Upon arrival, drive to Negombo, a trade center established by Moorish settlers, and enjoy a short city tour of St. Mary's Church, the Dutch Fort, Angurukaramulla Temple, and a drive by Negombo Beach.

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Check into the Jetwing Blue Hotel.

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In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.

After breakfast, drive to Habarana. Along the way, stop at the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 1st Century BCE. The temple complex features five cave shrines adorned with thousands of murals and carvings of Buddha.

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Check into the Cinnamon Lodge Habarana.
 

Today head to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Sri Lanka's most important historical site. The fortress is famous for its frescoes and mirror wall, as well as the uniquely decorated steps to the top.

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From there, head to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa with its immense Buddha statues carved from the rock. The city was established by the Sinhalese when they moved their capital from Anuradhapura in the 12th Century. Return to Habarana.

After breakfast, drive to Kandy (3 hours), Sri Lanka's highland capital, which was the last stronghold of the Sri Lankan kings during the European conquest between the 16th-19th centuries.

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Along the way, visit a women-owned batik artist collective to learn about the intricate process of making batik fabric. From there, head to the Matale Spice Garden, and Kandy's Municipal Central Market.

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Check into the Earl's Regency Hotel.​

After breakfast, visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, a 147-acre oasis built by Kandy's royals as a serene escape from the city.

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In the afternoon, tour the Temple of the Buddha Tooth Relic, one of Sri Lanka's national treasures, that was brought to the island in the 4th Century AD. In the evening, enjoy a local dance show. Return to the hotel.

After breakfast, take the train to Nanu Oya and into the heart of tea country where pure Ceylon Tea is being grown to this day. Disembark and drive to Nuwara Eliya, known as the "Little England" of Sri Lanka due to it's mildly cool climate and British-style architecture. Take a tour of a tea plantation and factory, where you can see how tea is grown, pluck your own tea leaves, and learn how it is processed, then exported all around the world. 

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Check into the Blackpool Hotel.

After an early breakfast, head out to the charming hill town of Ella, starting with a short, 30-minute hike to Little Adam's Peak for picturesque views of the lush hills and tea plantations. Then stop at the Nine Arches Bridge, a beautiful colonial-era bridge set against the beauty of Ella.

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Learn how to make Sri Lankan food at Honeybee Garden and enjoy lunch there.

Next visit the Rawana Falls, said to be where Sita bathed when she was taken captive by Rawana in the Ramayana Epic.

Drive to Yala and check into the Jetwing Yala Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take a morning safari in Yala National Park, which is the country's largest national park. It is home to elephants, leopards, sloth bears, spotter deer, wild boars, and sambar deer, as well as smaller mammals such as mongeese, langurs, and porcupines.

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Enjoy an afternoon safari through the park. Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, drive along the southern coastline to Galle. Stop in Tissamaharama to visit a curd factory and learn about the making of buffalo curd, an important staple of Sri Lankan cuisine. 

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Along the way, stop to see the stilt fishermen of Ahangama.

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Check into the Araliya Beach Resort.

Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning whale watching cruise from Mirissa Harbor.

In the afternoon, take a tour of Galle's Dutch Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Return to your hotel for a relaxing time at the beach.

Breakfast at the hotel.
 

Start the day with a boat safari on the Madu River. As you glide through the mangroves, keep an eye out for water monitors, kingfisher birds, and small islands with cinnamon farms. You can even dip your feet into the water to experience a fish spa, where tiny fish clean your feet by nibbling on the dead skin.

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Then head to a turtle hatchery dedicated to protecting Sri Lanka's endangered sea turtles. 

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Continue to Colombo and check in to the Amari Colombo.

After breakfast,  take a tour of Colombo which has a long history of trade, first with Arab merchants, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British imperialists. Take a tour of the city including Old Parliament Building, Gangaramaya Temple, and more.

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Enjoy a farewell dinner with the group at a local restaurant.

Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home.