Small Miracle (15 Days): Colombo

The excursion

Itinerary

• Day 1 — Airport → Negombo
• Arrival at Colombo International Airport, where a chauffeur guide meets travellers before the drive to Negombo for check-in.
• Negombo arrival
• After airport formalities, travellers are escorted to an air-conditioned vehicle and driven to Negombo to check in to the hotel.
• Day 2 — Negombo → Dambulla → Sigiriya
• The day is given over to the cave temples of Dambulla before continuing to Sigiriya.
• Golden Temple of Dambulla
• These caves date back to the 1st century BC and hold ancient murals depicting the life of Lord Gautama Buddha alongside hundreds of Buddha and deity figurines across five main caves, including the Cave of the Divine King, the Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. A giant golden Buddha statue stands a short distance outside the cave complex.
• Day 3 — Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Minneriya → Sigiriya
• A day of ancient history and wildlife, visiting Polonnaruwa's ruins before a safari at Minneriya.
• Polonnaruwa
• Sri Lanka's second major capital flourished between the 10th and 13th centuries AD. Its ruins include the Gal Vihara, the Vatadage, the lotus bath, the Lankathilaka Temple and a statue of King Parakramabahu, whose reign is considered Polonnaruwa's golden age.
• Minneriya National Park
• A three-hour safari through the park, known for the Great Elephant Gathering between May and October when over 150 elephants congregate in one place. The park's scrublands and forests also hold other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
• Day 4 — Sigiriya
• The day combines a village experience with the climb of the Sigiriya rock fortress.
• Village experience
• An ox-cart ride, a catamaran safari across a calm lake, and a walk through golden paddy fields are followed by a traditional cooking demonstration and a home-cooked lunch served on lotus leaves over woven trays.
• Sigiriya Rock Fortress
• This 5th-century AD rock fortress was the seat of King Kasyapa. The entrance is framed by the paws of a lion giving the rock its name, and the climb passes unfading murals, terraced gardens, still-working cisterns and tunnels leading to the palace ruins.
• Day 5 — Sigiriya → Matale → Kandy
• The route to Kandy passes through Matale's spice country and takes in crafts and culture on arrival.
• Euphoria Spice and Herbal Garden
• Located near Matale, Sri Lanka's spice capital, this garden grows spices, herbs and plants in a tropical climate that preserves their original properties. A guided spice tour explains their uses and the benefits of Ayurveda.
• Craft tours
• Technical tours cover gem crafting, woodcarving and batik work.
• Kandy Cultural Show
• An hour-long performance of Sri Lankan traditions, featuring fire dancers, sword dancers and Kandyan dancers moving to drumming.
• Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
• Located in Pinnawala village in Sabaragamuwa province, this is home to young elephants displaced or lost from their natural habitat. It now holds around 70 elephants, making it the largest captive herd in the world.
• Day 6 — Kandy
• A day exploring Kandy's religious and botanical landmarks.
• Temple of the Tooth Relic
• This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the 16th century to house and venerate Lord Buddha's sacred tooth. Its passageways and halls are painted in red, cream and black, with carved pillars and golden statues throughout.
• Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
• Formed in the early 19th century, the gardens hold over 4,000 species of plants, including orchids, spices and medicinal plants. Highlights include the cannonball tree, a suspension bridge, hedge mazes and large climbing trees.
• Day 7 — Kandy → Nuwara Eliya
• The journey into the hill country includes a waterfall stop and an introduction to tea production.
• Ramboda Falls
• The 11th tallest waterfall in the country.
• Tea factory visit
• Tea pickers can be observed moving between the rows along the mountains with their baskets. A guided tour explains fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading, ending with a tea tasting and the history of Ceylon Tea.
• Day 8 — Nuwara Eliya
• The day pairs a national park visit with time in the hill town itself.
• Horton Plains National Park
• Located in Ohiya, the park's montane grasslands and cloud forests lead to the precipice of World's End and the sprays of Baker's Falls. Endemic fauna and archaeological finds can also be seen in the area.
• Nuwara Eliya town
• This former premium holiday resort for the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries retains pretty cottages, quaint villas and mansions. The old red-bricked post office, Queen Victoria Park and the shores of Lake Gregory are among the stops.
• Day 9 — Nuwara Eliya → Ella → Yala
• A walking day through Ella's countryside on the way south.
• Little Adam's Peak
• The walk passes through bright green tea fields and rocky stretches to views over the surrounding landscape.
• Nine Arches Bridge and Demodara Railway Station
• The route crosses the Nine Arches Bridge, with its construction story, and ends at Demodara Railway Station, notable for its loop-over track design.
• Day 10 — Yala → Galle → Bentota
• A wildlife safari in the morning gives way to a visit to the historic fort town of Galle.
• Yala National Park
• A three-hour safari in the second largest national park on the island, on the southeastern coast. Sightings can include Sri Lankan leopards, wild water buffalo, Sri Lankan sloth bears and elephant herds, alongside many other mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
• Galle Fort
• Once the headquarters of the Portuguese and Dutch, Galle Fort is one of the best-preserved fortifications in Asia. The visit takes in its museums, lighthouse and cobblestoned streets with Dutch-era names.
• Day 11 — Bentota
• A free day at the hotel.
• Beach and hotel leisure
• The day is spent at leisure, enjoying the beach and hotel facilities.
• Day 12 — Bentota
• The day combines a river safari with a visit to a notable architect's former home.
• Madu River boat ride
• The boat passes through mangrove channels on the Madu River, home to basking crocodiles and water monitors. Stops include a small island where cinnamon is harvested, a fish massage, and sightings of waterbirds.
• Lunuganga Estate
• The country home and garden of architect Geoffrey Bawa, begun in 1947, led him to pursue architecture after training as a lawyer. He continued experimenting with the garden's spaces and structures throughout his life until 1998, and the estate, left to the Lunuganga Trust on his death in 2003, is now open to the public with its buildings run as a country house hotel.
• Day 13 — Bentota
• A further free day at the hotel.
• Beach and hotel leisure
• The day is spent at leisure, enjoying the beach and hotel facilities.
• Day 14 — Bentota → Colombo
• The tour moves to the capital for a tour of its landmarks and shopping districts.
• Colombo city tour
• Highlights include the Old Lighthouse, the Old Parliament, the Galle Face Hotel, Galle Face Green and the National Museum, along with the malls around Independence Square and the Race Course, plus boutique shops and designer stores.
• Day 15 — Colombo → Airport
• After breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport bring the tour to a close.
• Airport transfer
• Departure transfer to the airport, marking the end of the tour.