Life is an Adventure

Have a hearty breakfast at the Hotel before hopping on a private bus to begin the journey towards Sigiriya. While travelling, we'll take a break to visit the fantastic Dambulla Caves. Where religion and history reverberate off every wall painted and Buddha stone statue and leave visitors with an unparalleled feeling of spirituality. We'll then stay at our gorgeous Hotel in Sigiriya, The most beautiful in the Cultural Triangle. The final part of our fantastic day was a climb at sunset to the peaceful Buddhist Pidurangala monastery. Pidurangala to capture an unobstructed and open view of what we'll be climbing up in the early morning!

A rousing early start this morning as we slip on our hiking boots, take out our cameras, and head off to climb the breathtaking Sigiriya Rock. With its prodigious rise from the earth, the remains of a grand palace are evident throughout the site of a once noble and violent Sri Lankan history. Explore the wall paintings of the past, the sanskript-marked mirror wall, and the massive stone lion's paws protecting the climb up to the top. Views from the summit are breathtaking as you go through the past, examining the temple's remains. You can go on an additional afternoon excursion at Minneriya National Park. Here, the elephants patrol the landscape (please note that this tour is offered during whale-watching season). For those who are hungry, We stop at an indigenous family for lunch, and they will cook an authentic meal for us before an undeserved nap on a sun lounger under the afternoon sunshine.

Today, we bid goodbye to Sigiriya and begin our journey south to the second-largest city in Sri Lanka, Kandy. We'll stop by an herb garden to discover where our most loved spices come from. We will also take part in a cooking lesson where we'll find the secret of the perfect Sri Lankan curry! Our local chef will instruct you on how to cook Dhal and Chicken Curry along with the fried cashew coconut curry and poppadoms. After that, we'll drive to Kandy, Check in at the next Hotel, and explore this thriving city's sounds and sights on a Tuk Tuk excursion!

Enjoy your breakfast with a view of the mountains in Kandy before a trip into town to see the holy Temple of the Tooth. This shrine of religious significance is believed to hold the teeth that belong to Buddha himself. Then, we hop on the bus and journey through the mountains of the hills. The hills are filled with tiny green tea plants that Sri Lanka is famous for. We visit a working tea plant to find out how the tea is prepared before it is served in your tea cup at home while learning about how the same tree produces seven kinds of tea! A journey in Sri Lanka is not complete without a trip on the train, and travel from Nuwara Eliya to Ella is called the most memorable travel experience on the planet. 360-degree panoramas of the tea plantations and waterfalls local villages and lakes pass through the train as it moves along tracks cut into the mountain side. Take a sip of the sweet milk tea and board, chat with the people from the area and snap pictures that will make you the envy of your family and friends at home. After checking in to the Hotel, we'll go to Ella for a meal and drinks in the most adored mountain town.

The day is yours to spend according to your wishes. Ella hosts some of the most renowned massage parlours offering Ayurveda in Sri Lanka. The ancient practice relieves any aches and injuries you might be suffering from or is just a means of relaxing. Your guide on your tour will tell you about other activities that are available within the region.

We will get up early to visit some of the most beautiful hidden treasures in Ella and the surrounding area, including The 9 Arch Bridge and Little Adam's Peak. Then we'll journey south and check into the Hotel, which is only 30 minutes from the breathtaking Udawalawe National Park! Our hosts will be waiting to welcome guests with drinks to welcome us and an exquisite Sri Lankan lunch. After lunch, we hop into jeeps and head out on a safari, exploring the wild for elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys, hawks, and eagles. You might even see leopards, Mongoose, and peacocks if lucky enough. It's truly a one-of-a-kind adventure; your day at the national park is an experience that is hard to beat. After touring the national park, we'll return to the camp in the evening, where we'll be hosting a BBQ dinner in the kitchen, which is the ideal way to conclude a memorable day.

Relax in the morning at our pool at the campsite and enjoy the surroundings. The wildlife around the grounds is diverse - elephants, monkeys and peacocks are spotted in the camp's fields, So be sure to be alert. After breakfast, we'll head towards our destination on the South West Coast, arriving in the gorgeous beachside village of Mirissa. It is where the top waves of the world are crashing against the sand, where turtles swim in the waters, and the local beer is cold. This is what you'll need after a long week in the hills.

We get up early this morning and travel to the gorgeous golden sandy beach. We board one of the best boats to take in the largest animal on earth. Be amazed by the blue whales that splash, swim, and dive around you. You will be awed at their sheer size. After a few hours in the water, we rested briefly before heading to our fantastic beach location: Hikkaduwa. (Please be aware that we'll add an excursion on day three during whale watching season off-season instead.)

After breakfast at the beach, we begin our ride on a bike through a stunning village and rice fields. We stop to sip a refreshing King Coconut in a private tropical garden and even to an animal care clinic for those who wish to visit. After that, we'll allow the opportunity to take pictures of the area or buy souvenirs at one of the numerous boutiques and stores. It's the perfect spot to make a postcard and send it back with stories of your unique experiences over the last 11 days. After that, we'll travel to the beautiful Galle Fort, a city with walls that are Dutch, Portuguese and British Colonial buildings that remain standing proudly. These cobbled roads lead you to the ocean. We, irrational Sri Lankan locals, swan dive into the sea.

After breakfast, we'll load all our belongings and set off for the two-hour drive across the ocean towards the bustling capital of Colombo. While driving, we visit a small turtle sanctuary where infant turtles are taught to take their first dip and adults who have been injured are returned to the wild. Along the way, we'll see the poignant 2004 Tsunami Memorial, which allows you to hear stories of survival and look at photos from the catastrophe. After arriving in Colombo, check in to our Hotel, which is a boutique one. You can explore an art museum or the National Museum to go home or ride a tuk-tuk through the bustling street of Pattah Markets for some final souvenir shopping. We'll meet in the evening to enjoy one last meal and say goodbyes!

End Point Colombo, Sri Lanka

It's time to say goodbyes to those you've made during 12 unforgettable days. Some can continue their vacation on the breathtaking beach of the Maldives by adding our package. For others, it's returning home or continuing your journey. Whichever your next destination could be, we'd like to help you understand the Maldives. This place has many opportunities and a remarkable diversity in exploring, and we hope we've encouraged you to go on a journey.