Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival & Transfer – Negombo / Anuradhapura

Arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport and transfer to luxurious private hideaway The Wallawwa for the night. After enjoying a late breakfast on the verandah surrounded by age-old frangipani trees we begin our journey to Sri Lanka's cultural triangle – home to ancient cities, crumbling temples, and sacred sites. Arriving at Anuradhapura, we test out the private plunge pools at our resort for the next three nights, Ulagalla, before enjoying dinner in the elegant dining area of the resort's historic wallawwa mansion.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ... The Wallawwa – Garden Suite for night of arrival and then Ulagalla Resort – Ulagalla Wing Room
Day 2 Ancient cities and cycling – Anuradhapura

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, the rest of the morning is free for you to relax or explore on your own. This afternoon we transfer from Ulagalla to explore one of Sri Lanka's UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient cities, Anuradhapura. Sri Lanka's centre of power for 1000 years, the ruins of Anuradhapura remain one of South Asia's most significant sights. Cycling under the dappled shade of trees, we set out to explore this sprawling complex of enormous dagobas, soaring brick towers, ancient pools and crumbling temples. We transfer back to Ulagalla, leaving time to relax or enjoy a swim in the resort's stunning 30 metre pool on our return. Tonight we unwind around the bar before enjoying dinner at Ulagalla's restaurant.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner … Ulagalla Resort – Ulagalla Wing Room
Day 3 Ancient cities and wildlife – Sigiriya Rock / Minneriya

This morning, we prepare to climb the ancient Sigiriya rock (370m). Approaching through the western gate, our path is flanked by trees and symmetrical water gardens. Climbing for 1 hour, we take a break halfway up in a sheltered gallery containing a series of exquisite ancient frescoes of female forms. The clamber to the spacious summit – believed to have once been home to the king's royal palace – is rewarded by views of the central plains. After completing our descent of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and taking lunch in the heart of this archaeological area, we transfer to Minneriya National Park and, climbing aboard safari jeeps, head deep into the park in search of its herds of elephants and spectacular wildlife. Tonight we enjoy dinner at Ulagalla's restaurant.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner … Ulagalla Resort – Ulagalla Wing Room
Day 4 Transfer – Anuradhapura / Kandy

Today we leave the central plains of Sri Lanka and head into the hill country – a region famous for its stunningly lush, green landscapes and cool mountain air. We stop in Matale at Ena de Silva's, a renowned batik artist and one of Sri Lanka's living national treasures, for a special lunch of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. In the early afternoon we arrive at Kandy, Sri Lanka's hill country capital. Rich in history and regarded as the spiritual and cultural heart of Sri Lanka, Kandy's lakeside setting and its surrounding hills make it the perfect place to break up our journey. Here we pause to join Buddhist pilgrims visiting one of Sri Lanka's most sacred sites, the 16^th century Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. We retire to The Kandy House, a stylish boutique hotel that was once the grand ancestral home of a Kandayan Chief. Dinner is prepared by the area's finest chefs and enjoyed alfresco on the verandah.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner … The Kandy House – Deluxe or Ultra Room
Day 5 Explore Kandy

After breakfast enjoyed in the lush tropical gardens of The Kandy House, we pay a visit to the Kandy Garrison Cemetery. This beautifully kept cemetery provides a fascinating look into Kandy's British colonial history and the role Kandy played during World War II. After stopping to enjoy some of the hill country's famous tea at a Kandy tea house and exploring beautiful Kandy town on foot, we head to the famous Botanic Gardens. Formerly the pleasure gardens of the royal rulers of Kandy before colonial times, it is now home to the largest botanic park in Sri Lanka. Dinner tonight is enjoyed at The Kandy House.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner … The Kandy House – Deluxe or Ultra Room
Day 6 Transfer – Kandy / Bogawantalawa Valley

After breakfast, we transfer by train to Ceylon Tea Trails – our gateway to the Bogawantalawa Valley and the heart of Sri Lanka's tea country. On our journey into one of the most scenic parts of Sri Lanka we enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding hill country and pass by rolling hills carpeted with tea and dotted with colourfully clad tea pluckers at work. Spread throughout the Bogawantalawa Valley are four classic colonial bungalows. Originally built for British tea estate managers in the days of the Raj, they have been sensitively restored. We arrive at the first of these luxury bungalows just in time to enjoy a three-course lunch. You are free for the remainder of the day and evening to relax – enjoy a game of croquet, indulge in a traditional English afternoon tea, or explore the surrounding tea plantations.

Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea, Dinner … Ceylon Tea Trails – Luxury Room or Garden Suite
Day 7 Adam's Peak

Rising early (1am), we enjoy a cup of what else but Ceylon tea and then transfer to the small town of Dalhousie, where we join pilgrims on their journey to the sacred Sri Pada, or Adam's Peak (2243m). Sri Lanka's holiest mountain, Adam's Peak has been a site of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. The pilgrimage can take between 3 – 4 hours. With regular breaks along the way, we arrive at the summit for sunrise, where we toll the bell to signify the completion of our pilgrimage and take in sweeping views across Sri Lanka's hill country. We then descend back to Dalhousie for refreshments. Our private transfer soon has us back in the comfortable surrounds of our bungalow, where we enjoy a late English breakfast-with-everything and a well-deserved rest. The remainder of the day is yours free to rest and relax. Dinner tonight will be at our luxury bungalow, with an opportunity to share stories of this morning's pilgrimage.

Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea, Dinner … Ceylon Tea Trails – Luxury Room or Garden Suite
Day 8 Trekking – Bogawantalawa Valley

In true tea planter style we start the day with a gentle wake up call and bed tea served by your personal butler, before enjoying a traditional English breakfast. After breakfast we begin our education in the art of Ceylon Tea. Known as "The Golden Valley" on account of its lush, vigorous tea bushes that produce a variety of full-bodied, light, delicate and fragrant teas throughout the year, the Bogawantalawa Valley is Sri Lanka's most famous region for tea. We join Planter in Residence Andrew Taylor at Norwood tea factory to learn about and sample some of Sri Lanka's exquisite teas. After discovering the nuances of tea we begin trekking through the Bogawantalawa Valley to our next luxury planter's bungalow for the night – a sprawling property with its own unique aspect and style. Along the way groups of tea pluckers in colourful saris greet us with warm smiles. Passing lush, green tea plantations dotted with tall eucalyptus trees, we take in the rhythm of tea country life. We continue trekking through this picturesque valley and pass small village communities, Hindu temples, and mountain streams before arriving at our beautifully restored bungalow. After consulting with the resident chef about the menu for the day, we enjoy a lunch prepared using vegetables and herbs freshly picked from the bungalow's garden. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure. The bungalow's drawing room with its open log fire sets the scene for this evening's pre-dinner drinks before we move to the dining room for a sumptuous four-course dinner.

Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea, Dinner … Ceylon Tea Trails – Luxury Room or Garden Suite
Day 9 Transfer – Bogawantalawa Valley / Galle

After enjoying an authentic Sri Lankan breakfast, we leave the tea fields and head for Sri Lanka's south coast and the 400-year-old Galle Fort. A UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Dutch, Galle Fort was the main port for Sri Lanka for more than 200 years. Stopping for lunch along the way, we continue our journey further south. Beautiful coconut-fringed beaches, radiant green rice paddies, and crumbling Dutch colonial architecture announce that we have arrived in southern Sri Lanka. We arrive at Galle Fort in the late afternoon and check into Amangalla, one of Sri Lanka's most historic and opulent hotels. Enjoy dinner tonight on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch … Amangalla – Bedroom
Day 10 Galle

Overlooking the tree-lined street below, we enjoy a relaxed breakfast and watch life in the Fort go by. After the long journey from the tea fields, you are free for the day and evening to explore the historic Galle Fort, take a tuk-tuk to a nearby beach, relax by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or walk the ramparts to take in the sunset. In the later afternoon, you have the option to join resident Galle experts on a walk into living history on this exciting tour around Galle Fort. Explore the cinnamon warehouses, learn about the pigeon post that used to run from the top of the lighthouse to Colombo, pass the sinister looking Dutch prisons, climb onto the bastions packed with old canon placements, sample some local street food – fresh pineapple, roti and king coconuts – and take a peek inside beautifully restored Dutch villas. Enjoy dinner tonight on your own.

Breakfast … Amangalla – Bedroom
Day 11 Cycling – Galle / Wijaya Beach

Our cycling discovery of Sri Lanka's south coast begins today at Koggala, a beachside town just outside Galle. Cycling on rural backroads we pass by villages, tea and spice plantations, paddy fields, coconut groves, and temples, to explore the shores of Koggala Lake. We arrive at Kahanda Kanda – a stylish boutique hotel located on a 10-acre working tea estate. After refreshing with a swim we enjoy lunch prepared by internationally trained chefs using produce grown on the estate. After lunch, we begin our cycle back to the coast. Joining the locals, we break to enjoy a refreshing drink of coconut juice straight from the king coconut. With the chance to spot peacocks, monitor lizards, and blue kingfishers along the way, we journey back to Wijaya Beach to enjoy a swim and sunset cocktails at the beach club bar. Enjoy dinner tonight on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch … Amangalla – Bedroom
Day 12 Canoeing – Galle

This morning we explore the Ginganga River by canoe and experience the river's early morning ambience. We begin at the source of the river, an inland coastal lagoon. The cool of the morning provides the best time to experience the area's abundant bird and animal life. Using the flow of the river we make our way downstream before meeting our private transfer and returning to Amangalla. The remainder of the day is free to rest and relax. Tonight we unwind around the bar and then enjoy dinner in a stylish yet relaxed setting at one of our favourite Galle restaurants.

Breakfast, Dinner … Amangalla – Bedroom
Day 13 Transfer – Galle / Colombo

This morning we leave Sri Lanka's south coast bound for Colombo. Passing by a string of beach towns we arrive in Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital. We enjoy lunch at one of our favourite Colombo restaurants and then transfer to the Tintagel. In the late afternoon, enjoy sunset drinks overlooking the Indian Ocean at the Veranda Bar of the Galle Face Hotel – the 145 year old grande dame of Colombo. Tonight we celebrate an unforgettable Sri Lanka luxury adventure with dinner at one of our favourite Colombo restaurants.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner … Tintagel – Executive Suite
Day 14 Explore Colombo and departure – Colombo / Negombo

After enjoying breakfast, we begin our discovery of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. Visit Sri Lanka's best textile, homeware and design shops, set in some of Colombo's most beautiful villas and colonial houses, and enjoy Sri Lanka's burgeoning contemporary art scene as we make our way around art galleries that showcase some of the best examples of Sri Lankan art. Depending on your energy levels we also have time to visit Colombo's National Museum and savour the exhibits that delve back into Sri Lanka's ancient and colonial past, the bustling and historic bazaar district of Colombo, and for the cricket fans we visit the famous Sinhalese Sports Club. In the afternoon, we transfer to The Wallawwa for dinner and time to relax before making our way to Bandaranaike International Airport for flights home or international connections.

Breakfast