Sri Lanka Highlights

Welcome to Sri Lanka! Your Sri Lanka Tour Package begins now! Your driver will greet you at Bandaranaike International Airport in Negombo. Negombo, located on the west coast, is one of Sri Lanka's largest cities and is famous for its white sand beaches as well as the city's cultural heritage. If you arrive early you will be able to explore the city discovering Sri Lanka's charm on your first day before taking the road towards Sigiriya where you will spend the night.

After breakfast at your hotel, you start exploring Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle by visiting Polonnaruwa, an ancient royal capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll or bike through the ruins, admiring the Hindu and Buddhist temples, the former castle and the reclining Buddha. This site is full of treasures and archaeological remains. After lunch, enjoy a free afternoon in the region. To get off the beaten path, why not explore the ruins of Ritigala scattered in the jungle or see some wildlife on a jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla National park?

Early in the morning you set off to visit Sigiriya. After a nice walk in the royal gardens it is time to start climbing the stairs to the Sigiriya Palace, located on top of the rock. On the way, take a break to admire the Sigiriya Damsels, the most iconic paintings of Sri Lanka. Once you’ve reached the top of the fortress enjoy the view on the lush green paddy fields. Breathtaking! After the climb, sit back and relax as your driver takes you on a 3-hour drive to Kandy. Upon arrival, you can choose to simply make the most of your beautiful colonial hotel and its facilities or walk around the area.

Begin your day at a leisurely pace enjoying breakfast at your hotel before exploring Kandy, the last capital of the Sinhalese kingdom. Stroll through the market, around the lake and along the city paths enjoying the peacefulness which is associated with this city in the Hill Country. At sunset head to the unforgettable Temple of the Tooth to attend an evening ceremony - an experience like no other. After spending the day in Kandy, your driver will meet you to take you back to your hotel for the night.

This morning your driver will pick you up to bring you to the heart of the Tea Country: Nuwara Eliya. This drive takes you through lush greenery, passing through beautiful landscapes and lively villages. Nuwara Eliya is blessed with breathtaking views of valleys, mountains, meadows and greenery which calm you from within. It’s hard not to feel as if you have been transported back in time to Colonial British Ceylon. Your journey south will end in Haputale where your driver will help you check-in to your hotel.

After enjoying a local breakfast at your hotel, it is not a car but a traditional tuk-tuk that you get in. Once seated in the three-wheeler, the most used vehicle in Sri Lanka, you start your journey through the tea plantations. On the way to Lipton’s Seat, the well-known viewpoint with break-taking views, you can observe the tea pickers filling up their baskets with bright green tea leaves. Rumor has it that Sir Lipton used this spot to keep an eye on his empire.

Take your time this morning to enjoy breakfast at your hotel before driving towards Udawalawe National Park. Once checked-in and refreshed at your hotel, you get in your jeep and follow the elephants’ trail! At this park, you can spot hundreds of elephants and also crocodiles, water buffaloes, aquatic lizards, mongooses, and peacocks. End your trip at the Elephant Transit Home. This organization takes care of orphaned elephant calves until they are ready to be released back into the wild.

Today you keep driving south until you reach the beautiful bay of Mirissa. On the way you can visit Dondra's lighthouse, the southernmost point of the island. Mirissa is the ideal place to enjoy the sun and the ocean, where you can indulge in snorkeling or try your hand at surfing. It is a small, lively resort town with many bars and restaurants on the beach, the perfect place to enjoy a fresh juice, a cocktail or grilled fish.

Today is a free day to enjoy the seaside. Mirissa Beach is blessed with beautifully soft sand and idyllic waving palm trees. You can go for a walk along the white-sand beach, sip a fresh fruit juice while watching the blue water, take a nap on your sunbed under the palm trees, or swim in the Indian Ocean. A perfect moment of relaxation. If you wish, a whale watching excursion can be organized from Mirissa Harbour.

Today's rising sun marks the last day of your holiday in Sri Lanka with Shanti Travel. Depending on the time of your flight, you may have the time to head into Galle. This city on Sri Lanka's west coast is beaming with history and culture, with its famous Galle Fort and Dutch churches. Then, continue to Bandaranaike International Airport. As we wave goodbye to you we look forward to welcoming you back for your next Asian adventure.