Experience the highlights of Sri Lanka - the Sinhalese royal city of Kandy with the sacred Buddha's tooth relic, the port city of Galle and the unique nature of the island.
Day 1: Airport - Hingula - Kandy (D)
Arrival at the airport in the early morning, if arriving later we recommend an overnight stop in Negombo, (if picking up from the city hotel in Colombo there is a transfer surcharge) and welcome by the tour guide, then drive to Kandy. On the way, visit the village of Hingula (depending on arrival time). You will travel by tuk tuk through rubber plantations and rice fields, experience a short bullock cart ride and learn interesting facts about the history of the local temple. You can also observe how coconuts are harvested and learn how roti and pol sambol are prepared. Continue to Kandy and upon arrival visit a gemstone museum where individual gemstones are displayed in detail. There, you will learn how beautiful pieces of jewelry are made from the many gemstones that exist here in Sri Lanka.
Day 2: Kandy - Peradeniya - Nuwara Eliya (B, D)
After breakfast, city tour of the former royal city of Kandy with a visit to the world-famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. The main attraction in Kandy is of course the Temple of the Tooth, where according to tradition the canine tooth of Buddha is kept in a golden shrine. Afterwards, you will drive to Peradeniya and visit the second-largest botanical garden in Asia, covering 62 hectares. In the afternoon, continue through the highlands over numerous serpentine to Nuwara Eliya, or Nureliya for short, which was a popular summer residence of the English colonial masters because of its cool mountain climate. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Nuwara Eliya - Horton Plains (B, D)
After breakfast, depart by four-wheel drive vehicle for the wilderness of Horton Plains National Park. The wild and romantic landscape lies more than 2000 m above sea level and is the habitat of numerous wild animals such as sambar deer, bear monkeys and also leopards. The park covers an area of about 30 km and is covered by both grassland and dense cloud forest. The highlight is World's End, where the plateau drops steeply almost 900 m and offers a breathtaking view - on a clear day even as far as the south coast of Sri Lanka (warm clothing is advisable here). Dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Nuwara Eliya - Kithulgala - Kalawana (B, D)
After breakfast, drive from Nuwara Eliya towards Ratnapura. In Kithulgala you will explore the Kelani River on a rafting tour, where the film "Bridge on the River Kwai" was shot. Afterwards you have the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Kalawana - Sinharaja Rainforest - Kalutara/Waskaduwa (B, D)
This morning you will explore the Sinharaja Rainforest with a hike. The tropical rainforest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the last untouched rainforests in the country. Besides a breathtaking landscape with waterfalls, there are many rare plants and bird species to discover. Afterwards, continue to the West Coast. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Relax on the beach! Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Kalutara/Waskaduwa - Galle - Kosgoda/Waskaduwa (B, D)
After breakfast, excursion to the harbor town of Galle, which enchants with its colonial charm. The white lighthouse, the clock tower and the Dutch churches are just a few relics of bygone times. Today, Galle is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the town and its imposing 17th century fortifications. On the way back, stop in Kosgoda at a turtle breeding station and visit the mask museum in Ambalangoda. In the afternoon, learn about the rich flora and fauna of the Bentota River. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Waskaduwa - Colombo Airport (B)
After breakfast, return to the airport or alternatively drop off at your seaside hotel on the southwest coast (Wadduwa/Kalutara/Beruwela/Bentota).
B = Breakfast / L = Lunch / D = Dinner
Note: Travel in local air-conditioned cars, minivans or buses. Subject to changes that do not affect the overall tour. On public holidays / major events (e.g. cricket tournaments / perahera) there may be surcharges. Due to the cool climate in the mountains (Nuwara Eliya), warm clothing is advisable, for the visits to the national parks and the climb of the Sigiriya rock we recommend bringing sturdy shoes. The infrastructure in Sri Lanka is partly poorly developed, travelling takes a lot of time even on short distances (the total travel distance given refers to the pure travel time from place to place - without visits). Services are subject to change without notice.
