Welcome to Colombo (by international flight) – Negombo(Approx. 01 hr. drive)

Following customs, immigration procedures, and baggage retrieval, an India Tours & Travels executive will warmly greet you at Bandaranaike International Airport carrying a customized placard with your name. For check-in, your representative will help you have a nice ride to your accommodation in Negombo.
Found immediately north of Colombo, Negombo is a lovely and laid-back seaside community that makes the ideal soft introduction to Sri Lanka. Negombo wonderfully combines tropical peace with real cultural depth, as seen by its golden beaches, vibrant Dutch colonial buildings, and thriving fishing community. It's an excellent first glimpse of the friendliness and warmth of the island that characterizes Sri Lanka holidays.
Stay in Negombo overnight. Earl's Regent or similar (3*) | Goldi Sands or similar (4*) | Jetwing Beach or similar (5*) Meals: None included

Travel to Dambulla and stop at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage along the way.

Leave your hotel after a leisurely breakfast and embark on a beautiful drive toward Dambulla, located in the middle of Sri Lanka's renowned Cultural Triangle. Along the way, stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, a well-known refuge dedicated to rescuing and caring for injured and orphaned elephants.
The adjacent Maha Oya River offers a fantastic opportunity to observe these amazing creatures up close as they relish their daily river bath—a playful, happy display that kids find utterly fascinating. You can also watch the young calves eat and find out about the vital conservation efforts being done to preserve these amazing animals for future generations.
After spending quality time at the orphanage, keep driving through beautiful green countryside, passing lovely towns, paddy fields, and swaying coconut plantations. Arrive in Dambulla (around 4 to 5 hours drive) in the afternoon and check into your hotel. Go explore the glorious Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site precariously situated on a rocky outcrop, if time and energy allow. This remarkable temple complex consists of five historic caverns decorated with over 150 Buddha sculptures and vivid murals going back more than 2,000 years. Go back to your hotel in the evening and unwind at your leisure.
Staying overnight in Dambulla: Sigiriana Resort or similar (3*) | Amaya Lake or similar (4*) | Covanro Sigiriya or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant  

Excursion to Sigiriya Fortress and Enjoy the Hiriwadunna Village Tour

Start your day early by going up the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress, which is one of the most famous places in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient rock citadel, known as Lion Rock, rises sharply from the central plains and was once the stunning royal palace of King Kashyapa in the 5th century.
Climb the stone stairs to see the amazing water gardens, boulder gardens, and remains of the magnificent palace complex. Pause at the halfway point to marvel at the renowned Sigiriya frescoes, which are beautiful depictions of heavenly maidens that have graced the rock face for more than 1,500 years, and stroll next to the Mirror Wall, a smooth surface formerly so mirror-like that the monarch could view his own reflection in it. Enjoy stunning panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape and a profound respect for this really amazing feat of ancient construction and engineering upon reaching the top.
Take a little rest and rejuvenation at your hotel following your descent. Next, enjoy a lovely village safari in the neighboring rural community of Hiriwadunna to carry on your cultural immersion. This practical adventure starts with a pleasant tractor ride along rural lanes flanked by paddy fields, vegetable gardens, and dense vegetation. Then start a calm canoe ride across a picturesque man-made lake where you might see local birds and water buffalo relaxing in the shallows. Your village walk finishes with a warm welcome at a traditional family house, where you will savor a genuine Sri Lankan lunch cooked over firewood in clay pots, presented in a serene natural environment. Connecting with local life and experiencing the simplicity and warmth of rural Sri Lankan hospitality is a really fantastic chance. Go back to your accommodation late in the afternoon and relax at your leisure.

Staying the night in Dambulla: Sigiriana Resort or similar (3*) | Amaya Lake or similar (4*) | Covanro Sigiriya or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant  *Traditional Lunch will be served during the Hiriwadunna village visit.

