Today is the day you set off from your chosen airport. You will be flying to the teardrop-shaped island, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Indian Ocean. There will be connecting flight(s) along the way.

You land at Sri Lanka’s international airport Bandaranaike in Colombo. After arriving, you pick up your luggage and pass through immigration. Your guide/driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding up a TourCompass sign, and you will be driven to the beach hotel in Negombo, a 30-minute drive from the airport.

On your arrival at the hotel, you check in, and then the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. You’re bound to be tired after the long flight, so there’s plenty of time to relax and just enjoy the sun on a sun lounger with a good book or podcast.

Negombo is known for its wide, golden sandy beaches, where tall palm trees sway in the gentle breeze The sea can be a bit choppy, but luckily the hotel has a nice swimming pool.

If you fancy exploring Negombo and the surrounding area, you might like to visit Negombo Lagoon south of the city, which is a unique wetland where you can experience the abundant wildlife, or the 100-km-long Dutch canals that run through the city and which were originally a supply route for the Dutch administration during the colonial era. There are also many lovely temples and churches dotted around the town.

In the evening, you can go for a stroll along the beach and enjoy the beautiful sunset and colourful fishing boats with their batik sails.

After breakfast and check-out, your guide/driver will drive you to Sigiriya.

Along the way, you’ll make an exciting stop in the town of Dambulla, where you’ll experience the town’s impressive cave temple, located in a wide cliff measuring 160 x 600 metres. Steep stairs lead up to the cave, and on a clear day, you can glimpse Lion Rock in Sigirya from the top step. The cave houses no fewer than 153 Buddha statues, statues of former Sri Lankan kings, as well as statues of gods and goddesses. Aside from the many statues, impressive murals can be found here, spread over a total area of 2,100 m². The cave was established by King Valagamba in the first century BC and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

After the visit, you’ll be driven to the hotel in Sigiriya. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please, and you can enjoy the pool or the tranquil surroundings on a stroll around the area. The path you walk on is red and dusty, a lovely contrast to the green fields, tropical plants and trees that shelter the colourful houses in the area.

After breakfast, you’ll picked up and driven to visit Sri Lanka’s legendary landmark, the Lion Rock, which is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

From the year 455 to 473, King Dhatusena ruled over Sri Lanka from the then-capital of Anuradhapura. King Dhatusena’s son, Moggallana, was posed to succeed his father, but King Dhatusena’s eldest son, Kashyapa, was none too pleased with that. Both of Moggallana’s parents were royal, while Kashyapa’s mother was simply one of King Dhatusena’s concubines. This fact meant it was impossible for Kashyapa to take the throne as the written rules stood. In order to seize the throne, Kashyapa therefore decided to immure his father, which caused his half-brother, Moggallana, to flee to South India so he would not suffer the same fate.

The new regent, King Kashyapa, was not met with the biggest group of supporters and feared an attack by his half-brother Moggallana. He therefore chose to move the capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya due to its strategic location. On the flat top of the Sigiriya Rock, he constructed his lavish royal palace with a moat, gardens, large ornamental pools and fountains surrounding it.

Half-way up the rock, he built the entrance to the palace, which resembled a giant lion – hence the name Lion Rock. Today, however, only the enormous lion paws remain.

King Kashyapa lived here with his harem and servants until his half-brother Moggallana returned from Southern India with a whole army. King Kashyapa and his army lost the battle to Moggallana, and Kashyapa ended up taking his own life in 495. Moggallana decided to move the capital back to Anuradhapura and ruled the country from there, while Sigiriya was converted into a Buddhist monastery.

The rock, which juts 200 metres out the ground in the middle of Sigiriya’s lush surroundings, may look impossible to climb – and for good reason, as the trip to the top is tough. No fewer than 1202 steps await you, and we recommend that you take it slow, with breaks to enjoy the gorgeous view, as it becomes ever more fantastic the higher up you go.

On the way to the top, you will see beautiful, well-preserved frescoes of women, as well as the remains of a polished rock wall. A little over halfway up, you’ll encounter the giant lion paws that served as an entrance to Kong Kashyapa’s palace. If the climb is too strenuous, you can choose to stop here.

If you choose to proceed, we guarantee it will be worth it. At the top of the rock, you are met by the ruins of the ancient royal palace and stunning views of the lush landscape with lakes, verdant mountains, as well as the nearby Pidurangala Rock. Take your time and enjoy the surroundings before starting your descent.

