Upon arrival at the airport, meet your Tour Executive in the arrival lounge who will assist you with the transfer to your hotel in Colombo for an overnight stay.

Check-into the property and relax and unwind yourself after the flights.

This evening you will meet an insider from Colombo who will take you on a journey in search of the flavors which makes Colombo what it is; A Melting pot of different cultures.

 While Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural country, there is no better sample slice of it than the Colombo City where there is almost an equal split of different ethnicities, each carrying their own specialties of food and cooking cultures which has come down from generations. As you go along you will realize how food can be a great form of insight into the socio-cultural facets and history of a country. From the South Indian Influenced dishes of the Tamils such as Vadai, Dosai and Appam (a.k.a. hoppers), the specialties of the Muslims such as Samosas, Biryani or even a cup of Watalappan for dessert, the Isso Vadais and Kottu Roti which are quintessentially Sri Lankan to a cup of plain tea to wrap things up with a bit of the colonial influence, each specialty dish that you try out will have a story of its own from the past.

But don't get it wrong, this is not a history lesson with a little bit of eating but pretty much the opposite - A lot of eating with a little bit of looking back at history which had made Colombo what it is today: A Melting pot of different cultures!

Note: The best part is that there is no set script for this experience since scripts are not for explorers. So before flying into Sri Lanka, please let us know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions and if there are any particular dishes that you would like like try and your host will try the best to accommodate all or some of your wishes. Come prepared to eat with your fingers as we share the food portions.

Meals: Street Food Dinner

Overnight at Granbell Hotel, Colombo - Standard Sea View Rooms

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer from Colombo to Kandy during the morning time.

Today you will explore the town of Kandy, the last stronghold of the Sinhalese Kings. Kandy belongs to the fabric of legends. While Sri Lanka was under Portuguese and Dutch rule the Kings of Kandy remained defiant and independent. It was much later during the British rule that Kandy finally fell to the biggest Empire in the world. 

Kandy is a big city that still retains touches of its colonial history in buildings such as the Queen's hotel, a beautiful 19th century neoclassical beauty. Wander around the lake and the streets of Kandy getting a feel for this wonderful city and exploring the local markets.

We think that markets are the heart and soul of a place, after all that is where the local’s shop! So instead of falling on the tourist trap of the Spice Gardens, take a look at the wonderful vendors inside the Kandy town market. Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Pepper and Turmeric; these names not only make us think of delicious food but also relate to the age of discovery and to 500 turbulent years in the history of Ceylon under Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. In addition to spices, the vendors also sell a range of seasonal fruits which is a must try.

Later visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic which is no doubt the city’s biggest pride. 

Located at the heart of the Kandy town, the Temple of the Tooth relic is the most iconic building of the city and one could also call it the centre of attraction where the whole city revolves around. Back in the days of the kings, custodianship of the Sacred tooth relic symbolized the right to rule the island and it was the responsibility of the kings to safeguard it. Fast forward a few decades, it is still a revered place in the hearts of all Buddhists living in the country, just like back in the days.

Overnight stay at Grand Serendib, Kandy – Deluxe Rooms

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will visit a typical local home not too far from the city of Kandy where you will enjoy a home cooked meal soaked in tropical spices and rich Kandyan flavors. Krishanthi, the lady of the house is an amazing host and is more than happy to welcome you and share her age-old secret recipes as she takes you on an interesting culinary journey. 

You will be welcomed to their home with warm Kandyan smiles and a glass of fresh tropical fruit juice. We will then begin with a quick visit to the local vegetable stall where you can pick any vegetable you like and then return with a bag full of goodies needed for your meal. Krishanthi's Kitchen is equipped with a cool traditional firewood stove and a 'miris gala' which is an ancient technique used as a grinder - These are rather rare to come by in an ordinary home in this modern day. 

You will be cooking in clay pots as there is no better way to cook a nice curry as it adds all the more flavour to it apart from the spices and the rich coconut milk. After an eventful couple of hours in the kitchen, sit down for a well-deserved mouthwatering lunch while you enjoy an unforgettable Kandyan meal. This is not merely about the local cuisine but also a glimpse of the lifestyle of a quintessential local family. 