Excursion to Polonnaruwa and Minneriya National Park

Set off for a guided cycling tour through the magnificent old city of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Sri Lanka's greatest-preserved and most interesting archaeological treasures. Pedalling through the vast ruins, you will find the greatness of this amazing 12th-century capital as you explore ancient palaces, Buddhist shrines, monasteries, and finely carved stone statues.
The Highlights of the area are the majestic Royal Palace complex, the well-known Gal Vihara featuring stunning rock-cut Buddha statues, and the massive Parakrama Samudra, a large man-made reservoir that showcases the remarkable hydraulic engineering expertise of the time. The relaxed cycling path provides a wonderfully picturesque and somewhat immersive approach to seeing the amazing grandeur of Sri Lanka's historic civilization.
Renowned throughout Sri Lanka for housing one of the biggest congregations of wild Asian elephants in the world, Minneriya National Park offers a thrilling jeep safari that will continue your adventure in the afternoon. Keep an eye out for herds of elephants, spotted deer, monkeys, and a diverse array of vibrant bird species as you meander across the park's wetlands, grasslands, and dry-zone forests. Should you go during the dry season, between June and September, you could be fortunate enough to see the amazing Elephant Gathering, where hundreds of wild elephants gather around the Minneriya Tank in a truly amazing display of animal behavior. Go back to your hotel in the evening following a fantastic day full of culture, history, and natural surroundings.
One night in Dambulla: Sigiriana Resort or similar (3*) | Amaya Lake or similar (4*) | Covanro Sigiriya or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant. 

Travel to Kandy via Matale Spice Garden

Depart for Kandy, Sri Lanka's cultural capital and a city of great spiritual importance, following breakfast. Enjoy an interesting en-route stop at a spice garden in Matale. Here, a knowledgeable guide leads you on a stroll through fragrant plantations where you will learn about Sri Lanka's renowned spices—including cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and clove—and their traditional applications in Sri Lankan cuisine and ancient Ayurvedic medicine. This hands-on and very sensory experience includes a cool herbal drink.
Arrive in Kandy (Approx. 2.5 to 3 hours drive), a lovely and historic city tucked away among foggy mountains and named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and continue your drive across breathtaking mountain terrain. Visit the highly revered Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa) in the afternoon, one of the most holy Buddhist places in the entire globe, thought to house a priceless relic of the Buddha's tooth. In a really poignant and spiritually potent setting, explore the magnificent temple complex and see the ancient rites that happen all day long.
In the evening, treat your whole family to Sri Lankan culture with a vivid Kandyan cultural dance performance, an enthralling exhibition of traditional music, rhythmic drumming, and dynamic dances that exquisitely mirror the rich and vivid legacy of the island. Afterward, return to your hotel for a peaceful evening in the center of Kandy's highlands.
Staying in Kandy overnight: Hotel Topaz or similar (3*) | Radisson Kandy or similar (4*) | The Golden Crown or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant 

Scenic Train Journey to Nanu Oya and Drive to Ella
By Train: Departure Kandy at 0845hrs. / Arrive Nanu Oya at 1235 hrs or similar (Subject to  availability)

Board the renowned scenic hill-country train to Nanu Oya following breakfast—a trip largely considered as one of the most gorgeous train rides in the whole globe and an experience every family visiting Sri Lanka really must experience. Take in amazing views of emerald-green tea plantations, mist-covered valleys, gushing waterfalls, and quaint hillside communities framed in the carriage windows as the train ascends gradually into the central highlands—a really unforgettable experience that embodies the very spirit of Sri Lanka's enchanted hill country.
When you reach Nanu Oya, take the road to Nuwara Eliya, which is also known as Little England. There, you can visit a working tea plantation and factory that is still in operation and learn about the amazing and complex process of making Ceylon tea, from picking the fresh leaves by hand to tasting the finished product. Enjoy a freshly brewed cup of Ceylon tea while taking in the expansive plantation views all around you.
Later in the afternoon, embark on a picturesque drive to Ella, snaking through verdant hills, waterfalls, and peaceful mountain lanes. Arrive in the evening, check in to your hotel, and relax in the calm beauty and crisp mountain air of Ella, where stunning scenery and a calm environment create the ideal setting for a peaceful evening of leisure.
Staying in Ella overnight: 88th Ella or similar (3*) | Hide Ella or similar (4*) | 98 Acres Resort & Spa or similar (5*). Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant.

