Day 01
Morning arrival at Colombo International Airport. Welcome reception at the Airport and transfer to Colonial Galle Face Hotel to relax in the city in star comfort during the rest of the day, looking forward for the forthcoming action!

Day 02
After breakfast leave for Belihul-Oya base where you’ll be housed for the next two days. En route visit some gem pits at Ratnapura; the city of gems. In the late afternoon visit the gushing Duvili Ella falls off Belihul-Oya trekking in the forests for an hour and half. Its one of the nicest water-falls found in the jungles of Sri Lanka. Overnight at Belihul-Oya rest house.



Day 03:
Commence one of the most scenic and adventurous climbs in Sri Lanka with the crack of the dawn with a professional guide hiking for twenty seven kilo meters, starting at 1800 feet above sea level and ending at 7000 feet. You’ll be hiking initially through pine forests giving way to tea plantations and ending on the evergreen rain forests of the Horton Plains National Park and finally at the park entrance. You’ll be served with a picnic lunch at a scenic rock pool; the foot hill where the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka Bambarakanda falls in to. The vehicle will be there at the top to pick you in the early evening (late evening more often than not) to transfer you to star comforts of a hotel in salubrious Nuwara Eliya; the Tea Capital of Sri Lanka. This trail is full of breath-taking vistas of the hill country of Sri Lanka and dramatic changes in vegetation can be quite stunning as you travel from the warm foot-hills to cold hill-tops where wild orchids bloom freely.

Ideal for bird watching too! If one is lucky one will meet a rare leopard once one reaches the virgin forests in the upper hills. Such meetings are quite harmless as they quickly disappear in to the bush as they are approached. There are over twenty leopards recorded in the National Park and the adjacent buffer zones in addition to the elk, bear monkey and many other mammals. No elephants and sloth bear but 20 out of the 23 species of birds endemic to Sri Lanka are found on this particular trail. If you still have the legs visit a simple town pub in the cools of Nuwara Eliya in the night for a pint of Sri Lankan draught beer made there itself!



Day 04
Morning visit the Hakgala Botanical gardens on a nature walk and Pedro estate and plantation which can be quite educational. Relax a bit and in the evening and leave for Adam ’s Peak Holy Mountain visited by pilgrims of all faiths over centuries. You’ll be traveling through lush tea plantations all the time passing two major waterfalls cascading down. Rest for a while at a little guest house at the foot-hill and commence the 8 KM climb past midnight to watch the famous sun-rise through the hills from the summit. This is one of the main highlights of the program.



Day 05
The descend is through more remote Ratnapura pass arriving at the foot-hill by mid-morning. Afterwards leave the high hills and drive to Kitulgala following the river at leisure. Check-in to The Eco Lodge and in the evening cross the river by boat to visit the wet zone forests on a lovely hike, home for rare and beautiful Ceylon blue magpie. Overnight at the Lodge by the river where the famous film Bridge on the River Kwai” was made in the fifties! Classic spot, this one.



Day 06
Whole morning free for a fantastic river rafting session down stream on class1 and 2 rapids. Noon is free for a bath at a remote waterfall close-by that is reachable only after a tedious hike through the bush in a dangerous ravine. But you’ll enjoy the crystal clear water and swimming in the deep rock pool! In the late afternoon leave for Kandy; the last Kingdom and check-in to Queens Hotel. You are free to walk to the temple of the sacred tooth relic and the palace complex next door and walk around the fascinating lake in front in the moon light! Overnight at the colonial Queens.



Day 07
Early morning before breakfast leave on a hike at the Udawatte Kele forest reserve just behind the temple to enjoy the tranquility of the ancient woods. There is a forest hermitage where monks meditate in ideal surroundings and bird watchers could look for very rare birds at this place. Afterwards leave for Kandalama resort and stay at the beautiful Amaya lake hotel built next to an ancient lake in chalet style in accordance with the traditional Sri Lankan architecture. En route stop at a famous spice garden on a study tour and a refreshing herbal massage. Rest of the day is free to relax, or to explore the dry zone wilderness around, hiking, bird watching in the forest glades as there is a vast area of jungle to explore! A guide from the resort or your good driver should accompany you as wild creatures roam the forests and also you can easily lose your way! This resort also has a traditional native medicine centre where you could enjoy a range of spa services to comfort you! Stay at the Amaya Lake.

Optional tours are possible to the 12th century Polonnaruwa ruined city or the Minneriya Giritale National park by jeep on an elephant safari for the ones who need further action. Our advice is just to relax though.

Day 08
Climb the 640 foot spectacular 5th century rock fortress of Sigiriya; the 8th wonder of the world in the morning on a long, tiring but very interesting hike. In the evening visit the Ritigala forest monastery complex on yet another hike to explore the mysterious ruins in the elephant and bear infested dry zone jungles of Sri Lanka. Overnight at Amaya Lake.



Day 09
A trip by balloon is optional to enjoy the unparallel scenic beauty of the green tropical wilderness dotted with ancient lakes on a set tour which can be quite an adventure. Afterwards proceed back to colonial Mount Lavinia Hotel for the overnight stop. En route stop at the Elephant Orphanage which is a major tourist attraction.



Day 10
Full day’s rest is recommended at this charming beach resort close to Colombo after an eventful time in Sri Lanka. Also free for last minute shopping in the city if one wishes to. Overnight at Mount Lavinia Beach.

Day 11
After breakfast leave for The Airport for departure