Tip: Make sure to try out the tender Jack sambol which is an absolute treat to your tastebuds with many different spices combined - A little spicy but definitely a must try! **Seasonal fruit

Overnight stay at Grand Serendib, Kandy – Deluxe Rooms

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya.

Dubbed the ‘Little England of Sri Lanka’, Nuwara Eliya is located in the thick, misty hills of this paradise isle. It is one of the few areas where the colonial atmosphere is preserved, still resembling a British countryside complete with rose gardens, hedges and red-roofed bungalows. Nuwara Eliya or the answer to the Colombo heat. During British rule in Sri Lanka the highland town become a refuge for families of the elite escaping the baking temperatures of the capital, it also offered a sugary version of ''home'' complete with a horse race track, a golf course, a Victoria park, botanical gardens and an eclectic mix of neo-tudor building and even Scottish bungalows. 

Much has changed since the hey days of the town in the 20's and 30's yet the climate is still gorgeous even with a cool drizzle and sometimes fog. Today Nuwara Eliya is a town re- inventing itself. After the civil war and with the advent of tourism colonialism become something to be embraced: at least in terms of a revival for commercial reasons. Old derelict bungalows got patched up, and the guidebooks dubbed the town as ''Little England'' The reality is somewhere in between, with the right kind of eyes you can see the faded glories of the past, yet the present offers and interesting pastiche of a regular Sri Lankan town that wants to look at the past yet is not quite sure how to face the future. 

A must read before coming to Nuwara Eliya is Running in the Family by Michael Ondatje, it tells us the story of a, dysfunctional, family of tea planters it certainly will add perspective to the whole experience.

The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure.

Overnight stay at Oliphant Boutique Hotel, Nuwara Eliya – Luxury Rooms (Non – A/C)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today you will meet Salinda Madugalle, a retired Tea Planter who will be sharing his stories about the tale of tea.

Salinda began his planter’s career back in 1977, carrying with him a great deal of experience in the tea fields as a planter for over 30 years and also having experience as a consultant at many tea estates in the hill country. Now retired yet with the passion of keeping his planting memories alive Salinda will take you on a walk down the memory lane of the life as a tea planter back in the good olden days and of course show you around on how the situation at the tea estates had evolved since his times. 

Stray away to the small trails among the tea bushes, you might even meet some of the local ladies plucking tea, most of the workforce still is Tamil women who live a hard life, conditions have improved dramatically since the 19th century but it is still a back breaking job. Salinda is very fluent in his Tamil, following his extensive experience in the estates, he will even strike up conversations with the locals and narrate some of their stories from life as tea estate workers. 

Later join Salinda for a private tea tasting experience and engage in as he shares his expertise on determining the qualities of different kinds of tea based on differing flavors and appearance.

At the end, bid good bye to Salinda with a tea cup full of facts!

Overnight stay at Oliphant Boutique Hotel, Nuwara Eliya – Luxury Rooms (Non – A/C)

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After a relax breakfast, you will proceed to Yala where the wildlife experience waits for you.

Today the drive is bit longer compared to the drives you had before and our guide will have regular stops to break the journey. Also there’s some nice sceneries to enjoy during the drive and sit down and experience of the beauty of Sri Lankan Hill Country.

Overnight stay at Koragaha Lodge, Yala - Chalets

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today is all about safaris take a morning and afternoon safaris into Yala National Park.

Yala National Park is Sri Lanka's most famous National Park and with good reason it is home to an amazing range of wildlife. Its magnificent sights of majestic elephants, fine-feathered peacocks, great black bears and agile leopards that steal away into the shadows of the thick foliage are unparalleled to any of the national parks in the country.

Note of leopard sighting; If you see a leopard it is a bonus but Yala is much more than leopards. There are wild elephants, buffalo herds, boar, pythons, innumerable birds, bears, jackals, and more so as with many safaris around the world bring with your patience and if you don't see a leopard no worries there is a lot more to it.

Overnight stay at Koragaha Lodge, Yala – Chalets

Meals: Breakfast

After scrumptious breakfast we head towards Galle.

