"Ayubowan" & "Vanakkam" Welcome to tropical paradise. You will be welcomed & greeted by your guide or The Earth Trip representative on arrival at the Waiting Area at the Colombo International Airport. You will travel to Galle. Travel time approximately 2 hours depend on the road traffic. Rest of the day you can relax enjoy.

Location: - Galle Hotel: Jetwing Kurulubedda Room: Dwelling Board: Breakfast

Morning at leisure

Sri Lankan Cooking Experience: You will be introduced to local family after greetings and cup of tea. Let your host know if you have any allergies or meal preferences. You will visit the bustling Galle market with your host. In the market you will buy together with your host ingredients for your Dinner. Your host will talk you through the core ingredients of Sri Lankan cuisine such as curry leaves, coconuts, local fruit and vegetables, pandan leaves and spices. Afterwards you will visit the daily fisherman catch of the day; here you will buy fish or seafood local fisherman. From here you will drive to the host place to prepare the rice and curries. You will also discover secrets of coconut, learn to crack open and scrape out your own coconut, and taste samples of each dish as you go along. The end product is a feast of 5-7 unique dishes served in a lotus/banana leaf which you can eat local-style with your fingers if you are up for the challenge with local beer or soft drink.

Afternoon you will discover the Galle Dutch Fort. There are many boutique shops along the narrow streets of the Fort as well as antiques, art and craft shops. Galle is situated in the southern Sri Lanka. It is the best example of a fortified city built by Europeans in south and Southeast Asia, showing the interaction between European architectural styles and south Asian traditions. The Galle fort is a UNESCO world heritage site and the largest remaining fortress in Asia built by European occupiers. Other prominent landmarks in Galle include the natural harbour, the National Maritime Museum, St. Mary's Cathedral founded by Jesuit priests, one of the main Shiva temples on the island. Galle offers a unique opportunity to create a visible demonstration of the conservation of its inheritance.

Location: - Galle Hotel: Jetwing Kurulubedda Room: Dwelling Board: Breakfast

After breakfast you will travel to Udawalawe. Along the way at the fishing village of Weligama you can see Sri Lanka’s picture postcard image of the Stilt Fisherman in fishing. Weligama literally translating as ‘sandy village,’ Weligama has a long stretch of fine golden sandy beach. Famous for its stilt fishermen, visitors can see this unique sight only in this part of Sri Lanka. No-one knows where, or even when this form of fishing originated, but it is an old tradition which lives on in a modern world today. This centuries old traditional method of fishing is one of the best sustainable practices to catch the fish. The Stilt Fisherman spends 2-4 hours sitting on a thin plank, hoping to catch one or two fish for their family’s lunch or dinner.

You will then enjoy an afternoon safari at the Udawalawe National Park.

Udawalawe National Park is known as the best national park to spot elephants. With an area of 31,800 hectares surrounded by mountain ranges, the terrain of the park is a mixture of grassland, shrub jungle, wild tea plantations and two important factors which make this park special - the large Udawalawe Reservoir and the Walewe River, which ensure a supply of water for the fauna within. Internationally renowned for its large herd of elephants, the park is also known for several species of Deer, Wild Boar, Wild Buffalo, Jackal and rare sightings of Leopard as well as many species of birds.

Location: - Udawalawe Hotel: Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Board: Breakfast & Dinner

In the morning you will visit Udawalawe Elephant Transit home Elephant Transit Home (ETH), where the orphan wild elephants are treated, raised and released back to the wild, also is located at Udawalawe. Visitors to this place can observe how the elephants are taken care of, twice a day. Total number of orphaned elephants exceeds 40, of which most of them are calves and juveniles. The animals become matured enough to live on their own, are released back to the wild. Park authorities keep constant vigilance on the newly released animals, until they get used to the new life in the wild. Click the link for BBC Natural World Documentary (Elephant Island) 2013.

Afterwards you will travel to Ella. Ella is described as one of the most breathtaking locations in Sri Lanka. Ella is surrounded by high mountains in the central hills and through a gap in the mountains you can see all the way to the ocean off the Hambantota coast line. This special gap offers breathtaking views is called as Ella Gap.

Location: - Ella Hotel: 98 Acres Room: Standard Board: Breakfast

In the morning you will visit the Thomas Lipton Seat. Lipton Seat & Dambetenna Tea Factory is located on the top of the Poonagala hill; this is quite literally the point from which the Scottish tea baron Thomas Lipton would often proudly survey his tea plantations. On a clear day it offers a spectacular view of mountain ranges, lakes and valleys all the way to the southern coast. You can hike to the point through lush tea plantations or you can opt to drive up in the comfort with your guide.