Hike to Little Adam's Peak and Tea Plantation Tour

Start your day early with a rewarding and accessible gentle hike up Little Adam's Peak — one of Ella's most loved and popular trails, and one that the whole family can enjoy together. Beautifully winding through luxuriant tea farms, the trail provides sweeping vistas of the surrounding foggy valleys and gently undulating green hills. The walk is ideal for all levels of fitness and takes around 30 to 45 minutes each way. Enjoy a quiet and unforgettable moment at the top as the morning sun casts a warm golden glow over the whole scene, ideal for family photographs and introspection.

Once you've descended, head for the famous Nine Arch Bridge, an amazing feat of colonial-era engineering tucked away in the thick vegetation all around. This beautiful viaduct is made entirely of stone and brick, with no steel, and is a popular place for train watchers and photographers from all over the world. You might get to see a train going across the bridge while you are there, which is a truly amazing sight that you will never forget.

Visit a working tea factory and plantation later in the day to personally see Sri Lanka's renowned tea culture. Walk through the lush tea estates, meet the industrious tea pluckers, and discover stage by stage the intriguing journey of converting fresh green leaves into world-renowned Ceylon tea. At the conclusion of your factory tour, enjoy a freshly brewed cup of tea with stunning rolling hills in the backdrop before heading back to your hotel for a peaceful and well-earned evening in Ella.

Staying in Ella overnight: 88th Ella or similar (3*) | Hide Ella or similar (4*) | 98 Acres Resort & Spa or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant 

Travel to Udawalawe National Park and Enjoy the Thrilling Jeep Safari

Following breakfast, depart and start your picturesque drive to Udawalawe National Park (about 2.5 to 3 hours driving), a magnificent wildlife sanctuary found in Sri Lanka's southern dry zone. The path leads you across a stunningly shifting terrain of tea-covered hills, rural settlements, and open meadows, providing intriguing insights into daily rural life throughout.

Arriving, head straight into the park for an exhilarating afternoon jeep safari. Known globally for its sizable and flourishing wild Asian elephant population, Udawalawe provides some of the best and most intimate wildlife viewing chances in all of Sri Lanka. Along with water buffaloes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, spotted deer, and a great diversity of amazing bird species including eagles, peacocks, and painted storks, during your safari, you could see herds of elephants wandering freely throughout the vast plains.

The vast and moderately uncrowded atmosphere of the park offers a fantastically real and immersive safari experience that seems really wild and natural. Check into your lodge or hotel close to the park following the safari. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure—relax in the tranquil natural surroundings, take a refreshing swim, or just kick back with a book and let the lovely sounds of the Sri Lankan jungle wash over you as the evening approaches.

Stay the night in Udawalawe: Centauria Wild or others (Best Available in the area) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant 

Travel to Beruwala/Bentota via Galle and Mask Factory in Ambalangoda En Route

Leave after breakfast for the lovely seaside resort of Beruwala/Bentota, a trip spanning from Sri Lanka's spectacular southern wilderness to its golden and welcome beaches. On the way, have a magnificent stop in the ancient city of Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its perfectly preserved Dutch Fort.
Along the Galle Fort ramparts, take a leisurely stroll, explore the small cobblestone streets lined with lovely colonial-era houses, and browse lovely stores, art galleries, and friendly eateries. While basking in the intriguing and distinctive fusion of European and South Asian design and culture that makes Galle so unique, find important highlights such the beautiful Galle Lighthouse, the historic Dutch Reformed Church, and the ancient Old Gate.
Continue your journey with another fascinating visit at a traditional Mask Factory in Ambalangoda, where you will learn about Sri Lanka's rich history of handcrafted masks used in ancient ceremonies, traditional storytelling, and vivid folk dances. Arrive in Beruwala/Bentota (approx. 4 to 5 hours driving) by late afternoon and check into your beachfront hotel. The remainder of the day is all yours—unwind by the sea, have a cool swim in the pool, or take a tranquil evening stroll along the gorgeous palm-fringed coast.
Spending the night in Beruwala/Bentota: The Palms Beruwala or similar (3* & 4*) | Occidental Eden Resort Beruwala or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant .

