Negombo is the nearest city to the airport therefore do not miss a night in Negombo to relax and refresh after the flight. Negombo is famous for its fishing culture and churches.This city where the majority is Christian, is renowned for its cultural and social uniqueness. Thus it is also referred to as the Little Rome of Sri Lanka.

Highlight – The top attractions include a not-to-miss visit to the heart of this town, the fish market. Its colorful riots will give you an experience like no other. This fishing town mostly depends on this market, therefore it is one of the best places to sneak peek into the lives of fishermen in Sri Lanka.

The other activities in Negombo include, a visit to the Negombo Lagoon and bird watching in Muthurajawela Marshes and a boat ride in the Hamilton Canal. This ride is an exciting way of seeing the fishing town coming to life along the river.

Do not miss the city tour by tuk-tuk to visit the beautiful old churches with Gothic architecture and stunning ceiling murals. St.Mary’s church, St. Sebastian’s church in Wellaweediya and St. Sebestian’s Anglican Church are amongst the most visited Churches in Sri Lanka. St.Sebestian’s church at Katuwapitiya became popular after the shocking Easter attack in 2019 where more than 100 lives of devotees of Christ were ruthlessly taken away.

A well spent evening in a seaside restaurant, with mouthwatering seafood and cool sea breeze will take away any stress of the day. Boost up your energy to start traveling inland where more adventures are awaiting just for you!

This heritage packed city is 4-5 hours away from Negombo. It is famous for its historical, cultural and natural attractions which speaks volumes of the wondrous island of Sri Lanka.

Enroute, we visit Dambulla Cave temple, a world heritage site of Sri Lanka. This temple dates back to the 1st Century BC. It is believed that prehistoric ancestors of Sri Lanka would have lived in these caves before the arrival of Buddhism. The nearby archeological burial site of Ibbankatuwa proves their existence in the area. The temple complex comprises 5 main caves with meticulously carved Buddha statues, Stupas and paintings, depicting the craftsmanship and culture of arts of ancient Sri Lankans.

Evening visit to the Sigiriya rock fortress and the museum is a must while you’re in Dambulla. The history of this monument roots back to the 5th Century BC. It was a monastery and then a fortress and palace for King Kassapa. The rock is surrounded by an extensive complex of fortification, water garden, boulder garden, caves, canals and alleys. The top of the rock plateau still holds the foundation of the ruined palace and pools used by the king.

Waking up before sunrise we head towards Minneriya – Kaudulla to spot the largest elephant gathering in South Asia. Enjoy the charm of watching more than 100 elephants majestically roaming in a herd, gathering near water holes to quench their thirst and feeding on the greens for breakfast.

Highlight – We enjoy the afternoon at leisure at the hotel before visiting Hiriwadunna Village for an authentic rural experience. During the Hiriwadunna village tour you can enjoy a boat ride in a breathtakingly beautiful backdrop, join a family for a Sri Lankan snack and spend a splendid, slow evening in the picturesque village which still has its unbeatable natural beauty.

Today we leave for Trincomalee, our beach resort for the next couple of days.

Arriving at the hotel we relax and refresh before visiting the Koneswaram Temple which is of utmost importance for the Hindu population living in both Sri Lanka and India. Located on top of a cliff at the edge of the sea, the temple and its massive statues of Hindu gods gives a unique vibe which cannot be seen anywhere else in the country. The temple is visited by devotees of all religions due to the belief that this sacred temple has the power to make your wishes come true.

On your way to the hotel visit the Kanniya Hot Water springs. The site consists of 7 wells constructed on natural hot springs which have different temperatures compared to one another. This is one of the very few places in Sri Lanka where hot springs can be seen.

Highlight – Wake up early for an adventurous morning at the Pigeon Island National Park which is the best snorkeling destination in Sri Lanka. It is one of the two Marine National Parks of Sri Lanka renowned for its highly diverse coral bed which is home for a vast range of aquatic life including reef sharks. It is easily accessible from the Nilaveli Beach and ideal for anyone who loves to experience snorkeling. You do not need to be a good swimmer to have this wonderful one in a lifetime experience.

After lunch we enjoy the rest of the day at leisure by the beach, watching your last day at the east coast coming to an end.

We travel inland today towards the second Kingdom of ancient Ceylon, Polonnaruwa. With the invasions from South India, Anuradhapura kingdom collapsed giving birth to the Polonnaruwa era which was a flourishing period with utmost importance to the history and culture of Sri Lanka.

Meticulously carved stone statues of Lord Buddha at Gal Viharaya (Stone Temple), buddhist temples with Hindu Influence including Vatadageya, massive brick columns of Lankathilaka Image house and its 41 feet tall brick statue of the Buddha, remains of the ancient palace of King Parakramabahu are just a few highlights among many other significant sites located in the ancient City of Polonnaruwa.

We travel further to the center of the island to spend our night in Kandy.

Kandy housed the last throne and also a pinnacle in the history of Sri Lanka , where the palace and the surroundings still stand proudly in the center of the city. Have an early start for the day and get yourself packed up to experience the beauty, the luscious cuisine and cooley-freaky environment of Kandy, which is another not-to-miss spot which has a high concentration of cultural, historical and natural importance to Sri Lanka.

After checking in at the hotel we could visit a unique Gem store to learn about the gem and jewelry making process and the significance of the Sri Lankan gem and jewelry culture. Your journey will begin at the gem mine. Complete with life-like models and ambient sound effects, the mine will help you understand the effort and extent of labor that is required, in the hard attempt taken to find the gems.

After exploring the crafts of gem and jewelry and the hard work they put into the craftsmanship, we can straightaway hook ourselves up with a Cultural show which is an hour long depiction of diverse hues of Sri Lankan tradition. This is performed by the Kandy Lake Club which was founded in 1982 with a view to bringing together all the dance types of Sri Lanka to a single platform.

Later in the evening, It would be a perfect time to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Buddha. This is of utmost cultural and religious importance to Sri Lankans and Buddhists living world wide

Leaving Kandy after breakfast we will soon be on our way to Colombo.

Highlight – On our way, we visit the Elephant Freedom Project to enjoy a couple of hours with a gentle giant. It is a wonderful sight to see unchained elephants roaming freely, enjoying their best life. Surrounded by many elephant riding places, they make the difference by not promoting elephant rides which is why we love this small, family run project. Accompany an elephant on walks while learning about them, bathe and feed them while not missing out on the amazing photo opportunities.

Arriving in Colombo in the evening we enjoy our last dinner in style at a chic restaurant in the city. If you are a food lover let us take you on a food tour to boost your taste buds with spices from East to West. From sea food platters to burger towers, from shawarmas to crepes, from rotis to pastas, from tea to chai; Colombo serves them all.

Today, we bid farewell to beauty-packed Ceylon. If time permits, enjoy a last minute shopping tour in Colombo to take home some tangible memories from paradise island.