Pure Paradise

Day 1: Arrival at Bandaranayke Int. Airport, transfer to Horathapola
Ayubowan! Welcome to Sri Lanka! Today you will arrive at Bandaranayke International Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative who will welcome you and you start your journey to Horathapola, which will take roughly 1,5 hours. Upon arrival, you will check-in and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 2: Horathapola
After breakfast, you will spend a day at leisure at the estate. The 150-year-old frangipani tree in the middle of the front lawn enhances the serenity and beauty of the landscapes. The 50-acre estate itself with its large agricultural expanse invites you to stroll through the coconut trees or through paddy fields. One of your hosts can also take you for a guided village walk. or you can grab one of the bicycles and take a ride around the village in the vicinity of the property. It’s a great way to get a feel for rural life as you pass by temples, farmland, and plantations while you explore village trails on a bicycle. This is a unique place that makes you feel like exploring but at the same time makes you feel like doing nothing but to relax, up to you- no scripts here.

Day 3: Horathapola – Sigiriya
After breakfast, you will depart to the Cultural Triangle and check in to your hotel for the next few nights. After the drive, enjoy your lunch at the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 4: Sigiriya
Early morning, you will depart for a visit to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya, the marvelous rock fortress also known as Lion Rock is a rare jewel among the many treasures in Sri Lanka. The Sigiriya experience takes approximately 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the pace at which you wish to ascend. Afterward, proceed to your hotel for breakfast and spend the rest of the morning at leisure. After enjoying lunch at the hotel, later in the afternoon, set out on a jeep safari at either Minneriya, Hurulu Eco Park, or Kaudulla National Parks. In the evening, transfer to the accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Sigiriya – Polonnaruwa – Sigiriya
You will spend your morning hours at leisure. After lunch, drive towards Polonnaruwa and visit the ancient city on bicycles which is the best way to explore the ruins. Polonnaruwa will impress you with its remarkable sculptures and temples with intricate carvings. You’ll be surprised to see most of the ruins are still in good shape even after 800 years! In the evening, transfer back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Sigiriya – Matale – Elkaduwa
After breakfast, start driving towards Matale and set out on a walk exploring an inner village of Matale. Upon arrival in Matale, you will be heading out for a village walk and go off the beaten path while listening to the stories and folklore of the village guide. After the walk, you will enjoy a delicious local lunch, served in the traditional style on a lotus/banana leaf and it’s all-you-can-eat. After lunch, you will start your drive towards Elkaduwa, where you will be staying in a beautiful bungalow on a 100-acre tea estate. In the afternoon, set out on a short walk to the waterfall located within the estate premises itself.

Day 7: Elkaduwa
In the morning, join Mr. Das, the superintendent of the estate to learn more about the story of tea. The experience begins by learning the art of picking tea alongside tea pickers who handpick the best shoots or "two leaves and a bud". Afterward, give a try at your tea tasting skills. Later in the afternoon set out on a short hike to One Tree Hill and enjoy a high tea at the top which literally lives up to its name. This is an easy but lovely walk partly along the road, through local villages, past temples, and along off-road tracks up to the final peak.

Day 8: Elkaduwa – Kandy – Ella
After breakfast, you will depart to Kandy where you will board the train towards Ella, which will take you 6 hours to get there. Today you will experience the most magical train journey through Sri Lanka’s hill country. Lush Tea Plantations, Mountains covered in mist, and smiling people, what more could you ask for! High up in the highlands of Sri Lanka is the little town of Ella. This is one of Sri Lanka's prime hiking destinations yet at the same time is the perfect spot to unwind for a few days, read a book, or enjoy a cup of tea. You will spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 9: Ella
Today you will leave before sunrise and set out on a short hike to the Little Adams Peak. This can be easily done as the hike actually starts from your hotel and takes only about one hour. The views of the valley and surrounding hills are simply stunning. After breakfast, you will set off to walk to the Nine Arch Bridge. You can take a small walk and see this from the viewpoint. If you are more adventurous, you could walk all the way down to the bridge and if you are lucky, might be able to spot a train coming through the bridge. Thereafter, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 10: Ella – Weerawila – Yala – Weerawila
After breakfast, you will drive towards Weerawila for an unforgettable wildlife experience! Upon arrival, you will check-in at your hotel and enjoy lunch before you set off for an afternoon safari into Yala National Park. Yala National Park is Sri Lanka's most famous National Park and with good reason, it is home to an amazing range of wildlife. Its magnificent sights of majestic elephants, fine-feathered peacocks, great black bears, and agile leopards that steal away into the shadows of the thick foliage are unparalleled to any of the national parks in the country. In the evening head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Weerawila – Yala – Weerawila
Early in the morning, you will leave for a bird-watching nature trail with the in-house naturalist along with the Weerawila Bird Sanctuary which attracts over 200 bird species including the Majestic Junglefowl, Ceylon Woodshrikes, Great Cormorants, Egrets, Swallows, Barbets, and many more colorfully chirpy winged species. As you go along, the naturalist will show you what to look for while regaling you with noteworthy facts and stories from the bush-walks. After lunch at the lodge, you will depart for another afternoon safari into Yala National Park. In the evening return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Yala – Galle
After breakfast, check out and start driving towards Galle. After check-in and some time spent at leisure, you will go out and explore Galle Fort on a walk with your guide. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about the Fort is that it is a living monument, families that have lived for generations continue to inhabit the fortified streets. If you visit Galle today you will still get a chance of seeing it as a small Sri Lankan microcosm where Buddhists and Muslims live together yet in a couple of years this might change and it will become a place full of hotels and tourist restaurants. In the evening you will head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 13: Galle
After breakfast, you will spend some time at leisure. In the evening you will head out to a local home where a quintessentially southern family awaits to host you for a farewell dinner that is prepared with love, care, and hospitality Sri Lanka is famous for. Apart from Fish (baked or curried) and the Kadey Paan (Bread), Coconut will be the star player of the menu ranging from the Coconut Roti and the Coconut Sambol to the dessert which will be stuffed crapes with Pani Pol (mix of Coconut & Treacle). Rules of engagement here would be that you have a good time with the family and for you to experience the southern blend of hospitality which stands as a time-tested testament. After a delicious dinner, you will head back to the hotel for leisure and overnight.

Day 14: Galle - Maldives
Today you will wave goodbye to beautiful Sri Lanka, we will transfer you to the airport, where you will catch your departure flight to the Maldives. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative who will welcome you, and you will start your journey to your resort, this can either be done by seaplane or boat transfer. You will spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 15: Maldives
Today you will spend a free day at leisure at your resort. Additionally, we can book any activities for you.

Day 16: Maldives
Today you will spend a free day at leisure at your resort. Additionally, we can book any activities for you.

Day 17: Maldives
Today you will spend a free day at leisure at your resort. Additionally, we can book any activities for you.

Day 18: Maldives
Today you will spend a free day at leisure at your resort. Additionally, we can book any activities for you.

Day 19: Departure Maldives
Today you will be picked up from your resort and transfer to Male International Airport for your departure flight.