Visit Turtle Hatchery and Enjoy the River Safari

Set out to discover two of Sri Lanka's most beloved and memorable natural wonders following a leisurely breakfast. Start by seeing the Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery, a fantastic conservation initiative totally focused on saving endangered sea turtles along Sri Lanka's southern coast. You will learn here about the amazing life cycle of these soft sea animals, observe hatchlings being gently cared for before they are released into the ocean, and appreciate the crucial and continuous efforts to preserve turtle nesting locations. If you go at the correct time, you could even be fortunate enough to see newborn turtles released straight into the ocean—a really enchanted event for the entire family.
Next, delight in an exquisitely peaceful River Safari, a tranquil and picturesque boat journey along the rich and stunning Madu Ganga River. As your knowledgeable guide identifies local animals, including monitor lizards, crocodiles, vivid water birds, and playful monkeys, glide gently across historic mangrove tunnels and past small tropical islands. Along the road, you may also pause to see a little island cinnamon plantation or a riverside temple that is centuries old. The river safari provides a fascinating and rare look into the remarkably rich biodiversity of the region and real rural life.
Go back to your hotel in the early afternoon. The rest of the day is completely at leisure. You can unwind on the golden beach, treat yourself to a revitalising Ayurvedic spa treatment, or just take in the lovely seaside mood as the day quietly draws to a close.
Overnight remain in Beruwala/Bentota. The Palms Beruwala or similar (3* & 4*) | Occidental Eden Resort Beruwala or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant.

 Day at Leisure in Beruwala/Bentota

Today is a beautifully free day at leisure, an opportunity for your family to unwind and fully recharge at your own speed. Beruwala/Bentota, noted for its golden beaches, softly swaying palms, and delightfully relaxed coastal ambiance, offers a calm and picturesque backdrop.
You can decide to spend the day relaxing by the pool with a decent book, going for lengthy walks along the sandy shore as the warm tropical breeze embraces you, or indulging in a calming Ayurvedic spa treatment (on direct payment), a really relaxing and traditional Sri Lankan wellness experience. The more daring family members can enjoy optional water sports on the Beruwala/Bentota River, such as jet skiing, windsurfing, and entertaining banana boat rides (on direct payment).
As an alternative, just kick back, inhale the crisp sea air, and take in the tropical ambiance while savoring your last full day in heaven. This is your opportunity; make the most of it in whatever way seems best for your family.
Staying overnight in Beruwala/Bentota: The Palms Beruwala or similar (3* & 4*) | Occidental Eden Resort Beruwala or similar (5*) Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant 

Beruwala/Bentota to Colombo and Departure

Enjoy a relaxing last breakfast before checking out from your accommodation and taking a pleasant drive to Colombo (about a 1.5 to 2-hour drive), Sri Lanka's vibrant, vivid, and energetic capital city. Start an exciting and enjoyable tuk-tuk tour upon arrival, one of the most real and delightful ways to see Colombo's busy streets and beautiful colonial architecture.
Weave your route among energetic marketplaces, historical structures, and significant cultural sites, including the stunning Gangaramaya Temple, the majestic Independence Square, the windy Galle Face Green, and the wonderfully chaotic and colorful streets of Pettah market. As you get up close and at street level, enjoy Colombo's amazing vitality and personality, your local guide will relate intriguing anecdotes and insights.
Following your city tour, enjoy a unique farewell dinner at a local restaurant where you may relish a tasty and ample feast of Sri Lankan food—rich in fragrant spices, strong tastes, and centuries of culinary legacy. As you eat in the center of Colombo for the very last time, think back on the amazing times of your relationship.
Later in the evening, you will be comfortably transferred to Colombo International Airport for your departure flight back to the UK, taking with you a heart full of wonderful memories and a deep love for the incredible island of Sri Lanka.
No Accommodation on this day. Meals: Breakfast at the hotel’s designated or selected restaurant