Sri Lanka, From Colombo to Bentota The Best of Sri Lanka 3^*

Welcome to Sri Lanka!

Arrival at Colombo Airport (BIA). At the airport, you'll be greeted and assisted by one of our English-speaking representatives and transferred to your hotel in Sigiriya (approx. 3.5-hour journey).

Check-in at the hotel. Free afternoon.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Discover the Sigiriya Lion Rock.

A tuktuk ride to the famous Sigiriya Rock.

At the centre of the cultural triangle is the Sigiriya Fortress, a remarkable feat of engineering and a fascinating example of the region's art. Carved out of living rock, Sigiriya Fortress belonged to King Kashyapa and was an incredible royal palace and city.

Sigiriya, or the "Lion Rock", is most famous for its frescoes; a series of 'celestial girls' (Apsaras) painted on the rock surface. Upon crossing the moat, you can see the richly landscaped ornamental gardens containing the royal baths and fountains, some of which are still in use during the rainy season. (Duration: Approx. 2 hours).

Please note: There are around 1,000 steps to climb. People suffering from vertigo may find it difficult to climb to the top.

Return to the hotel.

Safari by jeep in a national park to see the elephants.

The region surrounding Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Habarana is certainly rich in history, but also in wildlife. Elephants roam freely, and a visit to one of the region's national parks is the perfect way to see these gentle giants, as well as deer, buffalo, birds, and much more. Depending on the water level, the elephants move between the Mineriya and Kaudulla national parks and the Hurulu ecological park. We will choose the best park for you to see elephants (Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours).

Tip: Sunglasses and cap recommended. Avoid bright colours.

Then, back to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Optional excursion for this day: Visit to the UNESCO site of Polonnaruwa (price: US$30 per person. Duration: approx. 3 hours).

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Kandy (approx. 3-hour drive).

En route, visit the Temple of Dambulla:

Also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, it was founded in the 1st century by King Valagamba. Ancient sculptures and paintings of the Buddha and various Hindu deities are located in five caves. The original sculptures and paintings have gained additions over the centuries and bear witness to the evolution of artistic styles. Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours

Tip: Make sure you wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Shoes must be removed for the visit; bring socks. Useful information: The visit involves climbing approximately 400 steps.

Stop off at the Matale Spice Market:

For centuries, spices have been one of Sri Lanka's most famous exports. They are mainly grown on family allotments (domestic industry) and used not only to flavour food, but also in medicine and cosmetics. Visit a spice garden and sample aromas and flavours such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, vanilla, cardamom, etc. Duration: Approximately 1 hour.

Tip: The tour is informative and interesting, but some merchants may encourage you to buy products at higher prices. Please bear this in mind when considering purchases. If you enjoy the experience, a small purchase would be appreciated by the Gardens.

Visit to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy:

The Kandy temple, which houses the famous relic of Buddha's sacred tooth, is the city's star attraction. Puja ceremonies are held every morning and evening to honour the relic, and visitors can see the casket in which it is held. Watching these rituals accompanied by traditional drum music is a must for any traveller to the holy city of Kandy. Duration: 2 hours.

Tip: Make sure you wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Shoes must be removed for the visit; bring socks.

Useful information: Please be aware that there will be a large crowd of worshipers at the Puja (Thevava) ceremony during the elephant festival (PEREHERA).

Continue your tour of Kandy before checking in and settling in at your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Nuwara Eliya with sightseeing en route (approx. 3-hour drive).

On the way, stop off to discover a tea factory:

Ceylon tea is recognised as the best tea in the world. The influence of climatic conditions gives the product a variety of flavours and aromas, synonymous with quality. Growing and making tea is a scientific and technical process. Sri Lanka produces some of the most fragrant teas in the world. Duration: 1 to 2 hours.

Please note: no production on Sundays and public holidays, but visits are permitted.

