Journey through Sri Lanka

Meet the locals at Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, home to more than 80 of these gentle giants. Climb the Sigiriya (Lion Rock) fortress, a 5th century citadel of a fugitive king carved out of a boulder. Enjoy an evening folk dance.

Anuradhapura is the first capital and grandest city of ancient Sri Lanka. Pay your respects at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi (Sacred Bo~Tree), the oldest historically documented tree in the world. Take an evening climb up Mihinthale, the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, with splendid views of the surrounding countryside.

Learn the tricks of Sri Lankan cooking with a private lesson. On our way to Kandy we visit the World Heritage Dambulla cave temple, built in the 1st century BC by King Walagambahu.

Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings. Your private tour traces its origins from the seat of the Kotte Royal bloodline to the British colonial administration. Orchid lovers will particularly enjoy the famous Peradeniya Botanical Gardens.

Depart Kandy for the popular hill resort, Nuwara Eliya. The cool, misty mountain climate is home to what many consider to be the world’s best tea. Judge for yourself before unwinding at your boutique hotel.

Horton Plains is rich with wildlife, including the sambar deer, purple~faced langur monkeys and the endangered red slender loris. Stand at World’s End, where the earth literally drops away (more than a kilometre straight down) at your feet.

Walking time: 3 hours ~ You’ll need to be in good health for the walk to World's End as it involves walking on un−even paths.

Visit the small, but beautiful mountain village of Ella en route to Yala National Park, where you’ll stay at the Chaaya Wild Resort.Yala makes for some impressive wildlife viewing including elephants, wild boar, buffalo, crocodiles and the Sinhalese leopard.

Travel to Galle in the morning and check into your hotel by the beach. Then explore Galle on a city tour.

The nature of Galle is indivisible from its vast fortress, built first by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later extended by the Dutch and British. On the south-eastern tip of the island, the 90 acre complex was of enormous strategic value to successive colonial powers.

After travelling from Galle, there’s time for shopping and sightseeing around Colombo. Your accommodation is the Zylan Luxury Villas, located in the heart of Colombo. Enjoy a final dinner together as we look back on our journey through the ‘Tear Drop Isle’.