. Flights are not included.

Optional extras:   

All UNESCO Monuments & optional entrance fees will be paid directly by the client on the day, we will visit these during your tour as these are all optional,  you can decide on the day if you wish to enter.

UNESCO Sites/Visits and UNESCO qualified guides

All temples and sights are optional and on the day you decide if you wish to enter.

·       Dambulla Cave Temple

·       Sigiriya Lion Rock

·       Royal Botanical Garden

·       Temple of the Tooth Relic

·       High Tea in Nuwara Eliya

Arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport Colombo,  met and welcomed by a representative of Sri Lanka Escapes.

Let your adventure and journey begin. Acclimatise yourself with Sri Lanka as we drive to the coastal town of Negombo a unique picturesque fishing village and transfer to your hotel to relax. 

Midmorning, after a leisurely breakfast, you will meet your experienced Chauffeur/guide who will be with you for the duration of the trip.  He is a local with exceptional years of experience and knowledge and is very excited to show his beautiful country.   

Enjoy a city tour of Colombo with optional visits to Gangaramaya Temple, Revered Buddhist Temple, Independence Memorial Hall, National Museum of Colombo, Red Mosque Pettah, Sri Ponnambalavaneswarar Temple it is Oldest Hindu Temple. Optional visit to Lotus Tower which is the highest tower in South of Sri lanka.

Includes: Breakfast/Dinner

Colombo City Tour

After a leisurely breakfast, continue the drive and viewpoints to Belihuloya.  This is a four and half hour drive and along the way, we stop on the way to see beautiful temples and spectacular viewpoints on the way.  Belihuloya is a village in the Ratnapura District, of Sri Lanka south-east of Colombo.

This hillside location is a climatically transitional area, linking both the dry and wet zones and the hill and low country. 

 Reach your hotel in the evening and relax. 

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Belihuloya Village

Belihuloya is one of Sri Lanka’s hidden gems and is adorned with several unique and unforgettable nearby attractions, making it a hotspot for those who take a keen interest in nature and adventure.

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​Today we will visit Baker’s Bend is situated in upper side of the Non Pareil Estate bordering famous wildlife reserve Horton plains. Wonderful view of low lands towards the Indian Ocean, including the Samanala Wewa Reservoir is possible on a clear day from this view point, which is more than 1700m( 5000 feet) above sea level. This picturesque bend is surrounded by some beautiful mountains of the World's End Mountain Range.

We will also visit the scenic waterfall Pahanthudawa Waterfall and then proceed to see village life around Belihuloya. Walk through rice fields and beautiful nature and meet the locals. End the day with a nice swim in a natural pool.

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Belihuloya

Bakers Bend

Pahanthudawa waterfall

Rice fields

This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will visit the Bambarakanda Waterfall, the tallest one in Sri Lanka with a height of 263m. 

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We continue to Haputale, a small town on the southern edge of the Sri Lankan hill country. On a clear day you can see the coastline from the mountain ridge, but on other days thick mist clings onto the deep green mountains, tea fields, we stop at local Markets and feel the real life of Sri Lankans going about their day giving you a surreal experience of being surrounded by clouds. Explore the stunning surroundings of Haputale during your travels 

Optional visit to Lipton Seat via tuk tuk.  Lipton's Seat is a high observation point in the hills of Poonagala. Located on the top of the town's namesake, Poonagala Hill, it is also near the Dambatenne.

We continue to Ella and arrive at your hotel late afternoon and relax.

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Bambarakanda Waterfall

Haputale

Lipton Seat

After a leisurely breakfast, we walk through a beautiful path to see the Nine Arch Bridge, a connection of two mountains and also known as the ‘Bridge in the Sky’.  This bridge is 300 feet in length, 25 feet in width and 80-100 feet in height.  It is an amazing example of colonial era railway in Sri Lanka and this is located in Demodara and happens to be one of the best places to visit in Ella. 

Little Adam's Peak is an easy walk to reach the viewpoint. Climbing up the Little Adams Peak in Ella is one of the favourite activities of the tourists on their Sri Lankan holiday with majestic views and photo opportunities – it is only a leisurely 1 - 2 hour walk. Enjoy the view over the valley. 

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Nine Arch Bridge

Little Adams Peak

After a leisurely breakfast, depart on the famous scenic train trip.  The train ride to Nuwara Eliya powers down through Sri Lanka's southern hill country, crossing the tea plantations before it winds up and disappears into the clouds, weaving in and out of the many mountain tunnels as it finally descends to Nuwara Eliya.  Allowing you the opportunity to soak in the mystic vibes and cherish the beauty of slow travel.

Arrive at Nuwara Eliya and take a city tour and experience a few viewpoints before we go to the majestic Grand Hotel, the grand style and class of hotel dating back in time, and an Optional English High tea. 

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Majestic train trip

Nuwara Eliya city tour

After a leisurely breakfast, our adventure today will be a visit Ramboda known for its marvellous landscapes, comprising highlands, ridges, plains, streams and hilly mountains and see the scenic waterfalls.  

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Sri Lanka formerly known as Ceylon is famous for its quality tea.  Nuwara Eliya is Sri Lanka’s lush tea growing region, founded by the British explorer Samuel Baker in 1846 continues to give us the experience of the British colonial past with full operational tea plantations.

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En-route we will see local families of generation to generation working in the fields of rolling hills,  picking the tea leaves manually by hand.  We will visit a real time Tea processing factory to see how the tea is produced as there are many still in full operation today giving you an opportunity to taste the delights of fresh tea and the opportunity to buy to take home for family and friends.

