Tranquil Tropics Retreat

Day 01 : Arrival / Relax Optional - Game Drive in Minneriya National Park

A warm welcome to Sri Lanka by our representative / your guide, at the Bandaranaike International airport, 30 KMS North of Colombo, the Island’s capital. You will be transferred to your hotel for the next four night’s stay in the cultural triangle area, which is about a 4 hours’ drive. This area formed the heartland of the powerful Sinhalese Kingdoms who ruled the Island for most of its history, and who left in their wake some of Asia’s most remarkable monuments, the most impressive of which you’ll be visiting over the coming days. These consist of spectacular fortified palaces, huge dagobas, giant, serene-faced Buddhas and massive water tanks built to irrigate the surrounding fields, the ruins of these great urban centers are mostly scattered around here. Check in at your hotel where you will spend the next 2 nights. Spend the rest of the day relaxing by the poolside at your hotel. (Optional) Later in the afternoon take a Jeep Safari in Minneriya National Park. Its renowned for large herds of elephants. The Minneriya Tank, a reservoir built by an ancient civilization, attracts large herds of elephants, deer, and water buffalo to its shores, particularly during the dry season (June to September) when Minneriya National Park gains fame for the “the Gathering”, when you as many 300 wild elephants around the reservoir.

Recommended Activities: Exploring Minneriya National Park

Day 02 : Sigiriya Rock Fortress / Dambulla Cave Temple / Local Village Visit with a Cookery Demonstration

It’s going to be a long day. Enjoy an early breakfast and visit the UNESCO-listed 5th century site of Sigiriya. Accessed by a steep 600 feet hike up to the ancient natural rock fortress that dominates the surrounding landscape. Marvelous views across the countryside of the Cultural Triangle are your reward for the haul to the top. The ruins of Sigiriya King Kassapa's Sky Fortress dominate the landscape of the Cultural Triangle. A series of steep staircases and catwalks climb to the summit of the great inselberg. Along the way you’ll pass wall paintings of curvaceous apsaras, or ‘heavenly nymphs’, delicately painted frescos believed to have been modelled on the real-life queens and princesses who once lived in the palace above, tucked beneath an overhanging rock. Make a pause at the huge lion paws carved in to the rock, the original gateway to the fort. On your return visit the Dambulla Cave Temple and yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sri Lanka’s greatest cave-temple complex, the walls and ceiling of this Buddhist site are resplendent with frescoes and there are hundreds of statues of Buddha, Hindu kings and deities. The history of these five caves’ embellishment dates from the first century BC and changes and additions have been made right up to nowadays. Dambulla is located on a huge granite outcrop in the Dry Zone, with views extending over the tropical canopy to distant Sigiriya and beyond. Make a visit to a nearby village and get a glimpse of an authentic local experience, gaining insight into the daily activities of the villagers, and enjoying a catamaran ride on the lake. Take a tuk-tuk ride to a village house where you will interact with a local family and learn the art of preparing an authentic Sri Lankan lunch. Tasty traditional sweet meats for dessert and warm Ceylon tea will enrich the experience.

Recommended Activities: Dambulla Cave Temple Experience Traditional Village Life Sigiriya Rock

Day 03 : Matale Spices / Kandy Sight-seeing

Enjoy breakfast and later depart for Kandy. Enroute to Kandy, in Matale visit a Specie Garden to see how the local species including cinnamon, cardamom, pepper creepers and other spice trees grow, their numerous forms of use. Make a city tour of Kandy, the island’s cultural capital and the last capital of the Sinhalese monarchy, Kandy is encircled by jungle-covered hills. Located in the refreshing highlands, Kandy is easy to fall in love with. Stop at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the island’s most revered Buddhist shrine. Pilgrims dressed in white clothes come to worship throughout the day, carrying lotus blooms and frangipani flowers to present at the shrine. Proceed exploring Kandy’s colorful Bazar, Upper Lake, arts centers, museums etc. Visit the Kandy’s Royal Botanical Gardens famed for the world-class collection of orchids, palms and, the real showstopper, a giant Javan fig tree. Later attend a cultural dance performance with fire dancing.

Recommended Activities: Tour Of The Spice Garden The Temple Of The Tooth Relic, Kandy Discover Local Spices Kandy City Tour

Day 04 : Nuwara eliya by Train

Enjoy the breakfast and board the train from Peradeniya railway station to Nanuoya, near to Nuwara eliya, on a scenic three and a half-hour train journey (dependent on the local railway regulations) through Sri Lanka’s beautiful highlands. The drive is scenic, nature rich, with mountains covered with tea bushes. Your driver guide will meet you at Nanuoya and bring you to the hotel for the night’s stay. Later make a sight-seeing tour. Explore the city center to see the colonial buildings, Race Course, Hill Club Hotel, Gregory Lake and Sita Amman Kovil.

