Sri Lanka Luxury Escape

The perfect moment begins with the perfect setting. It's more than a holiday, more than a resort. It's simply a collage of perfect, timeless moments. On arrival you will be taken to the hotel in Negombo just 20 minutes from the Airport. Check in at the hotel for your overnight stay, If time permits your options are endless in this fishing city, also called the “ Little Rome” with many catholic churches. You may also visit the town for some shopping, specially colorful sarees and jewelry to name a few. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay.

Today morning you may proceed to Sigiriya after a lovely Breakfast visiting the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. It’s better to leave the hotel at 6.30 a.m and you can witness the feeding and bathing of these wonderful Elephants. Thereafter proceed to Jetwing Vil Uyana which is situated among reed beds and paddy fields and over the first man-made lake since the era of Parakramabahu I. Spend the afternoon exploring and set off to climb the spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya, with its rocky abode & water gardens. Sigiriya is famous for its toadstool of golden-hued granite, protruding into the searing blue sky from a hot, flat wilderness of scrubland, which is transformed in the rainy season to a water garden. In the 5th century King Kashyapa domesticated the Lions Rock, by building a palace atop its summit. Sigiriya commemorates some of the turbulence of Sri Lanka’s history. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay.

Today morning visit the ancient city Polonnaruwa. The ancient heart of Sri Lanka. An important royal capital with its well-preserved 12th century ruins & impressive stone culture recalls an inspired past. Although nearly 1000 years old. The monuments are arranged in a reasonably compact garden setting and their development is easier to follow. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay. Evening enjoy a jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park. Dominated by the ancient Minneriya Tank this national park has plenty of scrub and light forest in its 8890 hectares to provide shelter for its toque macaques, sambar deer, leopards and Elephants – to name a few. In addition, an enormous number of birds ( some 160 species) have been spotted at Minneriya, including endemics such as the Sri Lankan hanging parrot and the crimson-fronted barbet. Return to the hotel for your overnight stay.

In the morning visit the beautiful Dambulla cave temple, the largest cave monastery in the country with a history going back to the 1st century BC. Simply relax at the hotel.

While coming from Sigiriya/Dambulla towards Kandy you may stop at Matale Aluvuhare , which sits beside the Kandy- Dambulla road, The monastery caves are picturesquely situated among rocks that have fallen from the mountains high above the valley. On the way you could stop off at a Spice Garden in Matale. Some people think this is too touristy. I will leave that for you to decide. There are several directly on the way to Kandy. Your accommodation will be at The Stone House Lodge in Kandy is a luxurious, architect-designed boutique hotel, on a secluded plateau in the hills of Kandy, with magnificent views.

Spend today exploring Kandy. A lively city, Kandy is surrounded by rolling hills and forest. The last capital of the Singhalese Kingdom, this hill country city is famed for its lake and the Temple of the Tooth. North of the lake is the Udawattakelle Sanctuary (Optional). Filled with forest birds and monkeys, a beautiful spot for a relaxing walk through the cool woodland. The Peradeniya Botanical Gardens are within 30 minutes of Kandy, and are also home to the enormous fruit bats who hang from the tree tops as they sleep during daytime. You could also visit a traditional arts & crafts centre, a gem museum. (Again these are quite touristy however totally up to you) This evening you could visit the Temple of the Tooth, resting place of the country's most precious Buddhist relic. Set on the banks of the lake, and surrounded by moat, the temple and its setting makes for unforgettable moonlit walks.

Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka's first Relais & Chateaux resort, comprises four luxurious colonial era tea planters' bungalows, connected by walking trails. Spend the next 3 nights at any of the Tea Trails Bungalow. Enjoy playing croquet in the afternoon or walking through the tea. Nestled among the hills of the Dikoya region in central Sri Lanka at over 5000 feet above sea level is Ceylon Tea Trails. The bungalows are located amongst a Tea Estate replete with rolling green hills and plantation bungalow. Relive the lifestyle of a tea planter.

Simply relax at the hotel.

Simply relax at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Yala via Ella (most beautiful place in the Island), Wellawaya and Wirawila. Visit Buduruvagala to see the tallest Buddha Statue (51 feet in height) and 6 other statues dating to 8th Century A.D. You will be passing many interesting village scenes for photography. The Yala National Park is home to the highest density of leopard in Asia. Cinnamon Wild Yala sits adjacent to the park.

Early morning go for a Safari by Jeep to Yala National Park, with a Tracker. Visit places frequented by Leopards in the Park, including visits to “Koti gala”, “Kottamba-gas-wewa”, “Pandi-kema”, “Wepandeniya”, “Meda para” and “Wal-mal-kema” where leopards are found frequently. Stay in one of the places recommended by the Tracker to get an award winning photograph of a Sri Lankan Leopard. Then go for Wild Elephants, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, Crocodiles, Sambhur, Jackal, other animals and birds including Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Stone Curlew, Great Thick Knee, Black-necked Stork, (the largest bird in Sri Lanka) Lesser Adjutant, Painted Stork, Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-faced Malkoha, Brahminy Myna, Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Cormorants, Darters, Herons, Bitterns, Lapwings and other birds. Return to hotel and spend the evening.

Where trade winds carried legendary explorers like Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta and Fa-Hsien past Sri Lanka's soaring southern cliffs on some of history's ... Over to your Luxury Beach stay.

Enjoy your beach stay…

We'll drop you at the aiport via Colombo to have a safe flight.