Dambetenna Tea Factory was built in 1890 by Sir Thomas Lipton himself, this colonial tea factory is still in operation today. The term “Ceylon Tea” was coined here, and Lipton’s Tea was founded and sold its first pound of tea from the precincts of this very factory. The factory tour is an education in the intricate processes involved in the fermentation, rolling, drying, cutting, sieving and grading of tea, and the comprehensive tour culminates with an authentic tea tasting experience (It’s closed on Sundays).

In the evening enjoy a romantic dinner

Location: - Ella Hotel: 98 Acres Room: Standard Board: Breakfast

(OPTIONAL) In the morning hike to see the sunrise from Little Adam’s Peak. Little Adam’s Peak resembles the main Adam’s Peak near Hatton. By foot it takes about 35-40 minutes. Here you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking views of an endless valleys, tea plantations and waterfalls.

Today you will travel to Gal Oya National park. Travel time approximately 3 hours.

(optional) Afternoon you walk with Veddhas (1-2 hours) (indigenous people of Sri Lanka), the last remaining communities of the Veddhas – the forest-dwelling, indigenous people of Sri Lanka. The village Chief will take you on a walk through the jungles of his ancestors. Discover and learn about local nature as he brings the forest alive, explaining his tribe’s use of medicinal plants, ancient hunting grounds and cave dwellings. It’s a fascinating insight into how the hunter-gatherers lived in the jungles of Gal Oya.

(Optional ) afternoon Jeep Safari

Location: - Gal Oya Hotel: Gal Oya Lodge Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

It’s the only hotel/ eco lodge near Gal Oya national park with details to every aspect of eco design. It offers the untouched nature and landscape away from everything.

**Please note that there is no Wi-Fi, TV or mobile coverage in the area due remote location. You will be rewarded with pristine nature.

In the morning you will take a boat safari to watch the birds and wildlife of Gal Oya. This is only park in Sri Lanka where you can take boat trip to watch the wildlife and swimming elephants. Enjoy the only experience in Sri Lanka that allows you to spot wildlife from the water. It’s a unique way to immerse yourself in the animals’ habitats. With a little luck you could spot elephants swimming between islands or bathing at the lake’s edge. A 2-3 hour safari by boat and a scenic 40 minute drive from the lodge to the lake is perfect to explore the national park and surrounding villages.

Gal Oya National Park lies south-east of the Kandy in the eastern district. The park was closed during the war for three decades. This park was established to protect the catchments area of the Senanayake Samudraya (lake). This wildlife richness of this wetland, the park is a natural habitat for a wide range of fauna and flora consisting of dry mixed vegetation including savannah grass and an extensive green cover. About 45% of the vegetation is evergreen forest, 33% savanna, 9% grassland, 2% cheina cultivations and the balance is water bodies dominated by Senanayake Samudraya. The park is host of medicinal shrubs and trees, while a number of locally known trees such as Vevarana, Halmilla, Veera, Palu, Ebony and Mahogany are found in great numbers. The park with its thick green canopy is a haven for species of birds and nearer to the Samudraya even migratory birds such as Painted Storks, Pelicans, Cormorants and Teals could be seen. A host of local birds such as the Grey Dove, Malabar Horn Bill and Grey Horn Bill, Koel and a number of water birds are found in this jungle habitat. January to May is the green season, with chance of afternoon and night time showers. The lake is at its fullest, amazing bird life as all the migratory species are in residence and stunning early morning views of cloud engulfed mountains. June-December is the dry season, as the year goes on the lake subsides and exposes the lake floor where fresh grass grows and attracts large herds of elephant. Hot days cool nights. The days are hot and the nights are cool.

Location: - Gal Oya Hotel: Gal Oya Lodge Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast you will travel to Sigiriya is situated in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. One of the Asia’s major archaeological centres, home to 4 of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The ruins and temple date back to 4th century B.C. The Cultural Triangle used to be the home of ancient Kingdoms. The area is full of culture, history and wildlife. Here the ancient Kings have developed one of the sophisticated and advanced civilisations of Sri Lanka.

En-route you will be you will visit Spice Gardens & Dambulla Cave temple. Dambulla Golden Rock Cave Temple is a vast isolated rock mass 500ft high and a 1.6 km around the base. Here is found the impressive Rock Temple dating to the First Century BC. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the King Walagamba during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne he built the most magnificent of Rock Temples to be found on the Island. The complex consists of five caves with over 2000 sq. meters of painted walls and ceilings. It is the largest area of paintings found in the world. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site. In the first Cave is a recumbent image of the Buddha 14 metre long cut out of the Rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism all around. The frescoes on the ceiling date back to the 15th - 18th Centuries. In the Second Cave, the finest and the largest of all, there are 150 life-size statues of Gods from the Buddhist religion along with numerous images of the Buddha himself

Location: - Sigiriya Hotel: Sun Green Room: Deluxe Board: Breakfast & Dinner

After early breakfast you will climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage site which is proposed to be the 8th wonders of the World. Sigiriya, a massive rock in the green scrub jungle, is perhaps the most memorable place for visitors to Sri Lanka. The site was known from ancient times as a hermitage for Buddhist monks. A well-planned monastic complex included caved temples, bathing pools, lovely ponds and Asia's oldest surviving landscaped gardens. The "Lion stairway", the "mirror wall" and the "water gardens" are its other highlights. The ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kassapa I (477–95) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high (the 'Lion's Rock', which dominates the jungle from all sides).

