You will be met on arrival at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport and transfered by private vehicle to your hotel in Sigiriya.Standard check-in time is at 14:00hrs. Check-in, then spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Polonnaruwa is the second of Sri Lanka’s most ancient kingdoms. It was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated Chola invaders in 1070 to reunite the country under a local leader. Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best-planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom’s first rulers. Polonnaruwa is divided into four areas. The visit starts with the Kings Palace and Baths. We will then visit three different tooth relic temples before proceeding on to see the stupas. The visit ends on the far western side of the complex where you will see one of the most astonishing Buddhist rock carvings in Sri Lanka. Visitors have the option to walk, bike or drive between locations but do bear it mind that it will most likely be very hot out and to take the necessary precautions. In the event that it might rain, you can make use of one of the umbrellas from the vehicle.

Located in the heart of the Cultural Triangle Minneriya, Eco, and Kaudulla National Parks are among the best parks to see Elephants on the island, with large herds of elephants migrating between each park during different seasons. The parks mostly consist of a mixed forest of evergreen shrubs, a favorite habitat for animals, which include deer and wild elephants.Which park you visit will depend on the time of year and the recent sightings in the parks. Since the parks are relatively close to each other, the decision of which park to visit will be often made on the day itself, based on up-to-date information about the location of the elephants at that given time, ensuring you the best sightings. From the safety of a well-equipped 4×4 you will navigate the park with a naturalist who will be able to point out various animal species to you and knows the best spots from which to view the elephants. It’s a bumpy ride but a great adventure and nothing beats the feeling of seeing wild elephants mere meters away from your jeep.

This Unesco World Heritage Site is a spectacular rock fortress and is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions. Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 A.D), the most impressive facets of this unique complex are the water gardens, the frescoes, the mirror wall and the lion platform. The summit, which is an area of 1.6 hectares, was originally completely covered by buildings, but only remains of the royal citadel can be seen today. The old stairway to the top originally led through the mouth of a crouching lion but today only the huge paws remain giving an indication of the massive proportions of the head.Sigiriya consists of 1,200 steps. The first part of the visit is a leisurely walk through the pleasure gardens. Then one starts to climb. There are two areas where visitors can take a break on the way up. The experience takes approximately 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the speed at which you wish to ascend. Please note that there are some sections where the path or staircase is very narrow with steep drops, protected by fences. We do not recommend this for those without a head for heights or the less mobile. Water is provided. If it looks like it might rain, don’t forget to take an umbrella from the vehicle.

Lunch at this idyllic batik workshop is a must when travelling from the cultural triangle to Kandy. Enjoy the gardens and see some of the finest batik on the island before sitting down to a spectacular 25-dish lunch spread.You will be welcomed by the team who manage the workshop who will welcome you into this haven and treat you to the most sumptuous meal you are likely to have in Sri Lanka, albeit a spicy one! The house is on a hill and some vehicles cannot reach the top, in which case a tuk tuk is organized for the final stretch. Feel free to walk around the house and mingle in the kitchen and meet your chef. Lunch usually lasts between 1-1.5 hours.The famous batik artist who once used this beautiful property as her workshop was the daughter of Sir Richard Aluwihare, the first Ceylonese Inspector General of Police and Lucille Moonemalle. The legendary batik artist began her lifelong devotion to art in the 1960s. Together with Laki Senanayake she started producing batik. In the 1980s she returned to her ancestral home in Matale where she has been living ever since. She founded the Aluwihare Heritage Centre in her own front yard, and has trained the villagers in carpentry, wood carving, abstract hand painting, brass foundry, batik, tie-dye and needlework. Her design work is inspired by traditional Sri Lankan art and crafts.

Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple.Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with a herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.The visit typically lasts one hour. First you walk towards the temple through the gardens. Your guide will buy your entrance tickets. We recommend buying a lotus flower right at the entrance – 100 LKR per set, which you can purchase yourself. Your guide will walk you through the various chambers explaining the history and significance of the temple.

Directly and indirectly, over one million Sri Lankans are employed in the tea industry. A large proportion of the workforce are young women and the minimum working age is 12. As tea plantations grew in Sri Lanka and demanded extensive labour, finding an abundant workforce was a problem for planters. Sinhalese people were reluctant to work in the plantations so Indian Tamils were brought to Sri Lanka at the beginning of the coffee plantations. Immigration of Indian Tamils steadily increased and by 1855 there were 55,000 new immigrants. By the end of the coffee era there were some 100,000 living in Sri Lanka. Today, as a community, they remain instrumental to the tea industry.Giragama Tea Factory is one of the oldest in Sri Lanka. The eponymous English "cuppa" might have been somewhat stronger if not for the 1865 coffee blight. Old Ceylon’s up-country plantations were devastated – but not so the spirits of the pioneering planters. They threw in a crop of tea and never looked back. You will visit a tea plantation and observe how the plant is grown and harvested. From here you will travel to a factory and learn about the whole processing procedure and how different types of teas are created.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Kandy and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel in charming Galle Fort. 

Spend a morning or afternoon strolling around the fort with a 4th generation Galle Fort resident. First built in 1588 by the Portuguese, the Galle Fort was extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century from 1649 onwards. Once a busy port trading with Greece, China and the Middle East, Galle Fort is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument – a living and breathing Unesco Heritage site with a colourful history and a multiethnic population.Your host is a resident of Galle from a Muslim family. Her walk takes you through the past and present, from the spot where the first Portuguese boats landed to where the English left off. The walk through one of the modern wonders of the world is a factual one, and full of tales from legendary past battles for the Fort, alliances that were forged and destroyed and insider knowledge of the Fort’s unique urban ensemble, a melting pot of culture, styles and traditions spanning over three centuries. Stroll through fortifications, public administration buildings, warehouses, underground cells and places of business of the past and present interspersed with churches, temples and mosques.Your host’s Moorish ancestors first arrived on the shores of Galle in the mid-17th century in one of the earliest waves of spice traders and gem merchants. Having travelled the world, she now resides in Galle with her husband, Sri Lanka’s one time ‘King of Gems’ and her four children.

Experience a magical deep sea adventure in the safe hands of watersport’s naturalists. Catch the thrills of the acrobatic spinner dolphins in mid-air and witness the largest animal to ever inhabit our planet - the Blue Whale - as you take to the waters on this boat tour adventure. Departing from Mirissa Harbour, you can expect to see some of the following marine life: Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, Bryde's Whales, Pilot Whales, Common Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins, Turtles and Whale Sharks. Note that while the chances of seeing a whale are high, sightings are not guaranteed. Spinner dolphins can be seen on most mornings. Lifejackets and safety equipment are provided on board.

Today is a full day at leisure in Talpe. Make the most of the beach or for the more active, there are a range of watersports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, deep sea fishing and whale and dolphin watching available to organise at the hotel.Safari trips to Uda Walawe and Yala National Park are also possible to see the country's willife, including elephants, monkeys, birdlife, and,  if you are lucky, leopards. Alternatively, stay local and book a guided tour of Galle Fort or go on one of the bike or walking tours through bird sanctuaries and plantations. Visits to local temples, tea estates and factories are also possible.To relax, consider booking a massage or a private or group yoga session at the hotel. The hotel can organise indoor massage treatments or if preferred, nearby spas and yoga centres can be booked on your behalf. 

Private transfer to Colombo Airport for your onward flight.