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This afternoon we will visit one of the most stunning gardens, The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya.  In 1821 the park was under British rule and it then became known as the Botanical Garden.  Here exotic crops such as nutmeg, tea, rubber, coffee, cinchona are all unique and important to the country of Sri Lanka.  The garden also includes a beautiful orchid house and a wide variety of plant species from all over the world. 

Visit the Town of Kandy and walk along the local street to experience local shopping as we make our way to the Gem Museum to see how the gems are cultivated from beginning to end.  Sri Lanka is known as one of the largest gem producers in the world.  

Early evening we will attend the Sri Lankan traditional cultural show and watch the beautiful locals dancing in a rainbow of colorful cultural costumes as they perform their dances in grace and style. 

We will take a visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. It was founded back in the 16th century, it housed one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism – a tooth of Buddha collected from his funeral pyre, which is now protected within the gold-roofed Temple of the Tooth. Then transfer to your hotel and have time to relax.  Arrive at your hotel and unwind. 

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Tea Factory

The Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya

Kandy Town

Sri Lankan Cultural Show

Temple of the Tooth

After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to Sigiriya and we will stop at Matale and visit the unique Spice garden growing a large variety of spices.  Enjoy an informative talk about all the spices by a local qualified educational guide who explains all the natural remedies an opportunity to try and take spices and remedies home to enhance your health and wellness regime. 

We will visit Nalanda Gedige is an ancient complete stone temple near Matale and its original site is considered the geographical centre Sri Lanka. The building was constructed between the 8th and 10th centuries. 

An optional visit to Muttuariamman Temple in Matale was built in 1874.  This temple is used by both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple was originally a small statue under a tree prayed to by the Hindu people but has been developed by the people in Matale.

Visiting the stunning Cave Temples of  Dambulla, built by King Valagamba back in the 1st century BC.   Dambulla is named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Buddhist caves perched at the top of a hill.  It is worth the climb to see the 5 caves and stunning temples filled with over 150  colourful religious statues and paintings while experiencing the beautiful panoramic views. 

The monastic ensemble of Dambulla is an outstanding example of the religious art and expression of Sri Lanka and South and Southeast Asia.

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Then we can take a stroll through Dambulla Produce Market and discover new fruits and vegetables. Afternoon, arrive at your hotel and time to relax

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Matale Spice Garden

Nalanda Gedige

Muttuariamman Temple in Matale

Cave Temples of  Dambulla

Dambulla Market

After breafkast our adventures begin as we visit a local traditional village and enjoy a boat ride via the rice plantation making our way by boat as we enjoy the live lily pads.  We exit the boat and walk a little way to see a local farm and rice fields.  

Learn the secrets from the locals how to cook delicious Sri Lankan rice and curry and coconut roti. We also have the opportunity to experience how you can hull the rice as it has been done for generations and enjoy a local traditional lunch curry, roti, and fruits.

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After lunch, we will join an adventurous Elephant Wildlife Safari to see the wild elephants in a 4 x 4 jeep.    This is one of the most exciting safari experiences in Sri Lanka and an opportunity to take photos up close and personal to send home and share with family and friends.   

Includes Breakfast/Dinner

Traditional Village tour

Traditional Lunch

Elephant Wildlife Safari

Sri Lanka is home to at least 8 UNESCO World Heritage listed sites. Sigiriya is nominated among travel enthusiasts as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient rock fortress with awe-inspiring architecture.

This morning is the option to climb Pidurangala Rock, at the top you will enjoy the amazing view of Sigiriya Lion Rock with your group and at the top you have candid photo opportunities. Or for those keen about history, Sigiriya is nominated among travel enthusiasts as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an ancient rock fortress with awe inspiring architecture, with an amazing view of Fortress Sigiriya Lion Rock’ built by King Kayapa in the 5th century for all those who are fit. It is a spectacular 200 meters high natural formation of granite some 750 steps up and at the top, preserves the ruins of an ancient fortified palace.

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Experience the true Sri Lanka hospitality,  learn, experience and enjoy the taste and delights with the secrets of traditional Sri Lanka with a hands-on cooking class in a local Sri Lankan home.   

Time to wind down and enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic massage, commonly known as "Abhyanga", is a full-body massage performed using warm, medicinal oils, aims to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit. The idea is to stimulate specific energy points (marmas) on the body, thereby promoting physical healing, improving circulation, and enhancing mental clarity.   Return to your hotel and relax.  Includes Breakfast/Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we visit Trincomalee town to see Temples, culture and traditions of east Sri Lanka.  The art and cultural activities in Trincomalee will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions and artwork.

Visit The Koneswaram Temple - a popular place of worship in Sri Lanka and is one of the Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes) of Lord Shiva. The earliest mention of the temple goes way back to the 6th century BC.

In the afternoon time to relax and enjoy the beach.

Includes Breakfast

Trincolmaee Town

The Koneswaram Temple

After a leisurely breakfast,  enjoy a day of relaxation or take an Optional visit via boat to Pigeon Island. The Pigeon Island National Park comprises two islands. The islands are a breeding and feeding ground for over 300 species of coral reef fish, keeping the colourful underwater symphony alive.

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Enjoy and experience some snorkelling in the morning and afternoon and you can witness a variety of underwater life ranging from Trumper fish, angel fish, parrot fish, eels, coral gardens, and other colourful fishes, etc. There is also a high chance of seeing huge sea turtles and even blacktip sharks.  Or a day to relax on the beach 

Includes Breakfast

Snorkelling

After a leisurely breakfast enjoy a morning swim on a deserted beach be we depart mid morning to travel from the East Coast to the West Coast with a full day of travelling and we will reach our destination of Negombo and authentic the Fishing Village also known as little Rome. 

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Transfer you to a transit hotel to freshen and transfer to the airport for your evening  home ward bound flight.

Includes Breakfast/Dinner