Sri Lankan Dreams Tour

Welcome to Sri Lanka! You’ll be picked up at the airport and driven to the hotel in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Spend the day relaxing after your travels.

Hop on board a 4x4 safari Jeep and head into a fabulous national park with a packed breakfast. Drive along winding paths through different habitats that make the park unique. Willpattu National Park's name translates into the “land of the Villus (Lakes).” The park contains numerous limestone depressions in the ground that hold fresh and brackish water. Driving along the sandy road of the park, keep an eye out for some of the island’s iconic wildlife. Leopards roam the sandy roads, sloth bears dig up the rain-soaked termite mounds, elephants enjoy the water plants in the villus and buffalo graze on the green grass.

Heading deeper into the park towards the western border, you’ll come across a unique stretch of shoreline where the sand is red in colour.

In the afternoon you will visit some of the sites of Anuradhapura.

Begin the day with a visit to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sometimes called the 8th wonder of the world, this complex was used as a fortress and as a monastery. It is a true marvel of architecture, design, and art and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, embark on a loris watching experience. Five decades ago, a British naval officer’s love for trees resulted in an arboretum in this island country. Built across seven acres at that time, it spread to over 34 acres after he gifted it to IFS (Institute of Fundamental Studies). Today, Sam Popham’s Arboretum is home to several species of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and mammals, including the rare, nocturnal slender loris, which is native to Sri Lanka and India. Use torches with relatively less obtrusive red lights to search for the loris. These arboreal animals have long slender bodies and big round eyes that shine in the darkness. Besides the loris, you might spot mouse deer, civet cats and rabbits too!

Mahiyangana is an all in one destination with national parks, waterfalls, cultural sites, and the ocean. The Mahiyangana Stupa is the most prominent cultural attraction where a vast plain with the Mahaweli River running through provides access to several national parks.

Thereafter, proceed to Rathna Ella Village. You’ll walk through the lush forests of Mahiyangana to reach the Rathna Ella waterfall. The 101-meter waterfall is the highest in the Kandy region and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sri Lanka. Enjoy an authentic Sri Lankan lunch at the Rathna Ella village.

Next, meet with makers of “A Pan Padura”, which translates to “reed mat”, is a staple in every household in rural Sri Lanka. Each intricately designed mat is woven by hand for over a month, using reeds harvested from the local fields. Using the practices shared by the local villagers, try your hand at creating a reed mat of your own. There is no better teacher to explain the art of pottery making than the local villagers in Mahiyangana. Join them to learn the secrets of the trade and make your own pottery souvenir to take home.

Continue to Rathna Ella village to witness the majestic Kaluwa Wetuna Ella waterfall. This 30-meter waterfall lies deep in the jungle and makes for a great hike that’s loved by all nature enthusiasts!

Early this morning, witness the sun rise over the horizon of the beautiful Sorabora Lake. This spectacular moment in time takes place around 5:53AM and is a sight not to be missed. When the hunger pangs kick in, it’s time for breakfast with a view. Head over to the top of the Sorabora Rock where a chef will await your arrival to cook up a freshly prepared, delicious breakfast. Return to the hotel and proceed to Nuwara Eliya, situated amidst a beautiful backdrop of mountains, tea plantations, valleys and waterfalls. All around the city you will see the colonial charm with its colonial-era bungalows, Tudor-style hotels, well-tendered hedgerows and charming gardens. The cozy climate, misty glens and the distinct British character makes Nuwara Eliya a must visit destination. Treat yourself to a freshly brewed warm cup of Ceylon tea, play a round of golf or a few frames of billiards, and soak up the town’s unique bygone heritage.

Rolling grasslands shrouded in mist, mountains towering above the clouds, breathtaking views of the valleys below, herds of Sambar deer dotting the open plains and numerous birds found nowhere else on earth… Welcome to Horton Plain National Park. Situated in the central hills, it was declared as a national park in 1988 and declared a World Heritage Site in 2010. Great herds of sambar roam the plains, while fluffy leopards adapted to the highlands stalk the herds through the long grass, endemic bear monkeys swing among the trees and a variety of lizards and rodents some found only within the boundaries of this park scurry along the tiny paths in the grass. Apart from the fauna and flora, if you’re brave, ignore the vertigo and take a peek down World’s End, a sheer drop that on clear days gives breathtaking views of the green tea fields below.

Head to Kandy next. You may want to visit the bustling local market to be dazzled by the local craftsmanship. Prepare to be amazed with a visit to the much-revered Temple of the Tooth Relic, a masterpiece of ancient and traditional Kandyan architecture in which the Royal Palace complex and the Temple of the Tooth of Buddha are juxtaposed. The complex, situated in the heart of the sacred city of Kandy, is the icon of its heritage, today the home of the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha that determined the capital of the island for centuries, thus a political symbol of power.

After breakfast, enjoy a cookery demonstration. Join the host and her team in a traditional village kitchen and assist in the preparation of lunch! Learn to prepare a complete meal with curries and explore the intricacies of Sri Lankan cuisine, from scraping the coconut and extracting the milk, to pounding a sambol, to cooking with firewood using ancient tools and methods.

After lunch, proceed to Negombo. Popular for its beach and catamaran trips, Negombo is a famous fishing village in the northern part of the Colombo district. Situated by the shores of a lagoon, Negombo was once the trading port for the Portuguese and Dutch. Take a leisurely walk in the area to explore the many handicrafts and curio shops, gem shops, and restaurants that occupy this fishing village. You may visit the Negombo lagoon and a fish auction and make an unforgettable visit to the Dutch fort and an old Catholic church.

The tour ends with a transfer to the airport. Safe travels!