It takes around 2 hours to climb and descend the rock, plus the time you spend at the top.

Remember good walking shoes and water for the trip.

You are driven back to the hotel and the rest of the day is at your leisure.

The day is yours to do as you please. You can choose to relax by the pool or join one of our exciting optional tours, which you can read more about below.

After breakfast and check-out, your guide/driver will drive you to Kandy.

On the way, you’ll make a stop at the village of Weheragala Gama, situated at Wasgamuwa National Park. The small village is part of Project Orange Elephant, which was started by Ravi Corea, the founder of Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS). The aim of the project is to resolve the bloody conflict that exists between elephants and humans in Sri Lanka.

The conflict has basically come about as a result of the villages growing and the elephants’ territories shrinking. It’s not unusual to see elephants in Sri Lankan villages, where they raid houses, gardens and farms in search of food. Some 1,400 elephants are said to have been killed by humans over the past 11 years, while 350 humans have been killed by elephants. Attempts have been made to find the right solution to the conflict for many years. Among other things, a number of areas have been given over to the elephants, which humans are not allowed to exploit or build on. In several places, villages have also been razed to the ground to create “corridors” between the elephants’ habitats, allowing them to move around freely. And then there are villages such as Weheragala Gama, which are part of Project Orange Elephant.

Ravi Corea, the man behind Project Orange Elephant, has through various studies discovered that Sri Lankan elephants don’t like citrus trees, and that the scent of the citrus trees veils the scent of rice and other crops. In the village of Weheragala Gama, citrus trees are therefore planted to protect homes, gardens and farms from the ravages of the elephants. This has proved so effective that the conflict in Weheragala is pretty much non-existent.

When you arrive in the village, you’ll be welcomed by a local host and served a glass of freshly squeezed juice. You’ll then be drive by jeep into the heart of the village, where you’ll discover how the families live, build houses, farm and make food. You’ll also meet some of the villagers who will tell you more about the conflict between the elephants and humans.

You will also have the possibility of participating in various activities such as watering and fertilising the citrus plantations, and if you’re here outside the dry season, July to September, you will actively participate in the planting of a citrus tree, which is donated to a selected family. This way, you’re doing your bit to reduce the risk of conflict between the villagers and the elephants in the area. The planting of the citrus trees also benefits the climate, biodiversity in the area and the local economy.

Finally, you’ll be invited to enjoy a delicious Sri Lankan lunch made from local produce before continuing to Kandy.

After the visit, you’ll be driven to your hotel in the former capital Kandy, which is scenically situated in a valley surrounded by green-clad mountains, tea plantations and rivers. The city centre is home to lovely, old colonial buildings, and this is also where the picturesque Kandy Lake is located. We highly recommend a stroll around the lake, and along the way you can sit down on a bench and enjoy all the sights, and the view of the 26-metre-high Buddha statue above Bahirawakanda Temple. At the northern end of the lake is Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist temple, the Temple of the Tooth, which is said to house one of the Buddha’s teeth. The beautiful temple is actually one of the reasons why Kandy was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. A temple ceremony is held three times a day – a totally unique experience that you simply mustn’t miss.

In the evening, you can explore the city’s restaurants. You almost have to try one of Sri Lanka’s most famous dishes, “kottu roti”, which consists of flatbread cut into small pieces, eggs, vegetables, a lot of delicious spices and possibly meat. We also highly recommend “rice and curry” or “dhal curry”, which is made from lentils. The guide knows all the good restaurants, so feel free to ask his advice.

Sri Lanka is famous for its tea and is one of the world’s biggest tea producers. James Taylor from Scotland started tea production in Sri Lanka in 1867 together with Thomas Lipton, whom you likely know from “Lipton Tea”. Tea from Sri Lanka goes by the name “Ceylon Tea”, referring to Sri Lanka’s name during the British colonisation until 1972.

Today, you’ll be visiting a tea factory near Kandy. Your driver/guide will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast and drive you to the Giramama Tea Factory, where you are given a guided tour, showing you the entire production process from when the leaves are picked at the plantation to when the leaves sit steaming in your cup. Several of the machines used are over 150 years old, and techniques have changed little since 1867. After the tour, you have an opportunity to taste different types of tea and to buy some to take home with you.

