zSri Lanka

Upon arrival at the Colombo Airport, set out with your private car and driver for the scenic 5-hour journey into the pastoral central plains of the island. Your destination is Sigiriya, one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated landmarks, now recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Check in to the charming Vil Uyana Hotel for a delightful 2-night stay.

Rising 650 feet above the surrounding plains, the rock fortress of Sigiriya is an astounding palace complex of gardens, pools and fountains built in the 5^th century. Your private sightseeing tour takes you up what remains of the magnificent Lion Staircase to the summit for glorious views of the countryside.  Meals B

Visit Matale, surrounded by fragrant spice plantations, and continue on to historic Kandy. Check in to the Chaaya Citadel Hotel and tour Dalada Maligawa, a revered temple strongly associated with the earliest spread of Buddhism.  Meals B

The final stronghold of the mighty Sinhalese Kings is revered to this day as the island’s cultural capital. Today’s private sightseeing tour features the Royal Botanical Gardens, laid out in 1832 and widely considered to be one of the finest in the world. At the spice garden located here, your well-versed guide will explain how these trees and plants have long been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Return to your hotel where the balance of this day is yours to enjoy as you wish.  Meals B

Check out from your hotel in Kandy this morning and visit a tea factory to learn about the fascinating process that brings some of the world’s finest teas to your morning cup. Continue your private car journey to Nuwara-Eliya and check in to the unique Heritance Tea Factory Resort, set on a lush organic tea plantation. This afternoon, you’ll have a chance to try your hand at tea harvesting and to sample fine Ceylon Tea.  Meals B

This entire day is yours to relax and enjoy the fine amenities of your resort, surrounded by the misty mountain ranges and cool verdant forests which made this a favored hill station of the British.  Meals B

After breakfast, check out from your resort and continue your journey to Colombo and enjoy a panoramic tour through this bustling port, an ancient city that resonates with Sri Lanka’s millennia-old cultural heritage and its rich Colonial history. Check in to the historic Galle Face Hotel for a free evening and restful overnight.  Meals B

You’ll be escorted to the airport today for your onward flight.  Meals B