Afterwards enjoy the Ayurveda massage to rejuvenate your bodies. Ayurveda is the ancient health care system in South Asia that has been passed down from father to son and based on herbs and diet. It is one of the world’s oldest forms of healing and treatment. You will find some of the best Ayurveda practitioners in Sri Lanka. Ayurveda is a well known treatment for stress, diabetes, migraine, asthma, arthritis, immune system and high blood pressure. Ayurveda is derived from Sanskrit for life (ayuh) and knowledge (veda), means ‘the science of life’. Therefore, Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical sciences of the world and its origins date back as far as 5,000 years South Asia.

Afternoon safari at Kaudulla NATIONAL PARK – this National Park is the most recent to be added to the list of 15 Parks in the country. Famous for its elephants and bird population, species include the nation’s largest bird, the Lesser Adjutant and the Pompadour Green Pigeon. Built around the year 300 AD, the Tank slowly fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in 1959, and with its variety of plant life has now become home to 24 species of mammals, 25 species of amphibians and countless bird types. The endangered Rusty Spotted Cat can be spotted in Kaudulla National Park, as well as large herds of Asian elephants, elusive leopards and both Sambar and Axis Deer.

In the evening enjoy a romantic dinner under stars

Location: - Sigiriya Hotel: Sun Green Room: Deluxe Board: Breakfast & Dinner

After early breakfast you will visit Polonnaruwa, it was the mediaeval capital of Sri Lanka, and today it is one of the most beautiful centres of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and UNESCO Heritage site. With its comparatively brief history and a dozen rules, it is far more completely preserves ruin than Anuradhapura. Visit the ancient ruins and Gal Vihara complex, where 3 gigantic Buddha's statues are carved out of a single rock. You also will be able to see the toque macaque monkeys found only in Sri Lanka.

Afterwards you will travel to Pasikudha. Travel time approximately 2 hours. Pasikudha is situated in the east of Sri Lanka. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and in Sri Lanka. It’s known for its long and wide pristine white powder sandy beaches in a quiet bay. You can wade into the clear turquoise water for hundreds of metres before needing to break into a backstroke. It is a perfect place for your ideal beach holiday.


Location: - Pasikudha Hotel: Anantaya Room: Superior Board: Breakfast & Dinner

This rustic chic hotel situated in Pasikudha Bay with the golden beaches

Or

Location: - Pasikudha Hotel: Karpaha Sands Room: Seed Family Board: Breakfast

This boutique hotel is situated in the remote corner of Pasikudha in Kalkudah beach away from hustle and bustle.

One of the evening enjoy a romantic dinner

Location: - Pasikudha Hotel: Karpaha Sands Board: Breakfast

In the morning you will travel to Wilpattu National Park. Travel time approximately 4 hours.

Afternoon safari at Wilpattu National Park. Wilpattu National Park (‘Land of Lakes’) is situated on the north western coast near the ancient city of Anuradhapura. It is the largest and oldest National Park in Sri Lanka, consisting of 140,000 hectares of mostly dry zone evergreen forest cover and a coastal belt to the West. This is one of best places to see leopards in Sri Lanka alongside Yala National Park. The open grassy plains are set within the thick dense scrub jungle. The wetland includes around 48 shallow natural lakes known as Villus, natural basins that are filled up with rainwater and two salt water lakes. These natural lakes are the most important parts of the complex eco-system in the park.

The park is home to elusive leopards, elephants, sloth bears, water buffalos, Mugger Crocodiles, Spotted and Barking deer, wild boar and pythons. You may see the wild animals, particularly elephants, near lakes in the early morning and late afternoons. The park is also home to many endemic birds including the Ceylon Junglefowl, Brown-capped Babbler, Ceylon Woodshrike and Black-capped Bulbul in riverine habitats.


Location: - Wilpattu Hotel: Ibis Lodge Board: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today you will travel to Colombo. Travel 3 ½ hours.

Afternoon tuk tuk tour of Colombo to taste the street food and enjoy the sights. You will try some of the best street food such as hoppers and kottu. You will travel via Pettah Bazzar, Indpendt Square and Fort in tuk tuk.

Location: - Colombo Hotel: Galle Face Hotel Room: Superior Board: Breakfast

You travel to Colombo Airport to fly back home in the morning. Travel time 45-55 minutes.