Quintessential Ceylon (8 Days): Colombo

The excursion

Itinerary

• Day 1 — Airport → Colombo
• On arrival at Colombo International Airport you are met by your chauffeur guide and driven to Colombo to check in and rest.
• Day 2 — Colombo → Kandy
• After checking out of Colombo you drive to Kandy and check in, then spend the afternoon exploring the town on foot.
• Kandy Town
• Walk through the streets of Sri Lanka's last kingdom, taking in its history, bright colours and street food stalls, watching garland makers at work, visiting a Hindu temple and finishing with a short three-wheeler ride.
• Day 3 — Kandy → Ella
• Check out of Kandy to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic before heading to Ella, stopping along the way at a waterfall, tea estate and botanical garden, then explore Ella itself in the afternoon.
• Temple of the Tooth Relic
• A UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 16th century to house Lord Buddha's sacred tooth, with painted halls, carved pillars and golden statues.
• Ramboda Falls
• One of the country's tallest waterfalls, visited on the way from Kandy to Ella.
• Mackwoods Tea Estate
• A guided tour covering tea varieties, processing methods and quality grading.
• Hakgala Botanical Gardens
• A walk through the gardens' shaded avenues and colourful plantings.
• Lake Gregory
• A relaxed walk along the lake shore.
• Ella Town Tour
• A walk through Ella past tea fields and rocky stretches to views of Little Adam's Peak, across the Nine Arches Bridge, and on to the Demodara Railway Station with its loop-over track.
• Day 4 — Ella → Weligama
• Check out of Ella and drive to Weligama to check in and relax by the coast.
• Weligama
• A blend of fishing town and beach resort known for its sandy beach, cove beaches to the west, and a benign beach break well suited to novice surfers.
• Day 5 — Weligama → Mirissa → Weligama
• An early start for a whale watching trip from Mirissa harbour before returning to Weligama.
• Mirissa Whale Watching
• A boat safari from Mirissa harbour to see blue whales, sperm whales and fin whales with the guidance of a qualified naturalist, run with minimal impact on the animals.
• Day 6 — Weligama → Koggala → Ahangama → Weligama
• A day visiting the coastal sights between Koggala and Ahangama before returning to Weligama.
• Stilt Fishermen of Koggala
• Watch fishermen perched on stilts along the coast and hear how the practice, passed down through generations, is carried out.
• Turtle Hatchery, Habaraduwa
• Learn about the five endangered sea turtle species nesting on Sri Lanka's shores and the hatchery's care programme, with a chance to see and feed baby and injured turtles.
• Handunugoda Tea Factory
• Also known as the Virgin White Tea Factory, with a tour of how the tea is plucked and processed untouched by human hands, followed by a tasting of tea and chocolate cake.
• Day 7 — Weligama → Galle → Weligama
• A day trip to Galle to explore its fort and museums before returning to Weligama for the rest of the day at leisure.
• Galle Fort
• One of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia, built during the Portuguese and Dutch periods, with cobblestoned streets bearing Dutch names.
• Maritime Museum and Galle National Museum
• Museums within the fort area, visited along with the old lighthouse.
• Weligama Beach
• The remainder of the day spent at leisure on the beach and using the hotel's facilities.
• Day 8 — Weligama → Airport
• After breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport for departure.