On arrival at the airport, transfer to the hotel in Dambulla or Sigiriya.

In the afternoon visit the Golden Cave Temple of Dambulla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climbing up the steps toward the top of the Rock, you will see the 2000-year-old cave temple carved in the enormous, isolated rock mass.

Visiting inside the caves you will be amazed as you would not find a single empty space on the rock wall or the ceiling which is not picturesquely covered by amazing mural paintings, with each of them narrating a story.

Enjoy a candle lit dinner at night.

After an early breakfast climb the Sigiriya Rock, the most visited tourist attraction in Sri Lanka. Half way up you will see the fascinating ancient frescoes ‘the damsels of Sigiriya’ and the giant paws of a huge carved lion.

The mirror wall displays the world’s earliest known graffiti. At the summit of the rock you will see the ruins of the monarch’s palace from the 5th century AD.

Later on, take a delightful village tour in rural Hiriwadunna. This excursion, commonly referred to as the Hiriwadunna trek, is one of the best ways to experience the traditional Sri Lankan way of life. Hop in a tuk-tuk for a thrilling ride through the village and take a ferry ride on Hiriwadunna Lake. At the end, feast on a traditional lunch at a village hut.

In the afternoon, enjoy a thrilling jeep safari in the Minneriya National Park. The annual dry period here spans from around July to September and especially around August visitors get to witness the famous natural phenomenon called the elephant gathering of Minneriya, the world’s largest concentration of wild elephants, at times numbering up to 400. The Park is home to spotted deer, sambar, leopard, sloth bear, saltwater crocodiles, pythons and monitor lizards as well. It is known for being an Important Bird Area too.

This morning climb Pidurangala Rock. This exciting trip can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. The views of Sigiriya Rock from the top are captivating, making it a famous spot for memorable photos.

Later on, transfer to Kandy city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. En route, visit a spice garden in Matale. Gain an insight into how spices that you have used to flavour your food at home and many other tropical herbs that you have known or heard of, are grown.

Check in at the hotel in Kandy. In the afternoon, we visit the bustling city of Kandy, which also offers great shopping opportunities. In the evening, we enjoy a cultural dance performance, followed by a visit to the Temple of the Tooth Relic.

Head on to Nuwara Eliya. Sit back and enjoy spectacular views of endless lush tea fields as we continue on to Nuwara Eliya, a mountainous town located at 1800 m above sea level. On the way, visit the beautiful Ramboda Falls and visit a tea factory. Factory-fresh tea can be purchased at the factory store. Explore the town of Nuwara Eliya. Spend the afternoon leisurely.

Proceed to the picturesque Ella town. Visit the famous nine-arch railway bridge of Demodara. The iconic bridge was built almost a century ago during the British Era. Today it is still in use and offers great photo-shoot opportunities. Take a delightful hike up to Little Adam’s Peak in Ella. This is a light hike that does not require much effort. At the top, admire the breathtaking views of the paradisiacal mountains.

A morning drive to Galle, to a southern coastal town. On the way, spend a blissful moment at the Ravana Falls in Ella.

Check in to your accommodation in Galle. In the afternoon explore the Dutch Fort of Galle (UNESCO World Heritage Site). At the site of the present Fort, back in 1588 the Portuguese colonizers built a modest fort using palm trees and mud. Later the Dutch invaders fortified it extensively when they took over in 1640. Enjoy an interesting and informative walking tour with Shanjey, a local expert in Galle Fort.

Among the historic landmarks are the Dutch Reformed Church with its 300-year old belfry, the National Maritime Museum which was initially a warehouse where spices and ship equipment were stored over 400-years back, the 200-year old Clock Tower, the 1939 Lighthouse as well as the reputedly oldest breadfruit tree in the island.

After breakfast leave Galle and visit the Turtle Hatchery in Kosgoda. Beaches of Sri Lanka are the nesting grounds for five species of marine turtles. Turtle are known to lay eggs instinctively in the same area where they were born. The Hatchery administration at Kosgoda carries out constant night-watch along the coast to find laid eggs or purchases them from the fishermen, incubate them for a specific period, then feed and keep the hatchlings up to 3 days at the farm before releasing to the ocean at night.

Proceed to Colombo, the commercial capital of the island, for a sightseeing tour. Drive through the most prominent sites such as Buddhist temples, churches, the town hall and the bustling commercial center of Colombo.

Transfer to your beachfront accommodation in Negombo, a small beach town near the international airport. Spend the afternoon at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for departure. Reach 3 hours before the flight. Depart to Maldives for your beach vacation!

Arrive in style at the Velana International Airport in Male, and get transferred to the Oblu by Xperience at Ailafushi for your island retreat.