Summer Getaway on the East Coast - 12 Days

On arrival at the Bandaranayke International Airport, you will get your first taste of warm Sri Lankan hospitality; a representative will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to Negombo.

Overnight stay at Suriya Arana - Standard Room or Similar

In the early morning, you will visit the Fish Market (Lellama) where there are fish auctions daily. You can observe how local people bargain and buy your own fish and have it preserved in a cold box for your BBQ dinner in Sigiriya. The Fishing Village is located across the lagoon bridge, near the Old Dutch Gate in Negombo. This is the second largest open-air fish market in Sri Lanka. This will give you a better insight to a local fisher community. You will be able to witness the fishermen in hundreds of boats bringing in their days catch. See how the wholesalers and restaurateurs trade and watch the packing & loading of fish for distribution across the country as well as for export worldwide. A wooden or galvanized box was strapped to the cycles and eventually, the cycle vendors paddled down the streets, making their way through makeshift fish stalls and little teashops. After breakfast, transfer to Sigiriya where you will climb the Sigiriya rock fortress in the afternoon. The 5th century Sigiriya rock fortress was built by King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). The 'Lion Rock' is a citadel of unusual beauty rising 200 metres from the scrub jungle. The rock was the innermost stronghold of the 70 hectare fortified town. A moat, rampart, and extensive gardens including the renowned water gardens ring the base of the rock. Visit the world-renowned frescoes of the 'Heavenly Maidens' of Sigiriya, which are in a sheltered pocket of the rock approached by a spiral stairway. These frescoes are painted in earth pigments on.

In the evening, barbecue the fish you bought from Lellama. It will be a nice experience to make your own BBQ while learning the techniques of barbecuing.

Overnight stay at Kassapa Lions Rock - Chalet Room or Similar

After breakfast proceed to visit Polonnaruwa. Polonnaruwa is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is the second largest city in this province and famous for its clean and beautiful environment, amazing ancient constructions and most importantly the huge lake ‘Parakrama Samudra’ built in 1200 The city has many untouched ancient archeological relic sites and remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country. UNESCO has declared the ancient city as one of the World Heritage sites.

In the afternoon visit to Minneriya National Park. (Herds of elephants can be spotted where the water is abundant inside the parks. Depending on that, you will visit either Minneriya or Kaudulla or Eco park). Minneriya Park is a national park in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The park is a dry season feeding ground for the elephant population. Sri Lankan Leopard and Sloth bear which are rare and endangered species also inhabit this area. The park was declared as a wild life sanctuary in order to protect the watershed of Minneriya tank and the wildlife of the surrounding area. The tank is historically important for the country as it was built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD.

Overnight stay at Kassapa Lions Rock - Chalet Room or Similar

After breakfast transfer to Trincomalee. The famed Trincomalee harbor is also located here. Further, many historical Kovils are found here, visited by many Hindu and Buddhist devotees. The famous hot springs, whale watching, clean and shallow beaches are some of the other tourist attractions. Nilaveli is situated on the North West of Trincomalee and has one of the best beaches. Tourist industry is blooming here once again after the end of the civil war. Airforce and domestic airport are found at China Bay in the South West part of Trincomalee. Explore the city of Trincomalee in the afternoon and then return to your hotel and relax.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel Anantamaa - Standard Room or Similar

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, you will have a session of snorkeling (only possible from May to September). Leave around 11:30 by boat to explore the Pigeon Island National Park, which is a sanctuary located about a kilometer off the mainland. The name Pigeon Island is due to the large number of pigeons that use the rocky cliffs of the island as nesting grounds. Afterwards, enjoy a picnic lunch at Pigeon Island National Park (this includes a small packet of rice and curry in banana leaf). Return to the hotel and relax.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel Anantamaa - Standard Room or Similar

Breakfast at hotel. Spend the day enjoying the beach.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel Anantamaa - Standard Room or Similar

Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to Knuckels via Bakamuna. En route, visit Moragahakanda Dam and enjoy the lunch with a local family in Bakamuna. Following lunch, you will visit to spice garden in Matale, where the scent of cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and mace will overwhelm your senses. You will be provided an insight to the industry of spice production in Sri Lanka. After the spice garden visit, continue to Knuckles.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Wild Glamping Knuckles - Luxury Tent

After breakfast, spend the day hiking and exploring the Knuckles Mountains and the surrounding tea estates. The Knuckles are some of the most pristine well preserved wilderness areas in the island and they offer some excellent hiking trails.

Dinner & Overnight stay at Wild Glamping Knuckles - Luxury Tent

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Nuwara Eliya via Kandy. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings which is a World Heritage Site. The name "Kandy" conjures visions of splendor and magnificence. Many of the legends, traditions and folklore are still lovingly kept alive. Drive around the Kandy Lake built by the last Sinhala king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe in 1798. Visit the Kandy town and Bazaar, the arts & crafts center, a gem museum and a lapidary. Also, if you are interested in Gems & Jewelry you could visit the gem museum shops in the area which is famous for so many years. Visit the temple of tooth relic during “Thewawa “ceremony. In the heart of the town is the Temple of the Tooth (Dalada Maligawa), the most important shrine in the country, which houses a relic of a tooth of Lord Buddha extracted from his funeral pyre in 543 BC. It is renowned for its daily 'Thewawa' ceremony. Each evening, the day's worship culminates when the casket containing the tooth relic is put on display to devotees who have travelled from all over the Buddhist world. Continue the journey to NuwaraEliya.

En-route visit to a tea factory and a plantation and proceed to Nuwera Eliya. Often referred to as 'Little England', this genteel highland community does have a rose-tinted, vaguely British-country-village feel to it, with it’s colonial – era bungalows, hotels and pretty gardens. Nuwara Eliya meaning "city on the plain or "city of light" is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka. It is one of the major tea producing areas and the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka "Pidurutalagala" oversees this beautiful city.

Overnight stay at Mirage Kings Cottage - Standard room

Breakfast at the hotel. Today is a day free to enjoy on your own.

Overnight stay at Mirage Kings Cottage - Standard room

Breakfast at the hotel. Optional: If you wish to leave the hotel around 06.00 with a packed breakfast, you can witness the beautiful sunrise from Single Tree Hills. Due to the high altitude in Nuwara Eliya, morning temperatures can vary between 2.5°C - 4.5°C, up at the hill. Then you will be transferred to Colombo.

Overnight stay at Wonder Colombo - Standard room

Optional: En route White Water Rafting in Kitulgala (not included)
This thrilling adventure on the white water section of the Kelani River is suitable for amateurs as well as professionals alike. During the run, you will experience the thrill of shooting rapids and euphoria of making it through. The river’s clear water is born in the heart of the peak wilderness reserve and tumbles through a rocky George just above Kithulgala. As the river widens, you will pass the scenic location used to film - "Bridge over the river Kwai" which was filmed in 1956, a good place to jump in for a refreshing swim. On a clear day, you may even dive to see the remains of the actual bridge and the carriages used for the film (only for experienced divers with proper equipment). Continue the journey to Colombo.

Breakfast at the hotel, and then a sightseeing/shopping tour around the busy streets of Colombo before being transferred to the airport. This is the end of the tour.

Optional: City tour in Colombo, if time permits (not included).

Accommodation at specified hotels or similar standard hotels on BB basis
Services of an English-speaking driver
Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
One bottle of mineral water per person per day
Entrance fees to
- Sigiriya
- Polonnaruwa
- Minneriya National Park + Jeep
- 01 Snorkeling session at Pigeon Island - Inclusive of boat trip.
- Lunch in Bakamuna
- 01 Hike in Knuckles
- Temple of tooth relic
- Tea Factory Visit