15 Day Private Sri Lanka Adventure

Welcome to Sri Lanka! On arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), you will be met in the arrivals hall by a local representative and escorted to your waiting private transfer who will transfer you to your Negombo hotel. Check in and relax after your international flight. Special Information:Arrival airport transfers are included as part of your package. You will be met upon arrival at the airport by a representative who will escort you through immigration, and be transferred to your hotel. If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed. Please note: if you are arriving early and have made your own arrangements prior to your tour commencing, airport transfers will not be included. However, if you are purchasing pre-nights accommodation as part of your Inspiring Vacations package, airport transfers will still be provided to the starting hotel. Please note: that the included mileage applies only to the scheduled sightseeing. If you would like your private driver to take you to sights outside the planned itinerary, we can provide additional transport only within a 5 km radius.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then meet with your private chauffeur guide for a welcome meeting prior to your Negombo city tour. Visit the local fish market and understand the traditional methods of catching and drying fish. See the remains of the 17th-century Dutch Fort and Negombo Lagoon, lined with fishermen's huts which feeds into the Dutch-era Hamilton Canal. Following your morning tour, we drive approximately 3 hours to Sigiriya arriving mid-afternoon at the beautiful Sigiriya Jungles resort. Take time to relax and unwind in the hotel grounds, take a dip in the pool or venture to the hotel lookout for incredible views of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Exclusive to Inspiring Vacations guests is a complimentary Ayurvedic treatment at the resort spa. Enjoy a relaxing 20 minute foot, shoulder or head message or upgrade to one of the indulgent treatments using traditional herbs and ancient healing methods. This evening, enjoy dinner overlooking the hotel gardens. Inspiring Highlights Negombo Fish Market Negombo Lagoon Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your complimentary 20 minute treatment is available for use at the Sigiriya Jungles Ayurvedic Spa. Treatment can be redeemed at any time during your stay and is subject to availability, The value can be used to upgrade to another treatment of your choice. Unused vouchers are non refundable.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel before we travel approximately an hour to visit the UNESCO site and ruins of Anuradhapura. Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka and is known for its well-preserved ruins. Visit the sacred Bo Tree, a spiritual reminder of the beginnings of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the inspiration for Anuradhapura's great buildings. The ruins themselves are spread over quite a large area, some in woodland settings and others appearing park-like with columns and ponds dotted about. Travel back to Sigiriya where the afternoon is a leisure. Alternatively, you may wish to join an optional tour of Minneriya National Park. Enjoy dinner at your hotel in the evening.Inspiring Highlights Anuradhapura Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

After breakfast, proceed to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and climb the monolith, one of the most extraordinary artistic complexes of its time (477 – 498 AD). Declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1982, this magnificent citadel allures artistic and architectural curiosity from around the globe. Return to the hotel late this morning with time to relax before we head out this afternoon to visit the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa was declared as an UNESCO heritage site in 1982. After the demise of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa became the middle historic capital of Sri Lanka (1017 – 1235 AD). In comparison to Anuradhapura, here your private chauffeur guide will show you well preserved remains of temples and ancient homes and describe the meaning behind the relief and carvings that can still be seen today. Following our tour, travel back to Sigiriya in time for dinner at your hotel.Inspiring Highlights Sigiriya Rock Fortress Polonnaruwa Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

After breakfast, we leave Sigiriya and proceed to Kandy via the Dambulla Cave Temple. Built in the first century BC, it is recognised to be the largest cave sanctuary in the world, with its 2000 m² of walls and ceilings painted with more than 150 Buddha images. The largest engraved in the rock reaches 14 metres. Following this, we visit a spice garden in Matale. Enjoy a tour through the garden as you learn about the different spices that have shaped Sri Lanka's trade history. Learn of the harvesting process and the use of each spice in Sri Lankan cooking and herbal medicines. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then continue our journey to Kandy, The Hill Capital (1514 to 1815 AD). Originally known as Senkadagala, the city eventually came to be known as Kandy, derived from the word "Kanda" meaning "the Mountain." Kandy was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 1988. The style and character of the Sri Lankan civilisation at the time is well articulated in the heart of the city itself, with its lake and well-preserved ruins of the royal palaces. Arrive at the hotel late this afternoon where the rest of the day is at leisure. This evening, you may wish to join an optional cultural performance followed by dinner. Inspiring Highlights Dambulla Cave Temple Matale Spice Garden Kandy Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

After breakfast, visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic. Located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, this venerated temple is a deeply spiritual and sacred Buddhist site that contains a fragment of the tooth of Buddha, collected from his funeral pyre. Continue with a Kandy city tour, taking in the lake and key viewpoints. We then enjoy an Inspiring Taste as we join a local in their home to learn the art of traditional Sri Lankan cooking. Get an understanding of locally grown spices and their importance to Sri Lankan dishes, then learn to make five different curries using traditional methods, cooked over an open fire in clay pots. Afterwards, enjoy the benefits of your tuition over lunch. Return to the hotel where the rest of the day is at your leisure before enjoying dinner at the hotel. Inspiring Highlights Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Cooking Demonstration