Afterwards, the tour heads back to Kandy, where the rest of the day is yours to do as you please.

You can stay at the hotel and relax by the pool, explore more the city or perhaps visit Udawatta Kele Sanctuary? This historic forest reserve is located about 2 km from the centre of Kandy on a ridge overlooking the city. In Kandy’s heyday, the reserve was known as “Uda Wasala Watta”, which in Sinhala means “the garden above the royal palace”. The reserve is home to an incredible number of plants and bird species. You’ll also see small and medium-sized mammals, as well as reptiles.

In the evening, you can explore the city’s restaurants. You almost have to try one of Sri Lanka’s most famous dishes, “kottu roti”, which consists of flatbread cut into small pieces, eggs, vegetables, a lot of delicious spices and possibly meat. We also highly recommend “rice and curry” or “dhal curry”, which is made from lentils. The guide knows all the good restaurants, so feel free to ask his advice.

After breakfast, you check out from the hotel and your guide/driver will be ready to drive you to the train station in Nanu Oya. From here, you’ll be going on a scenic train ride through the incredibly scenic highlands to the town of Ella. All you have to do is bring your hand luggage, as your guide/driver will drive the rest of your luggage all the way to Ella by car. We recommend that on the day before your departure, you ask the hotel in Kandy to make a packed lunch for you (extra charge). However, it is possible to buy fruit, snacks and beverages from the local vendors walking around outside the train at the various stations.

Travelling by train in Sri Lanka is a wonderful experience. These are not modern trains like those we’re used to at home, but we can guarantee you the experience of a lifetime. Not only do you get right up close to the local people, but you also experience the enchanting nature through the large windows as the train winds its way past small, sleepy villages and scenic tea plantations, green-clad mountains and rushing waterfalls. After around 3 hours, you arrive in Ella, where your guide/driver is waiting to welcome you. He will drive you the last bit of the way to the hotel in Ella, which enjoys a fabulous location.

After check-in, you can enjoy the rest of the day on your own.

In the evening, you can head down into the town and have dinner at one of the cosy little cafés or restaurants along the main street, where there is a lovely, relaxed atmosphere.

There are no excursions planned for today, so the day is yours to do as you please. Maybe you’ll decide to stay at the hotel and relax by the pool and enjoy the breathtaking view? Or how about an excursion to Nine Arch Bridge or a hike to Little Adam’s Peak? Read more about your excursion options below – they won’t cost you a penny!

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After breakfast, your guide/driver picks you up at the hotel and you proceed to Tissamaharama.

Along the way, you visit the 25-metre Ravana Falls at the outskirts of Ella. The waterfall is named after the legendary King Ravana, who was said to have kept Princess Sitha hidden in the caves behind the waterfall, now known as Ravana Cave.

From here, you continue to the Buduruwagala Temple, which is renowned for its impressive and well-preserved rock carvings that date back to the 9th or 10th centuries. At the middle of the rock face is a 16-metre-tall Buddha statue, surrounded by six smaller statues showing the Buddha in different meditative poses. The level of detail and artistic precision is simply incredible!

You are then driven directly to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

You have the morning to yourself before being picked up by your guide/driver in the afternoon and driven to Yala National Park, where an exciting Jeep safari awaits you.

Yala National Park was first established as a game reserve back in the year 1900. It would only be designated a national park 38 years later. Today, the park is Sri Lanka’s second-largest national park with its area covering 978.8 km². The national park consists of 5 areas, 2 of which are open to the public.

Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is home to more than 215 bird species and 44 different species of mammals. It is said that the park has one of Sri Lanka’s largest elephant populations, as well as its highest concentration of leopards. Despite the park having the highest number of leopards in Sri Lanka, there is no guarantee of seeing one, as they are often difficult to spot and frequently hide in the bushes. Aside from birds, elephants and leopards, you may also be lucky enough to spot bears, monkeys, deer, wild boars and buffalo – so remember your binoculars and your camera!

You drive with an experienced ranger who knows the park inside out. He knows where the animals go, and he’s an expert in finding their tracks in the open landscape.

After the safari, you’ll be driven back to the hotel, where you can enjoy the evening.

The time has come to say goodbye to lovely Sri Lanka.

Your guide/driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to Colombo’s international airport, Bandaranaike, from which you will fly to Europe with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You land at the airport of your choice after a fantastic tour, many memories the richer.