On the route, quick visit to the town of Nuwara Eliya: The City of Lights is designed to resemble a typical English village: with the 18-hole golf course and racecourse, you'll instantly be transported to the setting of a PG Wodehouse novel; all the charm and comfort of old England. Duration: 1 hour.

Note: The length of the visit will depend on the train timetable, journey times and the time spent at the tea factory.

Continue on to Nanu Oya and take the famous Tea Train from Nanu Oya to Ella: the train ride to Ella will give you a perfect view of the mountainous landscape. As the train winds around the sloping hills, you'll witness many of the wonders of this unique place: valleys, meadows, mountains and greenery with the occasional sight of a distant waterfall. Duration: approx. 3 hours 15 minutes.

Note: Seats not guaranteed/subject to availability.

Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, a hike to Little Adam's Peak.

Located in the Ella region, on the Ella/Passera road, Little Adam's Peak (or "Punchi Sri Pada" in Sinhalese) is a 1141-metre-high mountain in the shape of Adam's Peak (the holy mountain). It is covered in lush vegetation, and the path leading up to it passes through some lovely tea plantations. From the summit, enjoy vast panoramic views towards the south of the island (Duration: Approx. 2 hours).

Distance covered: 1.6 km ascent - 70 m. Not accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Then, take a walk to discover the Nine Arch Bridge. The walk should take between 10 and 20 minutes depending on where you start. The Nine Arch Bridge, also known as the 'Bridge in the Sky', is a viaduct built in a valley in the middle of Sri Lanka's lush green countryside. It is one of the best examples of railway construction from the country's colonial era.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, transfer to Bentota (approx. 4-hour drive).

On the route, stop to explore Ravana Falls, a famous waterfall said to have been the home of a mythical demon king of Sri Lanka.

Then, visit Galle and its Dutch fortress. The city of Galle is the main city on the south coast, whose oldest monument is the 17th-century Portuguese and Dutch fort. As you walk through the UNESCO-listed old town, you can see strong Dutch influences in the architecture, along with some old British residences and various mosques with Arab influences. It's also a town with plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment. Take the time to go shopping, have a drink, or even savour an ice cream.

Check-in at the hotel in Bentota. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free day to enjoy the beach.

Bentota is a town in Sri Lanka's Southern Province, around 7-8 kilometres south of Beruwala. Bentota has some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka, with shallow and pristine waters. It's a great place to practice or learn to surf.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Please note: Vehicle and driver not available.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out by noon

Transfer to Colombo Airport (approx. 2.5-hour journey).

It's the end of your wonderful stay in Sri Lanka. See you soon!

Meals included: breakfast.

Sri Lanka has reverted to a 30-day Single Entry Visa at a total cost of US$50.

Important info:

• The new and exclusive site for all visas for Sri Lanka: https://www.srilankaevisa.lk
• Make sure you select "30 Day Single Entry Visa".
• Please note that the new system will require a photo and a copy in .jpg format smaller than 1 MB.
• For the address in Sri Lanka, you can use that of the first hotel or our address to make things easier for you:
• Address Line 1 - Le Cube
• Address Line 2 - 130 High Level Road
• Post Code - 00600
• City - Colombo
• State - Western

It is possible to obtain a visa on arrival, but we do not recommend this due to the long queues resulting from the new procedure.

On arrival, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall where a representative will be waiting holding a sign with your name.

During your tour, you will be accompanied by an English-speaking driver-guide, with the exception of day 7, during your stay in Bentota.

Day 2 - Visit to the UNESCO Site of Polonnaruwa: Polonnaruwa was established as the capital after the fall of Anuradhapura and is known as the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa contains the ruins of some masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture and the remains of some remarkable feats of engineering that were far ahead of their time. The most remarkable of them is the Gal Vihara temple, with famous rock sculptures of Buddha and Parakrama Samudra, a vast artificial reservoir covering more than 2,500 hectares. Price: US$30/person. Duration: approx. 3h00.