After breakfast, depart Kandy for Nuwara Eliya. En route, visit a tea factory and tea plantation, where you will enjoy the absolute tea experience, from the moment the young tea leaves are plucked through to being processed in the factory to make a cup of tea. If you are interested, the tea factory is a good place to purchase quality tea. Continue on to Nuwara Eliya. This afternoon, enjoy an Inspiring Taste at probably the most talked about property in Nuwara Eliya, with an indulgent High Tea at the iconic Grand Hotel. The High Tea can be taken at any time from 12pm to 6pm and is included as your lunch today. The rest of your evening will be spent at your leisure. Inspiring Highlights Nuwara Eliya Grand Hotel Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5hours. Sri Lanka Railway tickets can only be booked 30 days prior to departure. The 1st and 2nd class is basic but has air-conditioning. The non-air conditioned 3rd class sometimes is the only option based availability. On the rare occasion the train is fully booked we'll conduct the route by road.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning at your hotel. For those adventure seekers, you may wish to join an optional hike to the incredibly scenic Horton's Plains and World's End (see below for more detail). Today we tour Nuwara Eliya. Often referred to as ‘Little England', this genteel highland community we see the rose-tinted colonial-era bungalows and it's beautiful gardens and lake. Return to your hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.Inspiring Highlights Nuwara Eliya

This morning after breakfast, transfer to Ambewela Railway Station and board the scenic train to Ella. The journey takes you through tea country with views of rolling hills, waterfalls and plantations along the way. On arrival in Ella, continue by road to Yala. Enjoy lunch at your hotel or a local restaurant before relaxing at the hotel this afternoon. Return to your hotel and enjoy dinner. Inspiring Highlights Scenic Train Journey Special Information Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours. It is not possible to confirm the train ticket reservation in advance, as Sri Lanka Railway has a manual system for reservations. Tickets can only be booked 30 days prior to departure. The 1st and 2nd class is basic but has air-conditioning. The non-air conditioned 3rd class sometimes is the only option based on availability. On the rare occasion the train is fully booked we will conduct the route by road.

You will have an early start today, leaving the hotel at 5.30am with a packed breakfast to spend the morning on a private jeep safari in Yala National Park, spotting the diverse wildlife that calls the park home. Being one of the largest parks in Sri Lanka, it is the ideal place to possibly sight elephants, sloth bears and the elusive leopard. Return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure. After an included lunch at your hotel, set out on a second private jeep safari at Yala National Park this afternoon. Return to the hotel and enjoy dinner. Inspiring Highlights Yala National Park Special Information Yala National Park closes for a period between the months of September and October. The exact closure dates are made clear closer to the time. The closure is due to the prevailing dry weather prior to this time and taking into consideration the well-being of the wildlife in the reserve. For departure dates that fall over this period, Yala National Park will be replaced with a visit to Udawalawe National Park, while still being able to visit Block 4 or 5 of Yala National Park.

After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Galle and enjoy lunch at a colonial-style restaurant. This afternoon, tour Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, where Portuguese, Dutch and British influences shape the architecture. Stroll the quiet residential streets within the fort walls, with plenty of photo opportunities along the way.Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure, exploring the narrow lanes lined with museums, boutiques, cafés and antique stores.Inspiring HighlightsGalle FortSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we will head to town of Balapitiya, where you’ll embark on a scenic boat ride along the Madu River. The river is home to 64 islands, and one notable stop is Cinnamon Island, known locally as “Kurundu Doowa.” During your visit, you'll gain a fascinating insight into the process of cinnamon production, as Sri Lanka is the world’s largest producer of pure cinnamon!On arrival this afternoon, check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool.Inspiring HighlightsMadu RiverSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Today is yours to spend as you wish.

After breakfast, head north to Colombo. On arrival, enjoy lunch before a city tour of Sri Lanka's largest city. A port on the ancient East–West trade routes, Colombo passed through Portuguese, Dutch and British rule, and its architecture reflects that history, with colonial buildings standing alongside modern high-rises and shopping malls.Check in to your hotel this afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure.This evening, celebrate your time in Sri Lanka with a farewell dinner.Inspiring HighlightsColombo City TourSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Sri Lanka. A late checkout until 8pm is available if required. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the Colombo airport to board your flight home.Special Information:Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.If you choose to extend your stay (e.g., departing after the final tour date) and have booked your additional accommodation independently, this included service will be forfeited and no refund will be issued.If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.