Recommended Activities: Royal Turf Club, Nuwara Eliya Royal Botanical Gardens Ambewala Farm

Day 05 : Horton Plains / World’s End / Tea Experience / Discover Ella

Enjoy your breakfast and make a visit to Horton Plains, also known as the World’s end. Horton Plains National Park in the central highlands is a stunning natural wonder. Park is home for a variety of wildlife and to the world’s end. The plains plateau comes to a sudden end at World's End, a stunning escarpment that plunges 880m. The nature walk here is around 4kms with the trail that loops back to Baker's Falls is another 2kms. The continuation back to the entrance is of another 3.5 kms. The round trip walk takes a leisurely three hours. On your way back, visit a tea factory to learn how the region’s most fragrant brews are produced. The Tea experience starts with a guided tour of a local tea factory, where you’ll be shown how the top best leaves are picked and processed. Taste a cup of freshly brewed pure Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Tea. You can also buy fresh tea from the factory outlet. Later for Ella a nature rich village. Ella is a beautiful small town in the hill country. It is a great base for tourists who want to explore the surrounding hills and enjoy the breathtaking views of Badulla's green valleys. Look out through Ella Gap, a deep valley connecting the city of Ella with the low country. See the beauty of the broadest Rawana Ella water fall. Check in at your hotel for the night’s stay. Evening relax at your hotel or sit by a vibrant pub in Ella center.

Recommended Activities: Tea Plucking Horton Plains Explore the Serene Beauty of Kandy Tea Hills on an Enchanting Trek

Day 06: Discover Ella / Embilipitiya / Udawalawa

Have your breakfast and make tour around Ella, a nature rich village. Visit Ella Gap, the Little Adam’s peak, 9 arches bridge etc. Ella is a beautiful small town in the hill country. It is a great base for tourists who want to explore the surrounding hills and enjoy the breathtaking views of Badulla's green valleys. Little Adam’s Peak is a nice and not so hard trek about 2 hours both ways to a mountain peak which greets you with jaw dropping views while Ella rock is a more challenging hike, but views are worth the effort. The 9 arches bridge which was built by the British’s during their colonial days is a very nice spot to see trains passing by through the tunnel. Later in the afternoon head south to Embilipitiya, our base for exploring Udawalawa National Park and settle for the early mor game drive.

Recommended Activities: Udawalawe National Park Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home

Day 07 : Morning Game Drive in Udawalawe National Park / South Coast (Galle)

Make an early morning game drive at the Udawalawa National Park. This is probably one of the best places to spot the famous Sri Lankan Elephants, the biggest of all the Asian Elephants. It is thought that there are around 400 elephants here. The Park is also home to the elusive leopard, the Sri Lankan sloth bear and varies types of deer. The Park, which centers on the Udawalawa Reservoir, is lightly vegetated, but it has a stark beauty. The lack of dense vegetation makes your game watching easy. Have a late breakfast. Visit the Elephant Transit Home located near Udawalawa National Park, where abandoned baby elephants are cared for before they are released into the park. Later leave Galle. Stay overnight at your hotel in the Dutch Period Fort.

Day 08 : Galle Fort / Sea Turtle Hatchery / Colombo sight-seeing

Enjoy the breakfast at leisure and explore the Southern capital city of Galle, Sri Lanka's finest colonial treasure, and once the greatest port in Ceylon. Galle Dutch Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage listed site, it mixes the exotic with the colonial. The architectural legacies of Portuguese and Dutch settlers alongside more traditional Sri Lankan styles are visible. Visit the Galle Fort, the Light House, the Maritime Museum, the ancient Dutch Reformed Church, the Sun and the Moon bastions and many other fascinating sights. Later after wandering the narrow streets in the Fort, dotted with Dutch colonial villas, museums, restaurants, pubs and antique shops, leave for your beach hotel in the south / west coast. Sri Lanka’s serene south / west coast is a non-stop parade of beautiful, wave-lashed beaches, backed by stands of gently inclined coconut palms and pretty, low-rise fishing villages and resorts. Stop at a turtle Hatchery and release a few baby Turtles to the sea. Afternoon drive to Colombo. Make a short sight-seeing tour of Colombo before checking into your hotel in Colombo.

Recommended Activities: The Dutch Reformed Church, Galle Turtle Hatchery, Kosgoda Shopping Spree At Urban Malls – Colombo Relaxed Evening At Galle Face Green The National Museum ,Colombo

Day 08 : Transfer to Airport for onward flight

Enjoy your breakfast and later make the transfer to the airport for your onward flight