Join us for a highlights tour of Sri Lanka!  In 8 days and 7 nights, we will explore the historic UNESCO world heritage temple sites, safari to see the wildlife at two National Parks, enjoy a local village tour and cooking demonstration of local cuisine and much more!

You will need to get a Visa to visit Sri Lanka.

On Day 1, we arrive in Columbo and are met by a tour representative.

You will want an early flight into Colombo (CMB) as we will start our adventures right away!

If you are flying out of Maldives, Matt and Sheila will be on: 

Flydubai flight 1025, departing Male (MLE) at 7:30am, landing in Colombo Bandaranaike (CMB) at 9:30am.

Once we have everyone, we will head to the Dambulla Cave Temple - a UNESCO world heritage site.  Dambulla Cave Temple (or the Golden Temple of Dambulla) is the largest and best-preserved cave templecomplex in Sri Lanka The Dambulla Cave Temple grounds also features afunctioning Buddhist Monastery dating back to the third and second centuries B.C.

We will be having dinner and staying the night at the Cinnamon Lodge Harabana.

** you must wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when visiting a temple, you must remove your footwear while inside the temple **

After breakfast, we proceed to World Heritage site of Sigiriya. The "Lion Mountain", 150m tall, has been visited from the 6th century AD, and the neighboring plateau, has been inhabited since the 3rd century BC!  Sigiriya was created by King Kasyapa who reigned between 477-495 AD.

After touring Sigiriya, we go to a local village:

• Walk around the rice paddy & vegetable gardens

• Learn about the organic food

• Be involved in a village cooking demonstration

• Enjoy a simple vegetarian lunch in the village setting

• Taste traditional sweets for desert

Evening return back to the Cinnamon Lodge.

Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel.

** you must wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when visiting a temple, you must remove your footwear while inside the temple **

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Pidurangala Monastry.  This involves about a 45 minute hike to the giant rock temple.  You will get super vistas of Sigiriya and the surrounding jungles of Sri Lanka from the plateau.  You can expect to see ancient ruins, could spot monkeys, exotic birds and other animals along the way.

There will be a packed lunch to save time so we can get to Minneriya National Park. and spend the half a day to study the elephants of Sri Lanka.

Minneriya National Park, 8889 hectares (about 34 square miles) is famous for it's large population of elephants!  Herds of 100 to 150 roam the jungle and the catchment area of the lake.

Wild elephants, buffaloes, boar, spotted deer, sloth bear, Sambhur, leopards, crocodiles, jackals, 9 kinds of amphibians, 25 kinds of reptiles, 160 species of birds, 26 varieties of fishes and 78 varieties of butterflies have been recorded in Minneriya National Park!

In the evening, we return back to the Cinnamon Lodge. 

Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.

** you must wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees when visiting a temple, you must remove your footwear while inside the temple **

After breakfast travel to Rideegama Monastery

• Visit to Rideegama Temple and guided program of Monastery and

temple

• Trekking to “payangala Rock”

• See the natural meditation spots.

• Simple/Traditional lunch at the local village

Drive to Kandy

Tour of Kandy City, If time permits visit Kandy Temple of the tooth relic and

witness the Kandyan dance performances at Kandyan art centre.

Check in at the Golden Crown Hotel.  Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel.

Transfer is a drive on the Southern Expressway. 

This journey takes about 5 1/2 hours.

We did have a train ride on the schedule previously. This has been changed due to the loud and uncomfortable reviews of the train and the desire to spend more time in the national parks seeking the elephants.

Lunch will be a long the way at local restaurant

Evening finds us checking in at the Hilton Weerawila, Yala hotel. 

There will be time to relax and enjoy the pool and hotel facilities.

Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

One of the highlights of the trip!  Double safari to Yala National park!

Elephants are the most often-spotted inhabitants of the vast Yala National Park

in the southeast of Sri Lanka, east of Matara, but they share the reserve with 130

different species of birds and other creatures like sambar deer, spotted deer, sloths,

crocodiles, monkeys, wild boar and porcupines. There is also a small population

of leopards.  

5:45am : Early morning Jeep Safari at Yala National Park, with packed breakfast.

Half day safari.  Bring your binoculars, sunblock, mosquito repellent and luck!

Return to hotel for refresh.

Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon Jeep safari to Yala National Park.  

Let's find the animals that were still sleeping in the morning!  

Evening return back to the Hilton Weerawila hotel. 

Dinner and Overnight at the hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, we will proceed to the City of Galle for a tour of the city and visit the Galle Dutch fort.

Galle is Sri Lanka’s most historically interesting town. It was a major port until about 100 years ago.  Galle still has shipping and sailing boats in the natural harbor.

Stroll around the lighthouse and harbor or visit the old town where you can see the traditional lace makers and wood carvers.

This is your chance to buy fresh, delicious teas and souvenirs.

In the afternoon, you can relax and enjoy the beach and pool at Occidental Eden,

Bentota.

Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, we will do a 2 hour transfer to Colombo airport to catch flights out.

Aloha to our fantastic time in Sri Lanka.