With close proximity to Colombo – Kandy mainroad, with just 1 hour ride from the Bandaranaike International Airport, sits the historically and geographically significant city of Attanagalla. This city is often underestimated due to its unpopularity as a tourist destination even though it is home to beautiful hidden cultural and natural hotspots for travelers who seek real, uncommercialized and authentic Sri Lankan experience.

Check into your hotel and relax before touring the small city. This city is most popular for the Attanagalla Raja Maha Viharaya which houses the only Vatadage (shrine covering a stupa) in Sri Lanka that is still intact. In fact, this temple is the only one of its kind where the visitor can walk into the Vatadage of which the walls still have the remains of old murals which are identified as fresco paintings (method of painting water-based pigments on freshly applied plaster, usually on wall surfaces).

Visit a small scale coconut distribution center to see the traditional process of plucking and husking the fruit, smoke-drying Copra, and extracting coconut oil while having hands-on experience of each step in the process.

Highlight – Join a local family in the village to prepare an authentic meal with coconut. Enjoy the food you helped prepare with a refreshing ginger tea while learning more about the history and people whose livelihood depends on coconut, rubber, and tea plantations.

Wake up early today as we travel inland to explore more hidden glamor of the island. Have a short snack break in Kithulgala on your way to Nawalapitiya. Hop onto a double canoe and cross the Kelani River to enjoy a trek up the hill in Makandawa Forest reserve. The path lies under a well covered canopy of trees and vines that make the trek a fantastic experience. There are different routes taking you to separate viewpoints and waterfalls. At the summit of the hill is a natural pool where you can enjoy some time in the water, refreshing and relaxed.

Check in to the hotel and relax before exploring the tea plantations and waterfalls close to your hotel. Kadiyanlena Waterfall is a charmer. It cascades in multiple layers allowing travelers to capture amazing pictures.

This is one of the most breathtaking cities in the hill country, covered with greenish mountains, tea plantations, deep blue reservoirs and some of the most beautiful waterfalls. This city is one of the gateways to the Sri Pada/Adam’s peak trail. The Sri Pada climbing season is from December to April every year. This is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for locals. If you wish to climb up the mountain it’s advisable to start late at night in order to enjoy the breathtaking views of the sunrise from above the second highest peak in Sri Lanka.

Saptha Kanya (Seven virgins) mountain range is another exciting hiking spot in Sri Lanka. This is recommended to travelers who’d like hard adventures, because the trail falls through steep slopes and thick green bushes. The comparatively strenuous hike will take you to the most striking and unspoilt places in the hill country.

The two days you spend in Maskeliya will allow you to enjoy canoeing in the picturesque Castlereigh Reservoir, enjoy stunning views of the Maskeliya reservoir, cycle in the narrow pathways in tea plantations, and visit multiple waterfalls including Gartmore and Moray.

Do not forget to appreciate the Hindu dominating social and religious aspects that add more hue to the green dominating landscapes.

We depart the hill country early today and travel South.

Highlight – Arriving at Udawalawe, we visit Udawalawe Elephant transit home where orphaned and sick baby elephants are fed and cared for until they are strong enough to be released into the wild. The afternoon feeding time is at 2.30. It would be a wonderful experience to see hungry calves running to their stations to be bottle fed.

Enjoy a game drive in the Udawalawe National park in the evening to spot wild elephants, sloth bears, chital, wild boars and if lucky, the Sri Lankan leopard. This park is home to a multitude of bird species, both wetland and tree dwellers. Some popular sightings are Asian openbill, Eurasian spoonbill, Crested serpent Eagle, Hornbill, Blue tailed bee eater, Brahmin kyte etc. Watch out for the water monitors and mugger crocodiles.

We move further south today to our final destination in the tour. Polhena beach is one of the most tranquil beaches in the South, usually not stormed with tourists. This beach is located at close proximity to Mirissa, the most popular surfing destination in the South. We enjoy the last day in Paradise with less scheduled visits and activities.

Enjoy ample sun, sea and sand at leisure during the day time. Visit coconut tree hill and doctor house towards evening to be a part of the exciting beach life on the island.

Today, we bid farewell to beauty-packed Ceylon. On your way to the airport, stop in Colombo for last minute shopping to take home some tangible memories from paradise island.