Later in the afternoon, set out on a walk around the Galle fort with your chauffeur guide.

There are places in the world that speak of another era of times gone by, the Galle Fort is one them. Imagine cobbled streets that have seen four hundred years of history from Arab merchants to the adventurous Portuguese and the industrious Dutch, with colonial homes complete with their red tiled roofs, an impressive rampart surrounding a small peninsula jutting out to the Indian Ocean and you begin to get an idea of the Fort in Galle. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about the Fort is that it is still an inhabited living monument. However, with development, many families are choosing to sell their homes to be turned into a new boutique hotel and in a couple of years’ time, the fort might become a place full of hotels and tourist restaurants. So, our advice is to come and see it now before it changes forever.

The rest of the afternoon will be at leisure.

Overnight stay at Le Grand, Galle – Super Deluxe Rooms

Meals: Breakfast

Full day on leisure.

Guide and the vehicle will be at clients’ disposal up to 80km/8 hours per day.

Overnight stay at Le Grand, Galle – Super Deluxe Rooms

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, Proceed to Mirissa for most awaited beach stay!

On the way, visit to Yatalagala temple; Spiritual Journey in Galle.

The Galle Fort is slowly becoming a major tourist attraction with its big buses and groups of tourists duly following their guide. Of course, the Fort is a highlight but there is so much more to explore! This time we will take you away from the crowds on a spiritual journey outside of Galle. The 20 minutes tuk tuk drive to get there is already something everybody should experience as you drive on little back roads through the lush and green paddy fields, no tourists to be found but a few villagers harvesting the crops or having a chat with their neighbor while sipping on some toddy freshly extracted from a nearby palm tree. 

Once on site, climb the stairs to get to the Yatagala Temple – which means “under the rocks” as the Buddhist statues lay under the huge stones piled up on each other, don’t forget to look up! As soon as you get rid of your flip flops you will feel the peaceful yet mystical atmosphere crawling up from your toes and calming the mind. 

Your guide who is a Buddhist himself will take you on a spiritual journey to purge the body and mind from negative thoughts and pay tribute to Buddha. This symbolic act practiced by every Sri Lankan Buddhist gives a sense of happiness, peace and relief.  You will feel impressed standing in front of the big Buddha statue while you offer the traditional Pichcha Flowers. Other rituals you will experience are the burning of incense, lighting up votive lamps and offering water to a sacred Bo Tree – your guide will tell you more about the meaning of these Pujas. 

After the offerings you will be ready to receive the blessing from the devoted monks, but before getting there don’t forget to have a look inside the room shaped into the rocks where Buddha lies – the mural paintings have been there since years. Knee down facing Buddha, hold on to the Pirith Noola and close your eyes while your body and spirit are lulled by the sound of the Pali chants. 

Your home for the beach stay will be at Lantern Boutique; this is a beachfront villa features six large well-appointed bedrooms with neatly decorated private lounge spaces with lounge chairs to allow you to enjoy the scenery around. rooms are spacious with a private balcony/ terrace.

Overnight stay at Lantern Boutique, Mirissa – Deluxe Ocean Rooms

Meals: Breakfast

Full day on leisure.

Guide and the vehicle will be at clients’ disposal up to 80km/8 hours per day

Overnight stay at Lantern Boutique, Mirissa – Deluxe Ocean Rooms

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After a relaxed breakfast proceed to Hunumulla.

Your home for the last night in Sri Lanka will be Amberella Lodge; located in the middle of a functioning coconut estate called Kotaliyadde Estate, Ambarella Lodge provides a perfect introduction into the Sri Lankan culture. The air feels so fresh during the night with the lovely surrounding with the coconut estate around the property. An inviting pool is a welcome invitation to cool off after walking and exploring the area. 

Overnight stay at Ambarella Lodge, Hunumulla – Superior Rooms

Meals: Breakfast

After a scrumptious breakfast we head towards the Airport.

Sadly, it's time to leave the isle of Serendipity!

Up, up and away!

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”

- Matsuo Basho –

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* Travel times are subject to change